Review: Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson

My Five Word TL:DR Review: Gentle, cosy, humorous, historical fiction

Kate Atkinson is such a fantastic author. I’ve read many of her books and I adore her quirky sense of humour and the way she manages to bring her characters to life. Our Noble Selves is a quirky, unusual, murder mystery where the murder mystery is far from being central to the plot, and what it manages to do is capture the period with absolute perfection, the voices, the characters, they behave how you would expect and on top of that the whole essence of the story feels like an amazing representation of an era.

It’s 1951 and in an effort to boost morale in the wake of the war the Government decide to hold an event to cheer people up a little, a celebration of creativity and ingenuity and an actual true historic event known as The Festival of Britain. Harry Flynn agrees to help organise the event. A journalist come war reporter Harry is at a bit of a loose end when he joins this strange bunch of misfits in a strange bid to get his life back on track. Unfortunately, having gone on a rather unsuccessful date with a prickly woman who had little interest in Harry his world is turned upside down when said woman in question goes missing. Harry is the last one to have seen his ‘girlfriend’ and soon enough the police come looking for him.

Now, as I mentioned above the murder mystery plays second fiddle to the characters and shenanigans that take place in this story and that are all trade mark Atkinson.

Harry is a total bumblefest. I mean literally he gets played like a fiddle! And his biggest helpers are a 13 year old girl and a terrier. That should give you some indication of what to expect.

To be fair I don’t really think I can share too much more with you all. So, read it.

This is really well written. It evokes the period with style. The characters are a lot of fun. There is murder and espionage. And lets not forget, there is a Festival to organise – never forget that. There’s a lot to do and so everyone needs to pull up their socks, keep their chins up and jolly well get on with it.

This was very enjoyable and easy to read, it was fun, evocative and exactly what I anticipated coming from this author. It might not be my favourite of her books to date – but, there is a lot of competition for that particular slot given her previous books – however, it was downright good reading. I look forward to seeing what this author comes up with next.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4 of 5 stars

Booking Ahead/Weekly Wrap Up

Sunday Post

Today I’m posting my Weekly Wrap Up and I’m linking up to The Sunday Post over at Kimberly’s  Caffeinated Reviewer.  Without further ado:

Weekly Update

It’s been a nice chilled week. I carried on with my read of Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson. This was a real change of pace. A historical novel set in the period just after World War II. Atkinson is literally a genius at capturing the essence of a period and also bringing quirky characters to the scene. This is a very mild murder mystery with an essence of espionage. Very easy to read and with a cheeky fun element. I also couldn’t resist picking up the latest book by Emily St John Mandel, Exit Party – and, much as I expected, this was wonderfully complex, strangely compelling and utterly unusual. Where on earth do these ideas come from! I’ve just started Worry Box by Chris Panatier, it’s early days but I’m hoping to tuck a good chunk of this under my belt later today.

Next Week’s Reads

Complete Chris Panatier’s Worry Box and then I’m hoping to pick up either Pride, Prejudice and Peril by Jessica Bull or Carry Me To My Grave by Christopher Golden. Lets see how I get on.

Reviews Posted:

  1. Murder At The Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley
  2. Serenity Falls by CJ Tudor.

Outstanding Reviews

  1. The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson
  2. This Blade of Ours by Shalini Abeysekara
  3. Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson.
  4. Exit Party by Emily St John Mandel

Hoping to see you round the blogosphere this forthcoming week

Countdown to 2025: Day 7: Christmas Tree – a winter read

Once again I am counting down to the New Year, as with the previous two years I shall be highlighting at least one book per day to fit the prompt on that given day.  The main aim for this countdown is to highlight some of my reads during the past year and to shine the spotlight on them once again (although some of the prompts relate to forthcoming reads). Today is day 7 of the countdown to 2025 and a list of prompts can be found here if you wish to join me in counting down to 2025 and casting a spotlight on some of your favourite books (if you join in please leave me a link so I can check out your book choices).

Today’s Prompt :Christmas Tree – a winter read

24 Days Remaining

Three fantastic wintry reads – all very different in style.  Hear Him Calling, Death At the Sign of the Rook and Bless Your Heart.

Tomorrow’s prompt: Baubles – these add some colour, a very colourful and striking cover

Review: Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson

My Five Word TL:DR Review: Fantastic Characters meet Murder Mystery

Kate Atkinson is an author that I really like, I haven’t actually read all her Brodie books but did read the first few pre blogging and enjoyed them and so couldn’t resist the description for this one.

This story brings to us a range of quirky and eccentric characters, a murder that takes place in a manor house whilst the lord of the manor is actually holding a murder mystery party.

There is some set up for this before we get to the murdering and sleuthing that takes place in and around the grounds of Burton Makepeace.  The story brings to us Jackson Brodie, an ex-cop turned private detective.  He’s taken a case about a stolen painting.  At the same time another case comes to his attention which seems to share very similar traits.  Could this be the same person.  Basically, Brodie enlists the help of a former colleague – who you could call his sidekick as he is usually one step ahead and the two start searching for clues.

Now, firstly, picking this up I thought we would fairly soon be ensconced at the cumbling manor house with a storm keeping the residents and guests hostage.  However, this isn’t quite the case, there is some detective work that takes place before hand and also an introduction to a number of the more standout characters  This is in no way a criticism as Atkinson is an absolute wonder at drawing her characters and giving you some fantastic favourites to plump for.  And, any patience you exercise beforehand will be well rewarded as the scenes at Burton Makepeace are so good.  There’s an almost comedic element to certain scenes and that coupled with the ever so quintessential British eccentricity of some of the characters makes this a really engaging read.

To be honest I don’t really want to say too much because of spoilers and the desire not to ruin the read for others.

What I will say is the writing is wonderful.  The pacing takes a little time to pick up but I think it’s worth the wait and the characters are really good.

I have to give a little shout out to the Dowager who absolutely stole the show for me.  Brodie and DC Reggie Chase make a fantastic team and you know that you’re enjoying a book when you seriously start to worry about any harm coming to the main characters.  Fortunately this is quite a cosy read although it wouldn’t be a murder mystery without any bodies now would it?

I had such a good time with this.  A murder mystery.  A positively Christie style guest list, the vicar, the Dowager, the Army Major, a pack of invited guests expecting a thrilling evening of murder mystery shenanigans, little expecting that a real murder has actually taken place, and a detective and his sidekick arriving to the party just in the nick of time.  Did I mention that there’s an escaped criminal on the loose and an intense storm that gives the proceedings a locked room feel?  Well, there you go then.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4.5 of 5 stars

Friday Face Off : The nose boop – any animal, or human, with a close up shot

FFO

Here we are again with the Friday Face Off meme created by Books by Proxy .  This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite book covers.  The rules are fairly simple each week, following a predetermined theme (list below) choose a book (this doesn’t have to be a book that you’ve read), compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite.   Future’s themes are listed below – if you have a cover in mind that you’re really wanting to share then feel free to leave a comment about a future suggested theme.  I’ve also listed events that take place during the year, that I’m aware of, so you can link up your covers – if you’re aware of any events that you think I should include then give me a shout.  This week’s theme:

The nose boop – any animal, or human, with a close up shot

So, by way of an update. I’m still catching up with comments so if you’ve stopped by and left commens and I haven’t responded yet- I am getting there.  Blog hopping = nearly there.  Reviews = catching up with.

I had a couple of covers in mind this week but I’ve gone for a book that I read quite some time ago, pre blogging by an author that I enjoy.  Emotionally Weird by Kate Atkinson:

My favourite this week (without a doubt):

EW2

Do you have a favourite?

I’ve updated the list now to include themes for next year.  If you know of an event that’s coming up let me know and I’ll try and include covers that work for the event itself so that you can link up to the Friday Face Off and, as always, if you wish to submit an idea then leave me a comment – or if you’d like to host a week then simply let me know.  Also, I would just mention that it’s very possible that some of these might be repeats from previous FFOs although I have tried to invent more ‘open ended’ prompt that can be interpreted differently and also prompts that relate to emotions.  Finally, don’t struggle with any of these, this is meant to be a fun way of highlighting books.  If you can’t come up with a book you think fits for a particular week use a freebie – perhaps a recent read for example:

Next week – A cover that annoyed you and why

2021

June

11th – A cover that annoyed you and why

18th – Out of Perspective, or make you feel a bit dizzy

25th – Upside down, back to front or topsy turvy

July

2nd – A book with a landscape you’d like to visit

9th – A Wicked Grin

16th – Books with ‘book’ in the title

23rd – A Black Hole – could be in the universe or going deep into the ground

30th – Chaos – maybe too much going on in this one

August

6th – “They cluck their thick tongues, and shake their heads and suggest, os so very delicately!” – The Motel

13th – A favourite holiday read

20th – Dressed to kill (could be literally someone dressed to kill, or someone dressed up for a big night out

27th – Sunbathing or on the beach

September (RIP event)

3rd – 1920s feel, noir detective

10th – I’m Henry the Eighth I am – let’s look at Kings or other Emperors/rulers

17th – Books with ‘Murder’ in the title

24th – A favourite thriller

October

1st – A Halloween read

8th – Chills – anything at all that almost makes you too scared to pick up the book (your own pet hate)

15th – Your favourite book of magic

22nd – Books with ‘Queen’ in the title

29th – Must be gothic

November – Sci Fi Month

5th – Your earliest sci-fi read or the first sci-fi you reviewed

12th – A book with ‘star’ in the title

19th – Futuristic vista

26th – A Black Hole – in the universe or going deep into the ground

December

3rd – Windswept, the classic figure, stood majestically, with wind blowing out in a fetching way

10th – A fairytale retold

17th – Winter Solstice approaching – anything cold and seasonal

24th – All things fire – red hair, red covers, fire breathing dragons, simply fire?

31st – What’s your catnip – if it’s on a cover you have to pick it up

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