Nina Stibbe Libri

Una commedia inglese di puro divertimento, raccontata con umorismo sottile e una voce infantile disarmante, narra le peripezie di una madre divorziata nell'Inghilterra degli anni '70. Quando un'eccentrica drammaturga mancata si trasferisce in un villaggio con i suoi tre figli, un cane e alcuni pony, la comunità locale reagisce con ostilità e sospetto, relegandoli ai margini. Lizzie, la narratrice, e la sua sorella maggiore comprendono che per essere accettati hanno bisogno di un capofamiglia, di un nuovo uomo al timone. Le due ragazze stilano una lista dei potenziali pretendenti del villaggio e si adoperano per attrarli a casa loro, uno alla volta, per la loro bellissima e imprevedibile madre. Dovrebbero scegliere tra il pragmatico dottor Kaufmann, il reverendo Derek, il "piccolo vicario idiota", o il veterinario, fondamentale per una famiglia con molti animali. Mentre affrontano amicizie tentate e fallite, truffe e drammi quotidiani, il piccolo Jack, il fratellino, soffre di più l'isolamento. L'impresa di Lizzie sembra destinata al fallimento, ma forse l'uomo giusto non è sulla lista, e per trovarlo dovranno imparare a guardare oltre. Una storia di disarmante onestà e umorismo sulla difficile arte di crescere tra adulti immaturi.

In 1982, 20-year-old Nina Stibbe moved to London to work as a nanny to two opinionated and lively young boys. In frequent letters home to her sister, Nina described her trials and triumphs.

Ten years after the publication of the prize-winning Love, Nina comes the author's diary of her return to London in her 61st year.

'When people in the village heard I was about to start working in the city they tried to unsettle me with tales of woe. The sun, blotted out by the tall buildings, couldn't shine and the rain was poisoned by the toxic fumes that poured from the sock factories. My skin would be covered in pimples from the hell of it all'So begins a young woman's journey to adulthood. Lizzie Vogel leaves her alcoholic, novel-writing mother and heads for Leicester to work for a racist, barely competent dentist obsessed with joining the freemasons.Soon Lizzie is heading reluctantly, if at top speed, into the murky depths of adult life: where her driving instructor becomes her best friend; her first boyfriend prefers birdwatching to sex and where independence for a teenage girl might just be another word for loneliness.In Reasons to Be Cheerful Nina Stibbe shows her extraordinary gift for illuminating the vital details which make us human. She is that rare writer who makes us laugh whilst reminding us of the joy, and the pain, of being alive.

From the prize-winning author of *Reasons to be Cheerful* comes a captivating exploration of female friendship over three decades. Susan and Norma, best friends since their early days at The Pin Cushion haberdashery in 1990s Leicestershire, now face new challenges. With Susan's husband pursuing immortality and Norma achieving professional success, Susan questions her choices regarding life, love, work, and friendship. Nina Stibbe's latest novel navigates the complexities of their relationship, revealing the unexpected turns and ultimate rewards of their bond. Critics praise Stibbe's unique ability to blend humor with poignant observations of British suburban life. Her writing is celebrated for its charm and wit, drawing comparisons to literary greats like Jane Austen. Readers will find themselves enchanted by the clever and funny narrative that delves into the intricacies of marriage, friendship, and the ups and downs of life. With a perfect balance of wisdom and humor, Stibbe's work is both life-affirming and entertaining, making her a standout voice in contemporary literature. This novel promises to resonate with anyone who has experienced the joys and challenges of lifelong friendships.

Román S láskou, Nina nás přivádí do anglické intelektuální rodiny v 80. letech 20. století. Autorka Nina Stibbeová čerpá ze své vlastní zkušenosti, kdy se jako mladá a nezkušená dívka stala chůvou v rodině Mary-Kay Wilmersové, která je známá editorka London Review of Books. Pečovala o dva syny Mary-Kay a sžívala se s poněkud zvláštní rodinnou situací, názory, poznávala zde nové lidi, především z okruhu tehdejší literární a filmové elity. Dopisy, adresované její sestře Viky, nás vtahují do zcela obyčejného života a každodenních radostí i strastí, jež jsou součástí mnoha podobných rodin. Ukazují nám také samotný vývoj autorky, ze které se postupem času stává samostatná žena, pevně rozhodnutá vystudovat literaturu.