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Review
More stylish than many writers half her age . . . Lively knows a thing or two about storytelling . . . her candour is refreshing, and reminds us that you don't have to lie to yourself to live life finely until the very end (The Times )
An engaging read (Woman's Own )
Ridiculously readable. Lively displays an economy and elegance that puts younger writers to shame (Sunday Telegraph on Family Album )
Elegant and engrossing, this is a gently funny and touching portrait of the complex path life can take (Easy Living )
Contains some of Lively's funniest and most enjoyable character studies . . . she remains a sublime storyteller (Guardian )
Witty and astute (Daily Mail )
Deeply comical, essentially kind-hearted, wonderfully written and seasoned with a rare wisdon (Literary Review )
An engaging read (Woman's Own )
Ridiculously readable. Lively displays an economy and elegance that puts younger writers to shame (Sunday Telegraph on Family Album )
Elegant and engrossing, this is a gently funny and touching portrait of the complex path life can take (Easy Living )
Contains some of Lively's funniest and most enjoyable character studies . . . she remains a sublime storyteller (Guardian )
Witty and astute (Daily Mail )
Deeply comical, essentially kind-hearted, wonderfully written and seasoned with a rare wisdon (Literary Review )
Review
More stylish than many writers half her age ... Lively knows a thing or two about storytelling ... her candour is refreshing, and reminds us that you don't have to lie to yourself to live life finely until the very end The Times Contains some of Lively's funniest and most enjoyable character studies ... she remains a sublime storyteller Guardian Elegant and engrossing, this is a gently funny and touching portrait of the complex path life can take Easy Living Deeply comical, essentially kind-hearted, wonderfully written and seasoned with a rare wisdon Literary Review Witty and astute Daily Mail
--This text refers to the
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
'The pavement rises up and hits her. Slams into her face, drives the lower rim of her glasses into her cheek. She is laid out there, prone. What is this? Voices are chattering above her:people are concerned. Of course.'
Penelope Lively's latest novel opens with Charlotte hitting the ground. All is confusion. Is this somebody old falling? or fainting? We quickly realise that she is elderly, has been mugged and that this is the start of a butterfly effect. Charlotte breaks a hip so will have to move in with her daughter while she recuperates, this means her daughter's employer will ask his niece to accompany him to a lecture and one event will end up altering the path of several lives through subsequent meetings and ripple effects.
Lively has kept her canvass intentionally small. The impact is large on the lives of the people concerned rather than on world events. Her satirical pen has great fun with Lord Peters and his foray in the world of television, also with philandering Jeremy and Marion she examines the world of interior design with an excoriating wit. The characters treated with the most sympathy are Anton and Rose who are drawn to each other when they meet in Rose's house as Charlotte teaches Eastern European immigrant Anton to read in English. Charlotte is surely often the voice of Lively herself - with her views on narrative, rereading and looking back on her life and her various incarnations with interest and humour. I did wonder why Rose had chosen such a boring life and partner given her lively, interested and interesting parents and that had me questioning the credibility of her character...but overall the story carries you along.
Very readable
Penelope Lively's latest novel opens with Charlotte hitting the ground. All is confusion. Is this somebody old falling? or fainting? We quickly realise that she is elderly, has been mugged and that this is the start of a butterfly effect. Charlotte breaks a hip so will have to move in with her daughter while she recuperates, this means her daughter's employer will ask his niece to accompany him to a lecture and one event will end up altering the path of several lives through subsequent meetings and ripple effects.
Lively has kept her canvass intentionally small. The impact is large on the lives of the people concerned rather than on world events. Her satirical pen has great fun with Lord Peters and his foray in the world of television, also with philandering Jeremy and Marion she examines the world of interior design with an excoriating wit. The characters treated with the most sympathy are Anton and Rose who are drawn to each other when they meet in Rose's house as Charlotte teaches Eastern European immigrant Anton to read in English. Charlotte is surely often the voice of Lively herself - with her views on narrative, rereading and looking back on her life and her various incarnations with interest and humour. I did wonder why Rose had chosen such a boring life and partner given her lively, interested and interesting parents and that had me questioning the credibility of her character...but overall the story carries you along.
Very readable
40 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The treat begins with the presentation, such a lovely book to own and hold. Realising that the dust jacket designer really knew the book gives a warm and cosy feeling. Each item shown has a sweet significance. The tempting brownies, Spring flowers, piles of books and the welcoming chair, all carefully placed on the attractive `Country Living' style cover, actually echo the story.
And`story' is what it's all about. Well that and the chaos theory, which is generously demonstrated by the falling house of cards effect, set off by retired English teacher Charlotte being mugged and injured. I imagined her as a thinly disguised version of Penelope Lively herself, so tender are the observations and pertinent the touching references to getting older, getting over things and getting on with life anyway. The accommodations required when busily keeping one's personality, relationships and confidence in good shape.
All in all it's a bit Maeve Binchy, in the nicest possible way, as we have several strands to follow, each of which will hopefully come together for the good of the characters. The writing is just delightful; language wonderfully fluent, especially when Charlotte, Rose and Henry are in full flow. PL is the mistress of the apposite phrase and the surprising observation; it is a treat to read such top class prose. I always enjoy her finely tuned ear for natural dialogue, she offers utterly genuine and sparkling conversations. The sometimes telling difference between what is said and what is thought.
`How It all Began' is particularly for us lucky ones who find true joy and companionship in books. Much of the action takes place around literature - there's a fair bit about our inner lives too. Positing that our reading experience changes when things in our lives go awry, showing how it can be can be de-railed and re routed.
A new departure in this, I think, is to mention other books by name, and fun when they are familiar. The feeling that you may well be judged by the book you are holding, while on the tube, or in the waiting room. Showing how important `story' is when learning to read. Charlotte now teaches adults who are new to English; this provides some magic moments.
One to keep and one to give, so a perfect idea for 'lively' minded friends and family, ladies and gentlemen! I am sure it will be well received.
And`story' is what it's all about. Well that and the chaos theory, which is generously demonstrated by the falling house of cards effect, set off by retired English teacher Charlotte being mugged and injured. I imagined her as a thinly disguised version of Penelope Lively herself, so tender are the observations and pertinent the touching references to getting older, getting over things and getting on with life anyway. The accommodations required when busily keeping one's personality, relationships and confidence in good shape.
All in all it's a bit Maeve Binchy, in the nicest possible way, as we have several strands to follow, each of which will hopefully come together for the good of the characters. The writing is just delightful; language wonderfully fluent, especially when Charlotte, Rose and Henry are in full flow. PL is the mistress of the apposite phrase and the surprising observation; it is a treat to read such top class prose. I always enjoy her finely tuned ear for natural dialogue, she offers utterly genuine and sparkling conversations. The sometimes telling difference between what is said and what is thought.
`How It all Began' is particularly for us lucky ones who find true joy and companionship in books. Much of the action takes place around literature - there's a fair bit about our inner lives too. Positing that our reading experience changes when things in our lives go awry, showing how it can be can be de-railed and re routed.
A new departure in this, I think, is to mention other books by name, and fun when they are familiar. The feeling that you may well be judged by the book you are holding, while on the tube, or in the waiting room. Showing how important `story' is when learning to read. Charlotte now teaches adults who are new to English; this provides some magic moments.
One to keep and one to give, so a perfect idea for 'lively' minded friends and family, ladies and gentlemen! I am sure it will be well received.
24 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As soon as I turned to the first page of Penelope Lively's new novel, I was immediately pulled into the story of Charlotte Rainsford, her daughter, Rose, Rose's employer, Henry, and Henry's niece, Marion.
When Charlotte, a retired schoolteacher, is attacked by a mugger on a London street and breaks her hip, her daughter Rose is unable to accompany her employer, Henry, on a trip to Manchester. Henry's niece, Marion, has to go with him instead, which means she has to send a text to her lover, Jeremy, to alter their plans. Marion's text is intercepted by Jeremy's wife, Stella, who is devastated and immediately starts divorce proceedings. These events all happen within the first couple of chapters in this entertaining book and Penelope Lively deftly shows us how one random incident can start a whole chain of events that could have life altering consequences for all involved.
Further on in the novel one of the characters talks about the `chaos theory' saying: "...a butterfly in the Amazon forest flaps its wings and provokes a tornado in Texas" - and Lively uses this analogy to full effect in this absorbing story, where marriages falter and strengthen, lovers lose and find each other, and things that should not happen, happen anyway.
Penelope Lively writes in the graceful, spare prose that has become her trademark, saying nothing that does not need to be said. Yet she creates engaging characters and interesting situations that many of us can relate to or empathise with. An intelligent and entertaining read - and one I would recommend.
4.5 Stars.
Please note: also recommended by Penelope Lively: Moon Tiger (Penguin Modern Classics) and Heat Wave (Penguin Modern Classics) and According to Mark (Penguin Modern Classics)
When Charlotte, a retired schoolteacher, is attacked by a mugger on a London street and breaks her hip, her daughter Rose is unable to accompany her employer, Henry, on a trip to Manchester. Henry's niece, Marion, has to go with him instead, which means she has to send a text to her lover, Jeremy, to alter their plans. Marion's text is intercepted by Jeremy's wife, Stella, who is devastated and immediately starts divorce proceedings. These events all happen within the first couple of chapters in this entertaining book and Penelope Lively deftly shows us how one random incident can start a whole chain of events that could have life altering consequences for all involved.
Further on in the novel one of the characters talks about the `chaos theory' saying: "...a butterfly in the Amazon forest flaps its wings and provokes a tornado in Texas" - and Lively uses this analogy to full effect in this absorbing story, where marriages falter and strengthen, lovers lose and find each other, and things that should not happen, happen anyway.
Penelope Lively writes in the graceful, spare prose that has become her trademark, saying nothing that does not need to be said. Yet she creates engaging characters and interesting situations that many of us can relate to or empathise with. An intelligent and entertaining read - and one I would recommend.
4.5 Stars.
Please note: also recommended by Penelope Lively: Moon Tiger (Penguin Modern Classics) and Heat Wave (Penguin Modern Classics) and According to Mark (Penguin Modern Classics)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A comfortable place to be
Here we have a well written and entertaining novel. I say novel, but it could well be true - up to a point! Read more
Published 23 days ago by Martin A. Chambers
... and how it continued
The title refers to the incident at the beginning of the novel, when 77 year old Charlotte Rainsford is felled in the street by a mugger and breaks her hip. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ralph Blumenau
A treat for anyone who loves a "real" story......
Penelope Lively has surpassed herself with this latest novel..... I will resist the temptation to give a precis of the plot; other reviewers have done this so well. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Songbird
"The Daltons' marriage broke up, [all] because Charlotte Rainsford was...
Many readers will find 84-year-old Penelope Lively's How It All Began her best novel so far, primarily because the characters and their issues sound so familiar to those of us... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mary Whipple
How it all began
I loved this book. I have always been a fan of Penelope Lively, and this new book just served to confirm my enthusiasm!
Published 3 months ago by Audrey
Another gem from my No.1 favourite author
Yes, she's still got it, even though she's probably now of a similar age and condition to the aching Charlotte. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Cherry Radford
Didn't like her style
I managed to read 25% of this book and the storyline was quite good but I could not get on with her style of writing. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Annie
A lovely story with engaging characters
This delightful book follows the 'butterfly effect' of the mugging of elderly Charlotte. It changes her life and the lives of her daughter Rose, Rose's employer Henry, his niece... Read more
Published 4 months ago by DebbieB
Lively At Her Best
Penelope Lively is a supreme story teller and 'How It All Began' is her finest novel yet. Its sensitive portrayal of ageing is as moving as it is perceptive. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. Timothy P. Smith
How it all began
How It All Began
Penelope Lively has been one of my favorite writers for years. Few writers are as clever to see a situation from different angels. Read more
Penelope Lively has been one of my favorite writers for years. Few writers are as clever to see a situation from different angels. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Marit Rønning Frivik
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