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writtenontheflyleaves's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark 💣
🌟🌟🌟✨
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👗 The plot: The May of Teck Club is a boarding house in Kensington for the young lady on a budget. With the Second World War just ending, its tenants pick their way through bomb-scarred London, on the threshold of a new world and the rest of their lives.
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This was a quick and lovely read! Maybe it’s being nowhere near the end of a pandemic (despite what today’s relaxation of restrictions in England would suggest) but I’m so fascinated by the liminal space this novel sits in, the idea of being at the edge of wartime looking towards uncertain peace, and the volatility of that place. It’s a bit of a slice of life novel rather than a book with Big Ideas or a Big Plot, but I loved that about it!
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The writing was poignant and the characterisation was great; if you’re looking for omniscient narration offering zoomed-out musings on the root of characters’ flaws and foibles this is the book for you. I think what stopped this from being a four star read for me was just that it’s quite low-key so my reaction was more appreciative than enthusiastic!
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🔥 Read it if you’re interested in WWII/ mid-century London and want a slightly different perspective on it! I loved reading about women at the close of war because I feel like it’s not a story I’ve seen much before.
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🚫 Avoid it if you’re sensitive to discussion of weight and dieting - this is gone into in detail at certain points and although it’s not a dominant theme I’d still say it’s worth being aware of. Also if you’re looking for a book where a lot is Happening, or where there’s a compelling main character - the narration flows relatively easily between the different May of Teck girls without digging especially deep.
🌟🌟🌟✨
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👗 The plot: The May of Teck Club is a boarding house in Kensington for the young lady on a budget. With the Second World War just ending, its tenants pick their way through bomb-scarred London, on the threshold of a new world and the rest of their lives.
-
This was a quick and lovely read! Maybe it’s being nowhere near the end of a pandemic (despite what today’s relaxation of restrictions in England would suggest) but I’m so fascinated by the liminal space this novel sits in, the idea of being at the edge of wartime looking towards uncertain peace, and the volatility of that place. It’s a bit of a slice of life novel rather than a book with Big Ideas or a Big Plot, but I loved that about it!
-
The writing was poignant and the characterisation was great; if you’re looking for omniscient narration offering zoomed-out musings on the root of characters’ flaws and foibles this is the book for you. I think what stopped this from being a four star read for me was just that it’s quite low-key so my reaction was more appreciative than enthusiastic!
-
🔥 Read it if you’re interested in WWII/ mid-century London and want a slightly different perspective on it! I loved reading about women at the close of war because I feel like it’s not a story I’ve seen much before.
-
🚫 Avoid it if you’re sensitive to discussion of weight and dieting - this is gone into in detail at certain points and although it’s not a dominant theme I’d still say it’s worth being aware of. Also if you’re looking for a book where a lot is Happening, or where there’s a compelling main character - the narration flows relatively easily between the different May of Teck girls without digging especially deep.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Eating disorder
molliepop's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Eating disorder, and Misogyny
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