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John Saturnall's Feast. by Lawrence Norfolk
John Saturnall's Feast. by Lawrence Norfolk | Lawrence Norfolk
9 posts | 6 read | 16 to read
From the bestselling author of Lempriere's Dictionary, Lawrence Norfolk is back with an astounding novel of seventeeth-century life, love and war; the story of an orphan who becomes the greatest cook of his age. The village of Buckland, 1625. A boy and his mother run for their lives. Behind them a mob chants of witchcraft. Taking refuge among the trees of Buccla's Wood, the mother opens her book and tells her son of an ancient Feast kept in secret down the generations. But as exquisite dishes rise from the page, the ground beneath them freezes. That winter, the boy's mother dies. Taken to Buckland Manor, John is put to work in the house's vast subterranean kitchens where his talent raises him from the scullery to the great house above.
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review
readingjedi
John Saturnall's Feast | Lawrence Norfolk
Pickpick

Well written & enjoyable but with faults. Enjoyable things = character names were a delight, so inventive but feasible (unlike so many cheesy fantasy names), the kitchen descriptions, certain aspects of the plot (i.e. the mythology), the evocative language (especially about the food), the author's ability to set the scene. Faults = it was basically just a love story - intriguing & unusual (ish) yes, but still - was hoping for .... 👇👇👇👇

readingjedi ...more. More substance, more revelations. The mythology wasn't as developed as I'd have liked nor used as fully as it could've been. Some plot points just petered out with no explanation or resolution (i.e. John's father, the head cook's disappearance). That said it was thoroughly engrossing as the quality of the writing was able to compensate for the minor flaws. 7y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled I liked this one too. The writing was superb. I do remember that there were some plot points that just seemed to fade away! 7y
84 likes2 comments
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MrBook
John Saturnall's Feast | Lawrence Norfolk
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Andrew65 Interesting that they put Khan in the title in the US for 7y
Andrew65 Thanks for the tag @MrBook , if. I was a member of your library I think I might be decimating your display, some great book choices. 7y
Mdargusch I would be drawn to this table for sure! 7y
97 likes3 comments
review
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
John Saturnall's Feast | Lawrence Norfolk
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Pickpick

Definite pick, though I still have some questions about the ending. Fascinating historical fiction with succulent descriptions of aromatic dishes. Set in the 17th century against the backdrop of the English civil war. Recommend for fans of Wolf Hall. 👍

MrBook Oooh! 7y
Sarah83 I still have to read it. 😊 7y
LeahBergen Still TBR for me. 😬 7y
37 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
John Saturnall's Feast | Lawrence Norfolk
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Loving this book! Sat on the couch and my legs were instantly cat-trapped by the new thumb-kitten, so I got lots of reading time.

Bette Great face! 🐱❤️ 7y
Zelma Such a cutie! 😻 7y
See All 6 Comments
Lcsmcat Adorable! 7y
Bookzombie 💕🐱 7y
HotMessJess Such a floof!!! 7y
45 likes6 comments
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readingjedi
John Saturnall's Feast | Lawrence Norfolk

Only at 12% with this one. But one thing has struck me thus far: the author is a master of character names! For example - Mercy Starling. Meg Riverett. Maddy Oddbone. Seth Dare. Tobit Drury. Dando Candling.

DANDO CANDLING!!!!

I wannabe Dando Candling so bad it hurts!

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled I completely support you in this 😂👍 7y
25 likes1 comment
review
Haweller
John Saturnall's Feast | Lawrence Norfolk
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Pickpick

A story about food, adversity, fortitude and love. Set in 1625 England, John raises above his humble beginnings to cook for the king and to love the lady of the manor. The only negative had nothing to do with the story or writing but with the cover flaps that drove me crazy from page one.

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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
John Saturnall's Feast | Lawrence Norfolk
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Have had this in my stack for far too long. Must read asap! Look at these endpapers!! 😮

merelybookish Gorgeous! 7y
LeahBergen I've had this for ages, too. 😬 7y
chapter_fifty2017 I have this too in the over burgeoning tbr book shelves 😞 7y
39 likes3 comments
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Sarah83
John Saturnall's Feast | Lawrence Norfolk
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LeahBergen
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This historical fiction/foodie novel is on my #LitsyAtoZ challenge (J). Has anyone read it? #TitleWithAProperName #ReadJanuary

intothehallofbooks I have not read it, but that cover is amazing! 8y
LeahBergen @intothehallofbooks The inside is amazing, too! It has black and white woodcut illustrations and red ink illuminated capitals. It just begs to be read. 😂 8y
rubyslippersreads Stacked it, based on the cover alone ! 😄 8y
See All 23 Comments
Amandajoy Historical fiction with a foodie twist?! Count me in! 8y
shelf-improvement Oh my god, that cover 😍 8y
CherylDeFranceschi it's on my never ending TBR! 8y
shawnmooney No, but it sounds pretty interesting! If you end up liking it I will track it down myself! 8y
EvieBee No but it's sitting on my shelf too. 😄 8y
Hobbinol I have his Lempriere's Dictionary, but I haven't read it either. This one sounds wonderful too! 8y
The_Old_Astronomer Pretty cover and food? Sign me up! 8y
The_Old_Astronomer @LeahBergen that sounds amazing 8y
Marchpane Yes! It's great, especially the descriptions of the elaborate dishes. Very vivid sense of place and time. 8y
LibrarianRyan That is a beautiful book. 8y
LeahBergen @Marchpane Oh, good! 👍🏼 8y
LeahBergen @Hobbinol I thought that one sounded good, too! 8y
LeahBergen @EvieBee84 The story of my life. 😂 8y
LeahBergen @CherylDeFranceschi I'm right there with ya! 8y
LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads 😂😂 Oh, you. You're as bad as me! 8y
LeahBergen @shelf-improvement I know! 😍 8y
LeahBergen @LibrarianRyan Isn't it though? 😍 8y
87 likes8 stack adds23 comments