Daily Mail
"Deliciously told... I loved every page"
Sunday Times
"Despite surface differences Buchan skilfully suggests the struggle to hold onto their identities that makes Barbara and Siena sisters"
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
47 of 50 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
'That Certain Age' is another wonderful novel from Elizabeth Buchan. As with her previous books, what really stand out are the beautifully sculpted characters which, over the course of the book, draw you in and entwine you in their lives. They evoke empathy, yet not necessarily sympathy, a balance difficult to achieve.
The novel centres on 2 juxtaposed female characters living 60 years apart, Sienna, in the present day, and Barbara, in the 1940's. The two are mirrored in terms of the emotional stage they are at in life, facing similar challenges and both struggling with the dilemma of the changing feelings of 'love' within marriage. One is particularly struck by the start contrast in the expectations impinged on the 2 women by society, and how this affects lives.
Momentum is maintained throughout the book - the pace and flow really grips the reader - ensuring you don't want to put it down! The book left me thinking and challenging the balance of my own life, questioning what makes us happy versus what we think makes us happy. Furthermore, I was left querying the merits of 21st century syndrome - always striving for the next thing to achieve, the next level, to be the best, to be perfect. The constant need to justify oneself.... is it justification to ourselves, those around us - friends, family, society...?
Buy it! It comes highly recommended.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have enjoyed Elizabeth Buchan's other books but found this one a real disappointment. You were left with the impression at the end that the author had had 2 ideas for books but could not flesh either out into a full novel so decided to combine the 2, and that not very successfully.
The story lines are cliched - older woman (Barbara) attracted to younger man, set in the 50's; plus, set in the current day, should successful career woman (Siena) have baby?(definitely not, Siena, if you have to agonise about it for so long); and the link between the two women levered in at the end was so contrived I almost could not believe what I was reading.
The worst thing was that I feel the book could have been so much better if the sub-plots had been developed more, I wanted to know what happened to Amy (Barbara's daughter), to Sophie (does she get the job she interviewed for?), what finally happens to Jackie (the client Charlie is defending, don't want to give too much away), all these characters seem to be abandoned when their stories could be so much more. Not recommended.
The story lines are cliched - older woman (Barbara) attracted to younger man, set in the 50's; plus, set in the current day, should successful career woman (Siena) have baby?(definitely not, Siena, if you have to agonise about it for so long); and the link between the two women levered in at the end was so contrived I almost could not believe what I was reading.
The worst thing was that I feel the book could have been so much better if the sub-plots had been developed more, I wanted to know what happened to Amy (Barbara's daughter), to Sophie (does she get the job she interviewed for?), what finally happens to Jackie (the client Charlie is defending, don't want to give too much away), all these characters seem to be abandoned when their stories could be so much more. Not recommended.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have read and enjoyed most of Elizabeth Buchan's books but I just could not get into this one. Even at the end of the book I couldn't really see how the two stories were linked. Aside from that, I found the tone throughout mostly dull and flat.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
That Certain Age
That Certain Age
Elizabeth Buchan is a favourite author of mine so it didn't take much coaxing to buy this book as well. Read more
Elizabeth Buchan is a favourite author of mine so it didn't take much coaxing to buy this book as well. Read more
Published 2 months ago by jofromoz
The perennnial problems of being female
The book follows the story of two women - Barbara and Sienna - both at a turning point in their lives. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Damaskcat
At best a very light read
At worse superficial and rather a waste of time.
If you are looking for a magazine-type read which is not particularly challenging then this could be it. Read more
If you are looking for a magazine-type read which is not particularly challenging then this could be it. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2009 by RH
Synopsis from back cover
Barbara and Siena, two women living fifty years apart, Both constrained by choice; one has too little and one has too much. Read more
Published on 18 Nov 2008 by Mary_10
Unusual style
Unusual style in that there are two parallel stories running throughout the novel. Throughout I was trying to work out if there was going to be a link between Siena and Barbara,... Read more
Published on 25 April 2008 by LindyLouMac
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