Major Pettigrew's Last Stand in Reading with Style

May 02, 2011 Connie G rated it really liked it

Shelves: europe, england

This is a charming book set in a country village in England. Major Pettigrew is an older gentleman with courtly manners and a dry British wit. He is a stickler for tradition, and treasures his special hunting guns left for him by his father. He becomes friends with Mrs. Ali, an attractive widow who runs a shop in the village, and who shares his love of classical literature.

Mrs. Ali's life is complicated by the traditions of her Pakistani relatives. The prejudiced villagers also have a difficult ...more

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Jan 03, 2018 Penny (Literary Hoarders) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: from-windsor-public-library, books-read-in-2018, audiobook

This was a wonderfully heartwarming read. However, I have to say I SWOONED for The Summer Before the War and its characters, Aunt Agatha, Beatrice, Daniel and Hugh. The Summer Before the War left me with a serious book hangover. Needless to say, this only means I am highly anxious for a new Simonson and hope that it arrives soon!

One of my favourite lines from the Major was when he was asked to make posters protesting land development and he quips, "I'm not one for the markers." hahaha

My heart ...more

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May 25, 2017 Nancy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2017-books

This book follows the daily life of a 60+ widower in a small village in the south of England and the troubles he encounters along the way. It is a quiet story with not a lot going on but it is brilliantly written with beautiful words and delightful wit. The humor of the the Major is spot on for English humor.

There is some racial conflict in the story which was surprising to me. I kept wondering why they all had their knickers in a twist. I fell in love with the book and didn't want it to end. ...more

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Mar 22, 2011 Rosemary rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The Major is just so funny. Made me laugh out loud.

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Mar 12, 2018 Juniper rated it liked it

Shelves: first-books, library-borrow, 2010-books

read and reviewed in march 2010 -- for some reason book (and review) no longer showing on my shelves.

3.5-stars

i thought this was a charming story, and a very good debut novel. i liked major pettigrew and mrs. ali and it was lovely to read a story about the possibility of love between two 60-somethings who were past thinking this was something they would have again. there was also a bit of good british humour, which appealed to me.

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