A Long Walk in Wintertime

by Libby Purves

Everything seems to be going well for Alice McDonald, who has a successful career, clever children, and an ideal husband. Two months later, it has all fallen apart, and Alice is left wondering if her happiness had been an illlusion.

Genres: Fiction

276 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Libby Purves is a journalist and author who has been writing for The Times since 1982. A previous columnist of the year and author of 12 novels and non-fiction books, she was for 40 years a BBC Radio 4 broadcaster after becoming the Today programme’s first woman and youngest presenter.

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this a wonderful book! Libby Purves' second novel features an apparently happy family whose lives almost fall apart for a while. The first chapter introduces Alice and Daniel and her closest friends at an unlikely birthday part at the Royal Opera House.

It's a light-hearted novel, on the whole, with excellent characterisation in the main protagonists, including the moody but gifted twelve-year-old Jamie. It's deeply moving too. Very enjoyable, with an entirely satisfactory ending.

Highly recommended if you like well-paced women's fiction with more storyline than is typical. I enjoyed it again fifteen years after first reading the novel, by which time I had entirely forgotten both the story and the people.

Latest full review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

First read by this author. I'm not too sure how to rate this book; initially for the first twenty - thirty percent of the book, I was tempted to put it down but persevered. I'm glad I did cos once I got used to her style of writing, I got drawn into the story and the narrative. It was good but the story felt a bit unfinished, and the characters a bit two dimensional.

The whole cheating thing remain unresolved and was pushed into the background, and was never addressed directly or in a meaningful way. Daniel did not seem to appreciate the impact of his cheating on the family or expressed any remorse. There’s very little growth or illumination for him as a character.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book I ever read by this British author. I found it randomly in a used book store. After this I was always in search for more of her books. Found some in Canada, and then more on the website Abebooks.com

December 2023: It has been many years since I read this book, so I picked it off the shelf for a good holiday read. And it didn't fail! Although some of the technology and fashions are out-of-date, the essence of the story is still just as powerful. Maybe because human beings and their relationships still make wonderful story-telling.

[Anne-marie Becker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was lent this book on the back of a comment id made about loving carousels... Which for the first 100 pgs or so were not mentioned at all! Anyway. Slow to start. But the last 70 pgs saved it for me.
Although it consistentlyoffers Honest and empathic insights and observations of our relationship values and expectations. A good read- probably perfect for a cold wet winter - mug of cocoa in hand.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

VEry good.

[tricia tietema · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming challenging page turner

I loved the people painted so realistically with their different backgrounds and raw emotions and I loved the story about a lost, in more ways than one, twelve year old, that awkward age when we long to belong, find our tribe, and yet fear that it will never happen and as a teenager might fall into a deep abyss and give up. It could have ended so differently as a parent I reflected on my selfishness and on those lost youngsters to give up and opt to leave this world, sometimes with a bang taking others with them but sometimes alone trapped in the four walls of their bedroom with a computer as it seems to have nothing to offer them. This was a happy ending but round the edges it so clearly might not have been

[Jennifer Collins · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was difficult to read, or I was just easily distracted. Nothing made sense to me, hard to follow.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a while to get into it but worth persevering because I thoroughly enjoyed it

[Eliana]

Oldie

[iris short · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good

I really enjoyed this well written book .Full of love and friendship it’s heartwarming. I definitely recommend this book and hope you enjoy it.

[Charlotte Newton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, light read.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good read.

[Maggieg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13065385

[Catsalive · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1...

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

an interesting story that holds the readers attention