A review by dean299bf
The Beginning of Spring by Penelope Fitzgerald

3.0

I enjoyed reading this, but I’m not quite sure why. Penelope Fitzgerald has a distinct elegant prose style, but leaves many aspects of the story unexplained. This may be to reflect how life is most of the time: we can never really know someone else. Even those closest to us. This doesn’t stop Frank trying to find out what is going on with Nellie, his children, most of the other people in this story and the authorities. The thoughts and the reasons for the behaviour of those around Frank are only revealed to him when they are ready to do so if at all. The reader then experiences Frank’s predicament. In this way the story is similar to a le Carre novel. Perhaps this is why I like it.