Charming account of days gone by

Nothing of any note happens at all and that’s absolutely fine!
Couldn’t help but laugh at some of the outdated concepts and I wondered at times if it’s a parody? Is it?
But yes i so wish today was like these times where everyone had a place/a job to do and was happy with that.
Well worth a read will cheer you up. :)

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A classic Pym

I've always been a fan of Barbara Pym and that very gentle genre of writing. On this listen, however, I found I had tired a little of the old fashioned storyline. That being said, Pym's wit and humour are always enjoyable.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Excellent novel- middling reader.

The novel itself is fine- but as an audio-book it doesn't really tick all the boxes.



Firstly it has to be pointed out that it is NOT (as described) narrated by Jonathan Keeble- he reads the introduction by Alexander Maccoll Smith- but from there on Geri Halligan (sp?) takes over.



She reads it much better than I could have done- but I'm afraid she's not really out of the top-drawer of narrators- she falls down badly on the male voices, which tend to be nasal, same-ish and lacking in the necessary charm.



I also felt that a posher, more clipped voice would have suited the middle-class post-war Pym world better- Another narrator (without turning it into a Brief Encounter parody) might have captured the 'feel' of the period better.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

17 people found this helpful

Observational humour at its best

I loved everything about this audio book. I found it extremely witty, clever, relevant and well narrated. A total delight .

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

A good social history

Excellent soothing listen about nothing in particular . A more gentle time with the same passion s heartbreaks and minutiae of everyday life. Very well observed central character. A hint perhaps vicar Julian was in the closet?

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Subtle, wry comedy of manners

Both entertaining and melancholy, with fabulous cast of eccentric characters. Narration perfectly acceptable - female characters perhaps rendered more convincingly than the male.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Enjoyable but ....

This is an enjoyable read with extremely good characterisations but I felt the narration lacked something. It was played straight and so lost the less obvious subtle levels of irony that are intrinsic in the writing. I also thought that a more clipped enunciation would have been more appropriate to the genteel 50s setting as successfully used by Patricia Hodge or Juliet Stevenson.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A period piece

Pym is as an acute, subtle and witty social observer as Jane Austen. Loved it!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Comforting

Barbara Pyms’ novels are like curling up in front of a fire on a Winters night with a mug of cocoa. Nothing much happens but somehow they still keep you interested. I like the quiet humour and the feeling of a more gentle time.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

lovely writing beautifully read.

It's a perfect match between author and reader. it is enormously enjoyable and I highly recommend.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!