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Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

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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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sarahontheboat · 17/01/2015 22:58

I read the first four in one long binge about 15 yrs ago, just loved them. Hated the radio series soooo very much, it made them sound so flat. The fifth isn't incredible, but I did enjoy it, in the way I'd enjoy catching up with an old friend I'd lost touch with. Only now getting to find her other novels. They are subtle, beautiful and compelling. Odd Girl Out is on iplayer radio at the moment, well worth a listen!

aliasjoey · 17/01/2015 23:01

I was going to suggest this for my book group, do you think that's a good idea or is it a bit chick lit? Have never read any, but liked the sound of it.

Bunbaker · 17/01/2015 23:32

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

I saw the TV series when it was originally shown in 2001 and absolutely loved it. It inspired me to buy the books, which I also thoroughly enjoyed. I have read part 5 as I have been put off by poor reviews.

I have tried other books by EJH, but have given up as they didn't grab me the way the Cazalet series did.

katsnmouse · 18/01/2015 11:06

Love these books, though I would agree with previous posts that number 5 is a bit of a let down, I felt it dragged a bit and didn't fit with the other 4 but it was still a good read. Aliasjoey i don't think it is chick lit, at least not in my opinion. I found it quite thought provoking.

elkiedee · 19/01/2015 14:23

I don't think it's chick lit - Elizabeth Jane Howard was quite a serious literary writer. The Cazalet books are in a more popular fiction genre - family saga perhaps - and they work fine on that level but she was also a really good writer. I also enjoyed the social history dimension to the books.

My sister brought the DVDS of the TV adaptation home to watch, and my mum, sister, stepsister and I really quite enjoyed it. Even my mum's husband enjoyed some of it (and might have liked the rest if he'd stayed around to watch!)

mummytime · 19/01/2015 14:36

I quite liked book 5! But maybe it means more as you get closer to the age where parents have died, and people are beginning to get to a "certain age". I assume she'd still based it on people she knew.

I missed the radio tribute to her recently - but did catch Martin Amis being very complimentary about her. I think she did a lot to start his writing career.

meandjulio · 19/01/2015 21:14

I love them but had to stop reading them after a while because i just knew them by heart.

The 5th one was methadone - stopped the craving but it was really not very good. When one of the characters was described as a 'hands-on parent' - in the 40s?? I'm sure that phrase didn't come about until the 80s/90s - I mentally gave up on it.

I thought the TV series was shit, to be honest, except the sets, which were perfect. The intensity of the books for me is those long, long detailed internal monologues which means you get to know all the characters, their voices, motivations, fears, joys. Almost all of which disappeared in the TV series.

AnonymousBird · 20/01/2015 12:59

On a related note, I've just listened to the ten part reading of her book Odd Girl Out on R4X. Fabulous story as well, well worth a listen/read for EJH fans.

Original poster

GwenaelleLaGourmande · 24/01/2015 15:52

I finished book 4 today and ended up immediately getting book 5 on kindle (I hate reading on the kindle but I couldn't wait for the actual book to be delivered). Have only just started it really and am enjoying it so far. I figure I may not enjoy it as it goes on but not reading it would have annoyed me more than reading it could, if you see what I mean.

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Viviennemary · 24/01/2015 16:00

I've had the first one for over a year and haven't got round to reading it yet. It went astray at the back of a bookcase but turned up a while ago. I might give it a try. I thought it might be a bit too twee.

Original poster

GwenaelleLaGourmande · 24/01/2015 17:42

I was very unsure about liking it until well into book one. Family sagas not being my thing really. But it really drew me in.

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Original poster

GwenaelleLaGourmande · 27/01/2015 21:51

Without spoilers. Am v disappointed at one and probably two storylines in book 5. Am half way through.

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mummytime · 27/01/2015 22:36

I liked some of the story lines in book 5. Others grated a bit, and the one that was the closest to autobiographical is most annoying.

But having read her autobiography I don't see the WWT in quite the same light.

The ending is a bit of a cliff hanger, and we'll never know quite what happens next. A bit like real life.

Original poster

GwenaelleLaGourmande · 27/01/2015 22:42

You'll have to pm me wwt and the autobiographic ref ..

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Original poster

GwenaelleLaGourmande · 29/01/2015 20:35

Finished book 5. Was a bit meh but I did like the ending.

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Kinraddie · 30/01/2015 12:31

I loved the series, but yes book 5 was not up to scratch. Felt like you really knew the characters and cared for them. I loved how the family looked after Miss Millament.

goshhhhhh · 30/01/2015 12:57

Read them all over Xmas. I agree book five was not nearly as good. The other 4 had me hooked.

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