|
Movies •Books •Music •Food •Tv Shows •Technology •Politics •Video Games •Parenting •Fashion •Green Living •more >

Lunch » Tags » Books » Reviews » Major Pettigrew's Last Stand: A Novel

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand: A Novel

9 Ratings: 4.8
A book by Helen Simonson

Amazon Best Books of the Month, March 2010: In her witty and wise debut novel, newcomer Helen Simonson introduces the unforgettable character of the widower Major Ernest Pettigrew.  The Major epitomizes the Englishman with the "stiff upper … see full wiki

Author: Helen Simonson
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
7 reviews about Major Pettigrew's Last Stand: A Novel
Showing 1-7 of 7
Sort by:
review by . April 14, 2011
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
Tradition
In the tradition of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, or the film Last Chance Harvey, Helen Simonson tells the story of Major (ret.) Ernest Pettigrew, a fine old English gentleman doing his best not to fade away since his wife died 6 years ago. He loves his home and village, and regrets the decline of old traditions. As the novel opens, he is struggling to come to terms with the death of his brother, and the local shop keeper, a Pakistani widow named Mrs. Ali, offers him some assistance and understanding. …
review by . April 14, 2010
Pettigrew's Last Stand   by Helen Simonson   368 pages   Random House, 2010      To explan the title of this review, Major Pettigrew is proud, and a lot of the people around him are prejudiced. This book because gave me a vague Jane Austen vibe-- not Austenish in the sense that the plot reminded me of her books, but the feel of it is very Jane-like. It's set mostly in a small English village, and it deals with marriage, family, race, class, manners, …
review by . February 13, 2011
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
This book has been on my wishlist for months, and I finally got a paperback copy as a Christmas gift, and then of course I was reluctant to start the book because I was afraid it woudn't live up to the build-up. Thankfully, my fears were unfounded as this gem of a book more than lived up to the hype.    This beautiful story about finding love a second time around amid the complications of grown children, family businesses, and busybody neighbors also explores themes of racism, …
review by . July 30, 2010
My new favorite book
At 68, Major Ernest Pettigrew is a respected leader in the tiny English village of Edgecombe St. Mary. He's an old-school gentleman, a loyal and honorable man among men, but also a lonely widower. His brother's death brings about a new friendship for the Major in the person of Mrs. Ali, the quiet and dignified Pakistani lady who runs the local shop. As they grow closer, however, they discover the shocking bigotry behind their neighbors' smiles.      I love this book. …
review by . July 27, 2010
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand is an easy book to underestimate. On the surface it's a gentle love story between the hopelessly conventional aging widower Major Pettigrew and the only slightly less conventional Pakistani widow Jasmina Ali. Major Pettigrew gets to know Mrs. Ali after his brother dies, and he finds that this lady, who tends the village shop, is the one person thoughtful enough to care about his feelings. That Major Pettigrew should make such a friendship is surprising, most of all to …
review by . March 30, 2010
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
Major Ernest Pettigrew (ret), an old-fashioned, stiff-upper-lip kind of Englishman, with a wry, sometimes caustic wit, comes up against mortality when his younger brother, Bertie, dies suddenly of a heart attack. Dazed by the news, he answers the door in his dead wife's housecoat (it's housecleaning day) to the proprietor of the village store, Mrs. Jasmina Ali.    Half-faint with embarrassment, he allows himself to be restored with a cup of tea by Mrs. Ali, a widow of Pakistani …
review by . January 29, 2010
"Last Stand" is a wondrous novel- a debut by author Simonson written with extraordinary insight and with vivid crackling descriptions so apt you'll find yourself reading slowly so you won't miss any of them. Wry and witty, the book is frequently hilarious and I often laughed so hard the tears were running down my face. The ending of this love story will leave you with a feeling of contentment but most of all the book is a paean to the human spirit that will warm the shackles of your heart.    Th …
What's your opinion on Major Pettigrew's Last Stand: A Novel?
rate
9 Ratings: +4.8
You have exceeded the maximum length.
Photos
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand: A Novel (Random
Related Topics
Kate Chopin Awakening

A book by Kate Chopin

Stephenie Meyer's New Moon

The second book in the "Twilight Saga" by Stephenie Meyer.

Barnes and Noble books

A novel by Jane Austen.

rate more like 'Major Pettigrew's Last...'
Polls with this book
Faithful Place: A Novel

Rate the Top 10 Fiction Books of 2010!

by

2666: A Novel

Rate these Bestsellers!

by

A Visit from the Goon Squad

O Magazine's Top 10 Books of 2010

by

First to Review

"A gem!"
© 2013 Lunch.com, LLC All Rights Reserved
Lunch.com - Relevant reviews by real people.
()
This is you!
Ranked #
Last login
Member since
reviews
comments
ratings
questions
compliments
lists