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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
Coe uses some big 20th century historical moments to situate and contextualise his vivid characters. I love books that remind us that we are living through and part of history. We exist in time and space. Coe is telling stories within larger stories and it’s all delightful. This is impressively as good as Middle England
I wanted to like this book more, because some of it was wonderful. But parts of it seemed contrived and cliched.
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
2.5 stars
This was super interesting but I have some comments:
1. It is not about Bournville and I find the title very misleading. I wanted to hear about the history of the area; the people who lived and worked for Bournville.
2. If I wanted an over descriptive load of facts about events in Britain I would read a history book.
3. The broadcasts added nothing to the story. I can watch / listen to archive footage myself thanks.
4. The part about the pandemic at the beginning seemed an odd place to start and I almost gave up there and then.
This book was good in some ways, but it was just major events in Britain sort of told through one family’s eyes… except it was more ‘this is what’s happening on tv right now’ and I just got quite irritated by it.
It’s a perfect example of telling rather than showing and some of the letter between friends were in so much detail I just didn’t find them credible; it also doesn’t feel very balanced, which is a shame.
Mary aside, the characters are quite hard to distinguish as they are all quite dull and there’s never enough time to help us get to know them.
Disappointing.
This was super interesting but I have some comments:
1. It is not about Bournville and I find the title very misleading. I wanted to hear about the history of the area; the people who lived and worked for Bournville.
2. If I wanted an over descriptive load of facts about events in Britain I would read a history book.
3. The broadcasts added nothing to the story. I can watch / listen to archive footage myself thanks.
4. The part about the pandemic at the beginning seemed an odd place to start and I almost gave up there and then.
This book was good in some ways, but it was just major events in Britain sort of told through one family’s eyes… except it was more ‘this is what’s happening on tv right now’ and I just got quite irritated by it.
It’s a perfect example of telling rather than showing and some of the letter between friends were in so much detail I just didn’t find them credible; it also doesn’t feel very balanced, which is a shame.
Mary aside, the characters are quite hard to distinguish as they are all quite dull and there’s never enough time to help us get to know them.
Disappointing.
For my doing I read the book "in one go", some parts are less convincing, but overall it confirms the UK "culture" of a certain middle of the road milieu as I have come to know it over the years.
Just started. I know yet another book "currently reading".
I'll come back once finished.
Just started. I know yet another book "currently reading".
I'll come back once finished.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Middle England mi era piaciuto moltissimo.
Bournville è interessante e lo sguardo sulla politica uk rimane sempre vigile, ma l'evoluzione dei personaggi e la saga familiare è meno convincente.
Bournville è interessante e lo sguardo sulla politica uk rimane sempre vigile, ma l'evoluzione dei personaggi e la saga familiare è meno convincente.
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Very nostalgic of my home town, I loved the little sayings and colloquium of the language. A winding story that took me on a whole lifetime adventure! Enjoyed it a lot but sometimes got a little lost with the amount of characters!
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No