306 reviews for:

Bournville

Jonathan Coe

3.81 AVERAGE

k_f_c's review against another edition

4.5

emotional funny informative inspiring 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: Yes

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This is a cleverly written book which carefully details major UK events, while simultaneously narrating the life of the Lamb family over similar decades.

agnesealstrian's review against another edition

4.0

emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

lisajayne06's review

3.5

lighthearted reflective slow-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: Yes

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Really enjoyable family saga taking you from 1945 to 2020. I loved the past and present connections throughout. 
As much as I enjoyed learning so much history about chocolate and Cadbury’s throughout, I wished the stories didn’t deviate too much from the main event each chapter was based around. I think this might have left room for more storytelling and development rather than jumping straight from 1997 to 2020, which in my opinion created a slight disconnect from the characters (except Mary). 
On another character note, I wanted more development for certain characters because I felt like I didn’t know them as well as others. Maybe that was on purpose or there was simply nothing noteworthy about this person that was of interest to the reader. 
All round a really lovely book I enjoyed reading (and it was an excuse to enjoy some Bournville or Cardburys chocolate whilst doing so) 

lukeb314's review

2.0

lighthearted reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

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There were some lovely scenes and sections in this but on the whole, not my thing - I found the jumping in time quite hard to follow especially in the last part, and many of the characters confusingly similar. An interesting look at seventy years of the British through one family watching significant events together, but not one I think I'd re read.

soopmcdoop's review against another edition

3.0

emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

abbinha's review against another edition

3.5

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

literationforthenation's review against another edition

4.0

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I was approved for an ARC of Bournville by Jonathan Coe. I haven't read any other books by this author, but living in the West Midlands and having done so all my life, the title appealed to me.

The story follows four generations of the same family, over a period of 75 years. I found it to be an enjoyable story, and sad in parts. The story covers memorable moments in time, and how the family reacted to those. I would have liked there to be more references to the Midlands, and perhaps more insight into the factory life, but overall I enjoyed the book

#bournville #jonathancoe #netgalley

terst's review against another edition

2.0

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'Meh'

elenlille's review against another edition

funny informative reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

robhattersley's review

4.5

emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes