tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post547305413613076989..comments2024-03-07T03:01:03.672-05:00Comments on roses over a cottage door: To Bed with Grand MusicDarlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-80180456750636806112010-02-01T12:13:47.960-05:002010-02-01T12:13:47.960-05:00I haven't read Laski yet, but you've certa...I haven't read Laski yet, but you've certainly convinced me that I need to read this one! Wonderful review.Tarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208766776468157501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-88962963665279459702010-01-28T20:17:32.602-05:002010-01-28T20:17:32.602-05:00skirmishofwit, What would we do without Persephone...skirmishofwit, What would we do without Persephone Books and the wonderful cast of characters to be found in them? Doesn't bear thinking about!<br /><br />Kristina, Thank you for your praise of my humble review skills, that's so nice of you to say. I fear that I will be old one day and forget all the lovely characters in these books and Louise and Deborah will be burned in my mind...yikes!Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-86257517030085908792010-01-28T15:06:33.385-05:002010-01-28T15:06:33.385-05:00You've captured the book so perfectly. And you...You've captured the book so perfectly. And you're right: I haven't despised a character so thoroughly since Louise! K xkristinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-85172203513900856832010-01-28T09:41:42.844-05:002010-01-28T09:41:42.844-05:00I own twenty-three unread Persephones at present s...I own twenty-three unread Persephones at present so it's not a need to ration them :s. I've been looking forward to it so much that I'm hoping eventually reading it won't be an anti-climax! I have faith in Laski though.Paperback Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14579608422235511054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-48267385015302448792010-01-28T08:24:17.753-05:002010-01-28T08:24:17.753-05:00What a super review! I absolutely agree - one of t...What a super review! I absolutely agree - one of the reasons I loved this book so much was that I got to thoroughly despise the main character, and yet became fascinated by her story couldn't put the book down. The ending is brilliant!skirmishofwithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01031418191113154505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-84199192039407078602010-01-28T08:16:49.141-05:002010-01-28T08:16:49.141-05:00leaningtowardthesun, When you pull To Bed with Gra...leaningtowardthesun, When you pull To Bed with Grand Music off of your shelf, I'd love to know what you think of Deborah...do let me know!<br /><br />verity, Oh yes! When Laski mentions Deborah's silver fox fur, I instantly had this image of the whole outfit. Let's hope that if there is a book chat on this title one day, you'll be able to eat the cake! <br /><br />Paperback Reader, So many of us like to ration our Persephone's don't we. I will definitely be interested to read what you think of this one, Claire!<br /><br />Anonymous, Your comments are one of the reasons that this book would make for such a stimulating chat! I absolutely get the double standard as I mentioned in my post. My disdain for Deborah has more to do with her conniving than her morality and I'm sure there will be those who even admire Deborah for this trait. As for being mean in wishing a bomb would drop on Deborah...that's just my dramatic black humour at play. I was terrified at that moment that Timmy's life was in peril and thought better Deborah than him!<br /><br />I haven't read Last's diaries but have watched Housewife 49 which was excellent! <br /><br />Let's hope there are at least a few more Laski's to be had, she's absolutely fantastic!<br /><br />Danielle, Thanks! There are several Persephone titles waiting on my shelf, the next one will most likely be a Whipple. Rachel really liked They Knew Mr Knight so that's a possibility. Please read Someone at a Distance!!!<br /><br />makedoandread, Luckily for me, my trip last May coincided with a Persephone chat about Someone at a Distance...it was so much fun! I would attend every single one if I lived over there. <br /><br />Nan, I find myself taking another look at titles in the catalogue that at first didn't appeal. I really trust Nicola's choices as every single Persephone that I've read has been a rewarding experience. <br /><br />Merenia, I loved The Village! You are so right about Wendy. Isn't Laski fabulous at characterization?!<br /><br />Mrs B, Oh you're in for a treat! I keep swearing that I'm not going to follow any more blogs as I worry about spending too much time on the computer but I'll keep an eye out for your review of Little Boy Lost. Elizabeth Bowen wrote that it contains the best last sentence in 20th century fiction!<br /><br />Rachel, You can't lose with Laski! I wonder if there's a biography out there...she would have been so interesting to talk to.Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-47065816352627230442010-01-28T04:42:00.187-05:002010-01-28T04:42:00.187-05:00This sounds amazing! I must read more Laski. It...This sounds amazing! I must read more Laski. It's so interesting to hear about a book set during the war that's not all about plucky women doing their bit on the home front. Great review Darlene!Rachel (Book Snob)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13669640788036671572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-34645054490592731652010-01-27T20:41:21.012-05:002010-01-27T20:41:21.012-05:00This sounds like a wonderful Persephone. I've ...This sounds like a wonderful Persephone. I've put it on my wishlist. I've only read one book by her, The Victorian Chaise Longue and it was creepy. I have Little Boy Lost on my To-be-read pile.Astrid (Mrs.B)https://www.blogger.com/profile/00504736603540947661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-87661045440862540682010-01-27T20:00:01.128-05:002010-01-27T20:00:01.128-05:00Darlene, I purchased and read The Village recently...Darlene, I purchased and read The Village recently, thinking from the title it would be a 'cosy' read! How wrong I was.<br />To Bed With Grand Music sounds similar with a devastating female character (the Mother, Wendy, in The Village was simple a viper!), and a devastating, unvarnished portrait of English society in the 40's.Mereniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00597354144052341218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-52398389464009545432010-01-27T17:27:57.643-05:002010-01-27T17:27:57.643-05:00When I read what it was about in the P. catalogue,...When I read what it was about in the P. catalogue, I didn't think it was for me. And I guess I still don't, but what a great review you wrote. Amazing.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-32896858164316646172010-01-27T16:26:58.802-05:002010-01-27T16:26:58.802-05:00I have Someone at a Distance and I've put off ...I have Someone at a Distance and I've put off reading it for the very reason of such an unlikeable character. Of course I don't Have to like characters if the story is good, and I wouldn't mind reading this Laski, but I've held off ordering any UK books for a while (am still trying to be good--why didn't I get a Persephone gift card for Christmas??). Your post is tempting me. What other Persephones do you have up your sleeve? I'm going to have to read one of my own soon. Wonderful post, by the way! :)Daniellehttp://www.danitorres.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-19170520933576266142010-01-27T15:39:08.383-05:002010-01-27T15:39:08.383-05:00This is another Persephone I really, really want t...This is another Persephone I really, really want to read. And I understand you wishing you could get to a bookchat - between this novel and Saplings' Lena, Persephone is definitely finding some interesting side-notes to the expected dutiful wife.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-39172559957075770282010-01-27T13:43:56.999-05:002010-01-27T13:43:56.999-05:00Brilliant writer, isn't she? I don't she m...Brilliant writer, isn't she? I don't she means us to despise Deborah - I had a sneaky admiration for the way she wreaked some fun out of the war, when she really might have been blown up at her nightclub table, many were. (I certainly didn't want her to be blown up ... how mean of you!) And after all, I don't suppose her husband was staying in every night in Cairo or wherever it was, washing his socks ... he didn't even promise her fidelity, did he? I think we're being invited to look at the double standards of morality for men and women. And the war opened up women's lives in so many different ways, even Nella Last went into a nervous depression once it was over and she had to go back to undiluted domesticity with her very dull husband. (Have you read Nella Last's diaries ... brilliant read, but she's one of the WRVS/queuing- for-England respectable housewives. And she didn't have Deborah's good looks ... <br />But I'm lost now, having read the all the Persephone Laskis ... I wonder if they have any more up their sleeve?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-58153086823255505472010-01-27T13:10:49.161-05:002010-01-27T13:10:49.161-05:00WHY haven't I read this yet?! I have had the b...WHY haven't I read this yet?! I have had the book for three weeks now and it is impatiently waiting on my bedside table. A character that you despised as much as Louise? Oh my goodness.<br /><br />I'll be attending that bookchat with Verity, don't you worry.Paperback Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14579608422235511054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-58848939066020410262010-01-27T10:13:56.854-05:002010-01-27T10:13:56.854-05:00It was such a clever novel being able to do that w...It was such a clever novel being able to do that wasn't it. Such a different perspective on wartime life. I loved all of the period detail so much too and the endpapers. If there is a bookchat on it, I'll make sure to go Darlene.verityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16825551404394913715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-50019963693746304802010-01-27T09:53:00.385-05:002010-01-27T09:53:00.385-05:00I've read 2 of Laski's other titles re-pub...I've read 2 of Laski's other titles re-published by Persephone and have been saving this one but you make me want to drop everything and read. It does sound like a good book and I'm glad you enjoyed it. I just finished Someone at a Distance so I know just what you mean about disliking a character and having that characterization pull you in!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com