Tuesday, 26 July 2016

According to Queeney – Beryl Bainbridge

Whenever one doesn’t know what to read, s/he can be sure that there is a short Bainbridge novel somewhere.

While not exactly the greatest book ever written (probably the sentence that I use most often in this blog…), According to Queeney is an interesting portrayal of Dr Johnson and his circle – and definitely something that one needs to read as s/he tries to act like a true Londoner (or a Southwark resident).

The start of the book is a bit bland, and the lack of unstable young women is somewhat disappointing for a Bainbridge novel (both Queeney and Mrs Thrale seem a bit too proper to me), but it does pick-up after their trip to France, and Queeney’s letters at the end of each chapter are a much welcome change in style every few pages. 

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