Violet’s review of The Story of Lucy Gault > Likes and Comments

Brilliant review, Violet.

Anne wrote: "Brilliant review, Violet."

Thanks Anne.

Elyse wrote: "I’m quietly hysterically laughing under my covers.....
But wait???
You were a schoolgirl?
who wrote stories?......
I want to read one of your childhood stories......
I found one of mine
- and I c..."
My father's favourite hobby was chucking things out so nothing of my youth has survived, Elyse! I'm definitely in Scrooge mode. It even annoyed me the sun has been out all day after the relentless lashing rain all week. There is though loads of rubbish on TV tonight to get me back in Scrooge mode. Xx

great review! i’ve got the same feeling about his short stories. you’ve described it perfectly

Sorry this one didn't work for you! Great review, though!

Yikes. Onward and upwards. Merry Christmas, Violet!

nastyako wrote: "great review! i’ve got the same feeling about his short stories. you’ve described it perfectly"

Thanks. I wasn't very taken by his short stories either.

Vicky wrote: "Sorry this one didn't work for you! Great review, though!"

Thanks Vicky.

Jen wrote: "Yikes. Onward and upwards. Merry Christmas, Violet!"

Happy holidays to you too, Jen.

ooohhhh - I LOVE a good bad review, and this one fits the bill! Sorry it was so bad, but I do love your bad reviews!

Paula wrote: "ooohhhh - I LOVE a good bad review, and this one fits the bill! Sorry it was so bad, but I do love your bad reviews!"

Ha ha! Nothing like a good rant sometimes to open all the windows and let some clear air in.

Violet wrote: "Paula wrote: "ooohhhh - I LOVE a good bad review, and this one fits the bill! Sorry it was so bad, but I do love your bad reviews!"

Ha ha! Nothing like a good rant sometimes to open all the window..."

EXACTLY!

Oh dear. I almost got hold of this as well, by now feel relieved I didn't. Will look elsewhere when it comes to reading a Trevor novel. Maybe something from 1931!

Steven wrote: "Oh dear. I almost got hold of this as well, by now feel relieved I didn't. Will look elsewhere when it comes to reading a Trevor novel. Maybe something from 1931!"

I'm curious how he wrote when he was younger but I feel sure even then he wrote with a sensibility thirty years behind the times. There isn't a single glimpse in his work that he was even remotely in touch with the times in which he lived.

Loved this merciless dissection, Violet, even though I enjoy Trevor's writing a lot. The fact that I was nodding along at all the points you made about this novel and his writing in general is a huge tribute to your review skills. You won me over during the time I was reading—I'll slip back into my old thinking patterns straight away after, of course. Like Trevor, I'm a bit stuck in my ways;-)

Fionnuala wrote: "Loved this merciless dissection, Violet, even though I enjoy Trevor's writing a lot. The fact that I was nodding along at all the points you made about this novel and his writing in general is a hu..."

Ha ha! And so you should. The thing about him is that he's obviously steeped himself in many of the writers I love so I'm kind of charmed at the same time as I'm a bit appalled! So often his subject matter and attempts at achieving poetic sensibility call to mind Elizabeth Bowen for example. Except for me he's not a patch on her. For one thing he has this reverence for commercial plots which, for me, always backfires on him. It's like he's not quite a commercial author and not quite a literary one.

Oh boy...I am 2/3 into this novel and am about ready to give it up. I am so frustrated with Lucy's stubborn and outlandish sacrifice. I took a pause to read some reviews and came upon yours, Violet, and murmured to myself, "exactly". Happy to know I am not alone in my feelings about this one. Thanks for your excellent review.

I agree with every single word that you said about this book! If I were the type who abandons books, I would've given up on it too!

Violet, I agree with everything you've said. And, the premise of the story is absurd. What parent whose child goes missing would not leave a forwarding address and number? You sound very well read. If you like, I'd gladly send you my own novel, A Nest for Lalita, for a little feedback. In any case, Happy New Year. Ken