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gretel7's review
3.0
I received this from Netgalley.com for a review.
That was kind of fun. Middle aged Mr FINCHLEY takes his first vacation and ends up on a wild cross country adventure.
3☆
That was kind of fun. Middle aged Mr FINCHLEY takes his first vacation and ends up on a wild cross country adventure.
3☆
besh's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
anjana's review
3.0
I am always up for trying a reprint of older books, preferably mysteries but I sometimes succumb to interesting-sounding books of other genres. This was one of those latter forays that turned out to be an interesting read.
In this first installment, we are introduced to Mr. Edgar Finchley, who has been forced to take the first vacation in his life. He decides to go the normal route and has a booking in a normal holidaying spot all set for him when the most absurd thing happens to him. He gets tangled up in one adventure that drags him farther and farther away from his ideal vacation. But his ideals are in the process of changing. A chance meeting with another traveler gives him yet another diversion to branch out on and off he goes. The man at the end of the book is no longer the 'ordinary' 45-year old who wanted to just take a holiday.
This has to be read leisurely because he meets so many random characters and such strange misfortunes seem to befall him. It gives a view into this time which straddled the time between the old and the world we know today with the lifestyles we have now. I was pleased to meet all the people and even more pleased with the last few chapters. Since I liked the next two books a little better than this one, I had to rate it three stars.
In this first installment, we are introduced to Mr. Edgar Finchley, who has been forced to take the first vacation in his life. He decides to go the normal route and has a booking in a normal holidaying spot all set for him when the most absurd thing happens to him. He gets tangled up in one adventure that drags him farther and farther away from his ideal vacation. But his ideals are in the process of changing. A chance meeting with another traveler gives him yet another diversion to branch out on and off he goes. The man at the end of the book is no longer the 'ordinary' 45-year old who wanted to just take a holiday.
This has to be read leisurely because he meets so many random characters and such strange misfortunes seem to befall him. It gives a view into this time which straddled the time between the old and the world we know today with the lifestyles we have now. I was pleased to meet all the people and even more pleased with the last few chapters. Since I liked the next two books a little better than this one, I had to rate it three stars.
annarella's review
5.0
I loved this gentle and funny book. Even if it was written in the '30s of last century it aged well and it's still a pleasant and entertaining read.
I loved the characters and I loved the descriptions.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Farrago and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I loved the characters and I loved the descriptions.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Farrago and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
mclent's review
4.0
Part madcap, part travelogue, Mr. Finchley Discovers His Holiday thrusts a ridiculously average bank employee in 1930s England into increasingly wonderfully contrived and convoluted circumstances like brushes with the British criminal underworld and high speed chases through the countryside. There's more than meets the eye with Mr. Finchley and rest assured, all's well that ends well. With a touch of Walter Mitty, I'm reminded of any number anonymous person thrust into adventure archetypes ranging from Monsieur Hulot to Bilbo Baggins and also Travels With My Aunt.
Writing style and story are firmly of their time. Plenty of English reserve, stiff upper lip, common sense and "I say, Good Man!"
Writing style and story are firmly of their time. Plenty of English reserve, stiff upper lip, common sense and "I say, Good Man!"
tonstantweader's review
4.0
Mr. Finchley Discovers His England tells the story of how Mr. Finchley discovered himself while on traveling like a will-o-the-wisp through England. Edgar Finchley is an established bachelor clerk whose life has been structured around work and responsibility. But with a new manager, suddenly he has a three-week vacation, the first in ten years. He plans to go to Margate, but on the way there, he agrees to watch a brand new car for someone, gets bored, and falls asleep in the back seat. He wakes up when the wild driving dumps him on the floor only to discover the driver is a thief who has stolen the car.
From there he gets into one situation after another, some dangerous and others simply hilarious. I mean he actually gets chased by a bull. Along the way, he meets several rascals and scoundrels, enough to make me think of the picaresque Lazarillo de Tormes and Gil Blas. You can’t really call this a picaresque novel, though, since Finchley is not a rogue, not at all. He’s naive, gallant, charitable, and honest. Perhaps Pilgrim’s Progress is a better comparison, and this pilgrim redeems himself by becoming less fussy, a more sympathetic person.
I enjoyed Mr. Finchley Discovers His England very much. His adventures are delightful and although there are moments of danger and risk, readers know by the number of pages left in the book that Mr. Finchley will be fine. The book is full of humor and misadventure. The only thing that seems a bit obtrusive is occasional authorial noting that Finchleys’ indigestion was not bothering him, that he was getting a tan, and that his hair was bleaching in the sun. This is the physical manifestation of the personal transformation he goes through, discovering that he is not an old fuddy-duddy after all.
Mr. Finchley Discovers His England will be released on April 18th. I received an e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley.
Mr. Finchley Discovers His England at Farrago Books
Victor Canning appreciation site
★★★★
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2019/04/14/9781788421614/
From there he gets into one situation after another, some dangerous and others simply hilarious. I mean he actually gets chased by a bull. Along the way, he meets several rascals and scoundrels, enough to make me think of the picaresque Lazarillo de Tormes and Gil Blas. You can’t really call this a picaresque novel, though, since Finchley is not a rogue, not at all. He’s naive, gallant, charitable, and honest. Perhaps Pilgrim’s Progress is a better comparison, and this pilgrim redeems himself by becoming less fussy, a more sympathetic person.
I enjoyed Mr. Finchley Discovers His England very much. His adventures are delightful and although there are moments of danger and risk, readers know by the number of pages left in the book that Mr. Finchley will be fine. The book is full of humor and misadventure. The only thing that seems a bit obtrusive is occasional authorial noting that Finchleys’ indigestion was not bothering him, that he was getting a tan, and that his hair was bleaching in the sun. This is the physical manifestation of the personal transformation he goes through, discovering that he is not an old fuddy-duddy after all.
Mr. Finchley Discovers His England will be released on April 18th. I received an e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley.
Mr. Finchley Discovers His England at Farrago Books
Victor Canning appreciation site
★★★★
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2019/04/14/9781788421614/
pvn's review
3.0
This is pretty funny. It's a bit specific in the type of humor used. I can see why it had wide appeal when first published. If you suspend disbelief the entire read and want something light, you'll probably enjoy it. 3.5 stars.
I really appreciate the copy for review!
I really appreciate the copy for review!
capella's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
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