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Original poster

Just finished the Cazalet novels by Elizabeth Jane Howard, feeling lost

39 replies

travellinghopefully12 · 08/05/2016 20:47

I actually feel really sad and at a loss without them. I loved them so much.

What can I read now? What is similar? I've never read a series before, and have been reading these since Feb, and was hooked. It's such an empty feeling.

OP posts:
tobee · 10/05/2016 13:34

I like all the young girl cousins (Poll, Clary, Louise) and Miss Milliment. And have soft spot for Neville. So far. I expect my daughter will marry someone like him! I've just got her reading book 1.

annandale · 10/05/2016 01:45

Polly is my favourite btw...

annandale · 10/05/2016 01:44

I agree they spoil other books for a while.

I'm hoping you haven't read All Change - don't bother.

I would head for nonfiction for a bit. I also think Slipstream was very good. Also I read a biography of Kathleen Scott - can't remember the title.

DramaAlpaca · 10/05/2016 01:35

I really enjoyed the Spoils of Time series by Penny Vincenzi. The first one is No Angel, then Something Dangerous & finally Into Temptation. It's a family saga set around a publishing house. I've read others of hers years ago, but came across these recently and loved them.

tobee · 10/05/2016 01:26

I finally dared to look on IMDb for casting of the tv adaptation having cemented the pictures I had in my head by book 4. I thought most of the casting was completely bizarre!

NicknameUsed · 09/05/2016 19:17

Pebble21uk the TV series was in 2001. I loved it and the books. Sadly, I tried readin other books by EJH but they were so boring in comparison that I just gave up.

How about The Camomile Lawn by Mary Wesley?

Lilymaid · 09/05/2016 18:58

Tobe EJH's autobiography is fascinating - especially the parts covering the same period as the Cazalets - she certainly based the series on her own life.

tobee · 09/05/2016 18:43

I've never come across a writer quite so adroit at capturing the way children talk and behave.

Original poster
travellinghopefully12 · 09/05/2016 14:55

Mermaid I adore Nancy Mitford - my best friend from forever pretty much is Linda Radlett. Thank you though, perhaps I shall reread.

I've been told Forsyte Saga is good, but I found the Cazelat novels quite addictive due to her way of looking at people from different angles - like you find out small hints about other character's stories in each section, and they are kind of throwaway and the characterisation is just amazing, and Oh God, I loved the Cazalets so much.

Is Clary everyone's favourite, or just mine? tobee I envy you having the pleasure of reading them and pity the devastation at not having any more to read. I got The Beautiful Visit out of the library, but am struggling to get into it.

I've also been trying to read Kate Atkinson, who I used to love, but after EJH she seems kind of clunky and obvious (just because EJH is so subtle)

Bertrand Russell I've seen some Penny Vincencis in the library, but have never read them. I might get one out when next in. Where do I start?

Thanks all

OP posts:
tobee · 09/05/2016 12:47

I'm on book 4 right now and can imagine similar problems. What do people thinks of Elizabeth Jane Howard's other books? What about her auto biography?

Pebble21uk · 08/05/2016 22:41

You could always watch the TV adaptation of The Cazalets from the 80s. Haven't seen it since then but remember loving it and you can get it on DVD from Amazon for less than a fiver!

BertrandRussell · 08/05/2016 22:12

Start from the beginning again? I have them on hard rotation as audiobooks!

Forsyte saga? Barchester Chronicles? Pallisers? Oh, Penny Vincenzi? Not a saga as such, but very thick books about one family. Susan Howach? Ditto thought -not one family.......

magimedi · 08/05/2016 22:08

Forsyte Saga - John Galsworthy.

All set a little earlier than the Cazalets but the same sort of sweeping thread of a family.

MermaidofZennor · 08/05/2016 22:03

Have you read Nancy Mitford - The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate?

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