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Phyllis is living a perfectly normal middle class suburban life in the 60s when her attention is unexpectedly caught by a young family friend and her life upends. From there, an intriguing cast of characters and a slow unravelling of the suburban life. I particularly liked teenage daughter Colette; Phyllis herself less so. The second half the interest really ramped up for me, overall a great read.

I disliked all the characters but was drawn into the story because of the brilliant writing and the late 60s setting was well captured. Sadly, this just wasn‘t for me. The way the story progressed in the second half felt trite and unrealistic. But I definitely want to read more by Hadley. I love the way she writes and develops her characters.

On first starting this I wasn't keen. Although written very recently, it's set in the sixties and uses the language from the era which felt uncomfortable.
Having said that, thoroughly enjoyed the story as ut had enough development to keep it flowing, plus some good family saga!

She can write so well and yet this book didn‘t work for me because all characters felt so unreal to me. The mother who leaves her family and never looks back, the husband who frankly doesn‘t give a damn 😉 and her kids who, well, don‘t really either. That felt so unbelievable.
The setting, Europe in the 60s, was good but I started skimming and rolling my eyes nevertheless 🤷🏻‍♀️

(Photo: Porto, Portugal)

Another great story by one of the great chroniclers of the social mores of English Middle class. This is set in 1967 when a 40 yr old mother of 2 children commits the great taboo of leaving her family for a love affair with a younger man. I loved that this explores generational divides from both sides with the husband in his 50s having served in the war, with the 20+yr olds seeking to smash institutional norms, and children struggling to grow.

2. Free Love, by Tessa Hadley -- Somewhere I've read that every novel is about whether life is worth living. I'm not sure that's true about every novel (Don Quixote? The Phantom Tollbooth?) but this book definitely is. Phyllis Fischer blows up her perfect life, provoking the question of how much damage you can do in pursuit of your true self before it becomes unforgivable.

Set in 1960s Britain, this book was a bit of Anna Karenina, a bit of Madame Bovary but with a modern twist in a very British style similar to Ian McEwan or Alan Hollingsworth. Some interesting twists. My first Tessa Hadley, but won‘t be my last.

On to this book which has a very retro, classic feel to it, as though it could have been written 100 years ago.

I liked it, although it didn‘t end how I thought it would. Characters surprised me, especially Roger, the husband. I wanted the story of Phylis to end neater, but that‘s maybe part of her character: not as definable.

Phyllis is a 40 year old suburban housewife in 1967 when the son of friends kisses her in the dark after a dinner party. She leaves her family on somewhat of a whim and enters his world of artists and socio-political upheaval, much to the confusion of her husband and kids.↘️

Earlier this week I read that every novel is about whether life is worth living. I'm not sure that is true of every novel, but it is definitely true of this one. A perfect but bored Phyllis Fischer makes a choice that changes her life completely and ripples through her family. Was she right or wrong, to upend the lives of so many other people in order to find her true self? The writing is stellar and the characters are unforgettable.

I love Tessa Hadley's writing. This is 1967 and suburban housewife Phyllis runs off with her younger lover leaving her two children and husband behind. You see how this affects everyone in the family and one of the things I like is how all the viewpoints complement each other, there's no one victim, and you see how things wouldn't have been perfect if Phyllis had stayed either. Really good character portraits all around.

I feel like I got short changed in February - where are the last two or three days of the month?! I'll be leaving the two books that I've started and not finished on the list for March I think. My #bookspin - tagged - was one of the new hardbacks I put on the list so I'd have an excuse to buy it and it's fab and I don't want to rush it.

Phyllis is our Mme Bovary / Anna Karenina / Edna Pontellier in 1960s England. She chucks her marriage to a Foreign Officer for a romance with someone young enough to be her son. No ‘punishing suïcide‘ but the ending still broke me quietly.

Lofty plans