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pontificate's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
rebekahgrace's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
rienkat's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.25
harriet23's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
gabmc's review against another edition
2.0
I really loved watching the TV series recently and learning it was based on a book, thought I'd try the book! I didn't like the character of Pop Larkin nearly as much in the book as in the series and the other characters just didn't come to life for me. Pop runs a large farm which somehow doesn't seem to make an income and is visited one day by Mr Charleton, a local tax inspector. Pop manages to convince 'Charlie' as he becomes, to take some sick leave and stay with the family for an extended period of time. The family has all sorts of 'larks' from a day of strawberry picking to a gymkhana held on the Larkin farm where Pop can't resist setting off fireworks even though he has promised the prim Miss Pilchester that under no circumstances would there be any fireworks.
georgewrfisher's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
be_an_rm's review against another edition
3.0
Neither perfick nor ghastly--perfectly fine for what it is, but I guess it's not my thing.
paperbacksandpines's review against another edition
2.0
What a disappointment. I thought I'd be reading a charming historical springtime read. Instead, I got some fodder for a fire.
From the start, I felt uncomfortable with the description of Ma's girth. Time and again, Bates mentioned her size in off putting descriptions that cemented what a sleazeball he was.
Besides descriptions of Ma, there was an overabundance of descriptions of women's bodies, gluttonous descriptions of food and drink that made me sick to my stomach, weird descriptions of geese brushing up against Mr. Charlton under the table, and Pop Larkin touching a spinster inappropriately and kissing her, with Ma's full knowledge. I understand that one shouldn't view the values in a book by current social mores but rather through the mores at the time they were written but even so, this book doesn't have enough redeeming qualities to recommend reading it.
The character motivations seemed wholly ungrounded in reality. I couldn't relate to any of the characters and I never got invested in any of them. I was under the impression that book was supposed to be humorous but I was just grossed out by the descriptions and nonsense. Perhaps if I was more familiar to the references in this book that went over my head, I would have appreciated the book more but I'm pretty positive I still wouldn't have liked the book. Reading this book felt like falling into a fever dream that I couldn't get out of. The plot meandered and went off on tangents. I found myself just wishing I could get it over with.
There are so many more better historical fiction books out there, ones that don't denigrate women and reduce them to the lowest common denominator as sexual objects. I'd suggest picking one of those books up instead.
From the start, I felt uncomfortable with the description of Ma's girth. Time and again, Bates mentioned her size in off putting descriptions that cemented what a sleazeball he was.
Besides descriptions of Ma, there was an overabundance of descriptions of women's bodies, gluttonous descriptions of food and drink that made me sick to my stomach, weird descriptions of geese brushing up against Mr. Charlton under the table, and Pop Larkin touching a spinster inappropriately and kissing her, with Ma's full knowledge. I understand that one shouldn't view the values in a book by current social mores but rather through the mores at the time they were written but even so, this book doesn't have enough redeeming qualities to recommend reading it.
The character motivations seemed wholly ungrounded in reality. I couldn't relate to any of the characters and I never got invested in any of them. I was under the impression that book was supposed to be humorous but I was just grossed out by the descriptions and nonsense. Perhaps if I was more familiar to the references in this book that went over my head, I would have appreciated the book more but I'm pretty positive I still wouldn't have liked the book. Reading this book felt like falling into a fever dream that I couldn't get out of. The plot meandered and went off on tangents. I found myself just wishing I could get it over with.
There are so many more better historical fiction books out there, ones that don't denigrate women and reduce them to the lowest common denominator as sexual objects. I'd suggest picking one of those books up instead.
manoeklambregts's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0