Helen Simonson
BookPage editors—and readers—loved Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand. In our March 2010 issue, Linda White wrote: “In her first novel, Helen Simonson has created a charming and engaging story of the hazards of English country life.”
Our editor Lynn Green recently read the novel with her book club. The novel turned out to be an exceptional pick for her group, and here’s why:
My book club reads many heavy-duty works of literary fiction, which often feature dysfunctional families, tortured characters and excruciating personal dilemmas. Reading Helen Simonson’s debut novel, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, was a change of pace—and a breath of fresh air—for our group. We were reminded that “normal” and immensely likable characters can be just as interesting, and as perceptively portrayed, as the tortured types.
When I hear the word “heartwarming” applied to a novel, my first concern is that the writing will be lackluster or sickly sweet. Neither is true of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, which is both insightful and well-crafted. If you’re looking for a lovely story that manages to entertain and enlighten without explicit sex, violence or language, this is your book. —Lynn
If you’ve already read Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, you will be thrilled to learn that author Helen Simonson has signed a deal to write a second novel. According to a posting on Publishers Marketplace, it will be set in a “small town in Sussex, where the idyllic beauty of a late Edwardian summer in the country, complete with the passionate pursuit of love and the usual social squabbles, may be swept away by the onset of a war no one could imagine.”
Did you read Major Pettigrew? Will you look for this second novel?
What have you read lately that was “a breath of fresh air”?
Psst: For more books on the lighter side, see a list of our Top Ten Heartwarming Reads (lackluster writing not included).
On my way to book club tonight with one of our library’s book club kits that contains 10 copies of Major Pettigrew! We look forward to reading this delightful novel!
Thank you for posting this! I loved Major Pettigrew.
As I just posted on Facebook, I did indeed [read the novel], I arrived late to that “party” but it was one of my favorite reads of 2011 thus far (along with Patti Smith’s Just Kids and Garielle Hamilton’s Blood, Bones & Butter. My “Books Read 2011″ log for MPLS reads “A sweet, civilized debut novel. Hope there are more just like it forthcoming from the author.” Nice to know my wish was granted
Yes, I read the book and I really liked it. I especially like the cover with the kissing coats!
Not exactly a breath of fresh air, but I really liked ‘Tolstoy and the Purple Chair’, I now have a list of 360 books to read. I’ve read 22, so far.
I’ve been meaning to read Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand and I surely will. Books that are a breath of fresh air to me are the Mme Ramotswe books by Alexander McCall Smith, the first one being The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency. I’ve read all of his series and love them all.
Also in the refreshing category are the mysteries featuring Flavia DeLuce by Alan Bradley: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and the rest.
Read and loved Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand and am happy to hear that another book is in progress. I read Clara Callan by Richard B. Wright last week and found it delightful. The author is Canadian and not that well-known in the US., but I’d highly recomend the book.