Comments on: Offshore – Book Review

By: Caribousmom

Caribousmom — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:33:05 +0000

Tea: Thanks – I’ve heard a lot of people with this complaint of Fitzgerald’s books…glad I’m not the only one who was disappointed.

By: tea

tea — Sat, 02 May 2009 19:01:12 +0000

I enjoyed your review of “Offshore” by Penelope Fitzgerald. I’ve read “The Bookshop.” Like you at the end of the book, I felt empty too. I felt as though I had missed something. You did a swell review of her book.

By: Caribousmom

Caribousmom — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:20:53 +0000

You’re welcome, Tracey…I agree that Fitzgerald’s strengths are her writing and humor (as well as sense of place)… I guess I just wanted a little bit more plot!

By: Tracey

Tracey — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:38:58 +0000

Thanks for your review Wendy, this one is on my list to read. I recently read The Blue Flower and enjoyed it. It’s strengths for me were the beautiful writing, dry humour and sense of time and place rather than the plot or characters, so it sounds similar to Offshore in that way.

By: Caribousmom

Caribousmom — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:06:53 +0000

Sarah: I’m glad to hear that someone else felt as I did…Someone told me the Blue Flower was better. I will give Fitzgerald another try, I think, if only because I appreciate her beautiful writing. But, she may be one of those writers I really want to love, but just doesn’t meet the grade. Will see… Thanks for your input.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:16:39 +0000

I read Fitzgerald’s The Bookshop and similarly felt underwhelmed. The writing was beautiful but I felt vaguely disappointed at the end of the novel as I didn’t feel it went anywhere or understand what the point of it was.

I’ve heard Pym’s The Blue Flower and Rites of Spring are very good, but haven’t read them yet. My first experience of her put me of a bit.

By: Caribousmom

Caribousmom — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:46:07 +0000

Laura: *laughs* I think I was posting my review there when you wrote this comment! I predict you’ll give it a three star as well – can’t wait to see if we’re both right!

By: laura

laura — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:53:29 +0000

Interesting review, Wendy. This one is in my 2009 reading plan since, like you, I'm trying to read all of the Booker winners. I predict I'll give it 3 stars! I hope you'll post your review on The Complete Booker, too!

By: Caribousmom

Caribousmom — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:41:43 +0000

Jackie: I will look forward to reading your thoughts on the book.

Dawn: A Yahoo group I belong to chose this book to read for April…and since I am trying to read all the Booker winners, I thought this would be a good time to read it.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:19:51 +0000

Interesting note about people still living in barges.

What drew you to the book, Wendy? Did you pick it up because of the Booker?