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The Private Lives of Pippa Lee by Rebecca Miller

21 replies

poodlepusher · 18/04/2008 14:46

Anyone read this yet?
V good review in today's INDEPENDENT

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MrsMuddle · 18/04/2008 14:54

Is she Arthur Miller's daughter? D day-Lewis's wife? If so, I also read a good review of it somewhere else.

I'm going to reserve it out the library, because I think it's a hardback.

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poodlepusher · 18/04/2008 16:00

Yes, but the Inde said that neither association mattered - that she was a stand alone talent.

Library - good idea.

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MrsMuddle · 20/04/2008 00:51

Ordered it. Will let you know.

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floaty · 03/07/2008 22:12

Have any of you read this yet,I have just finished it and also my book club is reading it this month.I really enjoyed it,anyone have any comments

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MrsTiddles · 04/07/2008 10:01

I heard its up for an award.

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wheelybug · 04/07/2008 10:03

Have heard good things - it is in paperback - I almost bought it the other day in tesco. It was about £4.

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MrsTiddles · 04/07/2008 10:14

ooh. I was waiting for that, will go out and get it today.

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Cocodrillo · 04/07/2008 11:52

I finished this book last night, but didn't think it was that good. Just wonder if she hasn't been carried a bit by the celeb links and lofty heritage.

It was worth reading, but not a worthy award-winner IMO.

I'll be interested to see the film though.

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margoandjerry · 04/07/2008 11:54

agree with Cocodrillo.

Read it and quite enjoyed it but not overwhelmed.

It's one of those books where ordinary people start acting in rather unrealistic ways but you have to suspend disbelief because it's a modern novel and in modern novels people are allowed to explore the unlikely, if you know what I mean.

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MrsTiddles · 04/07/2008 17:03

ok that's intriguing. It actually makes me want to read it more now - to see what she's done and how its put together, and what all the hype is about.

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bagsforlife · 04/07/2008 19:19

Oooh have just received it from Amazon and was beginning to regret buying it, haven't read it yet, but now sounds good. Is she Arthur Miller's daughter?? Married to Daniel Day Lewis????

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MrsTiddles · 04/07/2008 19:45

yes thats who she is. I also just ordered it for less than £4. whopee!

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radcliffe · 04/07/2008 20:29

Well I really enjoyed it, it's starts off and you think this is just about a move to a retirement village but then we go back in time and she has had a surprising life. I really like Rebecca Miller's style of writing, clear and yet very good at description so you can put yourself in the place. One of the best books of the year IMO.

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FlossieTCake · 05/07/2008 00:59

I think it may be up for the Richard & Judy book of the year - is that it? I got the Canongate e-bulletin today and have a vague memory of that being in there (possibly hallucinatory, it's been a stressful day).

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MrsTiddles · 08/07/2008 13:03

my copy just arrived - yes there is a R&J sticker on the front.

Its only about 220 pages so will read and come back to comment.

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Anchovy · 08/07/2008 13:14

I've just finished reading a collection of short stores by her, "Personal Velocity".

It was a bit meh: but I think that might be because I'm not really keen on short stories - always seem a bit contrived. The jacket blurb was all a bit "an electrifying new talent" which I didn't see was justified on the basis of that book. I would be interested to read something else by her - particularly something longer - but my personal jury is still out.

I would like to be her.

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MissM · 08/07/2008 19:30

I'd read loads of rave reviews of this so got it, but really didn't like it at all. It had some interesting bits, the writing occassionally moved me, but generally I didn't enjoy it very much. I don't think I cared about anyone in it enough, especially not her. Bit disappointment for me personally.

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MrsTiddles · 09/07/2008 17:34

I'm half way through. I will come back when I'm done with this one. Currently in two minds about it, and trying not to pass harsh judgement til I've finished it.

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MrsTiddles · 10/07/2008 17:56

Well I finished this last night. It really takes a turn about half way through and I'm glad I persevered as I think its structurally genius.

Was concerned at first by the Creative Writing MA style opening chapter and then the short retrospective chapters. I thought it was going to be a poor, cobbled together set of bits that she'd written and had never bothered to tie up in a full narrative.

I was wrong.

But in terms of subject matter / storyline - I'm trying to work out if it was simply that things became more salacious and that I got hooked in daily mail way. I hope not.

The protagonist is completely detached, no matter what she does. Dramatic things happen but nothing stirred any emotion in me at any point, which is surprising because Im' a pmt sap this week.

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FlossieTCake · 14/07/2008 00:01

Canongate's latest e-bulletin leads with an item on this which says she's doing an event in London on Monday.

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ChipButty · 20/07/2008 20:55

Definitely got better as it went along. Found the ending a bit preposterous. Liked the way the chapters moved back and forth in time and the fact that they were not uniform in length. Not sure it's worthy of an award though.

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