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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Disappointing, especially after the author's previous gem of a book. As others have said here, overblown and with characters and situations we've seen time and again in other novels and BBC series.
It is so hard to find such succinct and clean writing these days, and a lovely story to boot. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Just perfect, hitting all the notes of the quiet before, the tumult within and the way our lives follow us. One of the best books I've read in a very long while.
The Latin teachers of my acquaintance lead rather mundane lives compared to our novel’s heroine. At every turn, she is confronted with sharp-tongued gossips, life and death situations, and hormonal upheavals I was pleasantly exhausted when I turned the final page; relieved for Beatrice, broken-hearted for Agatha, and feeling quite bereft about Snout and his dog. Celeste – well, she and I did not bond.
This little slice of life before the war is carefully and cleverly crafted. Simonson weaves the myriad of historical situations in 1914 England from fleeing Belgians, men and women who are outliers both political and sexual, to the subtle navigation through village life and its class system.
The scope of this novel is wide, which is a treat to those who immerse themselves in setting and the nuance of history, but this precludes depth with the characters on a level I prefer. It left me hoping for a companion novel. Those who enjoyed her first novel, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand will not be disappointed here.
This little slice of life before the war is carefully and cleverly crafted. Simonson weaves the myriad of historical situations in 1914 England from fleeing Belgians, men and women who are outliers both political and sexual, to the subtle navigation through village life and its class system.
The scope of this novel is wide, which is a treat to those who immerse themselves in setting and the nuance of history, but this precludes depth with the characters on a level I prefer. It left me hoping for a companion novel. Those who enjoyed her first novel, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand will not be disappointed here.
Beatrice Nash has just arrived in the small town of Rye, East Sussex, England. Her father passed away not long ago, leaving her on her own. She is young, prettier than had been anticipated, and determined to be independent. She is taken under the wing of Agatha Kent, the influential woman who sought after her to fill the open position of Latin teacher at the nearby school. Agatha’s two nephews, Hugh Grange, and Daniel Bookham are the first friends Beatrice makes in her new setting. She begins to settle in despite the local gossip and obstacles she encounters in a male dominated society. Soon refugees fleeing the invading Germans begin arriving in Rye. As WWI intensifies, the young men enlist to serve and the idyllic life the townspeople had been living comes to an end.
Like a romance straight out of a Jane Austen novel. I can picture it being made into a movie similar to Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility. This one could be called Liberty and Love.
Like a romance straight out of a Jane Austen novel. I can picture it being made into a movie similar to Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility. This one could be called Liberty and Love.
I am a sucker for an atmospheric historical fiction with tender and complicated love stories. This is Downton Abbey in book format, and it was made just for me.
Loved every minute, no notes, just bliss.
Loved every minute, no notes, just bliss.
Not as good as her debut, but mostly an enjoyable story.