Major Pettigrew's Last Stand in Crazy Challenge Connection

Jun 29, 2012 Chaitra rated it really liked it

Shelves: multicultural, pen-hemingway-award-nominees, contemporary-fiction, literary-fiction, romance, cutesy-twee-whimsical

Another one of those books where I'm surprised I found something to love. It's a charming December love story on the surface, but dig deeper and you'll find insulting clichés. But I seem to have enjoyed this as pure fluff rather than a statement piece.

Major Pettigrew is a crazy old codger who cares more about uniting the twin guns that his father left him and his brother than the death of said brother. He's a widower with a materialistic son who works (conveniently) in the city, and wants to get Another one of those books where I'm surprised I found something to love. It's a charming December love story on the surface, but dig deeper and you'll find insulting clichés. But I seem to have enjoyed this as pure fluff rather than a statement piece.

Major Pettigrew is a crazy old codger who cares more about uniting the twin guns that his father left him and his brother than the death of said brother. He's a widower with a materialistic son who works (conveniently) in the city, and wants to get ahead by any grasping means possible. He gets a crass materialistic girlfriend who is (conveniently again) an American and has no idea about manners. Apparently. I wouldn't know - I loved the girl. Anyhow, breath of fresh air in this whole miserable village is the Pakistani lady who owns the corner shop, Mrs. Ali. She loves Kipling, a surprising choice for a lady of the subcontinental origin, but still, it's the point of connection to Major Pettigrew. MP falls for her, and it's about as easy as an inter-religion affair in rural India, which is to say, not easy at all.

One thing I kept wondering when I read this thing was when was it set? I've been to the boondocks in the US and people have been courteous. I've definitely not encountered the level of racism that the Pakistanis encounter on a daily basis in this book. It seems like this particular town is stuck in time attitude-wise. The Pakistanis (other than Mrs Ali who is wonderfully liberal) are typical studying the Koran literally types, there's a gun and some suicidal/murderous intent. I mean, where's the effort, really? But then again, the Caucasians fare no better. The son cares only about money and getting promoted and playing golf with the rich guys, and that is somehow bad as opposed to Pettigrew who wants his twin guns (which are his goddammit) and to shoot grouse/turkey/some poor bird with them, hobnob with the rich lords and be invited to their hunting parties up in Scotland. Gee, I wonder where the son got his grasping nature from? The son's rich and successful American girlfriend is a classless American. There's another American as well, a rich guy who continuously gives offense to these lords without even trying.

Weird. I can't think of a single thing I actually liked in this book other than the Major finally shaping up a bit even while pandering to stereotypes. I don't think I liked the writing much either. It's twee, and even though it's British it can be and is bothersome. Hmm. If I read this again I'll probably reduce my rating to 1 star. ...more

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Mar 28, 2016 Megalion rated it really liked it

Shelves: year-read-2016, lauded, debut-novel, ccc-2016-countdown

I saw the chatter about Helen's 2nd novel coming out soon so I decided to pick up the much lauded first novel and see what it was all about.

It's what the synopsis promises. A story about a British widower rather set in his stodgy ways, being drawn out of his comfort zone. His eyes are opened to the larger world around him particularly with the help of the Indian widow who runs the corner shop.

I did find it rather predictable, yet worth the read anyways. I join the rest in looking forward to the ...more

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Apr 22, 2016 Carroll rated it liked it

The Major leads a quiet rather dull life until his brother's death "sparks" an unexpected friendship with Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper from the village. Drawn together by their shared love of literature and the loss of their spouses, the Major and Mrs. Ali soon find that their friendship is blossoming into more of a relationship. The village where they live insists on regarding mrs. Ali as the "permanent foreigner". The book ends with their wedding. This book wasn't a page turner, ...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Linda C rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: religious, european, romance-contemporary, cultural, middle-eastern

Major Pettigrew, former English officer and schoolteacher, is widowed and retired and living in Edgecombe St. Mary's, Sussex. He is 68, opinionated, traditional, and has a wry wit. Despite the opinion of his brash, opportunistic son, Ernest has a lot more life to live. When he meets and is attracted to Pakistani widow, Jasmina Ali, he quietly begins to court her. Their uncommon relationship draws the censure of her late husband's family, his son, and many of the townspeople. There is a very poli ...more

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May 15, 2012 ChrisGA rated it liked it

I found the book alternately boring and tender. It revealed the shallowness and prejudice that still plague our world. Major Pettigrew and Mrs. Ali are unlikely rebels who manage to affirm all that should be possible.

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