foggy_rosamund's review against another edition
2.0
My mum leant this to me to read as while I was suffering from sinusitis. I wanted something light, and I suppose that is what I got! She likes it a lot, and kept asking me where I was in the story, and laughing about the different scenes. So I feel rather guilty to have not liked it very much. We begin with Mary as a child, visiting her wealthier relations at their country house, hero-worshipping her cousin Denys. The story is framed by two chapters in which Mary is afraid her husband may have been killed: in between lies the whole story of Mary's life, up to the point where she meets her husband. Monica Dickens writes with charm and humour, and this sustained me through the first half of the book. But the more I read, the more bored I became with Mary, and Monica Dickens' conventionality runs against my own grain. The episode in which Mary cannot marry Pierre because he does not appreciate the wonder of England or the joy of living a conventional English life really made me want to throw the towel in. I was skipping bits by the end. Perhaps Dickens mostly works for me when she's writing about childhood and animals; her musings on adult life are not for me.
Some unexpected antisemitism thrown in here, too.
Some unexpected antisemitism thrown in here, too.
ailsastephanie's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kitty_kat21's review against another edition
1.0
Originally posted here
It was impressive for me to have finished this book considering I found it insufferably boring. The book opens with the main character Mary, it's during World War 2 and she has just found out that a military vessel has sunk and she has no idea whether her husband is one of the rescued or a casualty. It is the middle of the night and there just so happens to be a violent storm so the telephone lines are down and she has to wait until morning before she can find out anything. The story flashes back from that point to tell Mary's entire life story from childhood; I found the reading experience to be about as interesting as watching paint dry.
I do usually enjoy character driven plots but Mariana made me realise that I prefer the main character to go through some sort of hardship in order for it to be compelling to me. Mary experiences no hardship whatsoever, she maybe broke a nail one time or something equally ridiculous. There was nothing about her life that interested me in the slightest. Actually, her brief relationship with Pierre was probably the only part that I enjoyed and that was half a chapter.
There is a lot of cutting and bitchy commentary throughout the entire book, Mary is constantly judging other girls. She is harsh about their looks, weight, intelligence and even slut shames some poor girl because she had a passionate embrace with her fiancé on a bench at a party. I understand this book was originally published in 1940, but still - I guess some things never change. Mary's vitriol is even turned against herself as she buys a dress that is too small and then is full of self-loathing because one of the seams keeps popping open. Mary spends a good majority of the whole book just bemoaning at how fat she is. That is honestly as interesting as the story gets.
I found Mary to be self-absorbed, living in a privileged bubble, spoiled and vapid. She did not have a single interesting thought during the entire book. The other characters just blended into one and I really regret wasting my time struggling to finish it as it never redeemed itself. The biggest disappointment of the year so far.
seaswift14's review
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chickiebean_loves_books's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Five things about Mariana by Monica Dickens 📚📚📚📚
1. Mariana (Mary) isn’t the most likes me of characters but Dickens still manages to write her in a way that draws out sympathy.
2. The writing is very engaging at times. Dickens excels at setting a scene but ultimately there’s very little actual plot and the whole looking back on your life from ages 8-20ish got long…very very long.
3. I skimmed whole bits just because the effort to make progress with Mary sometimes felt so exhausting in that way too much boredom makes you lethargic. Like kids on a road trip I just kept thinking, surely we’re almost there right? And I didn’t even really know what “there” would be like.
4. However, when the book works, the book WORKS. It’s downright enchanting when it’s good. I still “feel” the evening she hears the radio broadcast the news that sends her down memory lane. I feel it like my own memories. When it’s good, it’s very very good.
5. Don’t be put off by the fact that parts of this are very dull. Definitely pick it up. Ultimately, the effort is worth it. I’d like to reread it soon.
1. Mariana (Mary) isn’t the most likes me of characters but Dickens still manages to write her in a way that draws out sympathy.
2. The writing is very engaging at times. Dickens excels at setting a scene but ultimately there’s very little actual plot and the whole looking back on your life from ages 8-20ish got long…very very long.
3. I skimmed whole bits just because the effort to make progress with Mary sometimes felt so exhausting in that way too much boredom makes you lethargic. Like kids on a road trip I just kept thinking, surely we’re almost there right? And I didn’t even really know what “there” would be like.
4. However, when the book works, the book WORKS. It’s downright enchanting when it’s good. I still “feel” the evening she hears the radio broadcast the news that sends her down memory lane. I feel it like my own memories. When it’s good, it’s very very good.
5. Don’t be put off by the fact that parts of this are very dull. Definitely pick it up. Ultimately, the effort is worth it. I’d like to reread it soon.
lizandherworldofbooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Antisemitism
ohnoflora's review
4.0
This really is a hot water bottle of a book - comforting and nostalgic but saved from being sentimental by having a wry, sharp streak that cuts through the cosyness. I don't think it's a classic in the way that I Capture the Castle or Love in a Cold Climate is and although the seediness of the demi-monde of 1930s London is touched on, Monica Dickens doesn't brave the depths that Jean Rhys does in novels like Voyage in the Dark...however, it is extremely enjoyable, full of wit and a book that I can see myself returning to.
elbaker's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
we_are_all_mad_here26's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this well enough for what it was - what it wasn't, however, makes me glad that I'm finished with it.
The first half or so dragged - Mary struck me as entirely incapable of thought or reflection and mostly void of personality. It was only when we reached her dramatic exit from drama school that she began to show some character. Not quite enough for me. But some.
The story did pick up a bit as Mary got older, and the humor didn't hurt, when it cropped up. The ending was nearly perfect though.
This is the second book Persephone published, and the eleventh that I've read.
The first half or so dragged - Mary struck me as entirely incapable of thought or reflection and mostly void of personality. It was only when we reached her dramatic exit from drama school that she began to show some character. Not quite enough for me. But some.
The story did pick up a bit as Mary got older, and the humor didn't hurt, when it cropped up. The ending was nearly perfect though.
This is the second book Persephone published, and the eleventh that I've read.