Reviews

Blaming by Elizabeth Taylor

alicemc25's review against another edition

4.0

This book was a lovely surprise - both recieving it in the post (thanks Mum!) and how much I enjoyed it. The plot is so simple, and the characters are very real and identifiable. The good, bad and ugly sides of human emotion are written with painful honesty, but in a funny matter-of-fact way. I especially loved the brutal honesty of the children ("can I have this when you're dead?") which seemed so realistic! I think the title is perfect; the blame and guilt that Amy feels at the end is almost palpable. It's a quick, easy and emotive read.. but I did not want it to end like that!

sweddy65's review against another edition

4.0

This was the perfect read for this stressful time. It is a particular type of English novel. There is a big event right at the beginning of the novel but then not much happens. People live their lives. They interact. They think their thoughts.

_dunno_'s review against another edition

4.0

There's a whole generation of (probably underrated) British women writers that followed Virginia Woolf I've completely missed out and I'm quite determined to fix that. I started with Barbara Pym, continued with Elizabeth Taylor and Elizabeth Bowen & Dorothy Whipple will follow. Reccomendations appreciated.

margu's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

wendoxford's review against another edition

4.0

Love Elizabeth Taylor's quiet style in this novel, which, to me seems to be about middle class behaviour and manners. Everything simmers beneath a calm and proper surface with the essence of the characters' feelings only inferred, yet constantly needling its viscosity. Bereavement, family, the place of children, friendship all feature but all are barely tolerated or understood. Much background guilt, snobbery, lifestyle appearances and money worries dominate the telling which completely overwhelm the personal issues.

valariesmith's review against another edition

4.0

I loved this book, but I'd be hesitant to recommend it to anyone. There's not much in the way of a plot, but the characters' internal lives are beautifully drawn. There's a persnicketiness about Amy, the main character, that I really identified with, and that I've never quite seen illustrated in any other book.

kirstenfindlay's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

abby_writes's review against another edition

5.0

A novel of bereavement and grief and also blame -- it follows Amy, an 'inconsistent' women, whose husband dies while abroad. She befriends an American, Martha, who quickly becomes something of an 'albatross' despite her overtures at friendship, and their lives end up tangled together, each reminding the other of what they have lost or never had to begin with. There is quite a bit of sadness, albeit tempered with Taylor's characteristic dark humor, intimate descriptions of tea sandwiches, and romps around the English countryside.

jessreadthis's review against another edition

5.0

Elizabeth Taylor’s writing is absolutely brilliant. In this final novel, which she wrote while dying and became too weak to do edits in her chair, she examines grief. Her daughter wrote a touching tribute in the end of my edition. It took Taylor three years to write this book. And while reading, it’s clear the attention she paid to her details. She captures the complexity of grief in its logical and illogical forms. How it changes people and the awkwardness of social interactions after a tragic loss. I found parts incredibly relatable and sympathetic.

The novel opens introducing the readers to Nick and Amy Henderson. They are on holiday following Nick’s recovery from surgery and illness. Nick is weakened yet determined to savor each moment. Amy tries to support this but is at the end of her patience. They meet a fellow traveler, Martha, and a sort of friendship begins. When tragedy strikes, Martha escorts a grief stricken Amy back to England. The rest of the novel examines Amy’s grief and resumption of her life. Part of her new life now includes Martha. Who initially I thought had ulterior darker motives but over the course of the novel my thoughts on her changed. Which was one reason I thoroughly enjoyed this novel: the characters are dynamic and layered. Amy continues to hold Martha at an arm’s length yet also recognizes her need for human interaction. Their friendship is prickly. The book ends in a stunning way. I’m still trying to process it and am glad I will be discussing it with a book club.

Highly recommend and even more so if you are able to read it with a friend or bookclub.

elsie07's review against another edition

dark emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5