ilariam's review against another edition
4.0
Nel 1930, così come un secolo prima, la principale preoccupazione di una madre sembra essere maritare le proprio figlie.
La caccia al buon partito (ma anche al partito così-così, in assenza di qualcosa di meglio) è un'operazione studiata a tavolino sin nei minimi dettagli: cene e balli come campi di battaglia, abiti, acconciature e accessori come affilate armi.
Peccato che non sempre i risultati siano quelli sperati.
Lo sa bene Lady Montdore, stella di prima categoria nel panorama mondano inglese, che fallisce miseramente nell'accasare l'adorata figlia Polly: la ragazza è bellissima, e questo è fuori di ogni dubbio, ma inspiegabilmente non attira proposte di matrimonio... Sarà per quell'aria perennemente imbronciata, oppure per la mancanza di sex appeal; sta di fatto che la giovane sconvolge tutti convolando a nozze con uno zio, fresco vedovo, molto più anziano di lei, e per giunta ex-amante della madre...
Love in a Cold Climate è il secondo libro nella serie Radlett and Montdore ed è su questi ultimi che si concentra, a partire dall'inquietante Lady Montdore e dalla di lei figlia Leopoldina (per tutti Polly).
A narrare in prima persona le vicende delle due donne, la cugina Fanny, da sempre sballottata da una famiglia all'altra, data l'irreperibilità della madre, soprannominata la Fuggiasca, costantemente al centro di qualche scandalo e fuga d'amore.
Fanny si ritaglia un ruolo sullo sfondo, eppure, nel corso del romanzo, eccola che si innamora, si sposa e diventa madre, ma questi sono poco più che dei particolari a cui si accenna appena, focalizzando invece l'attenzione sugli eccentrici Montdore e il resto del parentado, che rappresentano il vero punto di forza del libro: c'è chi è convinto che basti scrivere su un foglio il nome del proprio nemico, nasconderlo in un cassetto, e aspettare che il destino sferri i suoi attacchi, e chi segue regimi salutisti piuttosto non convenzionali; ci sono ragazzine più sveglie del dovuto, egocentriche matrone e uomini amanti del ricamo; su tutti, però, l'impareggiabile Cedric, che pur se definito (nella migliore delle ipotesi) "invertito", "effemminato" e "anormale", si rivela in grado di conquistare praticamente chiunque!
A Fanny va però riconosciuto il merito di saper descrivere con occhio attento e sottile umorismo quegli strampalati parenti, con le loro idiosincrasie, manie e una immancabile buona dose di snobismo, emblemi di un'epoca ormai tramontata, a cui difficilmente, però, si guarda senza un pizzico di nostalgia.
L'amore in un clima freddo è una commedia sofisticata in cui, alla fin fine, non accade granché, ma che offre uno spaccato di quella aristocrazia inglese ormai decadente appena uscita dalla Prima Guerra Mondiale e che si sta pian piano avvicinando alla Seconda.
Non ci saranno le risate alla P. G. Wodehouse, ma un sorriso è assicurato.
La caccia al buon partito (ma anche al partito così-così, in assenza di qualcosa di meglio) è un'operazione studiata a tavolino sin nei minimi dettagli: cene e balli come campi di battaglia, abiti, acconciature e accessori come affilate armi.
Peccato che non sempre i risultati siano quelli sperati.
Lo sa bene Lady Montdore, stella di prima categoria nel panorama mondano inglese, che fallisce miseramente nell'accasare l'adorata figlia Polly: la ragazza è bellissima, e questo è fuori di ogni dubbio, ma inspiegabilmente non attira proposte di matrimonio... Sarà per quell'aria perennemente imbronciata, oppure per la mancanza di sex appeal; sta di fatto che la giovane sconvolge tutti convolando a nozze con uno zio, fresco vedovo, molto più anziano di lei, e per giunta ex-amante della madre...
Love in a Cold Climate è il secondo libro nella serie Radlett and Montdore ed è su questi ultimi che si concentra, a partire dall'inquietante Lady Montdore e dalla di lei figlia Leopoldina (per tutti Polly).
A narrare in prima persona le vicende delle due donne, la cugina Fanny, da sempre sballottata da una famiglia all'altra, data l'irreperibilità della madre, soprannominata la Fuggiasca, costantemente al centro di qualche scandalo e fuga d'amore.
Fanny si ritaglia un ruolo sullo sfondo, eppure, nel corso del romanzo, eccola che si innamora, si sposa e diventa madre, ma questi sono poco più che dei particolari a cui si accenna appena, focalizzando invece l'attenzione sugli eccentrici Montdore e il resto del parentado, che rappresentano il vero punto di forza del libro: c'è chi è convinto che basti scrivere su un foglio il nome del proprio nemico, nasconderlo in un cassetto, e aspettare che il destino sferri i suoi attacchi, e chi segue regimi salutisti piuttosto non convenzionali; ci sono ragazzine più sveglie del dovuto, egocentriche matrone e uomini amanti del ricamo; su tutti, però, l'impareggiabile Cedric, che pur se definito (nella migliore delle ipotesi) "invertito", "effemminato" e "anormale", si rivela in grado di conquistare praticamente chiunque!
A Fanny va però riconosciuto il merito di saper descrivere con occhio attento e sottile umorismo quegli strampalati parenti, con le loro idiosincrasie, manie e una immancabile buona dose di snobismo, emblemi di un'epoca ormai tramontata, a cui difficilmente, però, si guarda senza un pizzico di nostalgia.
L'amore in un clima freddo è una commedia sofisticata in cui, alla fin fine, non accade granché, ma che offre uno spaccato di quella aristocrazia inglese ormai decadente appena uscita dalla Prima Guerra Mondiale e che si sta pian piano avvicinando alla Seconda.
Non ci saranno le risate alla P. G. Wodehouse, ma un sorriso è assicurato.
about_wind_and_willows's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
alicerowano's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked this less than The Pursuit of Love but still enjoyed it. It was very funny and I loved seeing more of the Radletts and Fanny. I especially enjoyed Jassy and Vict. Davey was a lot of fun but his support of Boy was disappointing.
It was definitely a lot more problematic than PoL and I didn’t like the grooming storyline or how it was handled at all. I also couldn’t really like Polly after how she treated her dead aunt and parents. Boy was disgusting. It also felt very very thin on plot.
Overall really enjoyed but would have liked it more had it just been a different family.
It was definitely a lot more problematic than PoL and I didn’t like the grooming storyline or how it was handled at all. I also couldn’t really like Polly after how she treated her dead aunt and parents. Boy was disgusting. It also felt very very thin on plot.
Overall really enjoyed but would have liked it more had it just been a different family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
Moderate: Racism, Incest, Xenophobia, and Death
ilsesuzanne's review against another edition
2.0
This book has been waiting on my bookshelf for over 10 years, and it was not worth the wait. The story is written funnily and meant to be a book of romance and comedy. However, some of the characters and storylines were just very plain and troublesome. Pedophelia and the sterotype portrayal of a gay man were intended as being part of the satire, but were actually just problematic. I was hoping the end of the book could still turn it around a little bit with an epic ending. However it was just abrupt and ended with a fizzle. Disappointing. The book really was not it for me.
athena2023's review against another edition
4.0
A brilliant sequel. Loved reading about Polly and more about Fanny's life after marriage.
ben_miller's review against another edition
3.0
This is a very confusing book. It's genuinely one of the funniest things I've ever read, and the writing sparkles on every page. Yet somehow, it's not a good novel. In fact, by the end I was almost raging with frustration at it, pausing every few minutes to laugh out loud.
According to the introduction by Flora Fraser, Evelyn Waugh told Mitford that the writing was wonderful, but that the book needed to be entirely revised in order to be "saved." Mitford decided against taking his advice, and Fraser argues that because the book was a commercial success, her choice was vindicated. The thing is: Waugh was right, and Mitford and Fraser were wrong.
The plot has no shape. The principle characters are empty ciphers while the supporting characters are lively and engaging. There are no dramatic arcs of any kind. What there is is chapter after chapter of wit and cleverness that froths up from nothing and returns to nothing. Seriously, the background of this novel (its supporting cast and general atmosphere) is absolutely wonderful. It's the foreground that collapses. You can see what Waugh saw - that with more application Mitford was capable of creating something truly memorable. Instead, she was satisfied with setting up her next joke. It's worth reading for that incredible wit, but could've been so much more.
According to the introduction by Flora Fraser, Evelyn Waugh told Mitford that the writing was wonderful, but that the book needed to be entirely revised in order to be "saved." Mitford decided against taking his advice, and Fraser argues that because the book was a commercial success, her choice was vindicated. The thing is: Waugh was right, and Mitford and Fraser were wrong.
The plot has no shape. The principle characters are empty ciphers while the supporting characters are lively and engaging. There are no dramatic arcs of any kind. What there is is chapter after chapter of wit and cleverness that froths up from nothing and returns to nothing. Seriously, the background of this novel (its supporting cast and general atmosphere) is absolutely wonderful. It's the foreground that collapses. You can see what Waugh saw - that with more application Mitford was capable of creating something truly memorable. Instead, she was satisfied with setting up her next joke. It's worth reading for that incredible wit, but could've been so much more.
gracer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I love this series. I loved reading <i>The Pursuit of Love</i> and this follow-up did not disappoint. Like the first book in the series, this one is about a love story that is borderline tragic. But that does not set the tone for the book: it is brisk, funny, insightful, quick, engaging, consuming. Mitford's writing is great, and the narrative framing is even better -- we love Fanny, of course, but she is just the eyes, and a pretty naive pair at that. The interweving of all of the different characters, their witness accounts to tell the story. It's an almost perfect reading experience.
This one does have a <b>very awkward issue</b>, which is that... well, let's just say grooming. It was a different time, but, yikes. Davey's constant defense of the man in question is... well, Davey is supposed to be such a likable character, but it's hard to read him that way, for that reason. Still, it isn't exactly glossed over like it's nothing, but a point of discussion, and a realistic look at one of the ways that happens. Honestly, though, I wouldn't be surprised if some misguided conservatives tried to ban this one.
This one does have a <b>very awkward issue</b>, which is that... well, let's just say grooming. It was a different time, but, yikes. Davey's constant defense of the man in question is... well, Davey is supposed to be such a likable character, but it's hard to read him that way, for that reason. Still, it isn't exactly glossed over like it's nothing, but a point of discussion, and a realistic look at one of the ways that happens. Honestly, though, I wouldn't be surprised if some misguided conservatives tried to ban this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia
maplessence's review against another edition
4.0
"Oh what a pity it happens to be Davey's day for getting drunk. I long to tell him, he will be so much interested."
This was such a problematic read for me!
This should have been a 5★ read for me. The book was very well written, witty & with a far better storyline than [b:The Pursuit of Love|835458|The Pursuit of Love (Radlett & Montdore, #1)|Nancy Mitford|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1178768641l/835458._SY75_.jpg|821072] which I gave 4. 5★.
I know this was written as a satire but the part I can't stomach is
Spoiler
child molester Boy. He did get his comeuppance though, but it is almost treated as a minor annoyance! I was relieved to read some criticism of Boy near the end of the bookBut I loved many of the characters (especially Cedric - so much fun!) & look forward to [b:Don't Tell Alfred|50727|Don't Tell Alfred (Radlett & Montdore, #3)|Nancy Mitford|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1170371254l/50727._SY75_.jpg|1023826] the final book in this trilogy.
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