pickThe story opens with a murder. Who is it and why did it happens slowly unfolds through the book as we meet all the wonderful women of the Briar Club. Quinn has her touch of historical fiction highlighting life in the 50‘s giving each character a piece of what woman struggled with in that decade. It‘s a great story of women coming together and how their lives intertwined. Satisfying ending as well ☺️
so-soI‘m in the minority here but I didn‘t even finish this one. I still had 4 hours left & I doubt I‘m going to renew it to finish. Maybe because there were so many characters, it was hard to keep up. Plus I‘m not really into the whole pulling characters from other stories & entwining it into another story. There were some other things that irked me: all the different accents, it just felt like she was trying to address every major issue women were
pickI really enjoyed this satirical look at a rural community at a time when social mores were changing significantly.
so-soIn the build-up to QEII's coronation, a polio survivor is working as a stage magician's unseen assistant.
I thought this was a murder mystery with a gay detective and so was getting more and more confused waiting for a body (which never appeared) and for more exploration of gay life at the time (which only had a few mentions near the end). If I'd known what I was actually getting into I might have been in a better frame of mind to appreciate it.
Let me try this for an opening.
#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl
College Street.... a maze of coffee shops and dusty bookstores, where, the tongawallah informed her, customers could sit and read for as long as they wished without buying so much as a pamphlet.
Persis wondered, briefly, what her father would make of such wild generosity; she suspected his heart might literally implode at the thought of his own clientele wantonly thumbing the Wadia Book Emporium's merchandise before leaving without a purchase.
She recalled a lecture delivered by a visiting American economist.... a large, florid man who'd reminded her of a water buffalo, had confidently predicted the end of the Raj.....
He'd underlined his analysis with a colourful remark that had stayed with her: Running a colonial enterprise is like raising an elephant. It's hard work, costs a fortune, and sooner or later the elephant craps on your head.
pickVery good. Enjoyed the suspense and the build up to the conclusion. Loved getting to know all the characters and their stories. Rich in details which makes you feel part of the story. Also loved how the house is a character all of its own which gives it an extra layer. Thank you #Netgalley and #HarperCollins for the free copy.
@HarperCollins
