The Tearoom

by Gretchen Haley

Meet Thirapatheegadu Ezekieo Reddy, Tubby for short, because heaven knows a man called Thirapatheegadu walks a lonely road. Proud proprietor of The Tearoom in deepest KwaZulu-Natal, he’s also a father, a timid dreamer and the long-suffering husband of hypochondriac Lynette. For many years, Tubby has been working on a marvellous plan which involves the object of his affection – his enigmatic kitchen assistant.

In the month before his birthday, the countdown begins. But just as Tubby is set to embark on his dream life, he is delivered a blow which could turn his dream to ashes.

Sprinkled with delicious humour and spoonfuls of local flavour, The Tearoom is a warm tale with characters you’ll never forget.

210 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2021

Reviews

[Wεทchy ¸.¸. ҉¨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not actually read it fast enough. I absolutely loved this book. It has some lines I wanted to memorise to quote should the opportunity arise.

Totally relatable. I smiled and cried.

Highly recommended. All the stars from me.

[Paige Nick]

The Tearoom by Gretchen Haley, is a charming tragi-comedy set in deepest Kwazulu Natal.

Thirapatheegadu Ezekiel Reddy (Tubby for short, thankfully, cos I’m not sure I would have coped if I’d had to read his full name every time) is the proud proprietor of The Tearoom. A charming restaurant, run by his small crew of locals and misfits, thrown together by chance and loss and circumstance, who together create two different meals a day, of which I wanted to eat ALL OF THEM. Curries and bunny chows and samosas and biryanis, yum!

Anyway, poor Tubby may be a master in the kitchen, but he doesn’t have it so easy. Between his hypochondriac wife and her preacher, and his daughter, who’s clearly keeping a secret from him, he has some hurdles before he can begin the countdown to his fiftieth birthday and realising the plan that will make all his dreams come true.

I’ve been mulling over the ending - which didn’t go where I thought it was going to go. And I’m curious how we feel about happy endings? And I’m not giving away if there is one here or not. No spoilers.
I don’t normally need one, as so often they can feel a bit cliched.
But do we maybe crave them more when we’re dealing with the kind of stuff we’re dealing with?

I hope there’s more coming from this author. It was a delicious read.

[Efemia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully special, totally readable and emotional book about life and flawed people. As we all are.

[Charity (BookedonCharity) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Tearoom x Gretchen Haley - 2.75⭐

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this review are my own and not those of @penguinbookssouthafrica

Thank you to Penguin Random House for gifting me this review copy.

📜 Synopsis

Meet Thirapatheegadu Ezekieo Reddy, Tubby for short, because heaven knows a man called Thirapatheegadu walks a lonely road. Proud proprietor of The Tearoom in deepest KwaZulu-Natal, he’s also a father, a timid dreamer and the long-suffering husband of hypochondriac Lynette.

Sprinkled with delicious humour and spoonfuls of local flavour, The Tearoom is a warm tale with characters you’ll never forget.

🖋Writing Style

I enjoyed the writing style in the book. It was easy to read and had a nice flow. This is a quick read and if you are a fast reader, you can get through it pretty quickly.

👨🏾‍🦱Characters

Wooooo where do I start...

I did not like the main character Thirapatheegadu (Tubby) at all. The way I perceived this character was that he was written in a way to make him out to be the victim but to me, he was not a good guy and he was a big hypocrite.

I did not agree with any of the reasoning behind the decisions he made. I felt that he was very selfish and did not want to take responsibility for his actions. Granted his wife was mean and has her own issues (story for another day or just read the book to find out) but it does not excuse his actions and I hated that he DID use her as an excuse regardless.

🖤Plot

The book is centered alot around food and I loved the conversation related to it. It made me hungry for some spicy curry and rotis and I loved every minute of it.

I loved that the main character loved books and it was something that was well explored in the book

Plot wise I felt that the book was all over the place. I could have done away with some of the story lines that the author introduced. I found it unnecessary and in the end everything felt rushed and I had questions left unanswered.

I feel that the author could have simplified the storyline and left out some of the bits. Especially the ones that did not get properly wrapped up.

[Beryl Eichenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a delightful book! Easy to read and sprinkled with spicy titbits that bring Indian cuisine right into your home. The delicacies of a KwaZulu-Natal community whose favourite eating place is The Tearoom run by the long suffering but proud proprietor Tubby Reddy are tantalizingly revealed as one would add the ingredients to a slow cooking pot. Gretchen Haley’s novel ‘The Tearoom’ is a warming romp that will have you longing for light as air rotis and spicy samosas as you turn the pages.
Meet Tubby Reddy. Strange name for an Indian but then he IS tubby and with a name like Thirapatheegadu getting your tongue around that is almost like eating a hot chilli, so more than appropriate. His life is ordered – The Tearoom is popular, his staff are reliable and his clientele loyal. But his heart is not with his hypochondriac, histrionic wife Lynette, no, it has been taken by kitchen assistant Yogi, but until now she knows nothing of this. As the countdown to his fiftieth birthday begins Tubby is determined that his life is going to change and London and Yogi – here we come. Monitoring his life and successful business through his diary – carefully kept out of Lynette’s sight - Tubby has amassed a small fortune ready for the day when he will realise his dream. Lynette seems to have taken a serious shine to the new and energetic preacher, his daughter Nell is mysteriously disappearing into the night and son Benji has plans of his own. So it seems the stage is set. Tubby’s affection and love for Yogi is spurring him on, but as in all good stories ‘ the best laid plans’ have a habit of coming unstuck as reality deals him a low blow that could change everything.
Haley brings a colourful and warming cast to her pages. The reader will delight in the gentle Tubby, urging him on, sharing his disappointments. The aromas of the Tearoom follow you as the story gains momentum and the comedic moments will have you giggling. It is of course a tragi – comedy as colourful as the characters and instantly recognisable. Haley skilfully writes of issues prevalent in any South African community but brings pathos and empathy into her portrayal. Cross cultural dynamics, simmering sentiments of staff, clientele and family are all well rounded out and she skilfully brings the tale to a close with a satisfying outcome. Just like a good meal, The Tearoom, has a way of lingering.

[Katinka Steyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful book this was! Tubby, the main character, owns The Tearoom - an Indian restaurant. He has been married to Lynette, for what feels like a lifetime - an unhappy and mutually unsatisfactory union. Somewhere during this marriage, Tubby realized that he wanted out, and started saving and making plans to elope with one of his one staff members, Yogi, by the time he reaches fifty. He plans everything - from the necessary Visas, to their accommodation - down to the last detail, and he keeps meticulous record if this in his little diary, which is always in his pocket. There is one little problem though - he has never told Yogi how he feels about her, and as he tries to pluck up the courage, the walls tumble down around him. Pastor Kenny is there to support Lynette and the rest of the parish, but Tubby's world is turned upside down by events he could never have foreseen.
This delightful novel is filled with all the nuances you want in a good book. The characters become your family and you simply can't wait to turn to the next page to see what happens. It gives a humorous glimpse on the different cultures in South Africa and their seemingly insurmountable differences are treated with respect and dignity. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope to hear more from Gretchen Haley in future!

[Adélle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a lovely, sad but ultimately uplifting and heartwarming book! The synopsis on the back doesn't do it justice. A beautiful story of love and loss, hopes and dreams, family and friendship and above all the resilience of the human spirit in times of hardship and heartache. Do yourself a favour and get lost in the lives of these characters for a little while...

[Rourke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly heartwarming in every way. So easy to get into and what characters! You can't help but feel for poor Tubby. This dark comedy is so authentic and unpretentious. Gretchen Haley is a fresh new voice. I can't wait to read more from this author.

[Brit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very lovely easy read. I found myself drawn to Tubby and craving all the delicious food he cooked. Only once did I feel that the descriptions of situations were long winded but that may have been because I was dying to know what would happen next.

[Juliana Veale · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a 3.5. Started off well, but it's still a thinly disguised morality tale. A bit raw towards the end, the author scrambles for some happiness to lather on her moralizing

[Mary-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, well-written, I reached the end feeling sorry that it had. Engaging read.

[Helga Schaberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely twists.

[Frieda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truthful story, one I can imagine being lived by someone. I felt Tubby's excitement with his plans. And melancholy in their change. And enjoyed the South African feel to it.

[Smin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully fun tale set in a balmy seaside town in Natal, South Africa. I loved the colourful characters and despite this being a mostly heart warming story it was also quite melancholy.

[Shayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this! An delicious novel that I simply could not put down.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, heartwarming and painfully relatable. Gretchen took me back to all the times spent in my grandmother's kitchen and just like those good ol' days, she left me full, happy and salivating for more.

There is a character for everyone to fall in love with, mystery and romance of the most unconventional kind (just the way I like it).

I can't wait to see more material from Gretchen!

[Cathy Grobbelaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful story, quick read and full of surprizes.

[Beatrice (Booksandfunnyclouds) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doloroso, ironico, molto piacevole.