Continental drift

by Libby Purves

Book by Purves, Libby

Genres: Fiction

Paperback

First published April 1, 2004

About the author

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

Reviews

[Louise Culmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

EVa, an innocent Polish girl, travels to England to visit Manda, the English girl she was pen friends with some years earlier. WHen she arrives at Manda's beautiful country home she finds that Manda no longer lives there, having moved to London. BUt Manda's parents, Philip, a former MP who lost his seat at the last election and is now somewhat at a loose end, and Diana, who works for a local radio station, invite her in out of the rain and she ends up staying the night. Eva proves to be brilliant at housework and cooking, and is offered a job as au pair. AS she settles into their home, she brings changes into the lives of Philip and Diana. THis is quite an enjoyable story, Eva is a charming character, if perhaps a little too perfect to be believable. SOme of the other characters are a bit thin - Manda is given very short shrift, she is really just a caricature of a selfish yuppie, and barely features in the narrative at all. I think the story would have been more interesting if we saw more of her, to counterbalance the rather saintly Eva. DIana has two friends, Lizzie, who is dying, is another picture of perfection like Eva, and the far more amusing Marianne, who drinks rather too much and has marital problems of her own. I actually preferred Marianne to any of the principal characters, I thought she was more fun.

[Margaret Stranks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continental Drift was written 20 years ago, so you have to remember back to a time before smartphones were in most people’s pockets! I enjoyed the story, and generally it’s well written, but not without its grammatical weaknesses at times. The story is engaging, and the characters well enough described, but although I looked forward to reading it each time, I didn’t feel as absorbed by the plot or as attached to the principal players as I usually am with some other authors. Looking back, the storyline does seem a bit far-fetched, but it was quite an enjoyable ride at the time!

[Michelle du Toit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pleasant

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

12/27/07
TITLE/AUTHOR: CONTINENTAL DRIFT by Libby Purves
RATING: 4/B
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PGS: Fiction/2003, 278 pgs
SERIES/STAND ALONE: Stand-Alone
TIME/PLACE: Present, UK
CHARACTERS: Henry/Radio DJ; Philip/ex-MP; Diana/Philip's wife; Eva/Polish backpacker
FIRST LINES: Okayyyy! called the young man, throwing his head back & blinking a little in the bright spring sunshine.

COMMENTS: 12/10 rec via bookcrossing (bookray). Light and entertaining read. Eva is a young woman from Poland who was penpals w/ Philip & Diana's daughter Manda. She comes to the UK to visit, unexpected and is invited to stay. Philip is an ex-MP and struggling to find purpose now that he is no longer working. Diana, in her mid-40's w/ a daughter on her own starts working at a radio station. Eva, helps organize the home, cleaning & cooking. Eva gives both Philip & Diana the freedom to assess their current lives and make some changes.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather staid middle-aged MP, at the end of his political career, is married to a lively - if somewhat self-centred - woman who works for a radio station. Meanwhile, in Poland, a young girl begins a backpacking trip across Europe....

The book takes a while to get going as each character is introduced, and it's not as thought-provoking or deep as many of Libby Purves' novels. I found the conclusion, while realistic, a tad depressing.

But the characters are believable, and the book is well-written and very readable. I liked it again on re-reading fifteen years after the first time.

Three and a half stars would be fairer.

Most recent review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...

[Penny Doran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, loaned to me by a friend.Libby urves is a regular columnist in the English newspapers so I was interested to see that she writes books as well. I will certainly look out for another one of hers

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really disappointed with the last Libby Purves book I read (Acting Up) so I started this with some trepidation. I needn't have worried though as I loved this one.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit uneven, but quite readable.

[Jan Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable light read. Libby Puves often deals with issues which are a bit more thought provoking. This novel was a bit too neat in tying up all the ends, and consequently not very believable.

[David Gill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy reading romance/domestic drama.

[Isobel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brave but slightly improbable plot for Purves

[Lynne Elsisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice little book. No more, no less.