The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets
5 journalers for this copy...
Set in the 1950s, in an England still recovering from the Second World War, THE LOST ART OF KEEPING SECRETS is the enchanting story of Penelope Wallace and her eccentric family at the start of the rock'n'roll era. Penelope longs to be grown-up and to fall in love; but various rather inconvenient things keep getting in her way. Like her mother, a stunning but petulant beauty widowed at a tragically early age, her younger brother Inigo, currently incapable of concentrating on anything that isn't Elvis Presley, a vast but crumblng ancestral home, a severe shortage of cash, and her best friend Charlotte's sardonic cousin Harry... Eva Rice's novel is an utterly engrossing read, in the tradition of Nancy Mitford and I CAPTURE THE CASTLE.
A beautiful and wonderful read. Stayed up late last night to finish it. I think what makes it are the truly wonderful characters in this book. The storyline is a bit predictable (ie who falls in love with whom in the end) but it's written in such an endearing way that you can't put it down. I also loved the way Penelope and Charlotte (and all female teenagers her generation) were in love with the American music icon Johnny Ray and what a thrill to see him live at the Palladium in London in the 1950s (me being a bit of a music groupie could totally relate to that :o) Wonderfully fitting epilogue too.10 out of 10
Journal Entry
3 by
kinedi at
Filmhouse Cinema in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (12/2/2006 UTC) at Filmhouse Cinema in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom
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Caught at mini meetup thank you
As Kinedi says, it's a lovely read that has made me all warm and fuzzy inside. I do think it suffers from being too similar to "I capture the castle" but then again, the latter is such a delicious read that I thank heaven there are other decently written books of a similar kind...
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6 by
LittleSuz at
Negociants, Lothian Street in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Released 17 yrs ago (1/10/2007 UTC) at Negociants, Lothian Street in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom
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To be released at meetup
Gathered up at the meetup. The blurbs look promising. As do Kinedi's and little Suz. reviews. So here's hoping.
Oh dear, No! I read three chapters but then couldn't face any more. If I want to read Nancy Mitford or Dodie Smith, or even Evelyn Waugh I will, but this so called 'pastiche' is too much of a good thing. "Johns' meets the train in a 'battered old Ford' and there is no electricity in the East Wing. My heart bleeds. Artless young thingy surrounded by wacky relations in a crumbling family pile with suits of armour in the hall and Debrett holding up the open sash window, is like too may cream cakes to me. I expect I'm just turning into a grumpy old woman but there are better things to do than spend my time with this. Soooory!
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9 by
sarahsally at
Negociants, Lothian Street in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 10, 2007
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10 by
sarahsally at
Negociants, Lothian Street in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (4/11/2007 UTC) at Negociants, Lothian Street in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom
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Caught at tonight's meetup. Hopefully I'll like it more than sarrysally - but that's what's wonderful about the meetups - you get to meet so many people with completely different tastes. If everyone liked every book, it would be a boring world.
I can't believe it's been nearly a year since I up this book at one of my first bookcrossing meetups (if not *the* first one I'd been to). To make matters worse it's not the copy I actually picked up originally - I managed to lose that one in a pub - and it's a rather bad thing to leave behind a book that is covered in labels that say, "take me away - I'm a bookcrossing book!" Nevermind. I managed to find another previously read copy on Amazon.
Anyway, this was a pleasant diversion, very light. Most of the characters were vaguely likeable, if somewhat irritating. The plot was painfully predictable. Apart from that I'd recommend it as a good hospital read (talk about damming with faint praise!)
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13 by
anitaliberty at
Always Sunday cafe, High St (Royal Mile) in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, April 4, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (4/4/2009 UTC) at Always Sunday cafe, High St (Royal Mile) in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom
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On the shelf downstairs.
I picked this up again in Always Sunday as it might be just the thing for a rabck I'm going to send off soon.
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15 by
LittleSuz at
RABCK, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, April 11, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (4/11/2009 UTC) at RABCK, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
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Sent to Trekwoman in the USA as this is on her wishlist
It arrived, thank you!!!
To be honest, I had opened the package and then it was promptly buried beneath a lot of newspapers on our dining room table (this was Thursday). However, I am completely embarrassed because normally I'm right on it with journal entries.
Looks like a great book. Thanks again for fulfilling my wish. :)
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17 by
trekwoman at
Los Angeles, California USA on Thursday, September 2, 2010
Chose this from the ever-expanding Mount TBR this morning. Gave it my best shot but found Charlotte and Penelope grating on the "ear". Couldn't see my way through. Ah, well.
Journal Entry
18 by
trekwoman at
-- Released Somewhere In Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California USA on Sunday, October 17, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (10/2/2010 UTC) at -- Released Somewhere In Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California USA
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Tied with a LiveSTRONG wristband and part of a mass release to promote cancer awareness and support.