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  • Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts

  • By: Mary Gibson
  • Narrated by: Anne Dover
  • Length: 15 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (491 ratings)
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Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts cover art

Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts

By: Mary Gibson
Narrated by: Anne Dover
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Summary

They call them the custard tarts - the girls who work at Pearce Duff's custard powder factory in Bermondsey before the First World War. Conditions are hard but nothing can quench the spirit of humour and friendship. But the shadow of the coming war looms over them; it will pull London's East End together as never before - even while it tears the world apart.

©2014 Mary Gibson (P)2014 W F Howes Ltd

Critic reviews

"A fabulous, fascinating read." (Vanessa Feltz)

What listeners say about Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A real delight!

When you buy an audible book you always listen to a 5 minute clip, read the reviews and then maybe decide to buy. And then once finished with the book you sit down and try to write a review. Unlike others who can give a long review on characters etc .... for me it is quite simple. This book made me smile ..... and count my blessings! This book also made me cry ...... sobbing my heart out ....... !

Mary Gibson write this book ..... but Anne Dover did a fantastic job of bringing it to life!

This book - to me - brought to life all the misery the Londoners lived with during WW1 and the horror men brought back with them from the front. The suffering of the women left behind and the incredibly hard life they had. Raising children on fresh air and the constant need of just an extra shilling!!

Looking for a truly great listen ..... this one is a MUST!

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyable ..

What did you like most about Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts?

I just liked everything about this book. . .the characters were great & you could almost imagine yourself in there with them. . .

Who was your favorite character and why?

Nellie & Maggie . . . down to earth eastenders...

What three words best describe Anne Dover’s voice?

I dont really like Anne Dover's narrarations, but as the story was good,it took my mind of her a little !

Any additional comments?

I lived for years in the area that this book is set, so I knew all the roads that they were talking about.... made it much more real for me....

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

oh boy, what a cracker!!!

Would you listen to Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts again? Why?

The storyline caught my heart as it reminded me so much of my gran who was a bermondsey lass and worked for bird's custard. And her elder sister Nell brought her up after their mum had died.,however tthe storyline was most enjoyable with a variety of strong, and weak characters,one of the best books i have read this year.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts?

Nell being taken to the police station and meeting Sam afterward.

Which character – as performed by Anne Dover – was your favourite?

Nell was my favourite character and performed brilliantly by Anne especially when Nell lost her rag and had something to say

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Sam told Nell of his experiences during the war

Any additional comments?

Hope Mary Gibson has plenty more to write of the different families in Bermonsey, as i am already looking forward to her next book. I also please that her books are decent length, can't wait for more

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

WW1 Bermondsey story


Yes I can compare this to a glass of wine as I was expecting Beaujolais and got a Gigondas.

Story line was good and had real legs with all the different characters. Full bodied in the plot and a nice rounded ending.

Would recommend.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Every word a delight

As I work alone in my sewing room, I listened to this mostly gentle story of how the First World War affected those left behind. The clever voices of Anne Dover brought the characters to life. Highly recommend this audio book.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very good

Would you consider the audio edition of Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts to be better than the print version?

I enjoyed it only wish there was a follow up

Have you listened to any of Anne Dover’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Anne Dover voice brought all the arthers to life

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Keep Smiling

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

a beautiful and poignant story...

of love, war, heartache and happiness, with the happy ever after it so deserves to end on.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful narration about a family during WW1

I felt transported back in time. The book is so descriptive that you feel as though you are part of the story. Great insight into the hard times in London in the early 1900's. A Gripping, gentle, romantic, story written in the most beautiful English with an outstanding narration. Very memorable!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping story

Mary Gibson writes historically accurate stories of overcoming grinding poverty and adversity in Bermondsey in the early 1900s. The “Custard Tarts” work at the Pearce Duff factory packing custard powder. Women are paid half the men’s wages for doing the same work. They go on strike. Then the men get called up for WW1. Think Call The Midwife about 50 years earlier, a bit further along the river and fewer babies. Quality, well written and would make a fabulous drama series.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic!

What a truly fantastic book!! Not at all what I was expecting! The narrator is also a pleasure to listen to.

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1 person found this helpful