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Original poster

Anyone read the Cazalet saga?

42 replies

GwenaelleLaGourmande · 01/01/2015 17:29

By Elizabeth Jane Howard? Just coming to the end of the first and after being a bit meh about it am really enjoying it.

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HouseBaelish · 01/01/2015 17:37

Yes, YES! I absolutely adore them. I have read and re-read them repeatedly.

I got the fifth one for Christmas - trying to decide whether to re-read the first four Grin

Original poster
GwenaelleLaGourmande · 01/01/2015 17:52

i heard the 5th lets the series down and she should have stopped at 4. But looking forward to hearing if it is good. I have 2-4 waiting...

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Original poster
GwenaelleLaGourmande · 01/01/2015 17:52

I heard there was a tv drama. Did you see it? Any good?

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fuctifino · 01/01/2015 17:55

I heard it on Radio 4, which prompted me to get the books.
Am part way through 2, really enjoying them. It's not the sort of genre I would normally choose to read.

magimedi · 01/01/2015 17:56

Yes - loved it but would agree about the fifth - added nothing to the other four & some of it was a bit odd & out of character for the characters, IYSWIM. Won't say more as don't want to spoil any of it for you.

DuchessofMalfi · 01/01/2015 18:12

Read the first one a few months ago, plan to read the rest of the series this year.

HouseBaelish · 01/01/2015 18:17

I'm in two minds about the televsion series. It was good what they did, but it finishes in a really odd place (before the end of book 3 IIRC). I liked it up to that point.

Shall be interested to read number 5 now

Original poster
GwenaelleLaGourmande · 01/01/2015 18:19

Am ok with spoilers though I know others might not be.

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highlandcoo · 01/01/2015 18:53

I loved the Cazalet Chronicles when I read them years ago and have number 5 waiting to be read but, like House, I might have to reread the original four first.

I think they're so appealing because they are an absorbing family saga, but much better than usual because written by a "proper literary author" IYKWIM

agoodbook · 01/01/2015 19:01

Yes _ i read them when they first came out , and re -read them when number 5 was published. I loved them , but I hope I don't put people off, but number 5 was not so good

Original poster
GwenaelleLaGourmande · 01/01/2015 19:43

Just about to go to bed early with book 2.

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clary · 01/01/2015 19:46

I loved them.

User name inspired by Cazalet Chronicles.

Not read them for years tho. May need to dig them out now. Agree EJH is actually a really good writer which is why they are worth reading.

Inmyownlittlecorner · 01/01/2015 19:54

Yes, I love them! I saw the tv show years ago, but have only just got around to reading the books. I'm about to start book 3!

Lilymaid · 01/01/2015 20:51

I have now read it twice (apart from Book 5 which I've only read once). Can't wait to read it for the third time. If you read EJH's autobiography you will see where a lot of the story comes from.

MaudantWit · 03/01/2015 12:39

I don't recall the telly series but enjoyed the radio adaptation. Santa brought me the books - for anyone who hasn't got them, they are incredibly cheap (something like £7 for all 5) at the Book People.

Squeegle · 03/01/2015 12:42

I loved hem too, lily, what is the name of her autobiography? I know she was v interesting, wasn't she married to Kingsley Amis?

Lilymaid · 03/01/2015 18:12

She was married first to Peter Scott, the naturalist and son of Captain Scott (he appears thinly disguised in the Cazalet Chronicle) and later married Kingsley Amis. Martin Amis got on very well with her.
The autobiography is called Slipstream.
The TV series was very good but was axed after the first few episodes so is incomplete.

AutomaticShoes · 03/01/2015 19:47

Thank you MaudantWit for that tip....books 2-5 were on my Xmas list but dh missed the 'hint' so being able to get them for that price is amazing! Does mean I now have two copies of book 1 if anyone wants the first one....pm me if you'd like a copy of the first book for free!

MaudantWit · 03/01/2015 20:36

You're very welcome, AutomaticShoes. It was spotting that bargain that prompted me to put them on my Christmas list. Now I just need to get off the internet and read them!

Pancakeflipper · 03/01/2015 20:43

They are like a comfy pair slippers. I also love them and surprised myself in doing so.

Last one wasn't that great for me. But never mind. Her stepson Martin Amis wrote a lovely tribute to her following death.

RufusTheReindeer · 03/01/2015 20:44

I read number one while on holiday

I took it as I'd got it in a £ deal from the book people and as it's not my type of book I thought if I don't enjoy it I could just dump it and leave it there

Really, really enjoyed it, accidentally left it out in the rain when I was just two chapters away from finishing

Had to buy it on kindle when I got home to finish the bloody thing Hmm

And the book people had all 5 for £5!!! So I had to buy them!!!!!

Worst thing is I recommended them to a book club friend, and she didn't like it at all...I'd obviously overhyped it

mumslife · 11/01/2015 18:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AnonymousBird · 13/01/2015 09:25

I have read the first, which I really enjoyed, and have the rest from MIL (her best saga series of all time she reckons) on the shelf to be read. Quite keen to read number 2 soon, whilst the first one is still fairly fresh in my mind.

I thought it was going to all be a bit la la land, a la Downton head in the clouds stuff to start with, but some of it is quite punchy, and it had a few twists and turns I really didn't see coming so I'm up for more of the same please.

Seeline · 13/01/2015 09:29

My favourites. I've only just read the last one though, so as it had been a while since I'd read the originals I had to re-read them again just to refresh my memory Wink Agree with PP who mentioned comfy slippers.

fromparistoberlin73 · 13/01/2015 19:55

I really enjoyed them all , although by the end a lot of the characters really really irritated me. But good winter reads