Ask Alice
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Product Description
Literary Review
`Utterly gripping reading. It's written with a sense of fun - and mischief. Delicate, hesitant, angular prose'
Daily Mail
'Taylor is excellent on the `incidentals' - arresting tableaux abound - and the impenetrable, imperturbable Alice compels.'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A gripping 'rags-to-riches' story, which begins on a train in the American Mid-West at the beginning of the 20th century and ends on another train en route to the Spanish Civil War. Just enough of the major facts are left out along the way for there to be a dramatic denouement and resolution of the story at the end. An effective and pleasing idea is the introduction of Beverley Nichols as narrator (in his capacity as journalist) at a point where a new narrative voice is especially welcome. The supporting characters are particularly well drawn.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I read this because I enjoyed DJ Taylor's 'Bright Young People' so much and I was not disappointed. 'Ask Alice' is skilfully constructed, very readable, beautifully written, extremely compelling and is peopled with real characters of the kind we can meet every day. It's in some ways like a 20th Century 'The Way We Live Now' - thankfully somewhat shorter though! A very diverting and thought provoking read.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Engaging for a quick read, but this is a very forgettable novel. It starts in Kansas in 1904 with a chance meeting on a train then follows Alice's rise from humble beginnings to high society of the 1920s and 30s. Running parallel to this is the story of Ralph Bentley and his eccentric 'uncle' who makes a fortune discovering a new colour/dye which he calls hogpen. (If only that rather banal bookjacket had featured this new colour which I found difficult to envisage!) Unfortunately, Taylor doesn't seem to know what to with his characters and the ending is contrived and silly. Lots of good detail but this book never comes to life.
A much better and more gripping tale of secrets and illegitimacy is Iain Pears' recently-published Stone's Fall. A huge book which I read in a few days because I simply couldn't put it down.
A much better and more gripping tale of secrets and illegitimacy is Iain Pears' recently-published Stone's Fall. A huge book which I read in a few days because I simply couldn't put it down.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A forgettable read
I really wanted to enjoy this book, it had all the ingredients I enjoy and I was encouraged by the five star reviews. Sadly this was not to be. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Alice in Wonderland
Clever story, beautifully written
I took this book away as part of my holiday reading and couldn't put it down.
Firstly the story itself is intriguing. Read more
Firstly the story itself is intriguing. Read more
Published 23 months ago by James H
A tedious read
I bought this book at a recent literary festival attended by D.J.Taylor and his wife Rachel Hore. She was giving a creative writing workshop and as his name never appeared under... Read more
Published on 23 May 2010 by DubaiReader
too clever clever
D.J.Taylor is a sound non-fiction writer but as a novelist he is too self regarding and over controlled. Read more
Published on 17 April 2009 by Prudence Patts
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