Widows and Orphans, by Michael Arditti
Book enthusiasts, when you require a new book to read, find the book Widows And Orphans, By Michael Arditti right here. Never stress not to find what you need. Is the Widows And Orphans, By Michael Arditti your needed book now? That holds true; you are really a great viewers. This is an excellent book Widows And Orphans, By Michael Arditti that comes from wonderful writer to show you. Guide Widows And Orphans, By Michael Arditti provides the very best experience and lesson to take, not just take, but likewise discover.
Widows and Orphans, by Michael Arditti
Ebook PDF Widows and Orphans, by Michael Arditti
Duncan Neville, editor-proprietor of the Francombe and Salter Mercury, is struggling to keep the newspaper afloat. For over 150 years, it has served the two resort towns in Southern England. Duncan's personal life is in similar disarray, as he juggles the demands of his elderly mother, disaffected son, harassed ex-wife, and doting secretary. Meanwhile, Geoffrey Weedon, a childhood friend turned bitter rival, unveils a plan to rebuild the dilapidated pier, which might revive the town's fortunes, but threatens its traditional ethos. Lyrical and witty, moving and profound, Widows and Orphans paints a compelling portrait of a good man fighting for his principles in a hostile world.
Widows and Orphans, by Michael Arditti- Amazon Sales Rank: #1817596 in Books
- Published on: 2015-06-29
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 8.60" h x 1.30" w x 5.30" l, .84 pounds
- Binding: Hardcover
- 360 pages
Review 'Arditti's fictional Francombe is a familiar seaside town and a brilliantly revealing microcosm of a society where greed and power are embraced - Widows and Orphans is powerfully realistic. Arditti has written an uncomfortable but very readable novel about the careless greeds of the way we live now.' (Helen Dunmore, Guardian) 'One of the many pleasures of this novel is the range and depth of the author's sympathies. Moreover, Arditti has a fine eye for the significant detail and the novel is beautifully constructed - It is funny and moving and deeply tender.' (Allan Massie, Scotsman) 'For all the sparky one-liners, the crisp satire on small-town preoccupations and the increasingly hilarious newspaper columns prefacing each chapter, this is a profound and unsettling book - Like a Graham Greene for our time, Arditti has written an exquisite novel which traces the challenging journey of the human heart towards the grace of acceptance.' (Lucy Beresford, Spectator) 'Arditti has a mischievous take on small town politics, and the characters are brilliant. Benign satire, with a bite.' (Kate Saunders, The Times) 'There are splendidly comic scenes worthy of Alan Ayckbourn. While the deeply moving last chapter is like the final movement of a string quartet, weaving together the various themes. Arditti's strength in creating an entire community, full of rich and contrasting characters has resulted in a satisfying book, full of insight, pain, compassion and humour. I cannot recommend it highly enough.' (James Roose-Evans, Ham and High) 'A plot concerning the fate of the historic local pier provides an entertaining narrative motor, while Arditti's wit and typically breezy style keep the pages turning effortlessly.' (Stephanie Cross, The Lady) 'At a time when 'good' can so often be synonymous with uninteresting and bland, Arditti has constructed a complex, witty and thoughtful portrait of an innately decent man and the messy modern world he lives in.' (Amber Pearson, Daily Mail) 'Enjoyable and diverting, Arditti's prose is engaging and his material is studiously observed, particularly in the passages about the declining fortunes of Duncan's beloved paper. Moving and astute, it's a novel for anyone who has ever flicked through the paper and failed to recognise the country they're reading about.' (Jennifer Lipman, Jewish Chronicle) 'Arditti's gently satirical novel is a moral tale of lost causes in a changing world, with old causes and caring communities under threat.' (Phil Baker, Sunday Times) 'A charming paean to a lost and vanished England.' (Catholic Herald) 'No one is missed by Arditti's crystal-clear eye. Widows and Orphans is at its heart, a compelling portrait of life in 21st century Britain for the everyman - While Duncan Neville struggles to keep his newspaper afloat, Arditti has no such trouble with the novel. The pages turn themselves.' (Eleanor Doughty, Standpoint)
About the Author Michael Arditti is the author of "The Celibate," "Good Clean Fun," "Pagan and Her Parents," and "Unity,"
Where to Download Widows and Orphans, by Michael Arditti
Most helpful customer reviews
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Unfulfilled promise... By FictionFan Duncan Neville is the owner and editor of the Francombe & Salter Mecury, a regional newspaper that has been in his family for generations but is now struggling to survive in the era of online news. Francombe is a (fictional) English seaside resort, popular in its Victorian heyday but with its glory days well behind it. Duncan has been campaigning to have the old Victorian pier renovated, but now it has been bought over by a property developer who plans to turn it into an adults only zone based on the sleazier side of life. Duncan's personal life is as decayed as the town – his marriage broken, his relationship with his teenage son difficult, and his mother and sister expecting to continue to live well off the income from the family business, while Duncan himself is reduced to living in the flat above the newspaper offices. However, things begin to look up when he meets the lovely Ellen...At first, I thought I was really going to enjoy this book. It starts off well, with an introduction to the remaining small staff of the newspaper and a good depiction of the run-down state of the resort. Duncan is portrayed as an upholder of tradition trying, Canute-like, to hold back the tides of change. The prose is gentle and flowing and interspersed with some nice observational humour.However, I'm afraid this early positive impression soon wore off. What at first seems gentle soon turns into dull, and the nostalgic tone of the book veers uncomfortably close to sentimentality. Even the humour begins to feel as if it has been inserted artificially, rather than arising from the natural flow. In the beginning it feels as if Duncan is going to be a campaigner, fighting for the things he believes in, but as the book goes on, he turns out to be just a rather overwhelmed middle-aged man, not very good at relationships or business...or anything, really. His attitudes seem blinkered and far too old-fashioned for a man of his age, and frankly, he whinges. His 'leader articles' from the paper are inserted between the chapters of the book. I assume these are meant to give an insight into Duncan's character and his mildly left-wing principles, but they feel like a device for the author to make his own political points rather than having much to do with the thrust of the story.The story itself (I deliberately haven't used the word plot) meanders slowly on in a downward spiral, touching too lightly on some serious subjects – anti-immigrant feelings, homophobia, porn etc. I suspect the correct response of the reader is to shake her head, click her tongue and sigh over the iniquities of modern life. This reader, however, found that she was sighing over the superficiality of the book. The premise is interesting and so much could have been done with it to take a look at some of the real problems faced by people living in towns whose historical function has gone, but I feel the opportunity was missed. Instead, we get a kind of mini middle-class family saga, with Duncan's curiously emotionless relationships taking centre stage, and all leading up to an ending so sickly sweet one questions if even Dickens would have dared do it.Overall, not a bad book – the writing is fine and some of the points it raises are interesting. But the execution doesn't live up to the promise and in the end I was left disappointed and rather relieved that it was over.NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Arcadia Books Ltd.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Well worth a read By Rebecca Davies Have read most of his novels. This one is bit less focussed on homosexuality than some of the others, and the pace a bit slower. But the observation of families and relationships which don't run smoothly is entertaining and true.
See all 2 customer reviews... Widows and Orphans, by Michael ArdittiWidows and Orphans, by Michael Arditti PDF
Widows and Orphans, by Michael Arditti iBooks
Widows and Orphans, by Michael Arditti ePub
Widows and Orphans, by Michael Arditti rtf
Widows and Orphans, by Michael Arditti AZW
Widows and Orphans, by Michael Arditti Kindle
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar