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Patty
Rating:
Review
This is a delicious book to which I cheerfully related. Set in and about London, 1954-55, it tells of English teenager Penelope who meets Charlotte while waiting for a bus. Through an unexpected afternoon of having tea with Charlotte's Aunt Clare, meeting Charlotte's older brother Harry who is becoming a magician, and discovering a mutual obsession over American singer Johnnie Ray, the 18 year-old girls are on their way through a rolicking year and best friendship. Along the way we read of a new, unknown American singer named Elvis Presley. We meet Penelope's musically talented 16 year-old brother Inigo, and her stunningly beautiful widowed mother Talitha. We learn that Penelope's father was killed during World War II, and that the family is struggling to hold on to a family estate, badly in disrepair, and with no visible means of an income to save the home. We have a look at London's high society with a reference to popular Princess Margaret; and we learn about "Teddy Boys," a style of wearing apparel for men. Author Eva Rice was a finalist for the British Book Award "Best Read of the Year." By the middle of the book I found myself unable to put it down. There are charming characters, events, and a well-developed plot. There is a surprise or two, and a satisfying ending..
Best Line:
"Ah, leave her to stew," said Rocky. "You can always tell the ones who were never spanked as a child. Spoiled little bitch."
Kim
Rating:
Review
Penelope meets Charlotte, both 18 year-olds in 1950's London, neither with much of a plan for their futures. Enter Charlotte's cousin, Harry, and his mum, Claire, and Penelope's brother, Indigo, and mother, Talitha, their housekeeper, Mary, Aunt Claire's housekeeper, Phoebe, and Harry's ex-flame, Marina, who is engaged to George, which Harry is hoping to come between them with Penelope's help, and all the while singer Johnny Ray is in the picture, though often in Penelope's imagination. Cripes, that's a lot of players to keep straight! And they really aren't that fascinating! The look of the book cover, and the title were far more interesting than the story itself, sad as that is to report. I was never quite convinced of Penelope being more than a name in ink, and she was the main character. Horrors!
Best Line:
"Beware of good lighting", she warned, as full of wise advice as I expected her to be. "It's almost as dangerous as alcohol."
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