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tuesday_next's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
rarenredman's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mairead_parade's review against another edition
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I had a lot of fun with this - barring the gut punch of the last page or so - and all the characters are vividly drawn and memorable, if not lovable. Enjoyed being immersed in a period/genre I’m not as familiar with.
jessicamusch's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book snuck up and surprised me with a very unexpected 5 star read.
A very witty tale of sisters growing up between WW1 and WW2. I just adored their secret society ‘the Hons’ (and that anyone they don’t like are ‘counter-Hons’).
This is a comedy is masking some great tragedies. I think it is Milford’s flippant way of describing these events that keep the book very light hearted.
The prose is just so deliciously clever and so easy to read.
The characters are all lively and very silly.
Very glad I picked this up - I nearly took it off my tbr. I think I’ll read more from this author.
A very witty tale of sisters growing up between WW1 and WW2. I just adored their secret society ‘the Hons’ (and that anyone they don’t like are ‘counter-Hons’).
This is a comedy is masking some great tragedies. I think it is Milford’s flippant way of describing these events that keep the book very light hearted.
The prose is just so deliciously clever and so easy to read.
The characters are all lively and very silly.
Very glad I picked this up - I nearly took it off my tbr. I think I’ll read more from this author.
katisha93's review against another edition
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
sunsetcypress's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was contemplating whether to give this 4 or 5 stars, but, at the end of the end, I have to ask myself what exactly I would have changed about it. This book is perfect for what it is: a lighthearted romance novel that managed to add a layer of satire and social commentary, basically a comedy of manners about the British aristocracy in the interwar period. The characters are so entertaining (even when they're acting dreadfully), vivacious and peppered with many eccentricities, the language is rich and deeply funny - I have so many phrases and expressions saved up! The choice of having the main character's (Linda's) life narrated by someone else (her cousin) allows for reflective commentary and criticism and even for touching considerations on poor life choices.
I would say that Linda represents transition done badly - her traditional upbringing by aristocratic parents who held old-fashioned beliefs (but always turned out to be indulgent), in combination with changing mentalities, allowed Linda the freedom to basically do as she pleased, but not the good sense to know what to do with that freedom. In another time, she might have married according to her parents' wishes and lived a rather unfulfilled and uneventful life, but, in the interwar period, she marries whomever she wants, gets divorced, marries again and has an affair. She lives in conditions below what she was accustomed to, both material (as her second husband is not a rich man) and societal (as her lover is a wealthy French duke, but she essentially becomes a mistress and a kept woman). She mingles with communists, does various jobs, goes on an adventure to help Spanish refugees in Perpignan, travels by herself, albeit briefly - all things she never would have been able to do in other historical times. But Linda's lack of proper education renders her a spectator of life, rather than a direct participant; her romantic sensibilities always have her longing for more, yet she can never quite identify what would be good for her. She doesn't understand her husbands and, therefore, can't make a suitable match for herself, she gets bored easily but is not intellectually curious enough to commit to any subject or trade and make herself more "interesting" past her beauty. Or rather, she has not been taught those life principles at an age at which they might have made an impression on her and steered her towards a different path.
It's easy to judge Linda, when we have so many tools at our disposal to educate ourselves, both in matters of the world and in psychological deficiencies, gain new skills, access information at need etc, but take those tools away from us and we might stumble blindly through life like her, not understanding very much of anything. Especially when the ideas circulating around and the corresponding events were so new and untested (communism, fascism, two World Wars). In the absence of emotional intelligence skills (with no means to acquire them either), indeed, others' behaviour can be seen as quite opaque and baffling - insight into the human nature is not so readily available!
All in all, this book was very, very entertaining; the satire aspect keeps it from being filler chick-lit representation, while the clever turn-of-phrase (it really is written in a sparkling, jocular manner) is a welcome distinction from modern romance novels.
I would say that Linda represents transition done badly - her traditional upbringing by aristocratic parents who held old-fashioned beliefs (but always turned out to be indulgent), in combination with changing mentalities, allowed Linda the freedom to basically do as she pleased, but not the good sense to know what to do with that freedom. In another time, she might have married according to her parents' wishes and lived a rather unfulfilled and uneventful life, but, in the interwar period, she marries whomever she wants, gets divorced, marries again and has an affair. She lives in conditions below what she was accustomed to, both material (as her second husband is not a rich man) and societal (as her lover is a wealthy French duke, but she essentially becomes a mistress and a kept woman). She mingles with communists, does various jobs, goes on an adventure to help Spanish refugees in Perpignan, travels by herself, albeit briefly - all things she never would have been able to do in other historical times. But Linda's lack of proper education renders her a spectator of life, rather than a direct participant; her romantic sensibilities always have her longing for more, yet she can never quite identify what would be good for her. She doesn't understand her husbands and, therefore, can't make a suitable match for herself, she gets bored easily but is not intellectually curious enough to commit to any subject or trade and make herself more "interesting" past her beauty. Or rather, she has not been taught those life principles at an age at which they might have made an impression on her and steered her towards a different path.
It's easy to judge Linda, when we have so many tools at our disposal to educate ourselves, both in matters of the world and in psychological deficiencies, gain new skills, access information at need etc, but take those tools away from us and we might stumble blindly through life like her, not understanding very much of anything. Especially when the ideas circulating around and the corresponding events were so new and untested (communism, fascism, two World Wars). In the absence of emotional intelligence skills (with no means to acquire them either), indeed, others' behaviour can be seen as quite opaque and baffling - insight into the human nature is not so readily available!
All in all, this book was very, very entertaining; the satire aspect keeps it from being filler chick-lit representation, while the clever turn-of-phrase (it really is written in a sparkling, jocular manner) is a welcome distinction from modern romance novels.
dina_b's review against another edition
4.0
Relatos da mesma família retratada no Amor Num Clima Frio, dando ênfase a prima Linda. É como voltar a uma casa familiar em que o tom sarcástico e humorista de Nancy Mitford, retrata esta família aristocrática rural, tão igual a sua própria família de onde tirou inspiração para estas personagens. É sempre um prazer ler Nancy Mitford.
wattestab8's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
becca_at_tiffanys's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0