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The Road to Lichfield
The Road to Lichfield | Penelope Lively
8 posts | 5 read | 8 to read
In The Road to Lichfield, Penelope Lively explores the nature of history and memory as it is embodied in the life of a forty-year-old woman, Anne Linton, who unexpectedly learns that her father had a mistress. With this new knowledge, Linton must now examine the realities of her own life - of her childhood, her husband - and ask, What do they really know of her? Deeply felt, beautifully controlled, The Road to Lichfield is a subtle exploration of memory and identity, of chance and consequence, of the intricate weave of generations across a past never fully known, a future never fully anticipated.
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Centique
The Road to Lichfield | Penelope Lively
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Pickpick

Loved reading this Penelope Lively novel first published in 1977 - very quiet and thoughtful - about an “ordinary” woman around 40, driving to and from her family home in Cuxing to her childhood home in Lichfield to visit her dying father and sort out his affairs. Revisiting the past brings her to question her own life and the compromises she has made. Set in the early 70s the ways in which it feels dated are interesting too.

CarolynM I really enjoyed this one too🙂 Sorry I haven‘t emailed yet, things got complicated again. It‘s an emotional roller coaster 💙❤️ 14mo
Centique @CarolynM oh you poor thing! No hurry to email - i just hope things improve💕💕 14mo
Tamra What a striking cover! 14mo
See All 7 Comments
LeahBergen How pretty! 14mo
Ruthiella Definitely stacking! I‘ve only read two novels from Lively, but both were great. 14mo
Centique @Tamra @LeahBergen yes its a new edition but a great cover 14mo
Centique @Ruthiella i think you‘ll really like it! 14mo
69 likes4 stack adds7 comments
review
Brimful
The Road to Lichfield | Penelope Lively
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Pickpick

This was the first book for adults written by Lively although published much later. It‘s about a forty year old woman who is forced to confront her past and her present as she spends time with her father who is dying in a nursing home some hours drive from her home. It explores our understandings of past and present, family and relationships and the compromises we all make Whilst beautifully written it is not as engaging as her later work

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Brimful
The Road to Lichfield | Penelope Lively
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Anne groped in her pocket for the car keys, found them, stared down at them, and said to this stranger, “my father‘s going to die”. Yes said David fielding, yes I‘m afraid he is. And he laid his hand for an instant on her arm, removing it almost at once so that it was only later, at another time, that she felt his touch , in the way in which recollection can sometimes be more real than the experience itself.

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CarolynM
The Road to Lichfield | Penelope Lively
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Pickpick

While her elderly father drifts in and out of coherence & consciousness in a nursing home, Anne begins packing up the family home. A revelation from the past calls her memories into question & a new acquaintance casts doubt over her future. A quiet story about the ways in which our understanding of the past can affect the present.

LeahBergen Gorgeous photo (and review)! I need to read more Lively. 3y
CarolynM @LeahBergen Thank you😘 I like her a lot, definitely recommend. 3y
Tamra Stacked! 3y
See All 8 Comments
Graywacke This sounds terrific. 3y
batsy Yes, this sounds good! Nice review 💜 3y
Ruthiella I also need to read more Lively! Only two so far. 3y
Brimful Picked up Passing On at the charity shop today. Looking forward to it! 3y
Centique Penelope Lively 🙌 I need to read more from her too. Great review! 3y
71 likes3 stack adds8 comments
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CarolynM
The Road to Lichfield | Penelope Lively
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I can relate.

LeahBergen That‘s lovely. 3y
Tamra Yes! ☺️ 3y
Nute Yes! 3y
52 likes4 comments
review
Lcsmcat
The Road to Lichfield | Penelope Lively
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Pickpick

I believe this was Lively‘s debut novel of a prolific writer, and I‘m glad I read it. I‘ve enjoyed her writing sine reading Moon Tiger years ago. An examination of history - personal and societal - and the first time I‘ve seen the position of Town Clerk mentioned in fiction. 🙂

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Lcsmcat
The Road to Lichfield | Penelope Lively
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unabridgedchick
The Road to Lichfield | Penelope Lively
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Novelist Lynn Cullen mentioned Lively recently, reminding me of my love for her. Requested the first book of hers available from the library.

10 likes2 stack adds