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book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
This slim novel is written in epistolary style, as Eliza Peabody writes letters to her former neighbor who is presumably off on some world-wide adventure. As time goes on and Eliza tries to relate what is happening in the neighborhood it becomes clear to the reader that she is not fully connected to reality. At times the work is poignant, other times quite funny, occasionally puzzling, occasionally horrifying and mostly entertaining (if you can consider watching someone descend into madness as entertaining).
I’ve read a number of Gardam’s works and I really appreciate the way she draws her characters. But I felt I didn’t really get to know Eliza, her husband, or any of the other characters that populated this work. It just missed the mark for me as compared to other books by her that I’ve read. I liked it, but didn’t love it.
The novel won Britain’s Whitebread Award for Best Novel of the Year in 1991.
I’ve read a number of Gardam’s works and I really appreciate the way she draws her characters. But I felt I didn’t really get to know Eliza, her husband, or any of the other characters that populated this work. It just missed the mark for me as compared to other books by her that I’ve read. I liked it, but didn’t love it.
The novel won Britain’s Whitebread Award for Best Novel of the Year in 1991.
pattricejones's review against another edition
5.0
Remarkable. Comic and terrifying in equal measures. Psychologically astute. But do not read all of these detailed reviews, which will blunt your experience of the book. Don't even linger too long with the blurbs and synopsis on the cover of the book itself. Just jump in.
erboe501's review
5.0
This book was excellent, and something I randomly picked up at a used bookstore mostly because it's a Europa edition. It took a minute for me to hit my stride with the book's tone and perspective, but once I did I found it charming, unsettling, unexpected, and banal. I did a lot of underlining of great turns of phrase and observations. I teared up and snorted a laugh. I really enjoy books written from the perspective of a maybe-unhinged woman.
I will definitely read more Jane Gardam in future.
I will definitely read more Jane Gardam in future.
lizwisniewski's review
3.0
Gosh....I am really loving this author. Her characters are so compelling, warts and all. I am reminded of the latin authors who write those magical/surrealist novels, like Love in the Time of Cholera. (OK Laura, you won't like her because she is still rambling and British.) But I am ready for the next Jane Gardam on my list - The Man in the Wooden Hat!
pattydsf's review
3.0
I swore this year I would keep better track of how I find the books I read. I can't remember what made me pick up Jane Gardam right now. I am pretty sure an author referenced her, but I may never remember the circumstances and the Internet seems unwilling to help me.
I usually enjoy epistolary novels and so I was excited when I realized that The Queen of the Tambourine was letters written by Eliza to her friend Jane. However, after awhile the correspondence seemed a bit off. What exactly is happening in this story?
I found myself off center for most of this novel. Eliza seemed to have a good life, but she wasn't happy. Most of the time, she seemed crazy, but then Gadam wrote scenes that were all too sane.
I don't think I will fully appreciate and understand this novel until I have read some other books by Gadam. Are all her stories so hard to follow? Is this her style? Does she have special insight into British middle class women? I just don't know what to make of this whole book.
I gave this three stars because I did like it while I was reading it. But now, as I try to review Eliza Peabody's tale, I am confused. I am not sure I can recommend this to anyone.
I usually enjoy epistolary novels and so I was excited when I realized that The Queen of the Tambourine was letters written by Eliza to her friend Jane. However, after awhile the correspondence seemed a bit off. What exactly is happening in this story?
I found myself off center for most of this novel. Eliza seemed to have a good life, but she wasn't happy. Most of the time, she seemed crazy, but then Gadam wrote scenes that were all too sane.
I don't think I will fully appreciate and understand this novel until I have read some other books by Gadam. Are all her stories so hard to follow? Is this her style? Does she have special insight into British middle class women? I just don't know what to make of this whole book.
I gave this three stars because I did like it while I was reading it. But now, as I try to review Eliza Peabody's tale, I am confused. I am not sure I can recommend this to anyone.
eowyns_helmet's review
5.0
A wonderful, wonderful read -- smart, wincing, a surprisingly large scope. Sentence to sentence, one of the best writers I've read. In her artistry and skill reflecting her characters' emotions, on the level of [a:Hillary Mantel|8294944|Hillary Mantel|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-a7c55399ea455530473b9f9e4da94c40.png]. This is also fabulous for anyone who loves reading -- or aspires to write -- an epistolary novel. Through her increasingly crazed letters to Joan, Eliza comes out a fascinating, disturbed, hilarious and very, very funny person.
toni_says_smile's review
2.0
This is a difficult book to review. Ultimately I'm left with the feeling of having struggled to read something that I'm never going to reread because the skill of the author's style didn't outshine the poor construction of the narrative.
I love Jane Gardam's writing - she excels at what she does. Here she manages to reflect mental states perfectly through word choice and style, juxtapose the late and early 19th Century in a really impactful way, create a believable unreliable narrator, and generally use lovely turns of phrase. She's a master of subtly showing us a picture of reality alongside the actual storyline.
However, I think she's more successful in her short stories than her novels. Certainly this isn't the best thing I've read from her. Parts of the story dragged - there were long stretches where the main character just spins her wheels. Yes that time is used to make us doubt the reliability of the narrator, but not enough storyline happens. I was rewarded when I got to the end, but I had to be determined to get there.
I love Jane Gardam's writing - she excels at what she does. Here she manages to reflect mental states perfectly through word choice and style, juxtapose the late and early 19th Century in a really impactful way, create a believable unreliable narrator, and generally use lovely turns of phrase. She's a master of subtly showing us a picture of reality alongside the actual storyline.
However, I think she's more successful in her short stories than her novels. Certainly this isn't the best thing I've read from her. Parts of the story dragged - there were long stretches where the main character just spins her wheels. Yes that time is used to make us doubt the reliability of the narrator, but not enough storyline happens. I was rewarded when I got to the end, but I had to be determined to get there.
decembermum's review
3.0
I spent the first half of the book feeling very confused, rather like poor Eliza I suppose. Then about half way through something seemed to click and I was hooked. Very cleverly written and lose ends nicely tied up at the end.
bookpossum's review
4.0
A fascinating book, told entirely in letters from the protagonist to a woman who had been a neighbour. But is Eliza sane, and how reliable a narrator is she?
Jane Gardam is a wonderful writer, and I could hardly bear to put this book down because I wanted to work out just what was going on, and I cared about the various characters.
Jane Gardam is a wonderful writer, and I could hardly bear to put this book down because I wanted to work out just what was going on, and I cared about the various characters.
kbuchanan's review against another edition
4.0
Jane Gardam's delicate but sharp prose continues to enthrall in this epistolary novel that takes place inside the mind of one woman. Determining just what is true and what is false in our narrator's disjointed experience of the world may be less important here than entering fully the feel of how her life is lived and how personal relationships, even robust, important ones, ebb and flow as life progresses. Time changes, heals, distorts, and wounds in this novel as we proceed toward a conclusion executed as only Gardam can. Deeply cerebral, often funny, and ultimately deeply human.