Shrines Of Gaiety, Kate Atkinson (possible spoilers)

[Saucery]

Has anyone else read this yet? What did you think?
I have about 1/6 left to read but keep finding other things to read instead. It seems strangely flat and almost boring, which surprises me, as I mostly loved all her other books (Transcription was a little light and unengaging).
Huge potential for a rip-roaring, crime-centred family saga but none of the characters lift off the page for me. I keep wishing Lissa Evans had written it
Have I grown out of Atkinson’s style, or is she just phoning it in these days?

I read it and enjoyed it, mainly because I just like spending time in KA's head, but agree that it could have been a bit more... savoury? I think that period is fascinating but maybe that's the whole point: what's fascinating and glittery to us at a distance (roaring 20s, Golden Age Hollywood, Carnaby St, etc) was fairly mundane when you were living it. The National Archives did some really interesting online lectures last year around the release of the 1921 census and there was an excellent one about Kate Meyrick, on whom Nelly is based.

As a side note I also listened to the audio book, narrated by Jason Watkins, and he gives the northern contingent such Last of the Summer Wine accents it's as if half the book is written by Alan Bennett.

I was a little underwhelmed. I recently reread Transcription which I enjoyed more.

Agree the Jackson Brodie books are just great, fun reads.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Agreed it isn’t KA’s best but it’s still fantastic.
Loved the characterisation particularly Niven and Gwendolyn.

I like to think it was the real Florence, otherwise how would she know where to return home to?
I found Frobisher's outcome disappointing as he was such a major part of the story, maybe the author couldn't see what he might do beyond living with his poor wife for the rest of his life?
Would also have been good to know what happened to Gwendolene too as she was a main character!
I really enjoyed the book but found the ending unsatisfactory!

KA’s background reading is fantastic: Dope Girls is one of the best books I’ve read in my life.

History of the drug scene, who ran it, who bought and used, in Victorian/Twenties London and how drugs got outlawed (slowly).

Better. I enjoyed Shrines but it’s too long and Nellie had too many dull children.

I thought it was a good read overall

Yes the ending was a bit rushed and the lorry was a bit irritating

What happened to the dog

KA always includes dogs which I love

Florence returned but had lost her naivety so was very different

Was the girl that Frobisher found in water another girl not Florence as he also found glasses but it was confusing

greengreengrass25

Yes, I also love that detail about dogs in KA’s books.

I’ve put her new short stories on my Christmas list.

Tempted to get it now but have started the new Strike which is another behemoth of a book and will probably take me till Christmas to get through!

It's bland and I am disappointed. I've read and thoroughly enjoyed most of her books and eagerly awaited this one. Fifty pages in and I'm not going any further.

I devoured the Jackson Brodie novels and was also swept away by her other books. I did not read "Transcription."

I just read John Irving's "A Prayer For Owen Meany," then "A Widow For One Year." Both were phenomenal.
I may revisit others I enjoyed decades ago - perhaps "The Cider House Rules."

A friend recommended Eudora Welty's works.

Eh... it happens but this was an expensive Kindle purchase.

I reallty liked some of the early books but not her latest ones. So won't bother with this new one unless I see it in a charity shop going cheap.

VictoriaMay
The Cider House Rules is my favourite John Irving. You will love it.

Thank you; I ended up purchasing John Kennedy Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces," and I am enjoying it. I love well-written literature. I will read "The Cider House Rules" since I am addicted to John Irving's books. I now realize that I saw the movie but did not read the book.

I was also a bit disappointed, I normally like her stuff and was expecting a lot but then ending seemed rushed and the narrative rather simplistic. It couldn't seem up live up to its promise of colourful characters and setting.

Well, I am still emotionally impacted by, "A Prayer For Owen Meany," but believe you and it will be next after I finish this one. I do love John Irving.

I miss Owen.

Owen is a very memorable book character.

KA’s book of short stories is on my Christmas list. Hoping I’m going to love it, I enjoyed Shrines of Gaiety but certainly not as much as her other books (except Transcription).

I agree that the ending seemed a rushed afterthought. I enjoyed the book, however, including the time period. My favorite characters were Niven, Gwendolyn, and Keeper. I especially loved that Keeper "swooned" when Niven petted him.