205 reviews for:

Marking Time

Elizabeth Jane Howard

4.22 AVERAGE

cphilipson's review against another edition

5.0

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

haleyflan's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-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

applehawk's review against another edition

4.0

emotional mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

sungmemoonstruck's review against another edition

4.25

emotional reflective sad 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

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A family saga that feels both sprawling and intimate, a portrait of war-time England, and a wonderfully moving depiction of loss and love. Each and every one of these characters is so richly developed, all the way down to the youngest children, and Howard is a master at third-person POV. I felt like I knew and sympathized with every character deeply. I was also really struck by how precisely it captures the ordinariness of living in extraordinary times and the resilience we're capable of. Despite its length, the pages practically flew by. 

readingoverbreathing's review against another edition

4.0

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-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

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Another delightful foray into the world of the Cazalet family, this time with the stakes considerably heightened by the onset of the Second World War.

Elizabeth Jane Howard has created the most charming cast of characters here (except Edward whom I hate) and weaves beautifully between each's perspective. This is such a female-focused family saga, with the women by far taking up most of the page time. Howard presents such a rich portrait of womanhood across every stage that for a woman makes for simply wonderful, though often heavy, reading.

Only a couple of minor complaints — I was pretty put off by Louise for most of this. I think Howard affords her way too much page time and tries to make up for it with how much Polly and Clary complain about her elsewhere. But I do appreciate (even if I don't necessarily feel fully comfortable with) her portrayal of Louise's romantic relationships so far. A man would never believe that a woman could hold herself at a distance from anything more than sexual interest and attraction.

My only other issue was the ongoing lack of communication between Hugh and Sybil. While it might have been somewhat sweet in this previous book, it really reached some highly concerning heights here, and I am just so over it.

However, overall, this was such a lovely reading experience, and I really feel like I have my footing, my favorites, and my least favorites (Edward) within the series now. Looking forward to the next one!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Incest, Infidelity, Dementia

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, War

Minor: Ableism, Rape, Medical content, Abortion, Pregnancy

sprior's review against another edition

4.25

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

rachlincs's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

firvida's review against another edition

4.0

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Leer esta saga es para mí lo más parecido a hacer algo que sabes que no te sienta bien, pero que no puedes dejar de hacer, como un atracón de comida grasienta de noche que luego lamentas a las 3 de la mañana pero, caramba, qué rico estaba en su momento.

Porque joder si es dura de leer. Las tramas que rodean a Edward resultan vomitivas, en este libro aún más que en el primero, las de Hugh y Sybil son dolorosísimas y de Rupert, Clary y Zoë mejor ya ni hablo.

Lo que decía: es una historia que no puedes parar de leer aún a costa de tu salud mental, porque esta es una saga familiar de personajes sufrientes que, para bien o para mal, te arrastran con ellos. En este momento de mi vida, diría que más para mal que para bien, así que ya continuaré cuando me vea con fuerzas.

woolfy_vita's review against another edition

4.0

emotional reflective 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: No

ciarafrances's review against another edition

3.75

emotional lighthearted reflective 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: Complicated