A review by haylie23
Mapp and Lucia by E.F. Benson

3.0

To not beat around the bush, this book took a while for me to get into which is probably due to the writing style - a lot more polished and refined to reflect the 20/30s than other books I've read. Having said that once you've got through the first couple of chapters and Lucia is firmly residing in Tilling, the story picks up. There is a pointed humour in the actions of the characters and it's enjoyable to read about the social battles between Mapp and Lucia - while a lot of jokes are repeated, it does not lower the humour of the story. The plot does eventually become predictable until nearer the end - even then the improbable is still possible. I did not know until I started reading this book that it is part of a series but this did not hinder my enjoyment or understanding of the book. To sum up: very funny, strong characters and detailed descriptions.