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katcic's review against another edition
4.0
I have loved the Raj Quartet and this final tying up of the story. A book which send you into floods of tears on the final page is always a special experience.
laurenw's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Death, Classism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Infidelity
Minor: War and Excrement
libkatem's review against another edition
3.0
At the same time mysoginist and emmasculating. But an interesting read!
dujyt's review against another edition
4.0
After finishing the author's Raj Quartet series, I decided to read this epilogue/continuation to the story, although it isn't necessary, and doesn't really tie up any loose ends or answer any lingering questions left at the end of the Quartet. "Tusker" and Lucy Smalley, who are minor characters in the Quartet, are basically the last of the old British Raj, staying on after everyone else has gone. The novel begins with Tusker's sudden death, but then circles back around to how the Smalleys found themselves in this predicament of hanging on to a tradition and lifestyle that was finished years ago.
Paul Scott writes his characters so well, and this book is another experience of his mastery of developing characters and observing small details that speak volumes. There is more humor in this book as compared to the Quartet series, and I suppose that comes because the characters *are* performing roles that became useless or irrelevant long ago. I often think that reading characters like this is more helpful to someone studying human psychology than any textbook, and this book reinforced that view.
The book does a remarkable job of portraying an aging couple with all their quirks and accommodations made over a lifetime, and the people who they have come to rely on to keep their story intact, even after that story no longer makes sense.
Paul Scott writes his characters so well, and this book is another experience of his mastery of developing characters and observing small details that speak volumes. There is more humor in this book as compared to the Quartet series, and I suppose that comes because the characters *are* performing roles that became useless or irrelevant long ago. I often think that reading characters like this is more helpful to someone studying human psychology than any textbook, and this book reinforced that view.
The book does a remarkable job of portraying an aging couple with all their quirks and accommodations made over a lifetime, and the people who they have come to rely on to keep their story intact, even after that story no longer makes sense.
karna's review against another edition
3.0
It is not as good as the Raj Quartet, but I really liked how we follow the life of Tusker and Lucy Smalley in India, after the end of the Empire, living a life that is quite beneath what the expected before 1947.
Sometimes, their life and the one of the Bhoolabhoy's couple are a bit boring, but it becomes very interesting during the speech of Lucy to her husband, in which she remembers all the indignities she had to lived during his career, and the weigh of social convention between the wives of captains/brigadiers etc.. The thoughs and the letter of Tusker at the end of the book are also riveting.
They do love each other but don't communicate enough.
My favourite part is the speech of Lucy and the letter written by Sarah Layton, now Mrs Guy Perron to Lucy.
Because of this letter, I will surely re-read the Raj Quartet quite soon.
The ending of the book is very good.
Sometimes, their life and the one of the Bhoolabhoy's couple are a bit boring, but it becomes very interesting during the speech of Lucy to her husband, in which she remembers all the indignities she had to lived during his career, and the weigh of social convention between the wives of captains/brigadiers etc.. The thoughs and the letter of Tusker at the end of the book are also riveting.
They do love each other but don't communicate enough.
My favourite part is the speech of Lucy and the letter written by Sarah Layton, now Mrs Guy Perron to Lucy.
Because of this letter, I will surely re-read the Raj Quartet quite soon.
The ending of the book is very good.
yahaanaa's review against another edition
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? No
0.25