Cordelia Oliver

Advantages: The plot
Disadvantages: A little predictable

...King Lear is one of Shakespeare's finest plays, and one of his most enjoyable. It has a depth which is almost unparalleled in playwriting, and it is a personal favourite of mine. The story is about King Lear and his desire to abdicate his kingship to his daughters in his old age. However, this backfires on him when Cordelia, his purest daughter refuses to pander to him when he is sharing out his kingdom. Cordelia is banished, and the two remaining sister, Regan and Goneril mistreat their father. King Lear, with no power or prestige is defenceless, and repents for his mistreatment of Cordelia. He goes mad as his mental resources are tested by the harshness of his daughters conduct towards him. The tragedy unfolds. (I san't say more because I will ruin the story). This play has everyting - passion, excitement and the duplicity of man... Read review

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Advantages: No Adam Dagleish
Disadvantages: Storyline not the most realistic I've read

...Introduction It is quite refreshing to read a PD James book without bland Adam Dagleish. We don't really find out much about Cordelia Gray, the heroine, either, but she is definitely easier to warm to than Dagleish. This book has everything I look for in a murder mystery - a small number of people in an enclosed area, all knowing that one of the party is a murderer. The pace is perhaps slightly slow to begin with - the first murder doesn't occur until well into the book - but I think that actually helps create the slightly gothic atmosphere. This is the second of two Cordelia Gray books; the first being "An Unsuitable Job for a Woman". As this book was written way back in 1982, I think it is unlikely we will see any more of Cordelia - a shame I think. The plot Cordelia Gray inherited a detective agency from her boss on his death. Most... Read review

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Advantages: It's realistic. And that's what makes it so sad.
Disadvantages: The conclusion was a little disappointing.

...Having been recommended this book by a teacher, my immediate thought was that i wouldn't appreciate it. It didn't sound like my style. I was very very wrong. Elaine, a "painter" -no, not an artist- returns to Toronto for her own art exhibition. With returning to the city, her memories of her sad childhood flood back. The story hops back and forth in time, depiciting the earlier, happier days of her unusual childhood, and then later, the days of Cordelia. It seems hard to believe that little girls can be so mean. But they can and they are. Atwoods' story tells of how young Cordelia torments young Elaine, and how this affects Elaine throughout her life. It's frightening to think that the bullying and suffering that Elaine tolerates in her younger years is very much a true reflection on the "friendships" young girls can develop... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful