The Finest Type of English Womanhood * SPOILER ALERT *

[FlyingMonkey]

I bought a copy of this after seeing several recommendations on Mumsnet. I just finished it and feel compelled to start a thread as I thought it was hugely disappointing.

All the characters were vile, the treatment of South African politics was extremely superficial and I guessed half way through that Laura murdered Gay. I also found it bizarre that while Laura could justify killing Gay to herself, there was no reflection on her part about the fact that an innocent man was subjected to the death penalty because of her.

I think it would have been a better book if it had been fleshed out a bit more.

[Boco]

I feel compelled to disagree. I loved it. The characters were very human - flawed and difficult and complex and vulnerable. The politics were a backdrop, not the point of the story - but didn't find it superficial at all. Did Laura kill Gay? I'm not sure - and she was totally obsessed and in love wasn't she, I don't suppose she was capable of reflection at that point.

[Swedes]

I bought a copy after seeing it recommended in the Independent - where the author was compared favourably with Doris Lessing. I read it in just two sittings - and absolutely loved it.

[FlyingMonkey]

Eek. I gave up on The Golden Notebook after a couple of pages.

I did like Rachel Heath's prose, I thought the book was very well written and the description of the period and the African landscape were evocative.

[yappybluedog]

I thought it was very good, she writes well

I don't think that Laura killed Gay either, she was already dying

I really want to read The Porthole Murder now, about the trial on which The Finest...is based