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Most Helpful Reviews
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Liked It2 of 2 members found this review helpful “Spare, unsentimental, deliciously ironic, and exquisitely done. This is my first encounter with Penelope Fitzgerald, and her taut little tale of petty social warfare over a new bookshop in a small English village left me wondering where she’d been all my life. A fine writer, and a very...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “I would have given this an 'it was okay' 2 stars because although it isn't gripping or engaging, it started out as a nice-enough meandering read. And then I got to the last ten pages. I don't swear often but I swore a lot at the backstabbing, conniving, devious townspeople and how the main...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“OK, better written than read. Widow in an English village opens a book shop; wealthy local woman wants the building; story unfolds.”
Old Old Tom wrote this review Tuesday, February 26, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I enjoyed this book but did not like the ending. ”
Nonna wrote this review Thursday, November 1, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Short read--recommended for my library's summer reading program. It was interesting to see how the main character tried to persever against the odds. She was certainly a strong female character. I wish that the "haunted" aspect had been used a little more. All in all a good read.”
Beverly R. wrote this review Saturday, July 21, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“In 1959 a widow with a small inheritance decides to open a bookshop in her seaside town. The old building she buys in damp and haunted and comes with an old warehouse. Things and people conspire against her, including her relative success, being a source of jealousy for the other shopkeepers. I found this to be an utterly depressing book about a malicious town.”
Linda C wrote this review Thursday, June 14, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No1 of 1 members found this review helpful“I would have given this an 'it was okay' 2 stars because although it isn't gripping or engaging, it started out as a nice-enough meandering read. And then I got to the last ten pages. I don't swear often but I swore a lot at the backstabbing, conniving, devious townspeople and how the main character was quite literally left with nothing. This is a book about underhanded and vile people with an absolutely VILE ending. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.”
Paula H wrote this review Friday, March 30, 2012. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“(spoiler alert - small hint about the ending) - the writing is similar to Barbara Pym, but the story (about a woman who opens a bookshop in a small town) ends depressingly so overall I didn't like it a lot.”
Carol Chernega wrote this review Tuesday, February 21, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Always good to read a book-about-books. ”
Trish wrote this review Sunday, September 4, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“fiction, fitzgerald”
mef wrote this review Thursday, July 21, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
