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The Lessons
What if your first love was your one and only chance of happiness? In our lives, some promises are easily forgotten, while others come back to haunt us. From the bestselling author of The Girl on the Page comes a compelling novel about love and betrayal – and literature.
1961
When teens Daisy and Harry meet, it feels so right they promise to love each other forever, but everything is stacked against them: class, education, expectations. After Daisy is sent by her parents to live with her glamorous, bohemian Aunt Jane, a novelist working on her second book, she is confronted by adult truths and suffers a loss of innocence that flings her far from the one good thing in her life, Harry.
1983
Jane Curtis, now a famous novelist, is at a prestigious book event in New York, being interviewed about the overlap between her life and her work, including one of her novels about the traumatic coming of age of a young woman. But she evades the interviewer’s probing questions. What is she trying to hide?
An intriguing, striking and powerful novel, The Lessons tells a compelling story about literature, love and betrayal, about how far writers will go in plundering their lives for their art, and about how much we’re prepared to forgive – if we forgive.
1961
When teens Daisy and Harry meet, it feels so right they promise to love each other forever, but everything is stacked against them: class, education, expectations. After Daisy is sent by her parents to live with her glamorous, bohemian Aunt Jane, a novelist working on her second book, she is confronted by adult truths and suffers a loss of innocence that flings her far from the one good thing in her life, Harry.
1983
Jane Curtis, now a famous novelist, is at a prestigious book event in New York, being interviewed about the overlap between her life and her work, including one of her novels about the traumatic coming of age of a young woman. But she evades the interviewer’s probing questions. What is she trying to hide?
An intriguing, striking and powerful novel, The Lessons tells a compelling story about literature, love and betrayal, about how far writers will go in plundering their lives for their art, and about how much we’re prepared to forgive – if we forgive.
384 pages, Paperback
Published April 13, 2022
18 people are currently reading
562 people want to read
About the author
John Purcell
2 books125 followersJohn Purcell is the author of five novels, three published under a pseudonym. His most recent novels The Girl on the Page and The Lessons are published by Fourth Estate.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
March 21, 2022
Following the success of 'The Girl on the Page', I was very optimistic that my brother John would produce another wonderful novel, but you never know. Thankfully, I am once again filled with pride. His latest work, 'The Lessons', is a triumph.
As with 'The Girl on the Page' I won't have to pretend I like it at all! Once again I am free to gush with reckless abandon over video chat with my brother without the slightest hint of insincerity.
I have absolutely no hesitation or social anxiety in recommending 'The Lessons' to my nearest and dearest friends, let alone to all the wonderful unknown readers out there. I sincerely hope you enjoy this story as much as I did.
Well done brother! PS Call your mother.
As with 'The Girl on the Page' I won't have to pretend I like it at all! Once again I am free to gush with reckless abandon over video chat with my brother without the slightest hint of insincerity.
I have absolutely no hesitation or social anxiety in recommending 'The Lessons' to my nearest and dearest friends, let alone to all the wonderful unknown readers out there. I sincerely hope you enjoy this story as much as I did.
Well done brother! PS Call your mother.
January 16, 2023
‘Art is about holding one’s breath. You have to dive deep and stay down for as long as you can. Those who dive deepest and stay down longest, those who hold their nerve, produce the best art.’
This novel. I am both speechless and filled with so much to say about it. The writing, the characterisation, the story; this is sublime fiction. An absolute cracker of a read.
‘We never mentioned Jane. We never mentioned not mentioning her either. There were times when I missed her terribly and others when I could have happily watched her burning at the stake.’
I think this might be the first time I’ve ever despised a character in a novel so much, yet still felt compelled to keep reading. Jane is the pits, an absolute disgrace of a woman. She literally destroys everything for everyone. And it was like she did it as some sort of experiment, a means of gathering experiences that she could then write about in her novels, further destroying those around her and forever condemning and immortalising them as recognisable figures within her fiction. And her sister Kate was not all that much better, the least mothering mother I’ve come across in a very long time. Daisy was like a ray of sunshine and yet, there was little hope for her remaining unscathed with Kate as a mother and Jane as an aunt.
‘The problem was, as awful as Jane could be, she was a force. Her character was challenging and abrasive, but one felt a coward not standing up to her. And when she was gone you felt her absence, which certainly wasn’t the case with most people.’
John Purcell might just be one of my favourite authors now. He is utterly brilliant at what he does, I am only regretting that I didn’t read this novel sooner and that I haven’t yet read his previous one. The twists within this story, the betrayals, the passions, the rage, the connections made and broken. And the dialogue! Everything about this novel was utter perfection. It has all the hallmarks of a literary classic. Is it too early to call book of the year? Five solid stars.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
This novel. I am both speechless and filled with so much to say about it. The writing, the characterisation, the story; this is sublime fiction. An absolute cracker of a read.
‘We never mentioned Jane. We never mentioned not mentioning her either. There were times when I missed her terribly and others when I could have happily watched her burning at the stake.’
I think this might be the first time I’ve ever despised a character in a novel so much, yet still felt compelled to keep reading. Jane is the pits, an absolute disgrace of a woman. She literally destroys everything for everyone. And it was like she did it as some sort of experiment, a means of gathering experiences that she could then write about in her novels, further destroying those around her and forever condemning and immortalising them as recognisable figures within her fiction. And her sister Kate was not all that much better, the least mothering mother I’ve come across in a very long time. Daisy was like a ray of sunshine and yet, there was little hope for her remaining unscathed with Kate as a mother and Jane as an aunt.
‘The problem was, as awful as Jane could be, she was a force. Her character was challenging and abrasive, but one felt a coward not standing up to her. And when she was gone you felt her absence, which certainly wasn’t the case with most people.’
John Purcell might just be one of my favourite authors now. He is utterly brilliant at what he does, I am only regretting that I didn’t read this novel sooner and that I haven’t yet read his previous one. The twists within this story, the betrayals, the passions, the rage, the connections made and broken. And the dialogue! Everything about this novel was utter perfection. It has all the hallmarks of a literary classic. Is it too early to call book of the year? Five solid stars.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
March 3, 2024
"There's nothing beautiful about sex, or love for that matter. Sex is never itself, it's always a stand-in for something else. Something bigger than me or the moment. And as for love, it's difficult enough finding happiness. We all settle for peace of mind. Or stalemate, or truce, or whatever war analogy suits. Because it is war, this stupid thing between men and women, and I had been foolish to think it could be anything else."
Settle down with a good cuppa and get ready to enjoy The Lessons. It is very much like an Austen but set in the 60s, and so comes with a lot more illicit sex and alcohol. This is a book about so many things. First, like a good English novel, it's about class. Harry and Daisy love each other, but they're from different worlds. Harry is tied to the land and knows what he wants. Daisy comes from money, lives in money, and prevaricates between that world and truly loving Harry. It's also a book about sex and forbidden love. And I do mean forbidden. Affairs are the order of the day and the way in which relationships and lust cross over and over until they can't become unentangled. This is also a book about books, much like The Girl on the Page. There is a delightful scene halfway through this that felt like a callback to John's previous novel where Jane, the novelist who writes from life, spars with her interviewer. Really what I love about John's writing are his characters. Having spent so long working in a bookstore he must have seen his fair share, and it shows. He creates people that frustrate the reader but for whom you can't but empathise. He knows the human spirit intimately and how foolish we can be. The book hits a tragic note, but ultimately has a happy ending. Big props for this follow-up.
Settle down with a good cuppa and get ready to enjoy The Lessons. It is very much like an Austen but set in the 60s, and so comes with a lot more illicit sex and alcohol. This is a book about so many things. First, like a good English novel, it's about class. Harry and Daisy love each other, but they're from different worlds. Harry is tied to the land and knows what he wants. Daisy comes from money, lives in money, and prevaricates between that world and truly loving Harry. It's also a book about sex and forbidden love. And I do mean forbidden. Affairs are the order of the day and the way in which relationships and lust cross over and over until they can't become unentangled. This is also a book about books, much like The Girl on the Page. There is a delightful scene halfway through this that felt like a callback to John's previous novel where Jane, the novelist who writes from life, spars with her interviewer. Really what I love about John's writing are his characters. Having spent so long working in a bookstore he must have seen his fair share, and it shows. He creates people that frustrate the reader but for whom you can't but empathise. He knows the human spirit intimately and how foolish we can be. The book hits a tragic note, but ultimately has a happy ending. Big props for this follow-up.
July 26, 2022
What is it with male authors and just having to be so horny about everything? I enjoyed the ending, I have to admit, but honestly the road to get there was long, tedious and needlessly pornographic. I was compelled and intrigued, sure, but I really am not interested in mean, belittling women being the vehicles for the sexual fantasies of mundane men.
May 4, 2022
The Lessons is a delightful pot-boiler written with literary-strength technique: a deeply serious book written with a light touch and a clever plot. At times Fitzgerald-esque, particularly the chapters set at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, it's also sexually-charged and driven by the best and worst of human nature.
I fell in love with sweet, passionate Daisy, and grew to despise her temptress Aunt Jane. I pitied pathetic rich boy Simon, but found some quiet respect for him as well. I wanted strong, handsome Harry to be happy. These characters, throughout the book, were nuanced and almost real.
The ending gave me a warm fuzzy feeling that continues, an hour later, as I write this review. The Lessons is the real thing, in a style unusual for an Australian author, and I am very, very impressed.
I fell in love with sweet, passionate Daisy, and grew to despise her temptress Aunt Jane. I pitied pathetic rich boy Simon, but found some quiet respect for him as well. I wanted strong, handsome Harry to be happy. These characters, throughout the book, were nuanced and almost real.
The ending gave me a warm fuzzy feeling that continues, an hour later, as I write this review. The Lessons is the real thing, in a style unusual for an Australian author, and I am very, very impressed.
April 24, 2023
An absolutely gorgeous exploration of lust and regret. I'm not a book annotator but my copy of The Lessons is doused in blue ink from so many underlined passages. A triumph.
June 11, 2023
I'd give this book a 3.5. It was incredibly immersive, especially considering that each chapter was a different character, time, and place, but I just absolutely hated the ending. Plotwise, 90% of the book was great, but the last 40 pages were chaotic and corny. I loved the depth of the females characters, but it felt cringe at times, and I felt a male gaze vibe coming through that ruined the sort of feminist vibe. There were some really poignant moments that spoke to the darker side of love/lust/marriage/commitment. Will definitely read a different book by John Purcell.
June 11, 2022
3.5
I enjoyed this book, it is fast paced and engaging. I didn't really like any of the characters though.
I enjoyed this book, it is fast paced and engaging. I didn't really like any of the characters though.
April 10, 2022
The Lessons, by John Purcell was a little literary gem! I love John’s brilliant creative nuisances, writing about writers, his jane Austenism differentials of expectations class and education, his alluring storyline that is:- Jane a famous novelist relationships with long suffering wealthy aristocratic Simon interwoven with the coming of age of her charming niece Daisy and her enigmatic star crossed lover farm hand, Harry.
The Lessons is an avant- guard affair spanning through the revolutionary sixties to the eighties, in Kent England, NYC through to romping admist the glamorous French Riveria. John Purcell ability to transport you to the place through descriptive landscape and scenery and engage with knowability and familiarity to the characters is flawless ~ I could almost feel Harry’s big strong arms around me and smell his scent of sweat and worn and cigarette jumping out of the page!
The Lessons, is a beautifully written story of substance, life lessons, age of innocence, betrayals and essentially tragedy loss and ultimately finding happiness and eternal love!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
The Lessons is an avant- guard affair spanning through the revolutionary sixties to the eighties, in Kent England, NYC through to romping admist the glamorous French Riveria. John Purcell ability to transport you to the place through descriptive landscape and scenery and engage with knowability and familiarity to the characters is flawless ~ I could almost feel Harry’s big strong arms around me and smell his scent of sweat and worn and cigarette jumping out of the page!
The Lessons, is a beautifully written story of substance, life lessons, age of innocence, betrayals and essentially tragedy loss and ultimately finding happiness and eternal love!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
March 27, 2022
I was so excited that John Purcell had written another book as I loved “The Girl on the Page” so much.
Well I couldn’t put “The Lessons” down. I just did not want it to end. I am not as good as others at writing reviews so I won’t, but I just want to say to anyone - just read it.
And please John write another one as soon as possible!
Well I couldn’t put “The Lessons” down. I just did not want it to end. I am not as good as others at writing reviews so I won’t, but I just want to say to anyone - just read it.
And please John write another one as soon as possible!
March 20, 2022
Punchy, pacy and pensive. Lovably hatable characters rendered authentically into their charming and alarming worlds. More please.
June 28, 2022
Thank you Harper Collins for sending us a copy to read and review.
Gosh where do I start with this intriguing, captivating and enjoyable book.
So many intricate themes weaved into a dual timeline that expose raw realities and highlight the highs and lows of love.
Sweeping the reader from New York, to the French Rivera and the quaint English countryside.
Jane is a complicated character, a sultry temptress in her younger days and the epitome of a glamour in the 1960’s.
In later years she is a successful author with a prickly persona and reclusive lifestyle.
A promotional trip to New York reflecting these traits.
A chance meeting sees her eyeball her past.
Daisy is a troubled teen sent to live with her Aunt Jane.
Life in this lane will see her witness first love, loss of innocence, exploitation, betrayal and lead her to a destiny that befits.
Many other cast members adorn the pages and cohesively fit into the plot and enhance the emotional turmoil.
Told from respective characters in turn the story builds momentum and spills into climatic ending.
The love of literature and reading is central to this well written book.
An exciting theme for bibliophiles.
Aside from an enticing tale I love being whisked back to the eighties where smoking was allowed on planes and in sixties where farmers thought it was the best idea to get rid of hedgerows.
A read I would recommend highly.
Gosh where do I start with this intriguing, captivating and enjoyable book.
So many intricate themes weaved into a dual timeline that expose raw realities and highlight the highs and lows of love.
Sweeping the reader from New York, to the French Rivera and the quaint English countryside.
Jane is a complicated character, a sultry temptress in her younger days and the epitome of a glamour in the 1960’s.
In later years she is a successful author with a prickly persona and reclusive lifestyle.
A promotional trip to New York reflecting these traits.
A chance meeting sees her eyeball her past.
Daisy is a troubled teen sent to live with her Aunt Jane.
Life in this lane will see her witness first love, loss of innocence, exploitation, betrayal and lead her to a destiny that befits.
Many other cast members adorn the pages and cohesively fit into the plot and enhance the emotional turmoil.
Told from respective characters in turn the story builds momentum and spills into climatic ending.
The love of literature and reading is central to this well written book.
An exciting theme for bibliophiles.
Aside from an enticing tale I love being whisked back to the eighties where smoking was allowed on planes and in sixties where farmers thought it was the best idea to get rid of hedgerows.
A read I would recommend highly.
September 29, 2022
I went full circle on this one. Initially I found it really good. I was interested in Jane’s story and I thought she would be a strong and interesting older female that I was intrigued to read about. I also initially liked the romance between Daisy and Harry. Then it lost me halfway through and it took me quite a while to figure out why.
I did get there in the end. The characters, though well fleshed out, did not ring true to me as women and the longer it went on, I didn’t really like any of them.
And probably no need for me to say how much I loved the infertility bits for anyone who reads my reviews (not at all).
The actual writing quality is good, but story and motivation of some of these people were not for me. A lot of sex and male fantasy territory.
Special mention to Daisy’s decision not to use the contraception given to her after a discussion about consequences with Jane because it’s just fear and she’s not afraid. Seriously what teenage girl of reasonable intelligence and understanding… Harry was described like a big, dumb lump of meat that Daisy knew she was too good for, so it’s not like she was actively wanting to become pregnant and settle down with him at this point. Just ridiculous.
Ironically the author has Jane address characters behaving in ways that are not believable in one of her own books and he does have a point, but it’s still a no from me.
I did get there in the end. The characters, though well fleshed out, did not ring true to me as women and the longer it went on, I didn’t really like any of them.
And probably no need for me to say how much I loved the infertility bits for anyone who reads my reviews (not at all).
The actual writing quality is good, but story and motivation of some of these people were not for me. A lot of sex and male fantasy territory.
Special mention to Daisy’s decision not to use the contraception given to her after a discussion about consequences with Jane because it’s just fear and she’s not afraid. Seriously what teenage girl of reasonable intelligence and understanding… Harry was described like a big, dumb lump of meat that Daisy knew she was too good for, so it’s not like she was actively wanting to become pregnant and settle down with him at this point. Just ridiculous.
Ironically the author has Jane address characters behaving in ways that are not believable in one of her own books and he does have a point, but it’s still a no from me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2022
I loved being in this world with these characters. From the opening pages with acerbic Jane, to the wonderful ending (surprising to the very last), I never wanted to put it down. Jane was complex and cruel, but I loved every moment I spent with her. Purcell writes characters bent on self-destruction and he does it SO WELL. Please can we have Jane's memoir next? I want so much more about her. The meditations on how her art is overshadowed by the men in her life were super interesting, but also, I am one of those irritating fans who wants all of that backstory!!!
While Jane was 100% my favourite, the story which follows her niece Daisy was also excellent. The male viewpoints we get from Harry and Simon, the men entranced with Jane and Daisy, were a little less interesting to me. Though my favourite line was given to Simon: 'I'm not really a high-culture guy. I don't like the obligation of culture; it's a burden to be intellectual all the time.'
A great read, which I devoured in two days. Be warned that there is a lot of sex, so maybe not the best book to read on public transport. But once you start, you won't want to stop.
While Jane was 100% my favourite, the story which follows her niece Daisy was also excellent. The male viewpoints we get from Harry and Simon, the men entranced with Jane and Daisy, were a little less interesting to me. Though my favourite line was given to Simon: 'I'm not really a high-culture guy. I don't like the obligation of culture; it's a burden to be intellectual all the time.'
A great read, which I devoured in two days. Be warned that there is a lot of sex, so maybe not the best book to read on public transport. But once you start, you won't want to stop.
March 9, 2022
From the very start, The Lessons kept me engaged. The story unfolded beautifully. The writing was natural, familiar, unpretentious. As each character's story was told there was a lovely honesty in their thoughts and words. They were real, raw, especially about love and what it means to people. What is it like to experience passion and lust and then denied it? Can you really choose to go back on that for a ordinary, basic love. How do you live with the decisions you've made? Or those that others have made for you? How does it define you and what you share with the outside world? And how does family fit into all that? Are they acting in your best interests or do they create havoc, misery and sadness?
I thoroughly enjoyed the two different time periods - the sixties and its vibe - and the 80s and what they represented. And of course, the literary setting and background ticked other boxes for me.
Essentially, the stories of Daisy, Simon, Harry and Jane unfold on each page. Jane was a piece of work (!) and we know something happened to her niece Daisy, but it's a mystery. And it hovers at the back of your mind but you're engaged with the here and now of each character so it sits there. Waiting for you to turn the page.
It's not a overly complicated story. In fact it's quite simple. But it's one that kept me engaged the whole way through. I enjoyed the writing style very much. It was like John found his voice and those of his characters. They weren't forced. They just were. And the reader will thank him for that.
The Lessons made me think about choices and what lessons you learn in life. Whether you enjoy literary classics or contemporary authors like Ian McEwan, Sally Rooney, even Liane Moriarty, I think you will enjoy The Lessons. Now excuse me while I re-read Atonement. I have a burning desire to read it after finishing this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed the two different time periods - the sixties and its vibe - and the 80s and what they represented. And of course, the literary setting and background ticked other boxes for me.
Essentially, the stories of Daisy, Simon, Harry and Jane unfold on each page. Jane was a piece of work (!) and we know something happened to her niece Daisy, but it's a mystery. And it hovers at the back of your mind but you're engaged with the here and now of each character so it sits there. Waiting for you to turn the page.
It's not a overly complicated story. In fact it's quite simple. But it's one that kept me engaged the whole way through. I enjoyed the writing style very much. It was like John found his voice and those of his characters. They weren't forced. They just were. And the reader will thank him for that.
The Lessons made me think about choices and what lessons you learn in life. Whether you enjoy literary classics or contemporary authors like Ian McEwan, Sally Rooney, even Liane Moriarty, I think you will enjoy The Lessons. Now excuse me while I re-read Atonement. I have a burning desire to read it after finishing this book.
August 15, 2023
4.75☆
I have never despised every single character like I have in The Lessons.
These characters, with their love, lust, betrayal, anger, and hate, all culminates in this chaotic, manic ending, yet utterly compelling read.
The reader will see Daisy and Harry grow from doe eyed young lovers, to hardened yet still manipulated adults just searching for love and acceptance. It is the adults Jane and Kate that bring antagonism and resentment to end the young love that is divided by so many obstacles.
I have never despised every single character like I have in The Lessons.
These characters, with their love, lust, betrayal, anger, and hate, all culminates in this chaotic, manic ending, yet utterly compelling read.
The reader will see Daisy and Harry grow from doe eyed young lovers, to hardened yet still manipulated adults just searching for love and acceptance. It is the adults Jane and Kate that bring antagonism and resentment to end the young love that is divided by so many obstacles.
April 22, 2022
I think I’ll be thinking about Jane and Daisy for a while yet; what a novel. I love novels about novels, and this definitely is that. It’s also all the wealth, brains and opportunities..love a class novel, unequal power and position... It’s completely about sex too..’fuck drunk’…so much sex… but so much more could not recommend it more highly
July 31, 2022
It’s a good sign when you look forward to picking up a book despite loathing some of the characters and loathe I did. Thankfully there was enough beauty and cleverness to get me through the quagmire of abhorrent behaviour, self entitlement and excess.
March 21, 2022
Loved this book! Thought provoking and keeps you hooked until the very end.
June 11, 2024
I loved this. It took me a bit to get into but it was worth it and the ending .. I couldn't put it down till I was done !
April 18, 2022
It’s been a long while since I felt so compelled to keep reading a book, as I just had to know how this novel would play out.
Many of the flawed characters were hard to like but it was still easy to be captivated by them! I was totally flawed by some of the plot twists as I just didn’t see them coming and of course the literary references left me scrambling for pen and paper to make notes! From the farming fields of England to the beaches of southern France and bookish events in New York the book jumps from 1961 to 1983 and unravels a story of love, lust, loyalty and longing.
I read a review that said The Lessons has Austen vibes but for me it was more F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Hard recommend from me!
Many of the flawed characters were hard to like but it was still easy to be captivated by them! I was totally flawed by some of the plot twists as I just didn’t see them coming and of course the literary references left me scrambling for pen and paper to make notes! From the farming fields of England to the beaches of southern France and bookish events in New York the book jumps from 1961 to 1983 and unravels a story of love, lust, loyalty and longing.
I read a review that said The Lessons has Austen vibes but for me it was more F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Hard recommend from me!
January 6, 2023
“Their desire had been a consequence of mine.”
“I’d be targeted, too, because, like Everest, I was there.”
“Lovers are their own culture, they even have their own language, which cuts them off from the rest of society”
“I think you’re a woman. A terrible thing to be.”
“I’ve built my novels like Victor Frankenstein built his monster. A leg from MacLean, a lung from Conrad, and so on.”
“I’d be targeted, too, because, like Everest, I was there.”
“Lovers are their own culture, they even have their own language, which cuts them off from the rest of society”
“I think you’re a woman. A terrible thing to be.”
“I’ve built my novels like Victor Frankenstein built his monster. A leg from MacLean, a lung from Conrad, and so on.”
August 26, 2022
This is an epic story that I was completely drawn into. There is so much to love about it that I don’t know where to start - the characters are captivating and complex, and the narrative has layers upon layers of depth, and the writing is exquisite – all the marks of a great novel. There are numerous intricate themes woven into the story, leaving you with a powerful, thought provoking read. I’d say it’s an ideal bookclub pick because upon finishing you’ll probably want to immediately dissect it with others.
May 22, 2022
This book was structured in the modern way, alternating perspectives and eras in order to weave together the narrative. It was effective in building towards the denouement and largely engaging. Unfortunately the repeated language and sex scenes diminished the beauty of the technique and the elegance of the story. Like so many things these days, it needed a content warning.
Equally disappointingly, while seeming to grapple with significant issues, The Lessons is mostly superficial in its exploration of romantic relationships in 1960s England. Purcell has chosen the ugliness of the human heart and painted portraits of people who indulge their worst selves in searching for their best. It did, however, make one true and telling observation which formed, unconsciously, the bedrock of the primary relationship around which this book revolved. Without that moment, I would happily burn this book from my mind and scour it free from my eyes and ears.
Equally disappointingly, while seeming to grapple with significant issues, The Lessons is mostly superficial in its exploration of romantic relationships in 1960s England. Purcell has chosen the ugliness of the human heart and painted portraits of people who indulge their worst selves in searching for their best. It did, however, make one true and telling observation which formed, unconsciously, the bedrock of the primary relationship around which this book revolved. Without that moment, I would happily burn this book from my mind and scour it free from my eyes and ears.
June 6, 2022
I have tried hard to read that book. Not a page turner at all. I usually read all books I bought and give them a chance, even when it takes a while to get into a story. Didn't happen, couldn't be bothered as I was just bored. I am a quick reader...however took me 4 weeks and I didn't finish it.
August 6, 2022
I was actually very surprised to get to the end of this and be reminded that it was written by a male author.
It would seem that Mr Purcell has spent a good deal of time in and around women. He seems to know a few things about how they think.
Perhaps a female reader could confirm or deny this for me.
The thing that I didn't like about this epic was how he told it from different people's points of view (or "PsOV", if you prefer) but he didn't move - during those shifts into different heads - into different voices.
There's Harry, for example. An illiterate farm boy whose voice as he speaks to us is at least as eloquent as the characters with much more in the way of literary credentials. Daisy, for example, whose favourite novel is "The Great Gatsby" (!) has a right to a well articulated voice, but not Harry. Now, we do see this farm boy develop his writer's craft as the story slowly (oh, so slowly!) unfolds... but, no. To me, I think that it should have been written in the voice of the moment. I feel (and you can't be wrong about your feelings) that this would have been a better novel had the voices not all sounded the same.
The cover art for the eBook I read had a blonde in a one-piece (even though they all wear bikinis) sitting beside a pool. There is a LOT of sitting in the sun half naked in this novel. So much so that at one point (and I read it in the depths of a Melbourne Winter) I thought to myself, "This is what it was like, back before we knew about skin cancer, to spend the whole day in the sun."
If you hanker for the days when you didn't have to worry about melanoma, this is a great holiday from the real world. Enjoy. Don't forget to pack plenty of baby oil.
Purcell seems to have been some sort of a book editor, and maybe he still is one. This novel leverages his special insider knowledge of what it means to have to deal with writers. I can only imagine that had I been one of his writers, I would be deeply flattered by his treatment of that special breed of cat.
I can hear my review points jumping all over the place here, and I feel the want of a narrative thread... but that jumping around is probably a result of having read this novel. It all makes sense in the end, in the same way a jigsaw puzzle all makes sense in the end.
Oh, and just as I was surprised to discover that the author was a male, I was likewise surprised to discover that this is an Australian novel. So, if you enjoyed this book from that weird niche category, you may also like "The Thorn Birds"... is what the GoodReads algorithm will suggest. It's more like "An Education", though, than "The Thorn Birds", even though "An Education" isn't an Australian novel. To my knowledge.
An Australian novel that this is more like? Maybe "The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith". Any better suggestions? "Monkey Grip", perhaps?
It would seem that Mr Purcell has spent a good deal of time in and around women. He seems to know a few things about how they think.
Perhaps a female reader could confirm or deny this for me.
The thing that I didn't like about this epic was how he told it from different people's points of view (or "PsOV", if you prefer) but he didn't move - during those shifts into different heads - into different voices.
There's Harry, for example. An illiterate farm boy whose voice as he speaks to us is at least as eloquent as the characters with much more in the way of literary credentials. Daisy, for example, whose favourite novel is "The Great Gatsby" (!) has a right to a well articulated voice, but not Harry. Now, we do see this farm boy develop his writer's craft as the story slowly (oh, so slowly!) unfolds... but, no. To me, I think that it should have been written in the voice of the moment. I feel (and you can't be wrong about your feelings) that this would have been a better novel had the voices not all sounded the same.
The cover art for the eBook I read had a blonde in a one-piece (even though they all wear bikinis) sitting beside a pool. There is a LOT of sitting in the sun half naked in this novel. So much so that at one point (and I read it in the depths of a Melbourne Winter) I thought to myself, "This is what it was like, back before we knew about skin cancer, to spend the whole day in the sun."
If you hanker for the days when you didn't have to worry about melanoma, this is a great holiday from the real world. Enjoy. Don't forget to pack plenty of baby oil.
Purcell seems to have been some sort of a book editor, and maybe he still is one. This novel leverages his special insider knowledge of what it means to have to deal with writers. I can only imagine that had I been one of his writers, I would be deeply flattered by his treatment of that special breed of cat.
I can hear my review points jumping all over the place here, and I feel the want of a narrative thread... but that jumping around is probably a result of having read this novel. It all makes sense in the end, in the same way a jigsaw puzzle all makes sense in the end.
Oh, and just as I was surprised to discover that the author was a male, I was likewise surprised to discover that this is an Australian novel. So, if you enjoyed this book from that weird niche category, you may also like "The Thorn Birds"... is what the GoodReads algorithm will suggest. It's more like "An Education", though, than "The Thorn Birds", even though "An Education" isn't an Australian novel. To my knowledge.
An Australian novel that this is more like? Maybe "The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith". Any better suggestions? "Monkey Grip", perhaps?
February 13, 2023
Thank you to HarperCollins Australia for sending me a copy of this book to review!
When Daisy meets Harry in 1961 as teenagers in rural England, what feels so right to them is completely frowned upon by everyone else as everything is stacked against them: class, education and of course age. Daisy is sent to live with her bohemian author Aunt Jane in London in order to separate her from Harry.
From shorter snapshots in 1983, Jane is being interviewed in New York at a book event about the overlap between her life and her books….as well as the mysterious disappearance of her niece Daisy, who Jane hasn’t seen in almost 20 years.
While the synopsis would have you believe this book is about first love, it both is and yet is so much more than that. It is also about literature, betrayal, regret and a rather compelling look at “the beautiful people” and how the other half live. Which incidentally, in this book is rather flawed and pretty awful.
This brings me to the characters, as this book is heavily character based. They are all either a bit or very unlikeable. Daisy is flawed, but generally likeable. Jane is one of the most appalling characters I’ve had the pleasure of hating. Jane treats people abominably, almost as a sort of social experiment which she then writes books about - thinly disguised as fiction. There is no life or person Jane won’t hesitate to ruin, just because she can.
I found this book utterly compelling. The storyline is there is the background slowly meandering, however the characters were vividly bold in centre stage and were fascinating. This is definitely for those that enjoy a character-driven book and topics that will have you mulling over them for some time after you’ve finished. Probably more a 4.75 as there were a few tiny things that made it imperfect to me, but these characters were just so powerful that I have to go with ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.
When Daisy meets Harry in 1961 as teenagers in rural England, what feels so right to them is completely frowned upon by everyone else as everything is stacked against them: class, education and of course age. Daisy is sent to live with her bohemian author Aunt Jane in London in order to separate her from Harry.
From shorter snapshots in 1983, Jane is being interviewed in New York at a book event about the overlap between her life and her books….as well as the mysterious disappearance of her niece Daisy, who Jane hasn’t seen in almost 20 years.
While the synopsis would have you believe this book is about first love, it both is and yet is so much more than that. It is also about literature, betrayal, regret and a rather compelling look at “the beautiful people” and how the other half live. Which incidentally, in this book is rather flawed and pretty awful.
This brings me to the characters, as this book is heavily character based. They are all either a bit or very unlikeable. Daisy is flawed, but generally likeable. Jane is one of the most appalling characters I’ve had the pleasure of hating. Jane treats people abominably, almost as a sort of social experiment which she then writes books about - thinly disguised as fiction. There is no life or person Jane won’t hesitate to ruin, just because she can.
I found this book utterly compelling. The storyline is there is the background slowly meandering, however the characters were vividly bold in centre stage and were fascinating. This is definitely for those that enjoy a character-driven book and topics that will have you mulling over them for some time after you’ve finished. Probably more a 4.75 as there were a few tiny things that made it imperfect to me, but these characters were just so powerful that I have to go with ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.
April 30, 2023
This novel is a compelling story of a forbidden first love, class division and betrayal.
It’s 1961 when sixteen- year- old Daisy comes home from boarding school and meets young farmer, Harry. They fall deeply in love but her mother intervenes deciding that Daisy should be away from his influence and sends her to her Aunt Jane’s house unaware that the young Daisy is pregnant.
Daisy has always been convinced that her mother does not love her, and given that her mother was forced to marry Daisy’s father because she herself was pregnant at a young age gives rise to their fractious relationship.
Interspersed between the 1961’s timeline we meet Aunt Jane in 1983. She is a writer of renown on her way to a literary event in New York where she is interviewed about an earlier work exploring a coming of age novel, said to be drawn from real life.
We are privy to the point of views from Daisy, Harry and Jane which is cleverly handled to propel the story forward as Purcell explores how far a person would go for love, given numerous obstacles thrown their way.
Jane, a bohemian character in a marriage of what seems to be convenience is lost in her own relationships. Harry is a simple man who knows what he wants and that is Daisy. The interference by her mother and Jane creates a tragic outcome for the young lovers who go through life always yearning for one another.
I worried about Purcell’s handling of the female point of view particularly during a troubling event but I thought he handled it sensitively and well. The power of this novel is the characters and Purcell cleverly ensures that the reader quickly engages and cares about each one of them, even the ones who don’t behave all that well.
I really couldn’t put this one down, loved the swinging sixties, filled with lusty scenes, class differences and the final eyebrow raising reveal towards the end. Yes, check this one out.
It’s 1961 when sixteen- year- old Daisy comes home from boarding school and meets young farmer, Harry. They fall deeply in love but her mother intervenes deciding that Daisy should be away from his influence and sends her to her Aunt Jane’s house unaware that the young Daisy is pregnant.
Daisy has always been convinced that her mother does not love her, and given that her mother was forced to marry Daisy’s father because she herself was pregnant at a young age gives rise to their fractious relationship.
Interspersed between the 1961’s timeline we meet Aunt Jane in 1983. She is a writer of renown on her way to a literary event in New York where she is interviewed about an earlier work exploring a coming of age novel, said to be drawn from real life.
We are privy to the point of views from Daisy, Harry and Jane which is cleverly handled to propel the story forward as Purcell explores how far a person would go for love, given numerous obstacles thrown their way.
Jane, a bohemian character in a marriage of what seems to be convenience is lost in her own relationships. Harry is a simple man who knows what he wants and that is Daisy. The interference by her mother and Jane creates a tragic outcome for the young lovers who go through life always yearning for one another.
I worried about Purcell’s handling of the female point of view particularly during a troubling event but I thought he handled it sensitively and well. The power of this novel is the characters and Purcell cleverly ensures that the reader quickly engages and cares about each one of them, even the ones who don’t behave all that well.
I really couldn’t put this one down, loved the swinging sixties, filled with lusty scenes, class differences and the final eyebrow raising reveal towards the end. Yes, check this one out.
August 4, 2022
John Purcell's
The Lessons
is a perfectly adequate novel about the entangled lives of a group of people, with enticing historical details, glamorous locations to set the scenes, and coming-of-age themes thrown in.
Told from various points-of-view and zig-zagging back and forth from the past to the present, the motivations and the deceits of each of the characters is slowly revealed.
This is the kind of novel where I imagine the author had a very complicated collection of post-it notes stuck to their wall, showing the interactions and connections. Of course, the risk of these multiple and tightly entwined plot lines is that in resolving one bit, all must come to a conclusion. Those kinds of conclusions can feel overly 'neat'.
The weaknesses? The character of Jane, a famous novelist, presented as far older than her years. Her voice was bordering on elderly, not someone simply a little exhausted from their wild times during the swinging sixties London. Additionally, Purcell relied on a (very) minor character to propel the plot - as a result, the scene didn't feel particularly significant until you realised that it was (and there's a return to it much later in the book).
On the plus side, Purcell captures the sense of all-consuming first love beautifully. He treats Harry and Daisy's relationship gently and realistically. I think it can be hard to describe the sentiment and the physical instinct (lust!) of first love, without it seeming either overly mature or saccharine, but he does it. And without spoilers, he also nails the aftermath of first love.
2.5/5 Save for the summer holiday.
I received my copy of The Lessons from the publisher, Harper Collins Australia, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Told from various points-of-view and zig-zagging back and forth from the past to the present, the motivations and the deceits of each of the characters is slowly revealed.
This is the kind of novel where I imagine the author had a very complicated collection of post-it notes stuck to their wall, showing the interactions and connections. Of course, the risk of these multiple and tightly entwined plot lines is that in resolving one bit, all must come to a conclusion. Those kinds of conclusions can feel overly 'neat'.
The weaknesses? The character of Jane, a famous novelist, presented as far older than her years. Her voice was bordering on elderly, not someone simply a little exhausted from their wild times during the swinging sixties London. Additionally, Purcell relied on a (very) minor character to propel the plot - as a result, the scene didn't feel particularly significant until you realised that it was (and there's a return to it much later in the book).
On the plus side, Purcell captures the sense of all-consuming first love beautifully. He treats Harry and Daisy's relationship gently and realistically. I think it can be hard to describe the sentiment and the physical instinct (lust!) of first love, without it seeming either overly mature or saccharine, but he does it. And without spoilers, he also nails the aftermath of first love.
We had a level of trust that only inexperience would allow.
2.5/5 Save for the summer holiday.
I received my copy of The Lessons from the publisher, Harper Collins Australia, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2022
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲: John Purnall 💘
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞: The Lessons tells a compelling story about literature, love and betrayal. The book covers two timelines present and 80s while multiple narratives the Aunt (the Writer), the Niece (Inspiration), the Lover (first Love) and the Admirer (the Eunuch).
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝: This is an excellent book, which finds its inspiration in Jane Austin and Bronte as it explored similar themes of class and unattainable love in their novels. Here, Purcell has achieve something remarkable by having one of the main lead as an Author who clearly despises Austin and her work; while challenging her theories of Love and Class around her in her own demented ways.
𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐦: Some readers may find the lack of likeable characters an issue, as they all are on verge of revolt but that makes it equally an exciting read.
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐈𝐭: I have to say, I liked this book more than I had expected. The book has some twists and turns along the way, which were very surprising. I reckon anyone who will read this book will be pleasantly surprised. It is a very sensual book and covers themes of forbidden love and class differences while having an interesting conversations about writers, their ideas and approach to things.
Thanks @harpercollinsaustralia for my review copy. I absolutely loved this book and still think about it. The book is available bookstores near you, make sure to grab your copy.
𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲: John Purnall 💘
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞: The Lessons tells a compelling story about literature, love and betrayal. The book covers two timelines present and 80s while multiple narratives the Aunt (the Writer), the Niece (Inspiration), the Lover (first Love) and the Admirer (the Eunuch).
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝: This is an excellent book, which finds its inspiration in Jane Austin and Bronte as it explored similar themes of class and unattainable love in their novels. Here, Purcell has achieve something remarkable by having one of the main lead as an Author who clearly despises Austin and her work; while challenging her theories of Love and Class around her in her own demented ways.
𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐦: Some readers may find the lack of likeable characters an issue, as they all are on verge of revolt but that makes it equally an exciting read.
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐈𝐭: I have to say, I liked this book more than I had expected. The book has some twists and turns along the way, which were very surprising. I reckon anyone who will read this book will be pleasantly surprised. It is a very sensual book and covers themes of forbidden love and class differences while having an interesting conversations about writers, their ideas and approach to things.
Thanks @harpercollinsaustralia for my review copy. I absolutely loved this book and still think about it. The book is available bookstores near you, make sure to grab your copy.
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