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A review by monazaneefer
The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)
Format: Audible
For a while now, I've been looking for a light read to get into between classics, which are quite dense of course. And finally, I've got one and am glad it's a series!
This book is very much catered to a specific audience so I can imagine why a lot may find this boring. But this being a family saga of an upper class British family that's set in the early 20th century, it's up my alley. So it having next-to-no plot didn't bother me.
Although this book is very much absorbing and binge-worthy on its own (I listened to it almost non-stop), I don't feel compelled to pick the next book right away. Given the fact that this book alone is large and stretches the everyday-ness of the characters, I feel like I've drunk the entirety of the cup for now. I'm basically full in a content sort of manner and I'll pick another when I'm thirsty again.
As for my qualms, I know it's meant to be a light read, but I wish the characters had a firm foot in this story. It's not like something significant has to happen to them but at least have some situation that's specific to them and out of the ordinary everyday-ness that this book focusses on. This would've accentuated the individuality of each character and made each unique as opposed to just being 'another' from the large cast of characters. The large cast gets a bit overwhelming, especially when more characters keep entering the novel. Amongst the adults, I enjoyed reading about Rupert and Zoe and really hope to see them in the second novel. And as for the kids, apart from the older boys, I found them all to be amusing (especially the younger ones). But it is Polly and Louise I like best. I skipped Rachel and Sid's bits. Not interested.
Format: Audible
For a while now, I've been looking for a light read to get into between classics, which are quite dense of course. And finally, I've got one and am glad it's a series!
This book is very much catered to a specific audience so I can imagine why a lot may find this boring. But this being a family saga of an upper class British family that's set in the early 20th century, it's up my alley. So it having next-to-no plot didn't bother me.
Although this book is very much absorbing and binge-worthy on its own (I listened to it almost non-stop), I don't feel compelled to pick the next book right away. Given the fact that this book alone is large and stretches the everyday-ness of the characters, I feel like I've drunk the entirety of the cup for now. I'm basically full in a content sort of manner and I'll pick another when I'm thirsty again.
As for my qualms, I know it's meant to be a light read, but I wish the characters had a firm foot in this story. It's not like something significant has to happen to them but at least have some situation that's specific to them and out of the ordinary everyday-ness that this book focusses on. This would've accentuated the individuality of each character and made each unique as opposed to just being 'another' from the large cast of characters. The large cast gets a bit overwhelming, especially when more characters keep entering the novel. Amongst the adults, I enjoyed reading about Rupert and Zoe and really hope to see them in the second novel. And as for the kids, apart from the older boys, I found them all to be amusing (especially the younger ones). But it is Polly and Louise I like best. I skipped Rachel and Sid's bits. Not interested.