Customer Rating:  
Summary: Not as good as its reputation
Comment: I can sort of see why a lot of people like this. All the ingrediants are there, but Sadie Jones is no Delia when it comes to getting the right result. A good story is ruined by too many viewpoints that switch without reason (sometimes mid-paragraph) leaving you to wonder who's the real main character. It's meant to be Lewis, but we see the action from at least 7 other characters that it all gets a bit jumbled and lost. Where was Ms Jones' editor? Asleep, I guess. And the prose - far from being elegant and beautiful as some reviewers would have you believe, it's childish and uninspiring. How did this get onto the Orange shortlist? I'm only glad Rose Tremain won.
Customer Rating:
Summary: mixed reaction
Comment: I have nearly finished reading this book, but in truth I am struggling with it. At first it seemed to have a very compelling beat, heightened by the simple and direct dialogue. But 300 pages later that simple dialogue seems to have palled, and dropped to a more 'Janet and John' learning-to-read level. If I hadn't got this far through, I would cut my losses and give up.
Also the story does seem to go round in somewhat repetitive circles, and I think would have been better for being 100 pages shorter.
On the plus side, I think it is an interesting story - a voyage with a dysfunctional family in an uptight society, where what happens under the surface must be covered up for the sake of appearances and emotional expression is constipated. I just wish the author would write more sophisticated prose.
Customer Rating:
Summary: THE OUTCAST BY SADIE JONES
Comment: THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOK I HAVE READ IN A LONG TIME. AFTER READING A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS I DIDNT THINK THAT I FIND A BOOK AS GOOD AS THAT BUT I WAS WRONG SADIE JONES THE OUTCAST WAS UP THERE WITH IT AND HAS BEEN ONE THE BEST READS OF THE SUMMER AND OF THE YEAR .HER MIX OF CHARACTER PLOT DRAMA HAPPINESS AND SADNESS OF 1950 SOCIAL EQITE TUGS AT UR HEARTSTRING. BRILLIANT READ .
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great atmosphere and story!
Comment: The setting of the book is one of the most striking things about the story. The atmosphere that builds is almost claustrophic and reaches a climax through the last pages.
The hero and heroine, as it were, are likeable and their adversaries are quite hateable, i.e Dicky Carmichael!
The story was somewhat predictable, though quite dark in places. I think the blurb does over illustrate the story, it sort of gives a summary to the story rather than an introduction.
It's an easy read, and like a thriller it drags you along. I read it in under 24 hours and it was an enjoyable summer read, but probably not too memorable.
Customer Rating:
Summary: cute but formulaic
Comment: Why is it that so many of these kind of best sellers are all about - forbidden love? Although this is set in the 20th century the melodrama seems more akin to the 19th. The author is not to balme there, a lot of this retro, nostalgia stuff around at the moment. The writing style is fine, and captivating at times but the timeframe feels artificial and overly nostalgic for a time that ends up being cacricatured.
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