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Crooked Heart

Two books by Lissa Evans.

I came across this author on a recommendation by India Knight – (in the paper, I’ve never met India) – and I advanced cautiously as I often find that even seemingly sensible people can rave about the weirdest books.

And when those weird books are personally recommended you end up looking at the person like, god, you really don’t know me at all. A bit like being set up on a blind date with someone really ghastly and you think “Wow… is that who you think of as a my equal? Just… wow.”

Anyway where was I – oh yes these two very good books by Lissa Evans, both set in wartime.

The first is Crooked Heart, which is about a precocious evacuee who goes to live in St Albans with a down-on-her-luck chancer called Vee.

It is darkly funny and describes life on the Home Front with such clarity and almost extra-sensory vision that it’s like she is describing another country, rather than an entirely historical situation.

Screen Shot 2018-06-19 at 11.09.39

The second is Their Finest Hour and a Half, which has recently been turned into a film (which I haven’t seen). Another corker.

Screen Shot 2018-06-19 at 11.09.26

 

She has just brought out a new novel, Old Baggage, which is a sort of prequel to Crooked Heart. So if you like these, you will also like this.

Screen Shot 2018-06-20 at 09.34.46

 

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Comments

  1. Emma says

    June 20, 2018 at 8:59 am

    Ooh these look excellent.

    If you’re interested, I’ve just started a rather self-centred instagram account @thebookpervert where I review books I’ve read in brief. Pretty much exclusively contemporary literary fiction. Useful if you never know what to read next!

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      June 20, 2018 at 11:16 am

      Thanks Emma! Yes I’m always on the lookout xxx

      Reply
  2. Cindy says

    June 20, 2018 at 9:05 am

    These look good thanks. I’ve been reading a few old Monica Dickens at the moment, they are deliciously detailed and the comedy is edgier than you’d expect for the period.

    Reply
    • Sophie says

      June 20, 2018 at 10:08 am

      MD sounds like she was a hoot and would have been a brilliant friend.

      Reply
      • Cindy says

        June 20, 2018 at 11:45 am

        Yeeesss, except there are some anti-Semitic references here and there, and a very blasé attitude to giving a woman a bit of slap that makes me feel like we wouldn’t get on *quite* so well as all that…

        I really enjoyed Mariana for example, very well written and funny, but feel I should mention the above infelicities because of the aforementioned judging a person by their book recommendations thing – it’s all fun and games and then suddenly everyone thinks I’m a Nazi. So easily done!!!

        Reply
        • esthermcoren says

          June 20, 2018 at 1:18 pm

          SO easily done

          Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      June 20, 2018 at 11:16 am

      Oh fab I will investigate xx

      Reply
    • Sasha B says

      June 20, 2018 at 3:34 pm

      Oh..lovely Monica Dickens. Haven’t read hers in years.. Follyfoot!! Great memories of being absorbed in those books as a child x

      Reply
      • Cindy says

        June 20, 2018 at 3:58 pm

        Yes I only knew her from Follyfoot as a child, have enjoyed discovering her adult novels. Great characters and observations.

        Reply
    • Sharon says

      June 20, 2018 at 7:06 pm

      I loved Monica Dickens, devoured everything she wrote in my 20’s. Thank you for the reminder………..off to Amazon x

      Reply
  3. Nicole says

    June 20, 2018 at 9:34 am

    I’ve read Crooked Heart also because of India Knight’s recommendation. Thanks for the other recommendations. Love your The Spike has been reading….

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      June 20, 2018 at 11:17 am

      I’m on a massive reading binge at the moment

      Reply
  4. Nichola says

    June 20, 2018 at 9:35 am

    Mattie and Noel were very affecting. A great read.

    Reply
  5. Meg Pritchard says

    June 20, 2018 at 10:02 am

    Thank you for these, right up my street. The film is completely charming, actually, I enjoyed it. Perfect for a Sunday evening IyswIm

    Reply
  6. Lisa Eveleigh says

    June 20, 2018 at 10:04 am

    Lissa Evans us a star, And though normally I’m wary of film adaptations of novels I love, the film THEIR FINEST manages to be funny, poignant and charming all at once. Lisa xx

    Reply
  7. Katy says

    June 20, 2018 at 11:01 am

    I have a totally unrelated question about espadrilles. How do you keep them on your feet? My lovely black suede ones would not stay on my feet, and now the backs have got all trodden down 🙁 Is the answer to buy a size too small?

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      June 20, 2018 at 11:17 am

      Katy where are they from?

      Reply
      • Katy says

        June 20, 2018 at 12:03 pm

        They are from Reiss. Not so much of a platform as yours, but I love them and they make every summer outfit I have work. But the trodden down backs makes them a nightmare to walk anywhere in

        Reply
        • esthermcoren says

          June 20, 2018 at 1:20 pm

          Katy you may be blessed/afflicted with very slim ankles and narrow heels, which makes for a very aesthetic foot but fucking useless for keeping shoes on. Have you experienced this problem with other shoes/other espadrilles? Or are these the first espadrilles you have owned?

          Reply
  8. Cindy Fried says

    June 20, 2018 at 1:25 pm

    I love those books, too – and the film. I saw Lissa Evans being interviewed and she is a joy all round.

    Just bought a 900+ page chunkster in Oxfam that India Knight recommended when I went to a book thing she was at (my new hobby, can you tell?), called Belle du Seigneur by Albert Cohen. Looks fab but will have to ‘clear the decks’ first. Keep the book posts coming!

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      June 20, 2018 at 1:45 pm

      Cindy this is the MOST incredibly weird and spooky coincidence… Giles pulled a book randomly off our shelves this morning – RANDOMLY – in order to weigh something down and it’s still sitting on the kitchen table and, Cindy, I think you know what book it is don’t you … SCREAM EMOJI FACE

      Reply
      • Caroline says

        June 20, 2018 at 3:55 pm

        I like the idea of telepathic Spikers! Thanks too for the recommendations.

        Reply
      • cindy fried says

        June 20, 2018 at 8:16 pm

        😱😱😱

        Reply
  9. Ruby says

    June 21, 2018 at 9:45 am

    She’s also recently released Wed Wabbit; a kids book about a despot dictator stuffed rabbit which is really excellent.

    Reply
  10. Linda says

    June 21, 2018 at 3:01 pm

    How do you find time for all this reading Esther?!

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      June 21, 2018 at 3:28 pm

      I don’t watch TV!

      Reply

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