Small Island by Andrea Levy

[yoyo]

Has anyone read it? I finished it this morning and thought it was excellent. It is riveting in every respect - the history, culture, etc. I found the ending so incredibly moving but brilliantly written. The characters draw you into their lives effortlessly and having the chapters in the first person worked really well.

It is going to be difficult to select my next read.

Read it whilst breastfeeding dd in the early days (middle of the night whilst feeding lying down). It is a great book and I really enjoyed it!

It's fab. Thought it started a bit slowly, prob because Hortense isn't the most sympathetic character anyway.

I really like how different the narrators sounded (esp Bernard) - she's got a real ear for dialogue.

I can't imagine feeding and reading the ending. I couldn't sleep so was up at the crack of dawn. DH found me on the sofa and thought I'd had some awful news (My Gran is poorly). He couldn't believe I was so upset! I bet you were hugging your baby very tightly.

I read this for my Book Group and enjoyed it very much. It was quite an eyeopener in many respects and I especially liked the way each character had their good and bad sides - just as in real life! And I think that despite their trials and tribulations, there was a happy future ahead for them.