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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The book equivalent of a rice cake. Bland, but not bland enough for any real complaints to be formed
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
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
I really enjoyed this one though a lot of that may have been to do with how many place names I recognised (I live near Bournville!). Thought the family saga was really well written.
This is a great book about recent historical events starting with VE day in the 1940's and ending with the 75th VE day celebrations in 2020.
It is told through the eyes of one family and takes in significant events such as the Queen's coronation, Prince of Wales investiture, 1966 world cup, Charles and Diana's wedding as well as her sad premiture death to name a few.
As. I approach 60, it made me stop and think of the events that make up my life and where I was at certain points in time.
It also made me stop, think and analyse the UK societal infrastructure as a whole and the progress made, or not, over this period of time.
It is told through the eyes of one family and takes in significant events such as the Queen's coronation, Prince of Wales investiture, 1966 world cup, Charles and Diana's wedding as well as her sad premiture death to name a few.
As. I approach 60, it made me stop and think of the events that make up my life and where I was at certain points in time.
It also made me stop, think and analyse the UK societal infrastructure as a whole and the progress made, or not, over this period of time.
I’ve not read Jonathan Coe before but I would like to now. I listened to this book on Audible and the narrators gave a lovely Brummie accent without being so strong that other Counties wouldn’t be able to follow along.
As someone who lives within a short distance from Bournville I really enjoyed listening about all the streets and places that are so familiar too me. I too have watch fireworks on Rowheath Park, although not on VE Day, I’m not as old as Mary.
The book follows Mary from 11 years old but it also follows her son’s stories. Rather than a completely linear story, which would make it very long, it focuses on certain events throughout history like VE Day, The Queen’s Coronation, The World Cup Final of 1966, The Investiture of the Princess of Wales and the Marriage of Charles and Diana, Then the funeral of Diana and finally Covid and the 75th Anniversary of VE Day.
Just like the world has seen a lot of change in these decades, I’ve seen a lot of changes in Bournville. You can definitely smell the difference, I used to sometimes catch the smell of chocolate on the breeze but these days most of the chocolate is not even made in the factory. I remember when Cadbury World was built, but it took me 30 years to go and visit it for the first time. I have visited a few times and been on one of those bean pods on a very surreal ride. I think Jonathan Coe manages to fit a lot in, keep the story flowing and give us a real feel of life over the decades in a small Birmingham Suburb (and sometimes further afield)
I found the ending quite sad but poignant and Jonathan Coe’s Author’s note at the end made me cry when he said that although the character’s were fictional, Mary was based on his own Mum. I do love his one note “As for the tousled hair Boris who first appears in the Brussel’s section, even though he might, of course, seem familiar to some readers, whether he is a fictional character or not remains hard to determine with any certainty”
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story mainly because it was really relatable to me, but also because it was a lovely journey through the times of Britain and history of Bournville.
As someone who lives within a short distance from Bournville I really enjoyed listening about all the streets and places that are so familiar too me. I too have watch fireworks on Rowheath Park, although not on VE Day, I’m not as old as Mary.
The book follows Mary from 11 years old but it also follows her son’s stories. Rather than a completely linear story, which would make it very long, it focuses on certain events throughout history like VE Day, The Queen’s Coronation, The World Cup Final of 1966, The Investiture of the Princess of Wales and the Marriage of Charles and Diana, Then the funeral of Diana and finally Covid and the 75th Anniversary of VE Day.
Just like the world has seen a lot of change in these decades, I’ve seen a lot of changes in Bournville. You can definitely smell the difference, I used to sometimes catch the smell of chocolate on the breeze but these days most of the chocolate is not even made in the factory. I remember when Cadbury World was built, but it took me 30 years to go and visit it for the first time. I have visited a few times and been on one of those bean pods on a very surreal ride. I think Jonathan Coe manages to fit a lot in, keep the story flowing and give us a real feel of life over the decades in a small Birmingham Suburb (and sometimes further afield)
I found the ending quite sad but poignant and Jonathan Coe’s Author’s note at the end made me cry when he said that although the character’s were fictional, Mary was based on his own Mum. I do love his one note “As for the tousled hair Boris who first appears in the Brussel’s section, even though he might, of course, seem familiar to some readers, whether he is a fictional character or not remains hard to determine with any certainty”
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story mainly because it was really relatable to me, but also because it was a lovely journey through the times of Britain and history of Bournville.
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
