pickI never know what to expect from a Joyce Carol Oates work. I‘m left with the feeling that I‘m not sure what actually happened. In this case, I‘m not sure anything did happen. But it might have. What I do know is that we‘re left with a surprisingly happy-ish ending, I think. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
pickWhat a charmless lot these characters were! I had trouble feeling sympathy for any of them, except maybe Lavinia who seemed to be doing her best. #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub
rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, bookandbedandtea, Teresereading, Sace, kwmg40, Cathythoughts, Ruthiella, Sparklemn, julieclair, willaful, MrsK
pick#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub
The middle and upper class of a small English village rub along together awkwardly in this novel. The eccentric Mr. Monsoon, the pretentious Mrs. Rockaby, the loony Lady Tyce, etc. There‘s no real plot nor any character to root for really, but I enjoyed it on the whole. It‘s often funny and has maybe a subtle feminist edge to it at times, but as @Tamra noted, much longer would have been too long.
rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, batsy, bookandbedandtea, Teresereading, Sace, kwmg40, Sparklemn, julieclair, willaful, MrsK
pick“Yes”, Mr. Swan says to himself, “the human family. Yes.”
This is an observational study about how family members can love & drive one another crazy in equal measure. 😜
I really enjoyed it, but I‘m also glad it wrapped up when it did because family bickering doesn‘t provide much in the way of narrative drive.
#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub
1w
pickA novel about the “impoverished semi-gentry of a country village, consisting of cantankerous parents and frustrated adult children… Each family quarrels with itself in the same laconic and polite way”. That quote from an early review sums up the plot perfectly. It seems to have a more wry feel to it than many of our other #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub reads (and one of the best descriptions of an awkward tea party ever 😆).
I enjoyed it!
rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, bookandbedandtea, Teresereading, Sace, kwmg40, Cathythoughts, Ruthiella, Sparklemn, julieclair, willaful, MrsK
😂 Celia has planted so many witty barbs & slights in this novel! Throughly enjoying it! #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub
Repost for @Ruthiella
👋 Hello #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub members! This is a reminder that our bimonthly pick for July is the tagged title. I‘m looking forward to this novel about village life in the mid century… it‘s my catnip, one might say.
All are welcome to join this group read. Read at your own pace, but please do tag the group if you review or post on it so we all can like and comment.
Let @Ruthiella know if you want to be tagged/removed.
👋 Hello #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub members! This is a reminder that our bimonthly pick for July is the tagged title. I‘m looking forward to this novel about village life in the mid century…it‘s my catnip, one might say.
All are welcome to join this group read. Read at your own pace, but please do tag the group if you review or post on it so we all can like and comment.
If anyone wants to be tagged or be removed from the list, say the word. 😊
rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, bookandbedandtea, Teresereading, Sace, kwmg40, Sparklemn, LitsyEvents, julieclair, willaful, MrsK
