Thanks Erika. I’d love to have as many pillows as this man has!

I love Sargent too, Joan, and I also had never seen this one!

I want to read more too Simon. Hope you enjoy this when you get around to it.

I am interested in Vuillard but unfortunately won’t make the exhibition as I live in France. Thanks for the interesting info!

Erika I am awaiting my copy - you make me very excited!

There are men reading too Chantal but I think many fewer. I shall seek some out for comparison!

I agree Joan it is lovely.

Yes indeed it's hard to understand why Maugham seems to have slipped off the radar. I'm feeling a strong desire to read some more of his - I know I have a couple somewhere on the bookshelves. I'd also be interested in reading the biography.

This is a good one Kaggsy - why not give it a go!

Erika I have the book on order and will read it soon!

Glad to hear it Kat - I thought it was amazing too. I found the 1946 film on YouTube and have watched it - surprisingly close to the novel though with a lot left out. I think the later one may be on there too. Said to be less good?

Update - I just found a copy for under £3 on abehbooks.co.uk -post free from UK to France. So I ordered it. Watch this space.

Thanks Erika. I just checked kindle and it is advertised as available at £2,94 uk price - but when you click on it, it says not available to buy. I really want to read it now!

I have heard of that book but not read it - sounds as if I should. Thanks for the recommendation.

I think the bit about the faces is something to do with these girls having an appearance which its typically English, giving Miss Pym the feeling that people have looked like this for centuries. I dont understand go in my mock and dont have the book in front of me to check the context. Sorry you found it confusing! Hope you enjoy Daughter of Time. I think my favourite of her novels is Brat Farrar but they are all good.

Helen it was 2010 when I originally wrote that review and I said at the end that I’d started the second one in the trilogy. I have a vague memory of it but didn’t review it, and don’t remember reading the third. If I could find the edition they were all together in I’d be tempted to have a go now. I agree it is strange to think it was published in 1944.

Thats nice to know Simon. Look forward to your review.

No I dont believe I did see that TV version - I wonder if its still available anywhere? The 1970s film is excellent. He is certainly well worth reading

Thanks for the comment. Yes he wrote a lot and most seem to have been forgotten. I read a rather strange dystopian novel called Facial Justice, which I cant remember much about, and one or two others, Hes certainly brilliant at his best.

Well done for getting citizenship - here in France all we British are madly applying for Cartes de Sejour, which may not even be valid after Brexit but at least the paperwork will be lodged in the prefectures for whatever else we need to do. I like the idea of compulsory voting for the very reason you have in the comment above.

I read this some years ago and was blown away by it. I also watched the film which I thought was surprisingly good, though not as good as the novel, obviously. A well-deserved Booker winner.

Sorry about Matthew - I rather like him myself.

So sorry you are disappointed Erika. I did think it not quite as good as the best of the others but still enjoyed it.

Unfortunately Trudi I can't remember now! Too long ago.

Hi Erika. So pleased to hear from a fellow admirer. I’ve never read another vampire book - apart from Dracula, mind you. Glad you enjoyed the reviews and happy to have your comment.