1. How did you experience the book? Full question inside

[Jen]

1. How did you experience the book? Were you engaged immediately, or did it take you a while to "get into it"? How did you feel reading it—amused, sad, disturbed, confused, bored...?

[[deleted user]]

I read this ages ago and remember feeling it was just average

[Eadie]

I love these type of books and I was engaged immediately. It was a very entertaining read for me and I enjoyed the wit and satire.

[Anna]

It took me a while to be engaged. I think it was that the first part was an explanation of who is related / descended from whom. I found the book to be just average though. Amusing in places and entertaining but nothing more.

[Jan]

I had to prepare myself before starting the book. I'd just finished Sons and Lovers, so wasn't in the correct arch upper-class British frame of mind! I channelled the character of Sarah Raworth from Channel 4's Indian Summers to get myself in the zone. Surprisingly, as I started to read, I heard Kiera Knightley's voice, and started thinking about Jane Austen. The book seemed like a 20th century version of Austen's pithy commentary on Society and social climbing. Particularly the obsession with marrying well, held by Lady Montdore. The wry humour delighted me, and I laughed out loud quite a few times. Mitford has a lovely light style that is still intelligent. She mocks her own class, but is affectionate as she does so. From time to time she reminds me of why I despise privilege and the high handedness that comes with it, the lack of sympathy for the situations of others. The people in the book are bumbling and self centred. They don't really have to think about anything because the world is handed to them on a plate. I did find a poignancy in the book, though, an undercurrent of sadness that arises from people not living the life they want but having to meet the expectations of others. At times, Mitford seems scathing about the way some families live their lives and raise their children. I felt sorry for both Fanny, abandoned by her parents and no longer in contact with her father, and Polly, whose mother is controlling and whose father is distant and ineffectual. Both young women have been affected by their upbringings and are trying to make the best of their unhappy situations. I was surprised by the nuggets of wisdom buried within the comedy. I was expecting a knowing romp in the mode of Oscar Wilde or P G Wodehouse and nothing more. Mitford's insights reminded me of Evelyn Waugh, which makes sense, because they were friends. Straight after I finished, I started The Pursuit of Love, which is filling in some of the blanks.

[Diane]

It took me a while to get into this book. I actually watched the PBS series to get me interested, something I never do watch the movie first.

[Kristel]

It wasn't hard to read but not overly engaging either. I liked the satire quite a bit but over all, I am surprised to find it on the list of 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.

Great characters though.

[Pip]

I loved it from the first line. And by the end of the first paragraph you know that you are going to be amused at the very least, after the account of Boy Dougdale's books and the acquiring thereof.