Scan barcode
lolalu's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bgg616's review against another edition
5.0
This book was such a surprise! I expected some short stories about England in the 1930's that were related to Christmas. What I discovered were stories that explored the intricacies of life in England as it moved from the Edwardian Age into the Modern Era. Gibbons explores deep themes - the meaning of life, the role of women, relationships versus isolation in her stories. It is a cliché to describe stories in a collection such as this as gems, but each of these stories truly is. I liked every single one. Alexander McCall Smith wrote the introduction to this edition. He compliments Gibbons but reserves higher praise for her contemporary Barbara Pym. I don't think a comparison is needed or even fair. Gibbons work in this collection shows she stands the test of time, and richly deserves a contemporary readership.
pikaharlow98's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
stagasaurus's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
There’s a lot of repetitive themes in this collection of short stories and I’m struggling to understand who Gibbons is trying to convince.
emilyyyy's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
toofondofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories and will be looking out for more of Stella Gibbons' work in the future.