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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Atkinson is one of my favorites. This novel juggles many characters and plots - but it all works together in a way that avoids confusion. It took me a minute to get oriented, but once familiar with the cast of characters it’s not confusing.
In post-WWI London, people are living it up in the nightclubs of Soho, owned by Ma Coker, just released from prison. The Bright Young Things are holding their over-the-top parties, the police, bent or straight, are trying to keep up, and people from all walks of life are being drawn into the glittering life with a very dark heart. There's a large cast of characters, including a fearless librarian, action, and complicated relationships in this funny, moving, thrilling, and delightful book.
How can Kate Atkinson ever write a bad book? She has done it again with this wonderful romp through the decadent, dangerous and frenetic decade of the 1920s. The horrors and tragedies of WWI are rapidly being drowned in liquor, drugs, debauchery, night life, gambling and any other device designed to make one forget and have a good time, all at the same time. Nellie Coker, now in her 50s, is the queen of this life of depravity and debauchery with her chain of what we would call nightclubs - her Shrines of Gaiety. Her entire life has been all about remaining ahead of the game, those who want to bring her down, hauling herself out of a life of poverty and deprivation, safeguarding it all for her 6 very diverse and challenging children. Parallel to Nellie trying to save her empire is the story of young Freda, in her early teens, who has escaped the dreariness of York for the bright lights of London, where she want to be an actress. Freda's short life has not been easy, but she is a very bright girl, with exceptional wits and intuition which keep her safe and alive. Her partner in this escapade is Florence, ridiculously naive and spoilt who just wants to get away from her loving parents. The contrast in lives between these two girls is extreme, yet they become best friends. And there is a third thread going on here too. Gwendolyn managed to escape her pre-ordained pre-WWI life by becoming a nurse on the battlegrounds. Her life on civvy street as a librarian just does not give her quite the vibes she had nursing. So when she is asked by Florence's older sister to go to London to see if she can track Florence down, she jumps at the chance. With young women turning up dead on the banks of the Thames, Gwendolyn is under no allusions she will be successful, and getting into Nellie's empire exposes her to the excitement seriously lacking in her librarian life. Wonderfully entertaining, a visual symphony of life amongst both the rich and the poor in 1920s York and London, diverse and strong characters who all find themselves at some stage in a moral or personal quandary of some sort, it is a brilliantly absorbing and satisfactory read.
Kate Atkinson has been recommended to my by so many people, and this was my first one. I listened to it on Audible and LOVED it. Definitely want to listen to her other books as well - really engaging and well-written.
Just not my thing, or not what I was looking for. Too disjointed and hard to follow.
"She was quite expressive for a librarian. Almost Italian. The word 'librarian' had previously conjured up and image of vinegary spinster, not the animated creature before him."
"It had never ceased to surprise Gwendolen how much panic could be engendered by a misplaced book or index card wrongly filed."
Bodley's so-called Gentlewomen. The Library had not been a career choice (after all, who would choose to be a librarian?) but a financial necessity after the family money was lost."
"'What? Don't be so dramatic, all of you,' Nellie said brusquely. 'She's a librarian.' 'A what?' Nellie stoutly ignored this chorus of dismay."
"A woman in her sixth decade, dressed in everyday drab, is more invisible than a librarian."
________________________________
Having been a librarian, of course, I absolutely loved all these references. Ones that made me laugh at loud as they are still true for most people!
One another note, I loved this book through each chapter, each unique character (even the bad guys!), and the unexpected twists and turns...however, I will say I was a bit disappointed with the endings! I am not sure why, yet, as I am pondering it. Oh, I do not expect "happy endings" and these were certainly fine endings; it is just that I asked myself upon finishing it this question:
*Spoiler*
Did I really need to know what happened to each character in the future? Did this detract from being present in the immediate narrative?
"It had never ceased to surprise Gwendolen how much panic could be engendered by a misplaced book or index card wrongly filed."
Bodley's so-called Gentlewomen. The Library had not been a career choice (after all, who would choose to be a librarian?) but a financial necessity after the family money was lost."
"'What? Don't be so dramatic, all of you,' Nellie said brusquely. 'She's a librarian.' 'A what?' Nellie stoutly ignored this chorus of dismay."
"A woman in her sixth decade, dressed in everyday drab, is more invisible than a librarian."
________________________________
Having been a librarian, of course, I absolutely loved all these references. Ones that made me laugh at loud as they are still true for most people!
One another note, I loved this book through each chapter, each unique character (even the bad guys!), and the unexpected twists and turns...however, I will say I was a bit disappointed with the endings! I am not sure why, yet, as I am pondering it. Oh, I do not expect "happy endings" and these were certainly fine endings; it is just that I asked myself upon finishing it this question:
*Spoiler*
Did I really need to know what happened to each character in the future? Did this detract from being present in the immediate narrative?
medium-paced