The Elevenses Reading Group Book Reviews 2009
Mapp and Lucia by E. F. Benson
This story was set in the 1930’s and is about two women Mapp and Lucia who are battling for social supremacy in the village where they live.
This story was set in the 1930’s and is about two women Mapp and Lucia who are battling for social supremacy in the village where they live.
Book Groups Review
There was quite a split of opinion about this book. Some found it didn’t hold their attention, was difficult to get in to and difficult to relate to. Others thought it was incredibly funny, entertaining and related well to their experiences of village life. The author was a great observer of his time and human nature including clever little details but the farce and melodrama were a bit over the top. The book was well written and it was an interesting commentary on the 1930’s class society.
There was quite a split of opinion about this book. Some found it didn’t hold their attention, was difficult to get in to and difficult to relate to. Others thought it was incredibly funny, entertaining and related well to their experiences of village life. The author was a great observer of his time and human nature including clever little details but the farce and melodrama were a bit over the top. The book was well written and it was an interesting commentary on the 1930’s class society.
The Sword Cabinet by Robert Edric
In this book several stories spin together to tell the history of the King family who are made up of fairground workers, jugglers and magicians.
In this book several stories spin together to tell the history of the King family who are made up of fairground workers, jugglers and magicians.
Book Groups Review
We all found this book very confusing badly written. Many of us didn’t manage to read to the end, deciding there were too many good books around to waste time on this one.
We all found this book very confusing badly written. Many of us didn’t manage to read to the end, deciding there were too many good books around to waste time on this one.
Bliss and Other Stories by Katherine Mansfield
This book is a series of short stories about life in the early 1900’s first published in 1920.
This book is a series of short stories about life in the early 1900’s first published in 1920.
Book Groups Review
The stories were full of imagery and the author managed to paint pictures with her words. However the general opinion was that the stories were inconsequential and didn’t really say anything. Not many people in the group actually finished the book. The stories were well written and there was good use of vocabulary.
The stories were full of imagery and the author managed to paint pictures with her words. However the general opinion was that the stories were inconsequential and didn’t really say anything. Not many people in the group actually finished the book. The stories were well written and there was good use of vocabulary.
The Restraint of Beasts by Magnus Mills
This is a story about a team of fence builders and the calamities they encounter and cause.
This is a story about a team of fence builders and the calamities they encounter and cause.
Book Groups Review
This was the sort of book you wanted to read to the end. Some of the group found it amusing even to the point of laughing out load and some didn’t enjoy it at all. It was quite sinister at times with plenty of black humour.
This was the sort of book you wanted to read to the end. Some of the group found it amusing even to the point of laughing out load and some didn’t enjoy it at all. It was quite sinister at times with plenty of black humour.
Nelson's Women by Tom Pocock
This is a biography about the women in Nelson's life.
This is a biography about the women in Nelson's life.
Book Groups Review
This wasn’t a very successful biography of Nelson’s women as it was much more about Nelson himself. Most people found it difficult to read, not very interesting and too long. Very few members of our reading group made it to the end.
This wasn’t a very successful biography of Nelson’s women as it was much more about Nelson himself. Most people found it difficult to read, not very interesting and too long. Very few members of our reading group made it to the end.
A Sensible Life by Mary Wesley
The story is about a girl called Flora who falls in love with three boys at the age of ten when on holiday with her parents in 1926. The book follows Flora exploring how her life unfolds over the next forty years.
The story is about a girl called Flora who falls in love with three boys at the age of ten when on holiday with her parents in 1926. The book follows Flora exploring how her life unfolds over the next forty years.
Book Groups Review
Most of the people in our group enjoyed this book and felt it portrayed the life led by the upper/middle classes prior to and after the Second World War. The characters were really well developed as a reader you really felt sorry for Flora and grew to hate her parents. It was interesting to see how the characters evolved over a long period of time which you don’t always get the opportunity to do in books.
Most of the people in our group enjoyed this book and felt it portrayed the life led by the upper/middle classes prior to and after the Second World War. The characters were really well developed as a reader you really felt sorry for Flora and grew to hate her parents. It was interesting to see how the characters evolved over a long period of time which you don’t always get the opportunity to do in books.
A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve
This is a story about the revelations of seven class mates who reunite to celebrate a wedding.
This is a story about the revelations of seven class mates who reunite to celebrate a wedding.
Book Groups Review
This book took a while to get into but once you did it was quite a quick read. The writing style was easy to get on with although the story within the story was a bit confusing and not entirely necessary to the plot. We liked the development of the characters and their back stories. Those who had read other books by Anita Shreve enjoyed the story but felt it wasn’t perhaps her best book. Most of the group enjoyed the writing style and thought they would like to try another book by this author.
This book took a while to get into but once you did it was quite a quick read. The writing style was easy to get on with although the story within the story was a bit confusing and not entirely necessary to the plot. We liked the development of the characters and their back stories. Those who had read other books by Anita Shreve enjoyed the story but felt it wasn’t perhaps her best book. Most of the group enjoyed the writing style and thought they would like to try another book by this author.
Sepulchre by Kate Mosse
This book is about Meredith who travels to France to research Debussy. While in France she discovers her long lost ancestors and a connection to her family’s past.
This book is about Meredith who travels to France to research Debussy. While in France she discovers her long lost ancestors and a connection to her family’s past.
Book Groups Review
This book was an enjoyable read but considering it in retrospect there seemed to be some niggling flaws. Most thought the writing was longwinded and the same story could have been told in 200 pages less. It was similar to the authors first book Labyrinth but not quite as good.
This book was an enjoyable read but considering it in retrospect there seemed to be some niggling flaws. Most thought the writing was longwinded and the same story could have been told in 200 pages less. It was similar to the authors first book Labyrinth but not quite as good.
Page Last Updated: 15 November 2011
