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buckaroo72's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
hungerford's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
thebobsphere's review against another edition
3.0
One thing I am enjoying about The Backlisted Podcast is that I’m finally reading books by classic authors. I’ve always wanted to read Nancy Mitford, and now I had the opportunity to (yes I’m the type of person who needs a push of some sort)
Grace falls in love with Frenchman Charles-Edouard, visiting England. In fact she breaks of her engagement to her former fiancée Hugh and marries him, has a child and then leaves for France. At first things are going well but then the family move to the city and the Charles-Edouard’s constant cheating upsets Grace and she moves back to Endgland with her child.
Despite the rather soap opera-ish plot, The blessing is very funny. Grace’s infatuation with Charles-Edouard is flighty and humorous, and then Grace’s attempts to understand the way French people think, and making a huge mess out of it does contain a few laugh out loud moments.
However, I did feel that part one was stronger and by part two, the whole thing felt like a recycled joke. That is not to say I didn’t enjoy the second half but I did feel that it was lacking a bit. I still think as a comedy of manners The Blessing succeeds.
Grace falls in love with Frenchman Charles-Edouard, visiting England. In fact she breaks of her engagement to her former fiancée Hugh and marries him, has a child and then leaves for France. At first things are going well but then the family move to the city and the Charles-Edouard’s constant cheating upsets Grace and she moves back to Endgland with her child.
Despite the rather soap opera-ish plot, The blessing is very funny. Grace’s infatuation with Charles-Edouard is flighty and humorous, and then Grace’s attempts to understand the way French people think, and making a huge mess out of it does contain a few laugh out loud moments.
However, I did feel that part one was stronger and by part two, the whole thing felt like a recycled joke. That is not to say I didn’t enjoy the second half but I did feel that it was lacking a bit. I still think as a comedy of manners The Blessing succeeds.
lprnana6572's review against another edition
4.0
Serio-comedic book where the sly youngster finally gets his comeuppence.
gnomeo's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent. I like to mix my reading between challenging and fluffy and I love to read Nancy Mitford for the ‘best of frivolous’. That said, she is now an amazing social diary of a world that has largely disappeared and a pocket glimpse into the great houses of the past. Always well written and thoroughly lovable romp of a book. This book is set between Paris and London and explains how life can run rather smoother with some give and take! Not at all PC but, it is a book of its time.
coops456's review against another edition
1.0
It's a slim book but I struggled to get through it. I just didn't care about the characters and it read like a farce. Disappointing.
rosielazar1's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
esther_a_'s review against another edition
4.0
Sharp, clever and witty.
Enjoyed the writing, how post war times and aristocratic social circles were described. Some characters are infuriating and others endearing… but all are entertaining.
Loved the mixture of French and English ways.
Sigi - what a little meddler (among other things)!
An easy and fun read.
An easy and fun read.