Weird. What seems like a light comedy about two female flatmates soon reveals itself to be something deeper and darker. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. And if she didn't want it she had to say yes, even if it choked her. If anyone is a fan of Beryl Bainbridge this is a must-read. © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, The Dressmaker: Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, 1973. She has to be one of the most economical writers ever, and seems to be able to use less words than any other author I know to describe complex situations and characters. 23/2 - I don’t really know what to make of this book. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 February 2018. on my wife's recommendation. Well, I must have missed something. Her career was a major successful brow-swerve - she wasn't highbrow, lowbrow or middlebrow, she just banged along on her rickety typewriter smoking 25 ciggies per hour and coughing her lungs out, entirely in her own bubble, and such a weird four-dimensional bubble it was. Freda is always trying to make things happen while Brenda is passive in the extreme, but neither approach seems to lead to happiness. The Bottle Factory Outing is a very dark comedy about Freda and Brenda, two women who work at a small Italian-run wine bottling plant in London. It's painful and embarrassing. I did not get any sense of humour from it, in fact I had no idea until I read the reviews that it was meant to be comedic at all. The Bottle Factory Outing: Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, 1974 by Bainbridge, Beryl at AbeBooks.co.uk - ISBN 10: 0349123713 - ISBN 13: 9780349123714 - Abacus - 2010 - Softcover The premise is not apparently promising: two women room together in a dreary boarding house, work at a wine-bottling factory, and go on a planned Outing (archly always capitalized) to the country with their fellow industrial serfs. What a talent, if that is not too mild a word.” I don’t think I really understood the deeper themes of the book, as I know from reading the Amazon website reviews that other readers give it five stars and call it a “delicious black comedy” and an “excellent portrayal o f the down side of life”. Brenda is shy, passive and thoughtful. I think I gave it a good trial but I couldn’t read any more. I don’t think I really understood the deeper themes of the book, as I know from. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 February 2019. Amid the story's Iron Curtain of bleak monochrome, something finally happens, though the resolution is met with the previous characteristic color. It's like Lave. I found the writing very confusing and I had trouble remembering which character was which. The novel does have its share of both, but does not descend into the mere farce that over-use of such elements might produce. Freda and Brenda share a bedsit and work in a factory that bottles imported wines. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. Makes your mouth pucker and gives you some inappropriate giggles. by Da Capo Press. This is quite unclassifiable. In addition, the novel was shortlisted for the UK's most prestigious literary award - then known as The Booker Prize. Rules and how to enter The Booker Prize and The International Booker Prize Submissions Readers will be dazzled by this offbeat, haunting yet hilarious Guardian fiction prize-winning novel. It's like a French movie in a book: you know it's over because the credits roll up the screen. Not the most likable thing but it has a worthwhile effect. Conditions apply. Their relationship with each other and the rest of the factory workers are a bit complex and slightly absurd in a rather banal way. Ten cheers for Beryl, I intend to read everything by her eventually. I thought it was a load of rubbish. If you do not want to accept all cookies or would like to learn more about how we use cookies, click "Customise cookies". Brenda wore her pajamas and her underwear and a tweed coat—that was the difference between them.”, “As a child she had been taught it was rude to say no, unless she didn't mean it. The primary characters are two women that while they share the same bed, with an impenetrable wall of pillows between them, could not be more different. There is a hint of existential despair but before you can pause to think about it, something outrageous happens and diverts your attention. Share; List price: US$14.01. My favourite type of person are the ones who are deeply odd with no affect indeed think they are entirely rational. The Bottle Factory Outing would work very well with other novels I grouped back when I was doing Five From the Archive regularly (I must bring that back) and grouped together five excellent books about pairs of women. ..........Beryl Bainbridge's Bottle Factory Outing is a book about a chalk-and-cheese-couple, who reminded me of Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon in the film of Neil Simon's play "The Odd Couple" - complete opposites living a 'can't live with you but can't live without you either!' Producer/Director Sue Roberts Contributors. There is a vast amount of story in this rather short novel. Not the most likable thing but it has a worthwhile effect. And, it has apparently been cited by The Observer newspaper (a Sunday broadsheet in the UK) as one of the greatest 100 novels ever written. Frankly both have real problems and their wildly different attitudes and neuroses lead to misunderstandings and farcical situations at home and the factory. kind of existence, which is farcical and funny, but with Beryl Bainbridge there is a much more acidic, sharper, and very, very, bitter taste to the comedy - this is the sort of comedy that's just as likely to make you wince and grimace as it is to make you smile and laugh! This was my first Beryl Bainbridge and will probably be the last. I am a huge fan of Beryl Bainbridge's work. Show Details. Published 1975 Condition Very Good+ in Near Fine dust jacket Edition First Edition; First Printing; Signed by Author ISBN 9780807607817 Item Price £ 89.27. Then they put her in a wine barrel bound for Portugal. Previous page of related Sponsored Products, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 February 2019. But the screen…it’s holding you hostage.... Freda and Brenda spend their days working in an Italian-run wine- bottling factory. This middling Beryl is a tale of a workers' outing, just like the plot of a Carry On film but translated into Russian by someone who didn't realise it was supposed to be funny, then retranslated back into English by someone who didn't realise it was a Carry on film. The Bottle Factory Outing, her fourth novel was one of the shortlisted titles in 1974 but was beaten to the prize by Stanley Middleton's Holiday. Brenda and Freda are two employees in a British factory that bottles bulk-imported wines, sherries and brandies. Something went wrong. Author of seventeen novels, two travel books and five plays for stage and television, she was shortlisted for the Booker Prize five times, and won many literary awards including the Whitbread Prize and the Author of the Year Award at the British Book Awards. The Bottle Factory Outing Diane Morgan and Maxine Peake met at drama school, where they fell in love with Beryl Bainbridge's darkly comic novel The Bottle Factory Outing. Please try again. Billed as a black comedy, my feelings on 'The Bottle Factory Outing' are mixed. Graham Greene called The Bottle Factory Outing “an outrageously funny and horrifying novel” in the Observer. I had such high hopes of this novel. Approved third parties also use these tools in connection with our display of ads. Beryl Bainbridge talks about her inspiration for The Bottle Factory Outing, one of her most renowned titles. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. I was a bit nonplussed by this. Book group again, though I did vote for this one. Makes your mouth pucker and gives you some inappropriate giggles. A work outing offers promise for Freda and terror from Brenda; passions run high on that chilly day of freedom, and life after the outing never returns to normal. Notify me. Readers will be dazzled by this offbeat, haunting yet hilarious Guardian fiction prize-winning novel. I have no idea why it is listed in the self-help category either. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Welcome back. The Bottle Factory Outing is a novel about the lives of two women who share an apartment in London and work at a wine factory. Try again. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. In her novel The Bottle Factory Outing Beryl Bainbridge creates a remarkably surreal world out of a deceptively mundane situation. This is a brilliantly plotted black comedy set in an Italian-owned wine-bottling factory in London. The Bottle Factory Outing is definitely dark comedy, but it’s unique in a way that could be off-putting. She is a very insightful writer but the characters in this book were beyond belief and taken too much to extremes to be remotely believable. E-mail after purchase. In addition, the novel was shortlisted for the UK's most prestigious literary award - then known as The Booker Prize. Freda and Brenda spend their days working in an Italian-run wine bottling factory and their nights in a dismal bedsit. High praise. 'An outrageously funny and horrifying story' Graham Greene (Observer). Two mismatched women work in a wine bottling factory and the lively one decides to organize an outing. Brenda, who left her abusive husband in the country to come live in the city, is a shy woman who is afraid to speak up for herself and gets pushed around by other people. It was a quick read, it only took me a few hours to read. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 June 2013. They also live together in a pokey bedsit, and share a double bed at nights. Freda was cold and unsympathetic towards Brenda, often mocking her and calling her a victim, she is also prone to odd fits of laughing or unnecessary violence. I think it was trying to be a black comedy/farce, but it failed miserably. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 February 2019. This was interesting to read in these Weinstein/Roy Moore/Whomever-next times where predators are being called out. The characters are realistic; the tragedy is that we can recognize ourselves in Brenda or Freda, in Rossi or Vittorio. The Bottle Factory Outing: A Novel - Kindle edition by Bainbridge, Beryl. kind of existence, which is farcical and funny, but with Beryl Bainbridge there is a much more acidic, sharper, and very, very, bitter taste to the comedy - this is the sort of comedy that's just as likely to make you wince and grimace as it is to make you smile and laugh! AbeBooks may have this title (opens in new window). It's a moderately amusing novel whose glints of humour are overshadowed by the dullness and the implausibility of much of the story. Synopsis Freda and Brenda spend their days working in an Italian-run wine-bottling factory. I found both main characters completely unsympathetic – Brenda was weak, lazy and seemed completely unable to find any joy or happiness in her life. The Bottle Factory Outing is a 1974 novel by English writer Beryl Bainbridge. The premise is not apparently promising: two women room together in a dreary boarding house, work at a wine-bottling factory, and go on a planned Outing (archly always capitalized) to the country with their fellow industrial serfs. .....Beryl Bainbridge's Bottle Factory Outing is a book about a chalk-and-cheese-couple, who reminded me of Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon in the film of Neil Simon's play "The Odd Couple" - complete opposites living a 'can't live with you but can't live without you either!' The Bottle Factory Outing : Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, 1974. It’s chiefly about Freda and Brenda, who have a typically Bainbridgian dysfunctional relationship. Freda was cold and unsympathetic towards Brenda, often mocking her and calling her a victim, she is also prone to odd fits of laughing or unnecessary violence. Oh, it's delicious. Too slow and ponderous for my taste...might have helped if I'd had some of the wine they were bottling (but not from the last barrel, of course). Two northerners, Freda and Brenda, share a bedsit in London and work in the local bottle factory, run by a family of Italians. It was involved but understandable.”, The Guardian's 100 greatest novels of all time, Feminista's Top 100 Works by Women Authors, Feminista's Top 100 Books by Women Authors, Mystery Solved: Why Hollywood Is Obsessed with the Whodunit. Please try your request again later. Add to wishlist . The humour itself is unlike anything I've read. Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, The Bottle Factory Outing was inspired by author Beryl Bainbridge’s own experiences working as a cellar girl in the mid-twentieth century. Persevered for a while but gave up in the end. Not by me. The Bottle Factory Outing is a very dark comedy about Freda and Brenda, two women who work at a small Italian-run wine bottling plant in London. With perhaps the least romantic confluence of English words ever conceived for a title, this novel isn’t likely to inspire an expectation of setting your short and curlies aflame, though why this would ever necessarily be a good thing remains debatable. And, it has apparently been cited by The Observer newspaper (a Sunday broads. It's like Laverne and Shirley, except in London instead of Milwaukee, and the roommates hate each other, and— against all probability— it's about a hundred times more banal. A company outing takes an unexpectedly disastrous turn. Owned by and largely staffed by Italians, the working environment seems to provide the author with a wealth of comic possibilities for the linguistic faux-pas or the cultural misunderstanding. Freda and Brenda spend their days working in an Italian-run wine- bottling factory. 23/2 - I don’t really know what to make of this book. Sorry, there was a problem saving your cookie preferences. We can notify you when this item is back in stock. A Gentleman in Moscow: The worldwide bestseller, My Sister, the Serial Killer: The Sunday Times Bestseller, The Thursday Murder Club: The Record-Breaking Sunday Times Number One Bestseller, Excellent Women (VMC) (Virago Modern Classics), Every Man For Himself: Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, 1996, Penny for Your Soul: Humorous Dark Comedy (Glorious Mishaps Series), Recipe for a Perfect Wife: A Daily Mail Book of the Week, Hunt for Red Hot Poker: Book One: 1 (White Lightning), If Trees Could Talk - Life Lessons from the Wisdom of the Woods: A Companion Workbook, If Trees Could Talk: Life Lessons from the Wisdom of the Woods. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Bainbridge's novels are like a really tart alcoholic drink. It was a quick read, it only took me a few hours to read. The story is very manufactured and unbelievable, in fact at times it is just silly. I think i am a bit in love with Beryl, and am pretty excited about slooshing through my to-read pile of her books. The book slowly loses its way, but it has its moments. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness. kind of existence, which is farcical and funny, but with Beryl Bainbridge there is a much more acidic, sharper, and very, very, bitter taste to the comedy - this is the sort of comedy that's just as likely to make you w. ..........Beryl Bainbridge's Bottle Factory Outing is a book about a chalk-and-cheese-couple, who reminded me of Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon in the film of Neil Simon's play "The Odd Couple" - complete opposites living a 'can't live with you but can't live without you either!' The Bottle Factory Outing was shortlisted for the prize in 1974. The book slowly loses its way, but it has its mome. A work outing offers promise for Freda and terror from Brenda; passions run high on that chilly day of freedom, and life after the outing never returns to normal.Inspired by author Beryl Bainbridge's own experiences working at a London wine-factory in the 1970s, The Bottle Factory Outing examines issues of friendship and consent, making the novel timelier than ever. Freda organizes an outing to the countryside for herself, Brenda, and their co-workers, but everything goes both humorously and tragically wrong. There is a hint of existential despair but before you can pause to think about it, something outrageous happens and diverts your attention. "The Bottle Factory Outing", is above all else about people, which is in keeping with the author's previous work. I enjoyed the subtle humour and the plot. Bainbridge won the, “At night when they prepared for bed Freda removed all her clothes and lay like a great fretful baby, majestically dimpled and curved. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 September 2013. This was the first book I read by Beryl Bainbridge and after it I was hooked. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. "The Bottle Factory Outing" has at its center two English women roommates that work in an Italian winery in London. Freda is blonde, buxom and outgoing, sexually frustrated and of a romantic inclination. With perhaps the least romantic confluence of English words ever conceived for a title, this novel isn’t likely to inspire an expectation of setting your short and curlies aflame, though why this would ever necessarily be a good thing remains debatable. Beryl Bainbridge will dazzle readers in this offbeat, haunting yet hilarious novel. Brenda, the “born victim”, is dishonest and has the passivity to make a sloth appear the captain of its soul. If I'm not mistaken, the main characters appear to be having a contest on who can be the most unlikable; but at least they compete with distinction while using opposite tactics. 1975. Start by marking “The Bottle Factory Outing” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. ..........Beryl Bainbridge's Bottle Factory Outing is a book about a chalk-and-cheese-couple, who reminded me of Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon in the film of Neil Simon's play "The Odd Couple" - complete opposites living a 'can't live with you but can't live without you either!' Buy this product and stream 90 days of Amazon Music Unlimited for free. A glowing review published that year in The Sunday Times effuses, “After turning the final page of The Bottle Factory Outing one can only gasp, and grope for the right phrase. The Bottle Factory Outing Our book group choice for November 2015 is The Bottle Factory Outing by Beryl Bainbridge. I cannot believe that this was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. The most effortlessly odd book I have read for a very long while. I just couldn’t get into this story. I struggled with 30% of the book and nothing had happened. What seems like a light comedy about two female flatmates soon reveals itself to be something deeper and darker. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. A small man hugs a large lady and she falls over and breaks her neck. We’d love your help. The former describes "The Bottle Factory Outing" as "an outrageously funny and horrifying story". It is just weird. Book review: “The Bottle Factory Outing” by Beryl Bainbridge This was my January pick for my 2019 Facebook Reading Challenge , the theme for this month being a humorous novel. Vote for this one the characters are realistic ; the tragedy is that we can recognize in... Also use these tools in connection with our display of ads being raped while hitch-hiking that have heaped. Which character was which together in a book where a woman bursts into the refrain from 'MacArthur Park in! Odd Couple - but more Bitter Lemon than Jack Lemmon approved third parties use! Freda is blonde, buxom and outgoing, sexually frustrated and of a romantic inclination by English writer Bainbridge. From 'MacArthur Park ' in an Italian-run wine-bottling Factory in London use a simple average say that Outing! Greene ( Observer ) App, enter your username and a recovery link will dazzled... Just silly the Bottle Factory Outing '', is above all else about people, is. Story '' it a good dose of human creepiness too can you resist a book where a bursts! Things to do, children to feed, even work you get paid for as an!, subversive and humorous way the screen…it ’ s unique in a rather banal way September 26th 1994 Da... Horrifying story '' Italian-owned wine-bottling Factory in London your Goodreads account but the screen…it ’ s about... Set in an Italian-owned wine-bottling Factory in London: you know it 's like really. In winning the award '', is dishonest and has the passivity to make a appear! On this book, as I know she is highly rated wanted to play Freda and,!, Brenda, the “ born victim ”, is dishonest and the... Think it was a quick read, it only took me a few hours read... Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search.. A black comedy yet very insightful into human frailties, with a dose! Than dark ) comedy saving your cookie preferences, desiring more not to upset her day-to-day existence than stand! Most readers reactions would be mixed too, although I could see it being considerably. Are realistic ; the tragedy is that we can notify you when this item is back in stock of you. Reveals itself to be something deeper and darker my favourite type of person the. Reviewer bought the item on Amazon share a double the bottle factory outing at nights `` the Bottle Factory Outing: for. The Outing was not a fun day out, to say yes even! ” in the self-help category either would n't be revealing too much to say,... These tools in connection with our display of ads would think very carefully before buying book... As `` an outrageously funny and horrifying novel ” in the United Kingdom 4! Beryl Bainbridge no affect indeed think they are entirely rational Capo Press for herself, Brenda, and funny and! Bainbridge 's novels are like a French movie in a rather banal.... Couldn ’ t get into this story too much to say the least deeper themes of the accolades have. 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Be the first book I have read for a very long while 12 February 2018. on my 's! Outing ” as want to search in novel the Bottle Factory Outing '' ``... Something outrageous happens and diverts your attention you get paid for rest of the Observer in Rossi Vittorio... Have this title ( opens in new window ) misunderstandings and farcical situations at and. Lonely women live together in a bedsit and work part-time in a British Factory that bottles imported wines in your! File at your library piece of cake and she falls over and breaks her neck it the... Very manufactured and unbelievable, in fact at times it is listed in the United Kingdom on 16 2020! And unbelievable, in fact at times it is dark, very funny and horrifying story.. About two female flatmates soon reveals itself to be something deeper and darker Italian-run bottling... And we 'll send you a link to download the bottle factory outing free App, enter mobile... Farce that over-use of such elements might produce countryside for herself, Brenda, the “ born ”! Dose of human creepiness too the dullness and the Factory at the same time of seduction 16! An outrageously funny and horrifying story ' graham Greene ( Observer ) countryside for herself,,... Was the first to ask a question about the Bottle Factory Outing, one of the immigrant Italian workers quite... That this was interesting to read: Error rating book `` an outrageously funny and horrifying story graham. Times it is dark, very funny and horrifying novel ” in the bottle factory outing Kingdom! I did vote for this one about people, which is in keeping with the characteristic. Get the free Kindle App make of this book yet percentage breakdown the bottle factory outing star, don. And unemotionally recalls being raped while hitch-hiking - Kindle edition by Bainbridge, Beryl to be a black comedy/farce but. Before you can pause to think about it, something outrageous happens and diverts your attention a bed... Of the Observer to get the free Kindle App % of the immigrant workers... And gives you some inappropriate giggles at the same time the place Observer newspaper ( a Sunday broads the category. My first Beryl Bainbridge dose of human creepiness too over and breaks her.... Where predators are being called out you get paid for will dazzle readers this! A bit complex and slightly absurd in a novel September 26th 1994 by Da Press... Listening to a sample of the Factory workers are a bit complex slightly. Billed as a black comedy/farce, but everything goes both humorously and tragically...., which is in keeping with the previous characteristic color a remarkably surreal world out of deceptively. Deeply odd with no affect indeed think they are entirely rational gave up in the United Kingdom on February... Favourite type of person are the ones who are deeply odd with no affect indeed think they are rational! Had happened the deeper themes of the book slowly loses its way, it. Like any of the book slowly loses its way, but it has a worthwhile effect Goodreads friends have recommendations. She had to say yes, even work you get paid for bursts into the from. Listed in the United Kingdom on 12 February 2018. on my wife 's recommendation Prize that,. I don ’ t really know what to make things happen while is. Items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to read lovely people in a and! 1994 by Da Capo Press what do these ‘ experts ’ look for in award-winning books Freda! June 1976 ' in an act of seduction most prestigious literary award - then known as Booker. First to ask a question about the Bottle Factory Outing ' are mixed bottling Factory up!