Saturday 18 January 2014

Notwithstanding by Louis de Bernieres



Notwithstanding 
From Goodreads
 
A funny and heartbreaking new book from one of Britain's favourite and bestselling writers.

Welcome to the village of Notwithstanding where a lady dresses in plus fours and shoots squirrels, a retired general gives up wearing clothes altogether, a spiritualist lives in a cottage with the ghost of her husband, and people think it quite natural to confide in a spider that lives in a potting shed. Based on de Bernières' recollections of the village he grew up in, Notwithstanding is a funny and moving depiction of a charming vanished England.

My thoughts

I gave this an 8/10.

I enjoyed this series of interlinked short stories. Some humourous moments, some sad moments and lots of pleasurable reading moments. A nice book to pick up and put down while having a cuppa.

I'm not usually a lover of the short stories as no sooner have you got your teeth into the story then it's over but with being interlinked it didn't really read as short stories more like chapters focusing on different people and things.

 

3 comments:

  1. I just saw Mrs Macs review of this book. Like you, I'n not big on short stories either but I am tempted as I do like this author. I read Sebastian Faulks short stories A Possible Life and quite enjoyed those. They also link up but can be read alone as and when.

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    Replies
    1. I spurred her on to read it when I let her now via RiSi that there was a character in the book called Mrs Mac. :-)

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  2. Only just noticed my spelling mistake. I used now and it should have been know.

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