Historical fiction is not a genre I would normally choose, but this novella caught my eye. I live in an area also rich with the history of these times and I also know Lincolnshire a little too so I feel well placed to admit that not only did I enjoy the atmosphere created by the author, the romantic weave lent another, very palatable thread of authenticity. Well written, it is not only a romance but an accurate slice of life in those precarious years of Saxon England.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The skill with which the author portrays the many diverse characters of Pagford - a small English country town - the way they reacted with and against each other and the subsequent fallout, is sublime. It opens with the death of local councillor Barry Fairbrother, and if I was to be incredibly harsh then I might add that the beginning didn't grab me totally, maybe because lots of characters were introduced quickly, but once I'd got past this point, I was totally hooked into every single thread Ms Rowling introduced. So, a council seat is up for grabs - a casual vacancy - and a chance to change their small world, to have some power and prestige, throws… Read more
This is a lighthearted, feel-good bubbly book but it has a solid centre. I am always wary when reviews say something is amazingly funny, but lots of this story actually did made me laugh. It was a little predictable here and there, with some slight stereotyping in the characterisation, but it does what it says on the tin. Actually I think the pink cover makes it appear more frothy than it actually is. There is some sparky writing and a good plot foundation built around Celia, and her job at the elderly independents home where she teaches keep fit and art. Some of the escapades are a little zany, but on the other hand it does fly the flag for the older generation, rather than depicting… Read more
