Persephone Books discussion

How is everyone doing on this book?
I'm almost done...I was really surprised how similar the characters of Alex (from last month's book, Consequences) and Muriel were. They were both very disconnected from others and didn't follow the traditional path their family expected them to. I still have about 1/4 of the book left, so I'm hoping things turn around for Muriel!!

Gina wrote: "How is everyone doing on this book?
I'm almost done...I was really surprised how similar the characters of Alex (from last month's book, Consequences) and Muriel were. They were both very disconnec..."

I just started, but am enjoying it so far. There's more humor than I remember in Consequences.

I read this quite soon after I had read South Riding by Winifred Holtby, which is a much better known book over here - it's been made into a mini-series and all that kind of thing. But I liked The Crowded Street better. I liked Muriel, and although it's criticised for the weird and rather melodramatic episodes around her sister's marriage, I thought it was probably very much life as it was lived at the place and time.

I hadn't thought about the similarities of Alex and Muriel. You are right, they are very similar. Muriel is just living that little bit later, so has a little more control over her life.

Another similarity I forgot to mention...the attachment of Alex to Queenie and then Muriel and Clare (and it was weird that Alex's last name was Clare). So many similarities!