Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
Ratings28
Average rating3.9
15
Ratings28
Average rating3.9
You are about to travel to Edgecombe St. Mary, a small village in the English countryside filled with rolling hills, thatched cottages, and a cast of characters both hilariously original and as familiar as the members of your own family. Among them is Major Ernest Pettigrew (retired), the unlikely hero of Helen Simonson's wondrous debut. Wry, courtly, opinionated, and completely endearing, Major Pettigrew is one of the most indelible characters in contemporary fiction, and from the very first page of this remarkable novel he will steal your heart.The Major leads a quiet life valuing the proper things that Englishmen have lived by for generations: honor, duty, decorum, and a properly brewed cup of tea. But then his brother's death sparks an unexpected friendship with Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper from the village. Drawn together by their shared love of literature and the loss of their respective spouses, the Major and Mrs. Ali soon find their friendship blossoming into something more. But village society insists on embracing him as the quintessential local and her as the permanent foreigner. Can their relationship survive the risks one takes when pursuing happiness in the face of culture and tradition?From the Hardcover edition.
Reviews with the most likes.
An enjoyable read, with memorable characters and the complications of a relationship across cultures. I thought the story thread about the guns was a bit annoying for most of the book, but it turns out to play prominently in the climax.
I haven't been enjoying romance books for some time. And it's not that I've never liked them, I used to enjoy them very much. I keep trying though. I thought that perhaps it's that I prefer stories where the main protagonist is an interesting woman and more of a plot than just falling in love. (chick-lit)
But now I realize, I'm looking for older people falling in love! (I'm 62.) I absolutely adored this book!
Very well-written story of two older people slowly getting together despite the racial and cultural barriers that the younger people around them cling to.
Major Pettigrew's voice in this novel is so droll and whimsical, you can't help but love him.
A very engaging read for people who would enjoy a low-key romance plot within a broader theme of social commentary.
Lots of buzz about this book in the blogosphere and well deserved, I'd say.
Major Pettigrew is Atticus Finch in his small English village. His wife is dead and, though he speaks with his son, he despairs at times of their relationship. The village is on the verge of change and Pettigrew and his fellow villagers are wrestling with what changes are acceptable and which are not.
Pettigrew is an admirable character in oh-so-many ways, and that is one of the charms of the books. But it is also his ability to find wry humor in most situations that makes his an endearing character.
I loved this book and I'd love to hear what others think about it.
