A fairly simple and charming tale of a young girl on the occasion of her 17th Birthday and of the preparations for her first dance.
The writing is beaA fairly simple and charming tale of a young girl on the occasion of her 17th Birthday and of the preparations for her first dance.
The writing is beautiful and, although I thought it was going to be a difficult read at first, I soon got into the rhythm. It's told from the perspective of the main character Olivia and occasionally that of her sister Kate. As we hear her thoughts, opinions and insecurities we can't help but remember our own experiences at that age. The stream of consciousness style is not impenetrable here because it's used to describe some very human and relatable experiences.
There are several wonderful character sketches of the people that Olivia encounters, from the children of the sweep, the unmarried dressmaker and the lace saleswoman, to the retired Major from India and the lonely widower, to the blind chicken farmer and the disappointing Curate, from the angry aesthete, to the drunken soldier and on to the kind and sophisticated Rollo. These encounters bring real depth to the tale by exploring class issues, social injustices and the effects of the recent war on all aspects of society.
A very enjoyable read that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to others. I'm now really looking forward to reading the sequel, which picks up with these characters after a 10 year interval - 'The Weather in the Streets'. ...more
Great fun. A good old fashioned whodunit. I loved the descriptions of the settings and the characters. The plot had plenty of twists and turns althougGreat fun. A good old fashioned whodunit. I loved the descriptions of the settings and the characters. The plot had plenty of twists and turns although the ending was a little drawn out. I could easily imagine an Agatha Christie style Sunday evening drama as I read this one. A light and easy read. Very enjoyable....more
A very enjoyable memoir of a childhood spent in Kenya during the infamous 'White Mischief' era. It was easy to read and the descriptions of the landscA very enjoyable memoir of a childhood spent in Kenya during the infamous 'White Mischief' era. It was easy to read and the descriptions of the landscapes were great. Juanita's father clearly had a lot of issues that led him to cruel and unpredictable behaviour. I can't quite understand a father that would force his daughter to swim in shark infested waters or bet on her diving from the highest boards when she was terrified. Her stepmother, June Carberry, was another interesting character was a key witness in the trial relating to the death of the Earl of Erroll. Much as been made of Juanita Carberry's potential evidence but this forms only a very small part of this book and is less sensational than has been made out in other books about the incident. If you're coming to this memoir as part of wider reading about the Happy Valley set I'd leave this one until last. ...more
Lovely writing and a very easy to read tale about a group of English expats fleeing Burma to escape the Japanese invasion. This book isn't really abutLovely writing and a very easy to read tale about a group of English expats fleeing Burma to escape the Japanese invasion. This book isn't really abut the war but about the characters and their experiences and prejudices. The descriptions of the country were wonderful particularly with the author's use of colours. The plot was pacey with plenty of twists and turns. Not all of the people who set out on the journey make it to the end...and as some of the characters were very unlikeable it wasn't always a blow when they met their ultimate fate! The only downside to this book was the way the author wrote about the female characters. There were altogether too many scenes in incongruous places where the women in question were suggestively manoeuvring their clothes or where their blouse or nightdress became 'taut across their breasts'. There was even a scene where, in illness and delirium, a female character was still almost desperate for male attention. It struck me that the writer didn't know women particularly well, or perhaps that was just a product of the time. Overall though a very enjoyable book that was difficult to put down....more
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