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hungerford's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
raymond_murphy's review against another edition
3.0
This series is the precursor of the Brideshead-style popular gay white male canon. So veiled, so coded, so privileged. The satire is a sharp, queer critique of the power structure but not so sharp that it pierces the position of power of gay white men within in.
If you can look past that, it's very funny, observant, complex writing that exposes the underbelly of the human soul. I guess?
If you can look past that, it's very funny, observant, complex writing that exposes the underbelly of the human soul. I guess?
tomleetang's review
4.0
Thoroughly, delightfully, charmingly harmless. It may be an old-fashioned set-up, but the satire of provincial English snobbery remains as funny today as it was when Nancy Mitford and Noel Coward first gushed over Benson's comic creations.
ncostell's review against another edition
funny
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
4.0
trin's review
3.0
Mystery box book #11!
A painfully accurate portrait of a bunch of wealthy English provincial fools. I didn't quite click with Benson's writing style as much as I expected to -- I think I was expecting something a bit more Wodehousian; this is much more subtle and dry -- but I can't fault his precise viciousness. Several times I was tempted to shout "GET A JOB!" at the pages of this book.
A painfully accurate portrait of a bunch of wealthy English provincial fools. I didn't quite click with Benson's writing style as much as I expected to -- I think I was expecting something a bit more Wodehousian; this is much more subtle and dry -- but I can't fault his precise viciousness. Several times I was tempted to shout "GET A JOB!" at the pages of this book.
jkeenereads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Amusing in a dry sort of way.
Content considerations: one character bounces from one spiritual practice to another including yoga and seances.
Content considerations: one character bounces from one spiritual practice to another including yoga and seances.
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audiobook, a lovely way to read Benson, with the wonderful Geraldine McEwan making a perfect Lucia.
I've not long ago read Mapp and Lucia, as well as watched the BBC's fabulous adaptation at Christmas, and so some of the story seemed very familiar from those sources.
In 1920, social queen bee Emmeline Lucus (known as Lucia to all) rules the roost of al that happens in the village of Riseholme. This is one of a series about Lucia (and later Elizabeth Mapp), detailing the small misadventures of her and her social circle, with the backbiting, social climbing and posturing that makes these a pleasure to read.
I love this series, though they do all feel very much on a similar vein. The minor characters all get little roles to play, with Lucia and Georgie (and here Lucia's husband Papino) taking the lion's share of the story, humour and enjoyment. There were a few phrases that made me think "that sounds like Pride and Prejudice", and I wondered if Austen's language served as a model. Lucia is such a contradiction - scheming, smart, condescending, goodness itself.
She's a pleasure to visit with. And to laugh at.
This was a very amusing way to pass a few hours, and an author that deserves more recognition - he's very funny. I'll be looking for more in the series.
I've not long ago read Mapp and Lucia, as well as watched the BBC's fabulous adaptation at Christmas, and so some of the story seemed very familiar from those sources.
In 1920, social queen bee Emmeline Lucus (known as Lucia to all) rules the roost of al that happens in the village of Riseholme. This is one of a series about Lucia (and later Elizabeth Mapp), detailing the small misadventures of her and her social circle, with the backbiting, social climbing and posturing that makes these a pleasure to read.
I love this series, though they do all feel very much on a similar vein. The minor characters all get little roles to play, with Lucia and Georgie (and here Lucia's husband Papino) taking the lion's share of the story, humour and enjoyment. There were a few phrases that made me think "that sounds like Pride and Prejudice", and I wondered if Austen's language served as a model. Lucia is such a contradiction - scheming, smart, condescending, goodness itself.
She's a pleasure to visit with. And to laugh at.
This was a very amusing way to pass a few hours, and an author that deserves more recognition - he's very funny. I'll be looking for more in the series.
kurbanski's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
dhensley002's review against another edition
Audiobook, hated the narrator. She talked so fast I couldn't understand her.