The Menagerie [IMPORT]

by Cookson

The Broadhursts were a mining family and, to outsiders, they appeared to be happy, loyal and united. But it was Jinny - wife, mother, sister who held them together. Her pride and her strength prevented their fears and hates from overwhelming them.

There was Jack, her younger son, trapped into marrying a shrew; and Lottie, her sister, who was not quite ... normal. And there was Larry, the bright one, the handsome one, who was obsessed with the memory of the girl who had jilted him. She was married now, they said, and happily too. But Larry was suffused with anger, together with pain and a reborn longing. He vowed she would not make a laughing-stock of him again. But could he do what his pride told him he must ... ?

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1958

Reviews

[Deity World · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it a good emotional family read

[Rezeda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of the author for me; I am definitely going to read more!
Though, I will give myself a break and read some fluff in-between, as this was too dark and too tragic sometimes.

[Aedora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad, dramatic, heartbreaking but also heartwarming. Wonderful characters that I took very much to my heart (except Pam...). It's a pity that the book is already over, I would have liked to stay a little longer with the Broadhurst family.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic by a great storyteller.

[Annukukka · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, this dark book with a lot of misogyny, ableism and violence or it's threat was time capsule from 1950s. Poor Jessie, poor Will, both victims of narcissist Larry. There were zero romance (I don't even like that genre) in the book, but a lot of abuse. I'm glad that women are more equally these days, byt there is still work left. Anything wasn't better then.

[Carol Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

All of her stories are so full of life’s dramas! The Menagerie is a prime example of this angst and heartbreak. It rather makes you wonder just what this Author was actually like. Some of her books had at least a few happy moments, this one was just a beautifully written misery.

[Cheryll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of the best Catherine Cookson novels I've read, fairly depressing storyline - but a good quick read and a happily ever after ending!

[Lynn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Cookson’s earliest novels and when she writes about what she knew she is at her strongest.

The Menagerie is a good social study of a struggling family in a 1950s English coal town.This story is about the Broadhursts, who appear to outsiders to be happy, loyal and united. But it is Jinny - wife, mother, sister - who holds them together. Her pride and her strength prevents their fears and hates from overwhelming them.

They all live in the one: the parents, Jinny and Frank; their sons, Jack and Larry; Jack’s wife Lena, and Jinny’s sister Lottie. Jinny rules the roost, being a perfectionist and counting on others to meet her high expectations dutifully, morally and qualitatively. Frank is a steady, calm and good-natured spouse and father, working in the same mine as his two sons. Jack is recently married but is being badgered by his lazy pregnant wife, Lena. Handsome Larry is his mother’s idol but his currency has become devalued since he dumped his loyal and loving long-time girlfriend, Jessie, for an amorous flirt, Pam. Then there is the affectionate Aunt Lottie, a gossipy spinster, who is mentally immature, even deranged. Everyone except Lena loves Lottie and puts up with her whims. These are the members of ‘the menagerie’ as Jinny has designated the family. Others who play significant roles include the aforementioned Jessie, a patient and kind daughter who is the sole caregiver to her imperious sickly mother. Jessie still harbours hopes for Larry’s attention to resume. Then there is Pam who abandoned Larry right before their wedding to instead hook up with a rich American, Ron, whom she married. There is Alan, a young Baptist minister, who tries very hard to court Jessie. But there is also Larry’s best friend, Willie, has asked Larry’s consent to endear himself to Jessie whom Larry had dumped. And last there is a fiddler who lives a gypsy-like existence, praying on the vulnerable.
This novel mirrors the dramatic struggles of ordinary people in everyday situations. This is where Cookson excels!

[Sverre · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Cookson’s earliest novels. It is like a study of life of a struggling family in a 1950s English coal mining town. The reader gets to feel close to the most important players. In one house there are seven adults: the parents, Jinny and Frank; their sons, Jack and Larry; Jack’s wife Lena, and Jinny’s sister Lottie. Jinny rules the roost, being a perfectionist and counting on others to meet her high expectations dutifully, morally and qualitatively. Frank is a steady, calm and good-natured spouse and father, working in the same mine as his two sons. Jack is recently married but is being badgered by his lazy pregnant wife, Lena. Handsome Larry is his mother’s idol but his currency has become devalued since he dumped his loyal and loving long-time girlfriend, Jessie, for an amorous flirt, Pam. Then there is the affectionate Aunt Lottie, a gossipy spinster, who is mentally immature, even deranged. Everyone except Lena loves Lottie and puts up with her whims. These are the members of ‘the menagerie’ as Jinny has designated the family. Others who play significant roles include the aforementioned Jessie, a patient and kind daughter who is the sole caregiver to her imperious sickly mother. Jessie still harbors hopes for Larry’s attention to resume. Then there is Pam who abandoned Larry right before their wedding to instead hook up with a rich American, Ron, whom she married. There is Alan, a young Baptist minister, who tries very hard to court Jessie. But there is also Larry’s best friend, Willie, has asked Larry’s consent to endear himself to Jessie whom Larry had dumped. And last there is a fiddler who lives a gypsy-like existence, praying on the vulnerable. This novel mirrors the dramatic struggles of ordinary people. Cookson wrote about what she knew. It is not a great masterpiece but I found it to be a very good read.

[Northern Light · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Larry and his family and is set in the 50s, hence the language being not-acceptable nowadays which really dates it.

He works down the pit with his father and brother but dreams of leaving and becoming a writer. Falling for the glamourous Pam he ditches Jessie who is safe and reliable but she then ditches him leaving him alone.

The book starts when Pam returns as a married woman things are changed in the small community forever.

This book is not one of my favourite by the author by a long way and is very slow and tortuous at times.

the plot seems contrived at times and it's hard to sympathise with people who bring a lot on themselves.

A pleasant enough read which comes to an inevitable conclusion

[Barbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of the Broadhursts, a mining family who appear to outsiders to be happy, loyal and united. But it is Jinny - wife, mother, sister - who holds them together. Her pride and her strength prevents their fears and hates from overwhelming them.

[Ladan Fazli · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best of hers- I was living with the characters for a long time and I did not to start another book...

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book took it when i went on holiday and couldnt put it down.....recommended

[Johanna Juntunen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ihana kirja!!

[Kaki]

Matkalukemisena ihan hyvä.