I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A peek into the lives of people you don't normally come across.

RELEASE NOTES:

RABCK for michyj. Enjoy!

From Publishers Weekly
An impulsive taxi ride with a stranger in 1950s London indelibly changes Penelope Wallace's life in Rice's sparkling debut. At 18, Penelope lives with her younger brother, Inigo, and her terribly glamorous, young widowed mother in a drafty, rundown, English estate house in the countryside. With the loss of the man of the house, financial pressures mount, threatening sheltered Penelope's family manse—and what's left of her family's place in society. She finds a kindred spirit in the outspoken posh Londoner, Charlotte Ferris, who has a "great gift for circumnavigating normal behavior," when they both reveal their passion for American singing sensation Johnnie Ray. After agreeing to accompany Charlotte's aspiring magician cousin, Harry Delancy, to his former girlfriend's engagement party to make her jealous, Penelope begins her journey through a world of smart parties, fashionable teas and simmering romance. With élan and insight into human foibles (and postwar Anglo-British relations), Rice, daughter of lyricist Tim Rice, ties the Wallace and Delancy families together with a surprising, bittersweet plot twist. Rice's remarkable gift for creating singular characters in this memorable story underscores her presence as a fresh new voice in fiction.

PM ME IF YOU WANT TO JOIN BOOKRING (Australia only)
FINISHED MAY 2007
sarahbear • TAS
luckydipper • QLD
catsalive • NSW
back to michyj

I loved this book! This was one of those rare books that you just don't want to put down. I found myself canceling my social plans so I could curl up with the characters to find out what they were up to next! Thanks so much retromonkey for rabcking this book to me!

MAILED MARCH 28TH 2007

Arrived safely and soundly today. Will get to this one asap.

An interesting look into the lives of others. I thought it was well written but for me there was something lacking but Im not entirely sure what it was.

Posting to luckydipper as soon as I have an address.

Posted :)

Arrived today :) thanks sarahbear, michyj & retromonkey, this looks like one I will really enjoy.

A great light, feel good book. I enjoyed reading the different traits and oddities of the main characters.

Will be forwarded to catsalive asap.

1/5/07: Posted off today :)

Thanks luckydipper.

I had trouble getting into this one & really only felt it started moving around page 200. I churned through it after that & found it a very nice story from an interesting period - quite an astonishing time, I believe. I did like Penelope, with her telltale blushes & freckles - I imagine her all gawky arms & legs, not elegantly kitted out for the Ritz. I keep wondering what she'd be like now.

Thanks, michyj. I'll send this on its way home soon.

Dropped in the post this morning.

Yay, a bookring made its way back to me! I'll hold on to this and possibley bring it to the Brisbane meet up. Thanks everyone who joined the bookring for this one!

Lending this one to a non bookcrossing friend. Will journal her thoughts when she is done reading the book.

Just got this one back after lending it to a non bookcrossing friend. Don't know if she ever read it though.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Adding this to the chick lit bookbag.

Received in the chick-lit bookbag.

Taking to the Little Library to release