Conceit

Conceit

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3.5 of 5 stars 3.50  ·  rating details  ·  140 ratings  ·  39 reviews
"St Paul's cathedral stands like a cornered beast on Ludgate hill, taking deep breaths above the smoke. The fire has made terrifying progress in the night and is closing in on the ancient monument from three directions. Built of massive stones, the cathedral is held to be invincible, but suddenly Pegge sees what the flames covet: the two hundred and fifty feet of scaffoldi...more
Hardcover, 402 pages
Published August 28th 2007 by Doubleday Canada
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Hush, Hush by Becca FitzpatrickTwilight by Stephenie MeyerThe Thirteenth Tale by Diane SetterfieldNew Moon by Stephenie MeyerFallen by Lauren Kate
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Asma
Updated review: Rereading this novel, I thoroughly enjoyed it, finding even more about the story. This time, I carefully attended to the background of politics and religion. William Bowles, Pegge's husband, the king's royal tailor, is concerned about their trajectory. His family's safety is of importance. He himself takes to the countryside, residing at his estate, Clewer. Besides writing over Donne's sermons and elegies, Pegge is a natural gardener. The wonderful descriptions include winter plu...more
Bonnie
I am so very happy that Mary was long-listed for the Giller, and that she won the Ethel Wilson for this book. Well-deserved!

I have not read many historical fiction novels, but this didn't really "read" like a typical historical fiction. I read it not only once, but twice -- before it really "came out", and afterwards.

The first time I read it more for the story (although I couldn't not notice the excellent prose), and I read quickly. (Yes, I found it was a page-turner.) The second time I read as...more
Shannon (Giraffe Days)
17th-century England was no easy time for anyone, including Pegge, second-youngest daughter of the infamous poet and preacher John Donne. A strange girl with a slightly obsessive fascination for her father and a yearning for the kind of love he had with her mother, Ann, before her death several years before, Pegge has fixed her sights on Izaak Walton, a young fisherman the same age as her oldest sister Constance - whom Izaak loves despite Con's dismissive attitude and ambition.

From 1622 until af...more
Toni Osborne
Writing the novel must have been a very challenging and rewarding process for Mary Novik. She has successfully presented a rich old fashion story, centered on the life of Pegge Donne, daughter of love poet John Donne. The principal players: John Donne, his wife Anne More and their daughter Pegge relate alternately their life experiences.

Opening with a spectacular scene in London during the fury of the Great fire, you are immediately plunged into the world of passion, but not ordinary passion, on...more
Nicole
Conceit (Merriam-Webster)
1 a (1): a result of mental activity: thought (2): individual opinion b: favorable opinion ; especially : excessive appreciation of one's own worth or virtue
2: a fancy item or trifle
3 a: a fanciful idea b: an elaborate or strained metaphor c: use or presence of such conceits in poetry d: an organizing theme or concept

I’m an enthusiastic historical fiction fan and I especially like medieval fiction, maybe because it is not as popular as other periods, and I’m always loo...more
Mary Soderstrom
Almost exactly six years ago, I was lucky enough to have Quill and Quire ask me to review Mary Novik's debut novel Conceit. I was blown away by it, as the following review which I've just rescued from my old files, attests. Now I hear that her novel about Francesco Petrach will be out in August, and I'm really looking forward to reading it.

In the meantime, here's my review of Conceit:

How to write a review in 350 words that does justice to Mary Novik’s extraordinary novel Conceit?

Nearly impossib...more
Dot
I was drawn into this book immediately as the first chapter is set during the Great Fire of London in 1666. Mary Novik paints a clear picture of the panic and confusion and uses it to introduce her main character, Pegge Dunne as she struggles to rescue the statue of her father, the great John Donne, from St Paul's Cathedral as it burns to the ground.

While Pegge is the main character in the book, the story is is dominated by her flamboyant father who in his early life was a poet best known for hi...more
Samantha
Conceit is a good summer read light but still intriguing. That being said this feels like two separate books. One half is the twilight years the poet John Donne mixed in with the memories of the courting of his wife, Ann and the burgeoning adulthood of his daughter, Pegge. Once he dies though the focus is switched to Pegge and her husband, William Bowles focusing on their relationship. I really liked that all the characters were flawed in some way but it felt under developed. There was more to e...more
Graham
Jan 09, 2009 Graham added it
17th century social brutality, especially for women, but the men suffer losses too, sometimes stupidly. The novel makes me glad I came along later, but I was riveted to the "present" of the past. Vivid portrayals of historic ones like Jonne Donne, his daughter, his wife, Samuel Pepys- from inside their skulls. "Skull/s" is a key word in this book, but the book's beauty is in the (unexpected for me) passions of flowers, fish and fabric. Then the London fire of 1666 and its effect as a pair of boo...more
Ruth Seeley
What is it they say? Well-behaved women are rarely remembered? While Pegge Donne, John and Ann's daughter, is the main character of this wonderful novel, she is her parents' child both literally and figuratively. There are moments of hilarity here, as when Pegge's husband consoles himself that he's protected her from something she shouldn't see - when in fact Pegge is the one who's removed her father's skeleton from its perch among the ruins of St. Paul's after London's Great Fire, bone by bone....more
Lorina Stephens
Mary Novik's 17th century novel, Conceit is a beautifully written story about the daughter of the famed poet, John Donne.

Almost tragic in her obsession with her parent's legendary love-affair, the protagonist, Pegge Donne, explores the depths of passion, betrayal, sexuality and her own attempt to navigate a confusing and perilous era in England, not only politically, but socially.

Novik's handling of the subject matter is with a cool authorial voice, almost clinical, a striking, sometimes distu...more
Allan
Awesome. If you love historical fiction--or just love a good read--this is for you.
Lady Ethereal Butterfly
Conceit by Mary Novik was an absorbing novel, set in 17th Century England, about Pegge Donne, the daughter of poet John Donne. I was immediately drawn into the story by the use of exciting, captivating plot twists. The story jumped back and forth between different characters and their lives, which kept me involved. The writing itself was very beautiful, almost poetic, and had a pleasing fluidity. Conceit had a lingering sensuality that stayed with me page after page. I was impressed by the fluid...more
Alan Bradley
Mary Novik breathes new life into the dust that lies beneath "Old St. Paul's".

Like Izaak Walton and Dr. Samuel Johnson before her, she explores the life - and death - of John Donne, that curious clergyman whose effigy still stands wrapped in his shroud, even though the church that once contained it was long ago made ashes.

Her book joins the ranks of those select few authors - Peter Ackroyd, for one - whose books convey an abiding love of London, and what lies beneath.
Oleksandra
Bought this at an airport on my way to France but only read a few pages before I got back home. Picked it up again shortly thereafter and finished it with no particular enthusiasm.

As soon as one character or another began to pull me into the story the author abruptly changed directions or focus making it difficult to truly immerse myself in the book. Being a fan of historical fiction I did not find that this book painted a believable enough picture of everyday life in 17th century London.

Altho...more
Diane
Wow! The author knows a LOT about John Donne. Did she do all that research for this book or make use of leftover musings whilst doing academic research on the man and his writing? By all standards he was a very passionate but divided person and even more so when viewed through 21st century eyes. The author uses some beautiful imagery but the plot is rather meandering and the reader is left wondering just what she was trying to say.
Cecile
I had hoped to be more drawn in by the story and the characters, having loved the poetry of Donne and the metaphysical poets. Unfortunately, the story seemed to drag for me. I never really did like any of the characters and just didn't care about their circumstances. Too bad.
Julia
This book had potential to be good...early 17th century England, the story of a young girl who is the daughter of the Dean of the big church who dies and she feels the need to keep his poetry alive yada yada yada. Didn't always know what was going on.
As for reading in bed, I don't do much of because I can't get comfortable. I usually read at night at one end of the sofa in the family room under a pole lamp. Then I go to bed. I also read alot at the gym on the stationary bike. I find I can do th...more
Whimsicality
I didn't really like this book; too confusing, muddled, and I didn't think it was very well thought-out. It seemed to move incredibly slowly at one place and at the speed of light another.
Paulette Heppner
Portrait of John Donne through the eyes of his daughter, Pegge Donne. Interesting view of life in seventeenth-century London.
K.M.
Feb 05, 2009 K.M. added it
I know Mary from the UBC Booming Ground program. Conceit was long-listed for the Giller Prize. Congrats Mary!
Heath
A great read. This is a book you tell your friends about and they tell their friends about.
Mary
Apr 15, 2013 Mary is currently reading it  ·  (Review from the author)  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: favourite-books
My novel Conceit, which is set in 17th-century London, is about the daughter of the English poet John Donne. There have been many reviews on Goodreads, and group discussions can be read at
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/5... and
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_... For more information, please visit http://www.marynovik.com

Cheers, Mary Mary Novik
Nafiza
There is a certain eternalness about the characters who are carved so sharply, so beautifully from the words that flow together as poetry. This was a beautiful book - it is a classic. And I am entirely enamored by the world created by Novik. The story of Pegge, who might have been Cinderella in some other story, who dreams and wants as feverishly as her genius father. Her genius has no audience, and her desires are largely unspoken. However, at the end of it all, she finds fulfillment. And love.
Susan
Transporting
Sherry
Im loving this so far...what is it about the 16th and 17th century thats got me so hooked lately? This is the third book in a row for me!
K.P. Vorenberg
This is a captivating read. The author's historical research coupled with her amazing imagination made this reading experience a most special one.
Cynthia
Loved this book. The main characters are so eccentric and passionate. The historical context is really informative and so well written. I loved how the author develops the intricacies of the relationship between John and his daughter Pegge, and how their relationship impacts on her relationship with her husband and life long love. The prose is wonderful - I had a hard time putting it down. Happy to read yet another smart, well writen book by a Canadian author.
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Conceit (Paperback)
Conceit (ebook)
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Hi Everybody,

Goodreads now has the cover image for my new novel Muse, which will be published by Doubleday August 2013. Set in 14th-century Avignon, Muse is the first person story of Solange Le Blanc, who became entangled in a love triangle with Francesco Petrarch and Laura, and later caught the eye of Pope Clement VI. This period was called the Babylonian Captivity, because the popes lived in Avi...more
More about Mary Novik...
Muse l'amante del papa Robert Creeley; An Inventory, 1945 1970

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