By Angela Thirkell

FINALLY finished Before Lunch by Angela Thirkell. There were many reasons it took me so long. First was that I was listening to it on a platform (Hoopla) that made it difficult to just turn on whenever I wanted. Usually, this would be on my walks (weather’s been too cold) and in the car on my way to and from work. Secondly, the book did not keep my interest most of the way through. It is a little disconcerting to me how similar all 4 of the books I have read by her have been. The characters have all been very much the same, and also the plot points. Young callow man, in love with a considerably older married woman and young and old partnered with the wrong people that eventually get sorted out by the end. The end of this one was a little bittersweet and a tad melancholy for one couple.

Before Lunch features many mentions and brief appearances of several characters from the other 2 novels I have read by her. This would normally charm and interest me, but I couldn’t remember the revisited characters well enough to care much. I probably could have stayed engaged better if this has not been an audiobook. For me, it really didn’t pick up until about halfway through. I still had some chuckles over Thirkell’s wry observations and witty turns of phrase, but I think I am going to take a little break from her for a while. Too many books, so little time, and all that. Also, I would have to pay for anymore I read: I think I’ve exhausted all of the titles my library has available. 

January 19, 2018