Elizabeth Jane Howard??? Thoughts

[CDMforever]

Am just coming to the end of "Love All" by EJH and at times have adored the book and at other times found it incredibly annoying.
Its all very very middle class where no one has REAL money problems and no one is called Gavin or Rita, instead people are called Persephone or Francis which are beautiful names but for some reason it is starting to really grate on me.
Maybe I need some gritty social realism??

Yes, she writes very well, but it is all a bit divorced from real life (for most people). For me, she's akin to Joanna Trollope - a really good read but best not to read too many of her novels consecutively!

Yes, I find it impossible to read more than one consecutively (Cazalets aside). Ditto Elizabeth Taylor.

Whilst it has been a while since I read Elizabeth Jane Howard, I do remember really enjoying her and thought she provided a wonderful insight into a certain type of English life; repressed on the outside but a malestrom of emotions behind it. Don't really think she is akin to Joanne Trollope, whose books I have also enjoyed. EJH much more literary.

EJH was married to Kingsley Amis, who has been oten called misogynistic, although I always thought he portrayed a realistic view of many mens' thoughts.

I also loved Elizabeth Taylor - again shows how peoples' surface lives are not the whole story.

I really like her - sort of a modern Jane Austen I suppose and she only wrote about a certain class!

Maybe some George Pelecanos would be an antidote if it's gritty realism you're after!

I love Pelecanos

Was just about to write 'lovely name - go for it'. Then realised you weren't on baby name thread.