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Reading in Bed
Opening at the Hay Festival, and ending with the prospect of a spring wedding, Sue Gee's novel is a lively story of tangled relationships and the sustaining powers of good books, loyal friends and conversation. Friends since university, with busy working lives behind them, Dido and Georgia have long been looking forward to carefree days of books and conversation, when each finds herself caught up in unexpected domestic drama. Dido, for the first time, has cause to question her marriage; widowed Georgia feels certain her husband will return to her. Meanwhile, an eccentric country cousin goes wildly off the rails, children are unhappy in love, and perfect health is all at once in question.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2008
8 people are currently reading
293 people want to read
About the author
Sue Gee
23 books38 followersSue Gee was born in India, where her father was an Army officer. She had a her elder brother, Robert, now a retired radiographer living in Spain. She grew up on a Devon farm, and in a village in Leicestershire, before instaled in Surrey in 1960. She lived in north London for 27 years with the journalist Marek Mayer, they had a son, Jamie. She married Mayer in November 2003, less of two years before his death on 23th July 2005. Now, she lived in the town of Hay-on-Wye in the Welsh borders.
Published since 1980, her novel Letters From Prague, was serialised on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour and Her play, Ancient and Modern, was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2004, with Juliet Stevenson in the lead role. Her novel The Hours of the Night which received wide critical acclaim and was the controversial winner of the 1997 Romantic Novel of the Year Award, an award she won again in 2004 by her novel Thin Air.
She was Programme Leader for the MA Writing programme at Middlesex University from 2000 to 2008. She is currently reading for a PhD in Creative and Critical Writing at the University of East Anglia. She has been awarded a Royal Literary Fund Fellowship.
Published since 1980, her novel Letters From Prague, was serialised on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour and Her play, Ancient and Modern, was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2004, with Juliet Stevenson in the lead role. Her novel The Hours of the Night which received wide critical acclaim and was the controversial winner of the 1997 Romantic Novel of the Year Award, an award she won again in 2004 by her novel Thin Air.
She was Programme Leader for the MA Writing programme at Middlesex University from 2000 to 2008. She is currently reading for a PhD in Creative and Critical Writing at the University of East Anglia. She has been awarded a Royal Literary Fund Fellowship.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
May 1, 2012
Sue Gee could probably not have shoe horned in any more references to books or to Radio 4 if she had tried. Her main characters were called Georgia and Dido, they mixed in circles of academics, fashion photographers, doctors and writers. They had been friends ' for an absolute age, since they first went up to Oxford' (this spoken, i imagine, in accents upon which the Queen could dine)and one was newly widowed after her husband's sudden death and one newly worried after her husband's weird text messages.
The story revolves aimlessly, harmlessly and entertainingly enough around illness, infidelity, failing romances and rickety friendships. There is a rampantly insane maiden aunt,(gosh that is an original character) there is an arrogantly handsome lothario,(wow, that must have taken some thinking through) there is a shy retiring doormat who gradually is seen to be blossoming into some sort of dude,(Didn't see that coming) there is a gay/actor/bestfriend (bloody hell, the revolutionary creativity just keeps on coming) and there is an arid, bitter blue-stocking who turns out to be a lesbian (no archetypal writing by numbers here at all).
Grief and grieving, illness and mortality, infidelity and forgiveness. They are all picked up and looked at rather half-heartedly like ornaments in an antique shop but I think Gee liked to polish some more than others. Chloe, the daughter who had lost her father, is a 100% unattractively self-obsessed beauty. Me, me, me doesn't in any way communicate the total selfish pre-occupation of this horrible woman. I think I was supposed to feel sorry for her and walk with her in her pain; I just felt the urge to throw a glass of lemon flavoured mineral water into her beautifully made up visage.
I picked it up because of the title about three years ago and it sat idly on the shelf until I took it up a couple of days ago. I realize, in retrospect, it was not written for me. They just all felt so superior and shored up against proper life that even when, supposedly, horrible things happened to them such as tumours and court cases and relationship struggles I could not find it in myself to emote one little bit of sympathy.
I am a nice bloke ordinarily and sniffle and well up and sometimes unashamedly sob when the opportunity arises in my reading and so i have to say it is maybe because i didn't believe they were real. They said interesting things.....somtimes, they said vaguely amusing things.....sometimes, but never real things. The story begins as the heroines drive away from a literary festival at which they had feasted on all things literary and are exhausted by the rich diet in which they have indulged. I finish this and feel as if i have been stuffed with one of those loaves of bread which are half wholemeal and half white which leave you bloated, uncomfortable but conscious that give it a little time and you will know that you have not been in any way nourished.
The story revolves aimlessly, harmlessly and entertainingly enough around illness, infidelity, failing romances and rickety friendships. There is a rampantly insane maiden aunt,(gosh that is an original character) there is an arrogantly handsome lothario,(wow, that must have taken some thinking through) there is a shy retiring doormat who gradually is seen to be blossoming into some sort of dude,(Didn't see that coming) there is a gay/actor/bestfriend (bloody hell, the revolutionary creativity just keeps on coming) and there is an arid, bitter blue-stocking who turns out to be a lesbian (no archetypal writing by numbers here at all).
Grief and grieving, illness and mortality, infidelity and forgiveness. They are all picked up and looked at rather half-heartedly like ornaments in an antique shop but I think Gee liked to polish some more than others. Chloe, the daughter who had lost her father, is a 100% unattractively self-obsessed beauty. Me, me, me doesn't in any way communicate the total selfish pre-occupation of this horrible woman. I think I was supposed to feel sorry for her and walk with her in her pain; I just felt the urge to throw a glass of lemon flavoured mineral water into her beautifully made up visage.
I picked it up because of the title about three years ago and it sat idly on the shelf until I took it up a couple of days ago. I realize, in retrospect, it was not written for me. They just all felt so superior and shored up against proper life that even when, supposedly, horrible things happened to them such as tumours and court cases and relationship struggles I could not find it in myself to emote one little bit of sympathy.
I am a nice bloke ordinarily and sniffle and well up and sometimes unashamedly sob when the opportunity arises in my reading and so i have to say it is maybe because i didn't believe they were real. They said interesting things.....somtimes, they said vaguely amusing things.....sometimes, but never real things. The story begins as the heroines drive away from a literary festival at which they had feasted on all things literary and are exhausted by the rich diet in which they have indulged. I finish this and feel as if i have been stuffed with one of those loaves of bread which are half wholemeal and half white which leave you bloated, uncomfortable but conscious that give it a little time and you will know that you have not been in any way nourished.
March 23, 2008
I wouldn't say I'm in two minds about this book, exactly - I didn't like it. There were some good bits, but the flaws of the writing just makes it a bad read overall. To start with, it was a little dull, being about two sixty-something women. Furthermore, when trying to write from the point of view of a thirty-one year old daughter, Sue Gee makes her sound like a spoilt fourteen-year old, "like, totally, like all the time". It was awful. The worst thing about the book, however, was the way the author spoke to the reader, in truly cringe-worthy ways, despite the story being told in omniscient third-person. The book was poorly written and I was clearly not in the intended target readership. Avoid.
June 21, 2014
I picked up this book (from a charity shop) because (1) I liked the title, and (2) I was going to hear this author speak at a literary luncheon and I was unfamiliar with her work. That this literary luncheon was sponsored by The Lady magazine will tell you everything that you need to know. Warning: Do not go anywhere near this book if you are not acquainted with, and indeed a passionate lover of, all things upper-middle-class British. For example: books of the literary sort, high-minded conversation, Radio 4, classical music, academia, Farrow & Ball paint, holidays in the French countryside and emotional stoicism.
The plot is mainly concerned with the long friendship of Georgia and Dido, two early-60ish women who are undergoing all sorts of change in their lives. This is the bit that I liked: the acknowledgement that life is not ever really done or "sorted." Just at the point where you think that your life has settled, that your identity/self has acquired a solid and permanent shape, everything can get shaken up.
I read this book on a cycling holiday in Italy (I know, I know)and it just so happened that my husband and I stayed up late drinking with another couple (early 60s, well-educated, just retired) very like the characters in this book. The woman confessed that she was terrified of retiring; terrified of the loss of professional identity and the unknown shape of her life to come. My point being that this is rich territory for the novelist and I (not quite at that stage of life) find it interesting. But in this book? Just not quite interesting enough. We are kept at an emotional remove from the characters, and it is quite difficult to empathise with them.
Two more things: The title has nothing to do with the events of the book, other than that the two main characters love to read. (I found this a bit annoying as it implies a cosiness which the novel definitely did not have as one of its qualities.) Also, Sue Gee spoke about her new book called Coming Home, which describes her parents' experiences in India just at the very end of its colonial stage. She freely admitted that it had a lot of "autobiography" in it, and I would like to see how the emotional tone of it might differ from this book.
The plot is mainly concerned with the long friendship of Georgia and Dido, two early-60ish women who are undergoing all sorts of change in their lives. This is the bit that I liked: the acknowledgement that life is not ever really done or "sorted." Just at the point where you think that your life has settled, that your identity/self has acquired a solid and permanent shape, everything can get shaken up.
I read this book on a cycling holiday in Italy (I know, I know)and it just so happened that my husband and I stayed up late drinking with another couple (early 60s, well-educated, just retired) very like the characters in this book. The woman confessed that she was terrified of retiring; terrified of the loss of professional identity and the unknown shape of her life to come. My point being that this is rich territory for the novelist and I (not quite at that stage of life) find it interesting. But in this book? Just not quite interesting enough. We are kept at an emotional remove from the characters, and it is quite difficult to empathise with them.
Two more things: The title has nothing to do with the events of the book, other than that the two main characters love to read. (I found this a bit annoying as it implies a cosiness which the novel definitely did not have as one of its qualities.) Also, Sue Gee spoke about her new book called Coming Home, which describes her parents' experiences in India just at the very end of its colonial stage. She freely admitted that it had a lot of "autobiography" in it, and I would like to see how the emotional tone of it might differ from this book.
March 6, 2014
Although the book was enjoyable enough, I found that the writing style of the author was sometimes difficult to get my head around on first glance. Her sentence structure is sometimes convoluted and unnatural sounding. Also, I was puzzled as to her use of punctuation, regarding speech especially. Why not just use speech marks?
On a brief side note, the name Dido was massively off-putting to me, but that's not really a valid criticism, I suppose.
The story was nice enough, nonetheless, but it's not one I'd recommend.
On a brief side note, the name Dido was massively off-putting to me, but that's not really a valid criticism, I suppose.
The story was nice enough, nonetheless, but it's not one I'd recommend.
July 8, 2012
I needed something undemanding, while I recovered from bronchitis, but I nearly abandoned this one - it got off to a slow start - nothing happened - everyone loved their dogs/cats & gardens more than their spouses; it was a very middle-class English novel. Eventually things got under way with all sorts of complications : widowhood, bereavement, sexual obssession, closet lesbian, senile dementia but despite all this excitement the tone of the book was very restrained. I might try another of her novels from the Library. Wouldn't buy.
February 26, 2012
I’ve just scan read some of the other reviews for this book and I’ve been rather surprised to find out it’s one of those marmite reads- either loved or hated – depending on the tastes of the reader.
Unashamedly, I loved it, finding quite unlike any other of the many books I have previously read. Despite the chintzy and rather chick-lit light cover this book has hidden depths and transports the reader into making moral choices and accepting the harsh realities of life.
Within a few pages of the novel, as the main female protagonists Dido and Georgia make their separate ways home from a book festival, their prides and peccadillos start to emerge and Gee allows her readers to get to know her characters quite quickly. As each character struggles to assess her past and future, the reader can accompany each individual journey and quickly realises what is hidden beneath the guise of a seemingly normal (or possibly twee) middle class British life with illnesses, ailing and all.
Gee’s characters are intelligent and educated (something that may create the ‘marmite’ effect for some readers) and although their lives are full and rich in many respects there are also many voids. Gee’s characterisation of them forms a perfect vessel for her witty commentary and personally I empathised and identified with them quite easily. I was definitely interested in following each journey through.
A first read for me of Gee who is quite celebrated in the reading and writing circles I’m involved with. I will certainly read her again and look forward to it. There seems to be definitely more to her books than meets the eye so ignore the front cover pastels and enjoy a slice of life!
Unashamedly, I loved it, finding quite unlike any other of the many books I have previously read. Despite the chintzy and rather chick-lit light cover this book has hidden depths and transports the reader into making moral choices and accepting the harsh realities of life.
Within a few pages of the novel, as the main female protagonists Dido and Georgia make their separate ways home from a book festival, their prides and peccadillos start to emerge and Gee allows her readers to get to know her characters quite quickly. As each character struggles to assess her past and future, the reader can accompany each individual journey and quickly realises what is hidden beneath the guise of a seemingly normal (or possibly twee) middle class British life with illnesses, ailing and all.
Gee’s characters are intelligent and educated (something that may create the ‘marmite’ effect for some readers) and although their lives are full and rich in many respects there are also many voids. Gee’s characterisation of them forms a perfect vessel for her witty commentary and personally I empathised and identified with them quite easily. I was definitely interested in following each journey through.
A first read for me of Gee who is quite celebrated in the reading and writing circles I’m involved with. I will certainly read her again and look forward to it. There seems to be definitely more to her books than meets the eye so ignore the front cover pastels and enjoy a slice of life!
September 15, 2011
Ignore the cover, this is NOT a cute book. It's a thought provoking look at what happens after marital happily-ever-after. The sixty-year-old friends have to deal with a full range of uncomfortable issues: bereavement (not since Penelope Lively's 'Perfect Happiness' have I read such heart-rendingly beautiful treatment), serious illness, betrayal, an ageing relative, worrying adult offspring and the emptiness of retirement. At times, it's pretty bleak - making me wish there were a handbrake I could apply to the passage of years - but the honesty of the writing and the moments of humour pulled me through. And I cared desperately for these rounded characters - perhaps why I readily accepted the rather whimsical culmination to one of their journeys (we deserved it!).
Like other reviewers, I didn't care for the dash replacing speech marks, or some of the more obvious author 'intrusions' into the story. But these are minor carps; I really LOVED this novel - and having the same love of literature that's so enjoyably described for the two ladies in the book, I'm very excited to have found a new author to follow!
Like other reviewers, I didn't care for the dash replacing speech marks, or some of the more obvious author 'intrusions' into the story. But these are minor carps; I really LOVED this novel - and having the same love of literature that's so enjoyably described for the two ladies in the book, I'm very excited to have found a new author to follow!
May 21, 2009
The cover of this book is totally lame and makes it look like a boring chicklit novel. HOWEVER, in this case it is truly unfair to judge the book by the cover (please shoot the designer) because the story is fabulous and heartwarming.
The book is British, takes place in England, and centers around the lives of Dido & hubby Jeffrey, recently widdowed Georgia & daughter Chloe, and a crazy character named Maud who has a nice surprising conclusion in spite of her madness.
All of these characters experience major trials, cancer, infidelity, grief, etc...but it's so easy to relate to them. Sue Gee is really good at making the reader feel like they know each one very closely.
I took a long time reading this one, but I really did enjoy it!
The book is British, takes place in England, and centers around the lives of Dido & hubby Jeffrey, recently widdowed Georgia & daughter Chloe, and a crazy character named Maud who has a nice surprising conclusion in spite of her madness.
All of these characters experience major trials, cancer, infidelity, grief, etc...but it's so easy to relate to them. Sue Gee is really good at making the reader feel like they know each one very closely.
I took a long time reading this one, but I really did enjoy it!
January 9, 2011
As one enters the post-60 stage of life delusions can be had about this age in effect being the new middle age. In reality death, one way or another, starts to be a constant in life. How much time have I left to do all that I want to do as a preoccupation, whilst maybe not at the forefront of thinking, nonetheless lurks increasingly in the background. What in earlier decades may have been minor aches and pains now take on potentially more sinister connotations - sometimes borne out as in the case of Dido, one of the two women of a certain age around whom this novel revolves. Both matriarchs of their respective families, Dido and Georgia have been life-long friends/confidantes. For the latter though death has entered in another guise, taking away her cherished life partner in Henry. Coping without the person who is the very fulcrum of your existence must be one of life's hardest challenges and Georgia does find it difficult but, with a few regressions, does manage to bear up hiding deep pain and anguish. Compounding the issues for these two feisty ladies are offspring unhappy in love, and the surviving husband has a terrible secret that he is trying to hide from Dido.
Gee brings the milieu of the English upper middle class to life - their attachment to highbrow art, classical music and Radio 4, summer holidays abroad or in the Lakes District as well as narrow expectations for their children. With this novel the author has added another title to a well wrought collection of erudite, engrossing oeuvres. She is thoroughly recommended and I await with pleasure new offerings.
Gee brings the milieu of the English upper middle class to life - their attachment to highbrow art, classical music and Radio 4, summer holidays abroad or in the Lakes District as well as narrow expectations for their children. With this novel the author has added another title to a well wrought collection of erudite, engrossing oeuvres. She is thoroughly recommended and I await with pleasure new offerings.
December 3, 2022
Maybe it's because I've been disappointed with popular fiction lately, but I really wasn't expecting much from this book. (Honestly, I think I put it on my wishlist because of its title.)
It's much better than I expected.
The characters are a mix of sixty-somethings and thirty-somethings. The older group has all been friends since college and the younger group are their children and their significant others.
These are real people, all offering serious assets to the world and all with deep flaws. One of the older women has lost her husband and she is grieving. Her daughter can't seem to connect with her mom and she really wants to find a spouse. The other older woman is struggling with questions about her husband, she worries about her kids, and she will always grieve the loss of her baby girl.
It's pretty close to a 4.5. Very touching.
A couple of quotes...
"Georgia's eyes fill with tears. ---What a good friend you've been to me.
---We all are. We all were. Oh dear. How sad life is."
"Dido thinks back to the carefree retirement life she was having such a short time ago...Ha. Had she cherished that time as she should? Dido thinks we should all mark and cherish every single moment of our time on earth when it is running smoothly, is ordinary, interesting. Happy, even. It's nice to think that such a store will set you up, give you the strength to endure whatever life is quietly getting ready to sock you over the head with, to rock your boat for ever."
It's much better than I expected.
The characters are a mix of sixty-somethings and thirty-somethings. The older group has all been friends since college and the younger group are their children and their significant others.
These are real people, all offering serious assets to the world and all with deep flaws. One of the older women has lost her husband and she is grieving. Her daughter can't seem to connect with her mom and she really wants to find a spouse. The other older woman is struggling with questions about her husband, she worries about her kids, and she will always grieve the loss of her baby girl.
It's pretty close to a 4.5. Very touching.
A couple of quotes...
"Georgia's eyes fill with tears. ---What a good friend you've been to me.
---We all are. We all were. Oh dear. How sad life is."
"Dido thinks back to the carefree retirement life she was having such a short time ago...Ha. Had she cherished that time as she should? Dido thinks we should all mark and cherish every single moment of our time on earth when it is running smoothly, is ordinary, interesting. Happy, even. It's nice to think that such a store will set you up, give you the strength to endure whatever life is quietly getting ready to sock you over the head with, to rock your boat for ever."
January 12, 2014
It took me a while to get into this book, I found the style of writing a bit awkward, it doesn't flow, very stop start and you have to reread a lot of it because you are not always sure who is saying what and when they are speaking aloud or thinking but once I got into it and got to know the characters I really enjoyed it and wanted to know what was ahead of everyone, a few things were unexpected but it was all quite neatly tidied up at the end and gives the reader some food for thought.
August 6, 2012
Not the best book I have ever read! I found it a little hard going to begin with, couldn't identify with all the characters. But it got easier as I got into it. I particularly liked Maud! I am not sure if this author has written more books, but I don't think I would actually hunt them out.
June 17, 2019
Stuff of life laid out in the most beautiful prose. I became so invested in the characters, couldn’t stop reading to find out what happened to them all and cried buckets over the lyrics from the indefatigable Maud. Intelligent and warm.
June 9, 2023
Could not get into this book at all. I got to about chapter 8 and stopped it was boring and jumps so much but nothing to draw your imagination into it either
December 9, 2018
The cover of this book misleads the reader into thinking this is some light fluffy novel which it definitely is not.
The book is very British and is centred around Georgia and Dido, friends since university, both in their sixties returning from a literary festival where they've topped up their reading material.
All is well. Until.
Cancer, infidelity, grief, unrequited passion, closet homosexuality and an aging relative with dementia all come to the forefront. I like Gee's style though am very much aware she would not be to all tastes. We, along with the author-narrator, are observers in all these human dilemmas.
Some marvelous lines:
"It is death not sex that is the greatest intimacy."
After the death of her husband, mother and daughter sitting in the garden: "They sat in the summer evening. listening to the radiant cruelty of the blackbird's song."
It would be a 5/5 from me only for the handling of Jeffrey's horrific stalking of a student which did not ring true when afterwards there was a bath of forgiveness all around him and so little concern for the student's pain and fear. And then he was asked to give away his friend's daughter? Why didn't her mother perform this antiquated function in this modern world?
Why endorse the actions of the predator even further. Yuck.
The book is very British and is centred around Georgia and Dido, friends since university, both in their sixties returning from a literary festival where they've topped up their reading material.
All is well. Until.
Cancer, infidelity, grief, unrequited passion, closet homosexuality and an aging relative with dementia all come to the forefront. I like Gee's style though am very much aware she would not be to all tastes. We, along with the author-narrator, are observers in all these human dilemmas.
Some marvelous lines:
"It is death not sex that is the greatest intimacy."
After the death of her husband, mother and daughter sitting in the garden: "They sat in the summer evening. listening to the radiant cruelty of the blackbird's song."
It would be a 5/5 from me only for the handling of Jeffrey's horrific stalking of a student which did not ring true when afterwards there was a bath of forgiveness all around him and so little concern for the student's pain and fear. And then he was asked to give away his friend's daughter? Why didn't her mother perform this antiquated function in this modern world?
Why endorse the actions of the predator even further. Yuck.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2025
I really enjoyed this book as it really resonated with me. Gloria (the story teller) recently retired and I just retired at the end of April. I also loved and could relate to her relationships with her best friend Dido, her daughter Chloe and her friend’s children. I would recommend this book to moms of all ages!
April 21, 2010
So it was only with the intent of returning some books that I went to the library last week. As usual I linger and look at the books. I usually have an idea of the book that I am looking for but this day it was pretty much free for all. At times like this I have a look see what the librarian is recommending me today, after all who doesn't enjoy discovering new authors. I could not tell you what attracted me to 'Reading in Bed' by Sue Gee. It appeared to slot perfectly into that category I like to call light summer reading. Never mind that when I pick it up the librarian notices and says 'That's a very good read', 'Well I hope you enjoy it anyway', well I guess that means Gee's novel is coming home with me then.
It would only be fair to say that it was an enjoyable read. A quickly unfolding story that I raced through in two days. Identifying with the characters quite easily it kept me entertained. A rather dramatic story of family, life long friendships, sex, love and marriage (are you getting the picture here) and then a rather strange mad (or should I be saying eccentric) cousin whose behaviour rapidly deteriorates as the novel progresses!
Ah well there is never anything really wrong for me when it comes to taking a break with some summer reading.
It would only be fair to say that it was an enjoyable read. A quickly unfolding story that I raced through in two days. Identifying with the characters quite easily it kept me entertained. A rather dramatic story of family, life long friendships, sex, love and marriage (are you getting the picture here) and then a rather strange mad (or should I be saying eccentric) cousin whose behaviour rapidly deteriorates as the novel progresses!
Ah well there is never anything really wrong for me when it comes to taking a break with some summer reading.
February 2, 2020
Wondrrfully written. I enjoyed all the characters in this book, albeit my wanting to give Jeffrey a firm kick up the arse for his puerile mooning about a narcissistic young student, who has played him and his crush on her so well, reporting him to the university at which he works for sexual harassment. The story flows well. Georgia struggles with her grief for her late husband, Henry, yet still manages to live her life reasonably well. Dido is way too kind towards self absorbed Jeffrey, who needed a serious wake up call from his woeful wallowing. I liked the Nick and Chloe characters. I hated the slimy Jez character who took advantage of Chloe’s good nature and her obsession with him. I loved Maud, the mad aged aunt, and her loyal pooch.
I have read this book four times. It’s worth re-reading.
Sue Gee I have loved as a writer for a long time, since I read one of her earlier books The Last Guests of the Season.
I have read this book four times. It’s worth re-reading.
Sue Gee I have loved as a writer for a long time, since I read one of her earlier books The Last Guests of the Season.
July 21, 2008
I just didn't know what to make of this book.
I took a while getting used to the fact the author doesn't use speechmarks.
Whilst I warmed to the two 60 somethings, the rest of the characters were unlikeable.
I felt story lines were brought to abrupt endings, for example a marriage that appeared out of no where.
The most offencive part of this book, was the authors rather out of place beliefs of what "really" happened on 9/11, pushed on us under the disguise of a theatre production one of the characters was involved in.
Avoid this book at all costs.
I took a while getting used to the fact the author doesn't use speechmarks.
Whilst I warmed to the two 60 somethings, the rest of the characters were unlikeable.
I felt story lines were brought to abrupt endings, for example a marriage that appeared out of no where.
The most offencive part of this book, was the authors rather out of place beliefs of what "really" happened on 9/11, pushed on us under the disguise of a theatre production one of the characters was involved in.
Avoid this book at all costs.
November 13, 2015
A really good book, enjoyable - beleivable characters, down to earth, their relationships/friendships, their ups and downs all covered with a great story. Well written, secondary characters introduced and their story intertwined through the eyes of the two main characters Dido and Georgia.
Great reading
Great reading
December 22, 2009
I'm loving this book - quiet, steady-paced, but powerfully insightful when it comes to the lives of women and their families as they get older. It reminds me of Howard's End.
Update: Finished it - lovely. This is one book i was sad to put down when it was done...
Update: Finished it - lovely. This is one book i was sad to put down when it was done...
July 25, 2015
I found this book quite difficult to get into, but it was interesting enough. It felt as if dragged a lot and then it was as if someone pushed the 'fast forward' button. I did not enjoy the way speech was presented
April 12, 2020
Just wasnt for me I gave up
On it
On it
June 6, 2021
It is rare for an author to limit her audience to such a select group of readers. I am Canadian and read a lot of British literature. I also watch far too many episodes of "Escape to the Country" to the point where, just now, reading the author's biography, I instantly recognized the name of her place of residence.
I guess this is all well and fine, if reaching beyond the English upper classes of academia is of no concern to Ms. Gee. However, although I would love to share, I could never recommend this book for book club consideration on THIS side of the "pond". One would need to provide a glossary of English terminology.
It took time for my brain to shift gears and adjust to the omniscient voice of the author. In fact, I felt as if I were reading a script for a play. Once I settled in for the ride, there was a sense of being not so much the "mouse in the corner" as a swiftly flying bird looking down, observing and reading the innermost thoughts of the characters.
Ah... the characters. Being a senior female, with a degree in English Literature and a love of reading and the arts, I should feel SOME sense of commonality with these women. Nope. I would be the "Colonial Boor" (as I was labeled by an English head HOUSEKEEPER while employed in my uni days at a lodge in Scotland) I felt as if I had been accidentally invited to an upper crust book club whose members belonged to a secret society of name-droppers.
The narrator's voice echos in my head with the soothing tones of "It's a Wonderful Life"and I felt that this book was written with a movie in mind (or at least an audio version of the novel).
As for realism, HOW many couples are as devoted to each other as these elderly folks? Ah, yes. One dies and one strays. The departed assumes the status of sainthood and the other reveals himself to be flawed but oh.. so deserving of our compassion and the continuing adoration of his family. Gag me with a silver demitasse spoon. Nice to include a learning disability, mental illness and struggles with sexual identity and identification, just to prove that there's room for reality.
Despite her snobbery and elitism, Sue Gee has the ability to draw you into the landscape of her country, her county and her characters. I was right there ... winging over London streets and out to the countryside with its quaint pubs and sheep-dotted country roads.
I have a confession to make. I desecrated my book with a red pen!
Since when is "lie" a transitive verb?? I had to do a little research to make sure that you cannot "lie" a Christmas tree on the floor. Its use in a particular passage where Georgia obsesses about proper grammatical usage ( mea culpa) is especially puzzling, amusing and HAH! infinitely SATISFYING!
As a former English teacher, I must confess to a singular moment of my OWN snobbery in spotting a MISTAKE and cackling, Maud-like with pleasure.
I guess this is all well and fine, if reaching beyond the English upper classes of academia is of no concern to Ms. Gee. However, although I would love to share, I could never recommend this book for book club consideration on THIS side of the "pond". One would need to provide a glossary of English terminology.
It took time for my brain to shift gears and adjust to the omniscient voice of the author. In fact, I felt as if I were reading a script for a play. Once I settled in for the ride, there was a sense of being not so much the "mouse in the corner" as a swiftly flying bird looking down, observing and reading the innermost thoughts of the characters.
Ah... the characters. Being a senior female, with a degree in English Literature and a love of reading and the arts, I should feel SOME sense of commonality with these women. Nope. I would be the "Colonial Boor" (as I was labeled by an English head HOUSEKEEPER while employed in my uni days at a lodge in Scotland) I felt as if I had been accidentally invited to an upper crust book club whose members belonged to a secret society of name-droppers.
The narrator's voice echos in my head with the soothing tones of "It's a Wonderful Life"and I felt that this book was written with a movie in mind (or at least an audio version of the novel).
As for realism, HOW many couples are as devoted to each other as these elderly folks? Ah, yes. One dies and one strays. The departed assumes the status of sainthood and the other reveals himself to be flawed but oh.. so deserving of our compassion and the continuing adoration of his family. Gag me with a silver demitasse spoon. Nice to include a learning disability, mental illness and struggles with sexual identity and identification, just to prove that there's room for reality.
Despite her snobbery and elitism, Sue Gee has the ability to draw you into the landscape of her country, her county and her characters. I was right there ... winging over London streets and out to the countryside with its quaint pubs and sheep-dotted country roads.
I have a confession to make. I desecrated my book with a red pen!
Since when is "lie" a transitive verb?? I had to do a little research to make sure that you cannot "lie" a Christmas tree on the floor. Its use in a particular passage where Georgia obsesses about proper grammatical usage ( mea culpa) is especially puzzling, amusing and HAH! infinitely SATISFYING!
As a former English teacher, I must confess to a singular moment of my OWN snobbery in spotting a MISTAKE and cackling, Maud-like with pleasure.
Read
April 6, 2024I try not to judge a book by its cover, but titles are another matter. How could I resist a book called Reading in Bed? Especially when I remembered reading and enjoying two of the author's previous novels, years ago.
It's the story of two college friends, Dido and Georgia, and their families. The book follows them over the decades, with their husbands and children, and one crazy cousin. You can read the blurb for further details. What I liked was the relationships, and the way the author did not shy away from the dark parts of their lives.
The ending was sweet but not saccharine. I finished the book at 2 a.m., when I couldn't sleep--which seems fitting.
It's the story of two college friends, Dido and Georgia, and their families. The book follows them over the decades, with their husbands and children, and one crazy cousin. You can read the blurb for further details. What I liked was the relationships, and the way the author did not shy away from the dark parts of their lives.
The ending was sweet but not saccharine. I finished the book at 2 a.m., when I couldn't sleep--which seems fitting.
October 26, 2021
Awful, I continued to read it just to see how she was going to wrap up ridiculous story. Never read a book that addresses the reader in such a scringe worthy manner before. References to middleclass virtue tokened pursuits peppered the pages constantly, it was a manual on how to be a middleclass bore. Also author makes lists ending in etc, not encountered this in a novel... so lazy. Gee then goes on to write a diatribe on grammar within the storyline, thus the pompous use of the word thus oh so correctly used, several times, just for the superiour sake of it I suspect.
January 8, 2022
I liked it despite my stingy 3 stars (would give it 3.5 or so if I could, but it didn't quite break 4.0). It's a very well done character study and look into the nuances of relationships - marriage, parent/child, dating, platonic roommates, and -most importantly- lifelong friends. A bit slow to start but it gets more interesting as you go on, with twists and complexities appearing quite organically. The pace was somewhat sedate, if that's what you like, but there was bit more English propriety going on than I really care for.
May 10, 2021
I loved the cover. It totally sucked me in but I don't have time for this much pretentious high brow "Mrs. Bucket" bullshit. I watch "Escape to the Country" and read the royal gossip in the checkout line and grew up thinking I had to always wear a hat and gloves when I took out the garbage (still do and I"m 74) BUT there is a limit to it and I reached mine by about page 90 ish.
October 12, 2021
This was reading group book and so was highly recommended by the person that chose it.
Perhaps it will appeal to those older than me but I found it somewhat disappointing and annoying.
She does write well and her characters were all well developed and likeable BUT there was just too much jammed into the book: bereavement, serious illness, affairs, marital breakdown, coming out .....
Perhaps it will appeal to those older than me but I found it somewhat disappointing and annoying.
She does write well and her characters were all well developed and likeable BUT there was just too much jammed into the book: bereavement, serious illness, affairs, marital breakdown, coming out .....
April 16, 2020
Beautiful and real
This book was recommended to me and it didn't disappoint. Sensitive depiction of character and gentle realism is truly touching. A gem of a book which I will most certainly re-read
This book was recommended to me and it didn't disappoint. Sensitive depiction of character and gentle realism is truly touching. A gem of a book which I will most certainly re-read
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