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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The first portion of this book was odd, with details about absolutely inconsequential activities, no tension, almost no plot. But then I realized that a reader in England would supply the tension. The summer of 1937 was the last summer with no rumblings of war. The second summer in the book is full of war worries, ended by Chamberlain's Munich Agreement, but the reader knows that Hitler will invade Poland a year later, in September 1939.
I'm sure there are other bits of foreshadowing, but I looked up the Airtex blouses that were bought for the summer. A few years later, Aertex would be the uniform for the British Women's Land Army and for Commonwealth forces in the Middle East and Far East.
There is also a continuous level of detail that never gets in the way. When Emmeline strings and cuts four pounds of runner beans, you know how much work she's done and how many people are being fed in the household. That shouldn't work, most authors couldn't make it work, but Howard does.
I'm sure there are other bits of foreshadowing, but I looked up the Airtex blouses that were bought for the summer. A few years later, Aertex would be the uniform for the British Women's Land Army and for Commonwealth forces in the Middle East and Far East.
There is also a continuous level of detail that never gets in the way. When Emmeline strings and cuts four pounds of runner beans, you know how much work she's done and how many people are being fed in the household. That shouldn't work, most authors couldn't make it work, but Howard does.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Very light read, quite funny in places. Weirdly addictive once you get into it.
I have been meaning to read this first in the Cazalet series for a long time and I was pleased that it did not disappoint as we meet the Cazalet family across three generations during the August of 1937 and 1938 when the children of the Brig (William) and Duchy visit the Sussex family home for what appear to be idyllic English Summers.
The book encapsulates the concerns of a wealthy English family whose money comes from business ,and in the three sons Edward, Hugh and Rupert how the first world war has left them variously scarred physical. We also meet the daughter Rachel who is a spinster with a relationship with another woman Sid, and the various wives and grandchildren.
The narrative quickly flits from one character to another but this did not detract from the enjoyment and only enhanced a multi layered . It certainly in the various tales left little threads which should grow into future explosive points in future books as we the reader know more about the family than the individuals involved so can expect future repercussions. And we also know what is coming in the next years as the book ends with Chamberlains assertions of peace.
Definitely a book I should have read a while ago but I am really looking forward to reading more of this families saga.
The book encapsulates the concerns of a wealthy English family whose money comes from business ,and in the three sons Edward, Hugh and Rupert how the first world war has left them variously scarred physical. We also meet the daughter Rachel who is a spinster with a relationship with another woman Sid, and the various wives and grandchildren.
The narrative quickly flits from one character to another but this did not detract from the enjoyment and only enhanced a multi layered . It certainly in the various tales left little threads which should grow into future explosive points in future books as we the reader know more about the family than the individuals involved so can expect future repercussions. And we also know what is coming in the next years as the book ends with Chamberlains assertions of peace.
Definitely a book I should have read a while ago but I am really looking forward to reading more of this families saga.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
An extremely, slow and sometimes boring book. There's a huge number of characters and a lot of the book is padding out these various characters, presumably to set up the subsequent books in the series. It hops about from one character to the next very quickly and not a lot happens.
Won't be reading any more of her books.
Won't be reading any more of her books.