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swhite1130's review
4.5
Absolutely delightful. Written in 1944 and set in 1938 England...a great study of old and new/below and above stairs. I look forward to reading the author's other books.
v_hankins's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A very British comedy and product of it’s time with a surprising little twist. An easy and enjoyable read with lots of little laughs and funny moments.
laur4len's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
chrisannee's review against another edition
3.0
I rarely see the film before reading the book, but this was an exception.
Both the book and the film chronicle the relationships of two main characters. The one, Cluny Brown, is played as a dramatic character in the film and Andrew Carmel is played for comedy. The roles seem to be reversed in the book. And so was my enjoyment of the stories.
Written in hindsight in 1944 about the 1936-1938 years(I don't remember if it was specified), there are some insightful lines regarding the upcoming WWII years. There are also, for the Downton Abbey fans, some cutting remarks regarding the dissolving of class lines.
But I still couldn't really swallow the last 2-3 chapters/epilogue. Perhaps my grasp of the characters was poor, perhaps my expectations were tainted by Charles Boyer in the film, perhaps my view of America was different because I am American? It just didn't fit. And so it wasn't my favorite.
Both the book and the film chronicle the relationships of two main characters. The one, Cluny Brown, is played as a dramatic character in the film and Andrew Carmel is played for comedy. The roles seem to be reversed in the book. And so was my enjoyment of the stories.
Written in hindsight in 1944 about the 1936-1938 years(I don't remember if it was specified), there are some insightful lines regarding the upcoming WWII years. There are also, for the Downton Abbey fans, some cutting remarks regarding the dissolving of class lines.
But I still couldn't really swallow the last 2-3 chapters/epilogue. Perhaps my grasp of the characters was poor, perhaps my expectations were tainted by Charles Boyer in the film, perhaps my view of America was different because I am American? It just didn't fit. And so it wasn't my favorite.
abroadintime's review against another edition
3.0
I completely enjoyed this book... until I didn't.
For the majority of the book, Cluny's innocent (though often nonsensical) way of looking at the world was endearing & charming. She reminds me a bit of Anne of Green Gables—a bit whimsical, flighty, and unpredictable in peculiarly charming ways and, having been raised on Anne, I quite enjoy reading about characters who are deliciously overwhelmed at the wonder of discovering and experiencing things for the first time. That wasn't the focus of this book, however. A variety of distractions were presented by other characters, but worse, the ending rather undid all of that. While Cluny was all of those things to the very last word, for me, she lost her peculiar charm with the author's final twist of the tale.
The ending came out of nowhere and felt baseless. Right when Sharp had me feeling as if I understood Cluny and the other characters, right when my heart was warmed by the prospects laid out by the plot, Sharp essentially upended the whole thing by taking the story, and Cluny, in a direction neither felt meant to go. Cluny's decision didn't clarify or affirm her character as I'd come to know it—instead it cast doubt upon it—but her decision didn't necessarily show growth as a character either.
Throughout the book, Cluny is frequently asked, "Who do you think you are?" As she ponders this question, we as readers ponder it, too. And, by the nature of storytelling, we are given many opportunities to get to know her... leading us to believe after some time that we do. Her thoughts, words, and actions—as revealed by the author—are shared to help us get to know her, to comprehend her unusual thoughts and actions in a more gracious, understanding light... until her thoughts and actions are no longer shared with us, and we no longer can understand her.
I think the ending *could have been written to make sense, but it wasn't, so the story (that was trundling along quite well) just sort of fizzles out nonsensically at the end. For that reason, I've decided to hold a different version of the story in my own mind—one that permits Cluny to be herself—a young woman I quite liked just as she was—right up to the very end.
For the majority of the book, Cluny's innocent (though often nonsensical) way of looking at the world was endearing & charming. She reminds me a bit of Anne of Green Gables—a bit whimsical, flighty, and unpredictable in peculiarly charming ways and, having been raised on Anne, I quite enjoy reading about characters who are deliciously overwhelmed at the wonder of discovering and experiencing things for the first time. That wasn't the focus of this book, however. A variety of distractions were presented by other characters, but worse, the ending rather undid all of that. While Cluny was all of those things to the very last word, for me, she lost her peculiar charm with the author's final twist of the tale.
The ending came out of nowhere and felt baseless. Right when Sharp had me feeling as if I understood Cluny and the other characters, right when my heart was warmed by the prospects laid out by the plot, Sharp essentially upended the whole thing by taking the story, and Cluny, in a direction neither felt meant to go. Cluny's decision didn't clarify or affirm her character as I'd come to know it—instead it cast doubt upon it—but her decision didn't necessarily show growth as a character either.
Throughout the book, Cluny is frequently asked, "Who do you think you are?" As she ponders this question, we as readers ponder it, too. And, by the nature of storytelling, we are given many opportunities to get to know her... leading us to believe after some time that we do. Her thoughts, words, and actions—as revealed by the author—are shared to help us get to know her, to comprehend her unusual thoughts and actions in a more gracious, understanding light... until her thoughts and actions are no longer shared with us, and we no longer can understand her.
I think the ending *could have been written to make sense, but it wasn't, so the story (that was trundling along quite well) just sort of fizzles out nonsensically at the end. For that reason, I've decided to hold a different version of the story in my own mind—one that permits Cluny to be herself—a young woman I quite liked just as she was—right up to the very end.
mslapp's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A 1940's English piece - well-written and entertaining. Sheds light on changing perspectives in Britain about women's "place" during the war period.
libraryassistant_4th's review against another edition
4.0
Funny and charming— think non-Jeeves Wodehouse. Makes me want to try more of her books!
vanessa_librorum's review against another edition
Este Cluny Brown, de Margery Sharp, ha sido un caramelito del que disfrutar sin mayor pretensiones ni sobresaltos. Una novela costumbrista, ambientada en los años previos a la Segunda Guerra Mundial y con un giro final moderadamente sorprendente.
Su punto fuerte es su personaje protagonista, la misma Cluny Brown y el retrato de esa época y de esa vida que muchos y muchas ya hemos visto tanto en Downton Abbey como en Arriba y Abajo... aunque quizá más en la primera, al ubicarnos en el declive de esa vieja casta británica de terratenientes con las grandes mansiones llenas de sirvientes.
Sigue leyendo: https://www.instagram.com/p/CxIB7uOobXo/
Su punto fuerte es su personaje protagonista, la misma Cluny Brown y el retrato de esa época y de esa vida que muchos y muchas ya hemos visto tanto en Downton Abbey como en Arriba y Abajo... aunque quizá más en la primera, al ubicarnos en el declive de esa vieja casta británica de terratenientes con las grandes mansiones llenas de sirvientes.
Sigue leyendo: https://www.instagram.com/p/CxIB7uOobXo/
mgespi's review against another edition
4.0
90/2022 Cluny Brown. Margery Sharp. Hoja de Lata. 280 páginas. Traducido por Raquel García Rojas
Cluny Brown es huérfana y vive con sus tíos, que la consideran una excéntrica porque un día se fue a tomar el té al Ritz. Y como no saben qué hacer con ella, la mandan a servir. Como si un cambio de aires fuese a hacer que dejase de ser excéntrica y de intentar hacer en todo momento lo que ella quiere.
Me ha gustado porque está llena de personajes interesantes, el hijo de la casa, su amigo el autor...pero sobre todo la propia Cluny, que es un gran personaje. Me lo he pasado muy bien y estoy muy a tope con Margery Sharp. Muy recomendable.
Cluny Brown es huérfana y vive con sus tíos, que la consideran una excéntrica porque un día se fue a tomar el té al Ritz. Y como no saben qué hacer con ella, la mandan a servir. Como si un cambio de aires fuese a hacer que dejase de ser excéntrica y de intentar hacer en todo momento lo que ella quiere.
Me ha gustado porque está llena de personajes interesantes, el hijo de la casa, su amigo el autor...pero sobre todo la propia Cluny, que es un gran personaje. Me lo he pasado muy bien y estoy muy a tope con Margery Sharp. Muy recomendable.