Scan barcode
rzh's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
lyrareadsbooks's review against another edition
2.0
The. Eat thing about this audiobook was the narrator, otherwise it was tedious.
meghan111's review against another edition
3.0
Set in post-World-War-II England, this novel has a great narrator - an overweight youngish woman named Mrs. Hawkins (always addressed as Mrs. Hawkins, never by her first name) who has an air of great authority and decided opinions about things and people. She works as a copy editor at a small London publishing house, and lives in a boarding house where she observes the lives of all the other residents. The book is enjoyable because of her voice, reminiscent of [b:Notes on a Scandal|17017|Notes on a Scandal What Was She Thinking? A Novel|Zoë Heller|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166795546s/17017.jpg|18650] by [a:Zoe Heller|8268|Zoë Heller|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1252479177p2/8268.jpg].
dansquire's review against another edition
5.0
I unexpectedly loved this book! I'd already read The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, which is probably Spark's most famous book, and wasn't particularly impressed - so didn't have high hopes for this. But A Far Cry From Kensington is so much funnier and the characters more interesting. A quick read but it packs a lot in, including a devastating takedown of the pretentious but terrible author, Hector Bartlett. Would recommend.
lizwisniewski's review against another edition
5.0
Well! Muriel Spark! Wish I had found her earlier. This was completely delightful. I loved it. So well written, great main character, funny, clever. Every night I just looked forward to sitting down with this book. Guess I am going to have to go back and read Miss Jean Brody and the Finishing School. Can't wait.
catmom21's review against another edition
4.0
This was a book I picked up at random to listed to during my walks to and from work. It was recommended to me because of a few other books I have read, so I thought I would give it a go.
I audiobooked it, and as always that can have an impact on my impression of the book given the narrator's added emphases. This book doesn't quite fit into any genre. It's not really a comedy, not really a mystery, not really a coming-of-age story - yet it's really all three at the same time.
I would likely rate it a 3.5, except at the end of the book I wanted it to go on. That doesn't always happen and sometimes I find myself rushing to the end, just hoping for a conclusion so I can be done with it. That wasn't the case here at all - I was thoroughly enjoying the story and wanted to hear more about Nancy (Mrs. Hawkin's) life with the magazine, her marriage to William, and her friendship with Millie.
I look forward to unearthing more of the author's novels.
I audiobooked it, and as always that can have an impact on my impression of the book given the narrator's added emphases. This book doesn't quite fit into any genre. It's not really a comedy, not really a mystery, not really a coming-of-age story - yet it's really all three at the same time.
I would likely rate it a 3.5, except at the end of the book I wanted it to go on. That doesn't always happen and sometimes I find myself rushing to the end, just hoping for a conclusion so I can be done with it. That wasn't the case here at all - I was thoroughly enjoying the story and wanted to hear more about Nancy (Mrs. Hawkin's) life with the magazine, her marriage to William, and her friendship with Millie.
I look forward to unearthing more of the author's novels.
mizpurplest's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book so much I went and checked out two more of Muriel Spark's books. It's so subtle I never expected to enjoy it this much, but it snuck up on me and couldn't have been better. Fabulous.
jenmcmaynes's review against another edition
4.0
Much like "Loitering with Intent", this book features a narrator with a wry, crisp voice, shady dealings in the publishing world, and 1950s life of London. I really enjoy Spark's settings and style, and her strong female leads. Her plots tend to be circuitous, with random encounters and chance comments connecting everything in the end. I happen to enjoy that, but I could see other readers finding it frustrating. There isn't really much to say about this w/o rehashing the plot, except that I enjoyed it and will continue reading her works.
lindseysparks's review against another edition
3.0
I had just read a rave review of this and then happened to see it a half price books clearance sale. I liked it, but I don't think much about it will stick with me except the main character referring to one of her want to be authors (she's an editor) as a pisseur de copie to his face. Repeatedly and unapologetically. So I loved her, but the book itself was just flimsy - not much to it other than a few good zingers.
drrachrich's review
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0