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andrew61's review
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Claire Temple is an elderly lady who is slowly losing her memory. She lives on her own in a London home during the blitz with only her feisty Irish cook Kathleen for company. The house is at boiling point as Claires' memory causes increasing frustration, and Claire believes her cook is trying to harm her.
However, Claire is also ascerbic in her wit, cruel in her comments and disinhibited in her memories when she over the following chapters meets various visitors from friends, former secretaries, and most wittily Francis Maitland an artistic man about town with whom Claire shares gossip about the great and good of early 20thc literature and art.
When a new companion, Mrs Jones, is employed to help out, things go from bad to worse.
This was a very enjoyable and unique piece of writing that combined humour with poignancy as an obviously once vibrant and brilliant woman slips into the torment of dementia. A big thanks to persephone for bringing these forgotten pieces of work back to life.
However, Claire is also ascerbic in her wit, cruel in her comments and disinhibited in her memories when she over the following chapters meets various visitors from friends, former secretaries, and most wittily Francis Maitland an artistic man about town with whom Claire shares gossip about the great and good of early 20thc literature and art.
When a new companion, Mrs Jones, is employed to help out, things go from bad to worse.
This was a very enjoyable and unique piece of writing that combined humour with poignancy as an obviously once vibrant and brilliant woman slips into the torment of dementia. A big thanks to persephone for bringing these forgotten pieces of work back to life.
catebutler's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
#PersephoneClub on Litsy - August 2023
barbarabarbara's review
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
wisforwitching's review
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jordanmueller's review
challenging
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
possiblymaybe's review
an interesting book, but unfortunately just very slow and repetitive (a deliberate stylistic choice — just not what i want to read right now). i was starting to dread picking it up, and as such have had it sitting on my shelf for weeks. at another time i probably would have finished it, but just not something i want to keep going with right now, especially when i have a long long list of books i’m actually excited to read.
lauraeatsbooks's review
5.0
So true of our fears of old age, irrelevancy and our dependence on others that it is incredibly uncomfortable to read.
melchnau's review
4.0
Interesting and kinda sad book looking at the life of an older woman with lots of spirit.
blankgarden's review
5.0
I wrote about this book here: https://theblankgarden.wordpress.com/2016/03/31/everyone-was-shut-in-upon-themselves/
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