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Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Review - The Ladies of Missalonghi by Colleen McCullough

I loved the Thorn Birds and could not pass on this one. Had never heard of it before and it was interesting because it depicted a period in time from the other side of the world - Australia which obviously followed England in all matters relating to dress, custom, manners and way of life.

Missy is 33 years old - very plain and already on the shelf - lives in genteel poverty and she and her aunt and mother are prevented from improving their lot because it is "not done" for them to work for outsiders, do anything like trade and it is considered preferable for them to starve rather than find some suitable employment.  However Missy does have the backbone to get what she wants. Faking a life threatening illness she manages to hook the richest newcomer to their little town, upstages her cousin Alice - beautiful and rich, and generally turns the entire town on its head.

A very short novel, light and a nice read though it did make me mad when I read how the family was being cheated left, right and center by their own male relatives! It all comes right in the end for Missy and her family.

10 comments:

  1. It sounds entertaining - I read The Thorn Birds many years ago and enjoyed the saga aspect. This seems much different. I'm glad you liked it!

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  2. I love those long old fashioned Victorian dresses! Harvee(Book Dilettante)

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  3. Sounds a bit like L. M. Montgomery's The Blue Castle. I'd like to read this one -- thanks for the review.

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  4. I so want to read the Thorn Birds so I am glad to see her other work is just as good!

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  5. I like the sound of Missy, she seems very determined! I've read Anthony and Cleopatra by the same author, which I thought was very average.

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  6. This sounds like a really great book. I love Missy already!

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  7. I am glad things worked out for the ladies. This sounds like a gentle historical that I might like.
    Have a good week.

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  8. I'm so happy that much of that "it's not in our class to do actual labor" attitude is out of the window! This definitely sounds like an interesting read!

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  9. Years and years ago I read, and loved, The Thorn Birds and adored it but for some reason, I never thought to pick up another McCullough book. Sounds like I need to remedy that!

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  10. I read this years ago and remember it as sweet. I've read most of this very versatile author's work and have really enjoyed just about all of it.

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