Advantages: Involving story, detailing the funny yet tragic story of two sisters. Disadvantages: Over too quickly?
...I bought "The Travelling Horn Player" by BarbaraTrapido when it was on special offer in a Christmas sale. It was reduced to 2 pounds, and I didn't really expect to see high quality writing from a novel in the bargain bin, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Within just a few chapters of starting the book, I had laughed and cried in equal measure, as the book is spread with lashings of comedy and tragedy.
Trapido has an intelligent writing style, referencing classical literature and opera and classical music often, sometimes including quotes in German. However these references are not unnecessary and are never excessive.
Although it was many years ago since I read the book, and a couple of years since I last reread it, I often think back on the story, and it remains one of my favourite books....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Strangely dreamlike, unsentimental Disadvantages: A heroine who is occasinally rather too passive
...appears to be on sale for £6.99 but I got it cheaper. It was published in1990 by Michael Joseph.
Reviews (from front of book)
'It makes you laugh and it moves you,' Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times
'Trapido is standing in for Miss Spark,' Financial Times
'Magical and addictive' She
Hope this was an informative review...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Involving story, detailing the funny yet tragic story of two sisters. Disadvantages: Over too quickly?
...I bought "The Travelling Horn Player" by BarbaraTrapido when it was on special offer in a Christmas sale. It was reduced to 2 pounds, and I didn't really expect to see high quality writing from a novel in the bargain bin, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Within just a few chapters of starting the book, I had laughed and cried in equal measure, as the book is spread with lashings of comedy and tragedy.
Trapido has an intelligent writing style, referencing classical literature and opera and classical music often, sometimes including quotes in German. However these references are not unnecessary and are never excessive.
Although it was many years ago since I read the book, and a couple of years since I last reread it, I often think back on the story, and it remains one of my favourite books....
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Strangely dreamlike, unsentimental Disadvantages: A heroine who is occasinally rather too passive
...appears to be on sale for £6.99 but I got it cheaper. It was published in1990 by Michael Joseph.
Reviews (from front of book)
'It makes you laugh and it moves you,' Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times
'Trapido is standing in for Miss Spark,' Financial Times
'Magical and addictive' She
Hope this was an informative review...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Gripping - an amazing read! Disadvantages: Unsympathetic narrator
...Wow! I’ve just finished reading Zoe Heller’s ‘Notes on a Scandal’ and have to share with you all how brilliant it is and how impressed I am! Wow, wow, wow! Phew, let me try to compose myself and say something more eloquent than ‘wow’ about this book … ok, here goes.
** WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT? **
Barbara Covett is a dowdy, sixty-something schoolteacher, who has few friends apart from her cat Portia. When Sheba Hart joins St George’s school as the new pottery teacher, Barbara senses a kindred spirit and the possibility of friendship. But Barbara is not the only person forging a bond with Sheba.
Despite being happily married with two children, Sheba has begun an illicit affair with an underage (15 year old) male student. As the liaison begins to unravel, Barbara waits in the wings to pick up the pieces and protect Sheba from...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
12.12.2007
18.04.2006
