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Lace [Paperback]

Shirley Conran
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
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Book Description

19 July 2012
'Which one of you bitches is my mother?'

1980. In Manhattan's most exclusive hotel, four friends come face to face with a young, mega-watt film star. She has a question for them that has brought her from the streets of Paris to the playgrounds of the rich and famous - and it has almost destroyed her. . .

Kate, Maxine, Judy and Pagan have soared to the top in fashion, PR and interior design. Now they are forced to look back at their lives: their wicked behaviour at school, the building of careers and the breaking of hearts. These women have never questioned their friendship, but now they must answer to Lili.

Lace is the book that every mother kept hidden from her daughter. Originally published in 1982, it is the debut novel from the million-copy bestselling author of Superwoman.

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Product details

  • Paperback: 760 pages
  • Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd (19 July 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0857863908
  • ISBN-13: 978-0857863904
  • Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 4.5 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 86,358 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Review

'Sex, glamour, and bitchery to an epic degree. Lace is the classic that secured Shirley Conran's place in the same high-octane sorority as Jackie Collins, Judith Krantz and Jacqueline Susann, and it still thrills. It changed my life' --J.J. Salem, author of Tan Lines

'Lace features women you would be proud to call friends. Pick up this book and be sucked into the lives of four female characters who use their own intelligence and confidence to get ahead by themselves. I've loved Lace since I was a teenager and it's still as gripping as it ever was' --Harriet Evans, author of The Love of Her Life

'A gorgeous, glorious, ground-breaking saga of sex, scandal and family secrets. Here is the return of an awesome blockbuster classic, as fearless and fabulous as it was thirty years ago. Lace is the definitive drama of passion, friendship, intrigue and betrayal. It is hands-down one of the best things to come out of the eighties. I adore it' --Victoria Fox, author of Hollywood Sinners

'Lace gave me prolonged pleasure' -- Helen Fielding

'There was life before Lace and life after Lace, and nothing was ever the same again. I envy anyone who hasn't read it' -- India Knight

'As sexy and smart now as the first day it came out' -- Lauren Laverne

'Superwoman author, Shirley Conran, has really hit the literary jackpot . . . you can spend a few enjoyable hours finding out if it's more than sex and scandal that's the secret of its success' -- News of the World

'Money and sex is what Lace is about - clothes, décor and haute cuisine' -- Sunday Times

A big, brash, bouncy book' --Mail on Sunday

'Lace features women you would be proud to call friends. Pick up this book and be sucked into the lives of four female characters who use their own intelligence and confidence to get ahead by themselves. I've loved Lace since I was a teenager and it's still as gripping as it ever was' --Harriet Evans, author of The Love of Her Life

'A gorgeous, glorious, ground-breaking saga of sex, scandal and family secrets. Here is the return of an awesome blockbuster classic, as fearless and fabulous as it was thirty years ago. Lace is the definitive drama of passion, friendship, intrigue and betrayal. It is hands-down one of the best things to come out of the eighties. I adore it' --Victoria Fox, author of Hollywood Sinners

'Lace features women you would be proud to call friends. Pick up this book and be sucked into the lives of four female characters who use their own intelligence and confidence to get ahead by themselves. I've loved Lace since I was a teenager and it's still as gripping as it ever was' --Harriet Evans, author of The Love of Her Life

'A gorgeous, glorious, ground-breaking saga of sex, scandal and family secrets. Here is the return of an awesome blockbuster classic, as fearless and fabulous as it was thirty years ago. Lace is the definitive drama of passion, friendship, intrigue and betrayal. It is hands-down one of the best things to come out of the eighties. I adore it' --Victoria Fox, author of Hollywood Sinners

'Lace features women you would be proud to call friends. Pick up this book and be sucked into the lives of four female characters who use their own intelligence and confidence to get ahead by themselves. I've loved Lace since I was a teenager and it's still as gripping as it ever was' --Harriet Evans, author of The Love of Her Life

'A gorgeous, glorious, ground-breaking saga of sex, scandal and family secrets. Here is the return of an awesome blockbuster classic, as fearless and fabulous as it was thirty years ago. Lace is the definitive drama of passion, friendship, intrigue and betrayal. It is hands-down one of the best things to come out of the eighties. I adore it' --Victoria Fox, author of Hollywood Sinners

About the Author

'Life's too short to stuff a mushroom'

Shirley Conran was born in London and is a former editor on the Daily Mail and the Observer. Her first book, Superwoman, sold more than a million copies worldwide, and was followed by ten other bestsellers. Shirley's ex-husband is designer Terence Conran, and they have two sons, Jasper and Sebastian, both of whom are designers.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 34 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZEBALLS 18 July 2012
By Hangten
Format:Kindle Edition
That's right. I said it. Shirley Conran's novel Lace is 751 pages of pure pleasure, the sort that would have even the characters of Fifty Shades of Grey wriggling with delight. But let's not be over-eager with our comparisons of the two novels, because where E.L. James novel falls short (pun not entirely intended) the characters of Lace deliver! I can not recommend this novel enough to ladies everywhere. If you are looking for something to take on your next holiday, buy Lace. If you are looking for something to pass the time on that tragic commute, buy Lace. I swear time will pass quickly when you surrender to the satisfaction Lace provides! Who knew words could provide hours and hours of such blissful entertainment.
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Fifty Shades meets Sex and the City 17 July 2012
By Song2
Format:Kindle Edition
Have just zoomed through this- cracking summer read, for anyone who's looking for something glamourous and steamy, and a little bit FSoG. Brilliant, brilliant characters, of the kind that the Carrie Bradshaw fans will adore, but also plenty of raunch, glamour, difficult and troubled men and gorgeously fab women.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Gripping and surprisingly intelligent 9 Sep 2012
By Roman Clodia TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
First published in 1982 as one of the first `bonkbusters', this has been reissued and, as one of its second generation readers, is a surprisingly intelligent read especially on issues of women's work, and money not so much as an asset but as a prerequisite for independence and autonomy.

It's certainly a fun, romp of a novel as we follow our four (five?) heroines from a Swiss finishing school in 1948 to New York in 1978. I like that our women aren't all ravishing beauties who want to be pop-stars, TV celebrities and actresses - they're certainly smart, talented and ambitious but boy, do they work hard too! These aren't token careers in the book, we actually follow them through the hard graft, the fear, the triumphs and the lows.

Conran has a nice sense of irony and historical awareness: the 1960s, for example, where Pagan is a `drunk' but never an alcoholic. She's also excellent on the changing sexual mores for, especially, women.

So for all its deserved bonkbuster accolades this is, at times, as angry as The Women's Room (1977) - and has every right to be: the appalling abuse and exploitation of Lili; the waste of bright, intelligent girls being brought up to do nothing but catch a man and churn out babies; the terrible lack of confidence in those who, for whatever reason, don't manage to achieve that; even the way girls are taught to spend money but not to understand it or earn it.

So by all means we can read this as a beachy/holiday/travel romp of a book - but Conran wraps up some important commentary amongst all the fun and frolics.
... Read more ›
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Every bit as good as the first time 11 Aug 2012
By Mezley
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I remember reading Lace as a teenager in the 80s (far too young and I blush a little at the thought - rereading it now I realise how much went over my head!). I remembered Judy, Kate, Pagan, Maxine and Lili like old friends, and happily immersed myself back in their lives. I was a little worried that the story would have dated, but it was as fresh as ever. This is a fabulous story, in a class of it's own. I hope that Lace 2 will also soon be available, and I was interested by Shirley Conran's notes at the back. Shirley...how about the next instalment - I want to know how the 21st century treated 'The Set'!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I first read Lace as a schoolgirl back in the mid 80s, when my friends and I passed around a battered paperback copy, giggling over the "racy" bits - so I couldn't resist revisiting my youth when I noticed that the novel has been re-released

I was pleased to find that that the basic story has held up fairly well. I remembered the core plot line (the"whodunit" of sorts) but still enjoyed the novel. The story moves from the late 40s, when a group of schoolgirls meet at a Swiss boarding school (one of whom falls pregnant and subsequently gives the baby up), through to the late 70s, when the mother / child relationship is finally revealed

Along the way, there is quite a roller coaster ride through the mid / late 20th century. Lace covers the rise of Communism and the birth of feminism (both of these references went well over my head as a teenager, but I appreciated them on re- reading!). At its heart though, the novel is a classic tale of female friendship and women finding their way in the world and finding themselves - and I don't think that really ages

Its not the best written book, and some of the text is a bit cliched and made me cringe - but Lace is a cracking good story all the same. If you're looking for an entertaining and not too taxing read - its highly recommended - enjoy!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous!!!! 22 Aug 2012
By Jax
Format:Kindle Edition
Read this first time around but now as a grown woman I appreciate it more
Moving and thoughtful and quite insightful
The story of these women makes me re read this over and over
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3.0 out of 5 stars The book rating is ok 18 Jun 2013
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
My wife has high standards and this was only rated a fair read.
The story line is ok but the depth of the characters were not fully developed.
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5.0 out of 5 stars One of my all time favs revisited. 2 May 2013
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I first read this book in 1983, having quickly grabbed it at the airport as a read on the journey to Majorca. I loved it then and am surprised that i still enjoyed it this time. The characters are believable and likeable and, although there is no great depth or message in the story, it is a fab holiday read. Probably one for the girls! Preferred it to Shades of Grey any time. Plenty of twists and turns as it follows the lives of four lifelong friends from differing backgrounds. A glamorous filmstar accuses one of them of being her mother....but which one is it? Lots of backtracking until secret revealed. A story delicately interwoven, just as the title suggests. Bargain on Amazon and now added to my Kindle collection.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
No matter how many times I read this book I still love it. The story is brilliant, you really get to know the characters and care about them, and the first time there is the added... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Rebecca
5.0 out of 5 stars Lace
Loved it couldn't put it down, enjoyed all of the individual stories of the girls, would highly recommend it, great read.
Published 2 months ago by Claire White
2.0 out of 5 stars Lace
Remembered this from the mini series on tv. Quite different from the tv series and whilst a good read in its own right the tv adaptation was better
Published 2 months ago by Miss Helen Dalton
3.0 out of 5 stars Not too easy to get into.
It was ok, but i found that it jumped from one person to the other rather quickly and without warning, if you hadent read it for a while you needed to go back abit to try and... Read more
Published 2 months ago by kim
5.0 out of 5 stars Lace - Amazing
It was great to read this againand many themes in the book still relevant today - brilliant and dramatic storyline - highly recommended.
Published 2 months ago by Nicki
5.0 out of 5 stars very intriguing read
loved the relationship the 4 girls/women have...i could not wait to get to the end to reveal Lilis real mother
Published 3 months ago by rubyhackney
5.0 out of 5 stars A great novel even 20 years after I first read it
I loved this book the first time I read it 20 years ago so when they released it for the kindle I had to order it. I still love it and now want to re-read Lace 2. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Miss Victoria L Rackham
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Loved it when I first read it many years ago and still do now. A lovely story of a different type of young lady but just as feisty.
Published 5 months ago by C Moss
3.0 out of 5 stars lace
its a ok book but i am not really a love story reader but good hoilday reading and easy to pick up and put down
Published 5 months ago by diant
5.0 out of 5 stars Good!
Excellent, quick delivery of item in condition as advertised. Good transaction and a very satisfied customer. Thank you very much!
Published 5 months ago by Patrick McDouall
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