Reviews

September by Rosamunde Pilcher

bhnmt61's review against another edition

3.0

The problem for me in reading a Rosamund Pilcher novel is that all the good women, the lovable women, are domestic goddesses. They find great fulfillment in their homes, their cooking, their gardening. They would never serve a guest a convenience food item or take them out for dinner instead of serving them a first-rate homecooked meal.

I'd rather read a book. I’m a decent cook, but I don't get much enjoyment out of it. Our home is nice, but I am bored senseless by the traditional crafts of homemaking. When we entertain, it's because I want to spend time with the people we've invited, it's not about the food or the decorations or the freaking fresh flowers. Reading a book where women like me are invariably lonely, lost souls who end up as shriveled old spinsters just gets irritating after awhile.

But still I read all the way through this one (600+ pages) in a couple of days with a minimum of skimming, so there must have been something about it that worked for me. I almost put it down in disgust when she couldn't let go of the madwoman-in-the-attic level portrayal of the mentally ill Lottie. It was an almost comically stereotyped characterization. And there was some soap opera melodrama in the middle that just felt forced, like Pilcher felt like she had to throw in something she deemed racy to keep up with the times.

But I know this novel is much beloved by many. I've probably given you enough information here so that you can tell if you, like me, would find it close to intolerable. Two and a half stars rounded up to three, because my 3 ratings mean “good enough to finish” and I did finish it.

jennnafziger's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed the book, even with its dark and sad ending. The characters were detailed and I liked the way they intersected with each other throughout the book. I loved the rich descriptions of Scotland and the village. It is quite a long book, but doesn’t feel cumbersome to read.

jonesam30's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

sandra_elaine's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I did not want this book to end. Rose Munda is a fantastic author I wish I could get her books written in the 50s and 60s.

aspygirlsmom_1995's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

gwalt118's review against another edition

5.0

September was the last of Pilcher's "Big Four" that I read. It almost took the top spot as my favorite, but Winter Solstice is staying in that spot. Nevertheless, my goodness. What an absolute gem of a novel. I honestly don't even know where to begin.

The feelings of these characters are almost palpable. I was particularly drawn to the women in this novel, especially Virginia. I enjoyed witnessing her evolution as a wife, as a mother, and especially as a woman. There is an element of suspense in this novel that drives the plot forward, unlike any of the other "Big Four." The suspense revolves around two aspects of the plot - Lottie's mental illness and the state of numerous marriages and love interests.

Lottie's mental illness is portrayed in troubling ways at times, and I had to remind myself that this book was published in 1990 and the story takes place in the 1980s (I think - perhaps earlier). I enjoyed the marriage / love interest angles more than I thought I would. Edmund & Virginia, for all their faults, are my favorite couple.

Thematically, I saw echoes of the work of Kate Chopin - an author who I believe is severely underrated and not discussed nearly enough. This novel is about, among many other things, women who are struggling to make decisions. I became particularly attached to the choices of Pandora and Virginia, who act as foils to each other throughout the novel. I won't say anymore for fear of giving something away, but if you like this themes of this nature, I think you'd enjoy this novel.

I am forever jealous of everyone who gets to experience Pilcher's "Big Four" for the first time, but I will also be a lifelong re-reader of these extraordinary novels.

What a joy it was to read September in September.

ems0613's review against another edition

emotional relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

tzlumy's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide and Medical trauma

lucinda_rose3's review against another edition

reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

carolainam's review against another edition

2.0

1'5* - 2*

Novela costumbrista y romántica (? con mucho drama y salseo, PERO con tintes machistas, detalles homófobos, comentarios gordofóbos y un montón de otras cosas problemáticas (team irlandeses siempre, si no quieres recibir pues no te metas).

Tengo claro que este libro se publicó en una época determinada y escrita por una señora con una edad avanzada pero...