Customer Reviews

London Holiday: A Novel

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I found "London Holiday " to be a light, quick and totally delightful read. Mrs Smith-Porter is a woman who has reinvented herself and has learned by experience, the ins and outs of the antique business.She runs a very up-market Bed and Breakfast establishment in one of the better parts of London.Three old school friends , Julia a very successful interior designer, Les, a St.Louis society matron and Margo, a school teacher, who are all at a crossroad in their lives, decide to holiday together and stay at Mrs. Smith-Porters B.andB. During the holiday,the course of their lives is altered forever in different ways, the catalyst being the enigmatic Mrs.Smith-Porter. This is an absorbing little book which I thoroughly enjoyed and I can't wait to get to a bookstore to find more by this talented author.

This story begins with a funeral, a gunshot and a coming together of old friends now approaching middle age. Three childhood friends are prompted by unusual events to flee familiar grounds and try an over-the-pond holiday at a most unusual bed & breakfast "near the top of the list" - truly in a class by itself. There are really five main stories (three generations) running at the same time, yet they are clearly delineated. Richard Peck seems to really understand the dynamics of women's friendships. The flashbacks to wartime London are fascinating, and obviously well researched. The characters are well developed, from the "seen-it-all" and rather magical Mrs. Smith-Porter (with a slightly shady background behind her upright façade) to the individual charms of Les, Julia & Margo and the utterly-lacking-in-charm Kimberly. The Bed & Breakfast was a thank you from a former lover, and through treasure hunts in the London markets, Ms. Smith Porter has furnished it with lovely, priceless antiques and a certain joie de vivre. Concisely and beautifully written, the story evolves simply through circumstances that are quite amazing. Mr. Peck gives the readers a flavor of London past and present together with glimpses of foolish lives, marriages gone bad, lives gone lonesome -- and then tosses in a bit of enchantment to show how things can fade into adventure and novelty.

Three middle-aged women have a holiday in London; they've been friends since sharing a Midwestern childhood and are now all variously dissatisfied with their lives. The bed & breakfast house in which they stay is run by the elusive, charming, and secretive Mrs. Smith-Porter who seems to be a helpful angel of some sort.
Not a deep book, but no one ever said it was; just a thoroughly enjoyable way to pass the day on a screened porch with a fan, a squeaky rocker, and a glass of iced tea.

Thank you for writing this little book, Richard Peck. It was a delicious read I lingered over, like a rambling meal or a vacation itself. I can't believe you made English meals sound delectable (!). You have a very convincing sense of romance from a female point of view, too.

A wonderful story of long-time friends bound by their past, yet distinct in their personalities, aspirations and loves. Set in the world's most fabulous city! A nice story.

London Holiday is a quick and marvelous read because of it's symapthetic characters, strong sense of place, and its subplot of antiquing for classic furniture in New York City,London and St. Louis. Richard Peck is particularly good at combining descriptions of intriguing homes and interiors with portraits of 40- something women at turning points in their lives. I am originally from St.Louis and planning a second trip to London. His strong sense of place - New York,St.Louis, and London- conveyed life in those cities in the late nineties without using tourist stereotypes. A little like "Enchanted April" set in England instead of Italy.

This pleasant if unremarkable novel feels a bit like it's been done before: childhood friends who grew up in the south get together to deal with their past ghosts and present lives. Throughout the book, I kept having a sense of deja vu, as if I'd encountered similar scenes, or characters, or plot lines before. The most memorable and original character was the British landlady, Mrs. Smith-Porter, and chapter 1, devoted entirely to her, is by far the best chapter in the book.

Which illustrates a second major flaw: the uneven quality of its writing. How can the same person who wrote this silly description of love/lust - "She felt dams breaking gently throughout her regions" - also have written this insight into vacationing - "People often broke under the strain of traveling for pleasure"?

Unlike "Yaya Sisterhood" and its ilk, this book takes a much gentler and less intense approach to the main characters' troubles. The reader will find London tea, handsome titled Englishmen, country gardens, double decker buses and faded antiques to water down the nasty childhood memories or present emotional crises. Like a finger sandwich or a piece of angel food cake, "London Holiday" is sweet and pleasant enough - but hardly filling.

Peck's novel is wonderful read for nice rainy day next to the crackling wood fireplace. The characters are vivid and visual with color and personality. It was one of the books that is a semi-quick and enjoyable read.

Perfect book for a rainy day!

This delightful novel is a mini-holiday you can take when you are not able to hop on the next flight to London. Lovers of London will delight in the dead-on references to addresses and locations (the bed and breakfast featured in the book is located in Radnor Walk, a real street in Chelsea). Antiques lovers will gobble up the descriptions of antique furniture and antiques markets. Fans of "women's novels" will enjoy the story of the lifelong friendship of the three protagonists. Travelers will want to go stay at Mrs. Smith-Porter's bed and breakfast, the most exclusive B&B in London. While perhaps not a "serious" or "important" novel, this book will be the clotted cream on your scone--a treat that you will savor and remember with delectation.

Since I'm working through my own mid-life crisis, sometimes I need to read a book with which I can identify! I found it in this one! I could relate to something about each character and found Mrs. Smith-Porter fascinating. This book brought a smile to my face and left me feeling positive for days after reading it!