A review by midgardener
The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald

2.0

Stage 1: this should be a sweet little read! Light, amiable, good to take the mind off one’s troubles.

Stage 2: bit dull, but not bad. It’ll pick up.

Stage 3: dear me. This is molasses. Not investing in characters, either. Oh dear. Still, it’s a novella, and there’s only a couple hours left in the audio. Carry on.

Stage 4 (SPOILERS): 10 minutes left and things are going rather badly. This is some final battle for the shopkeeper! I wonder what will happen to save the day? If only I cared more. Pity.

Stage 5 (SPOILERS): ... nothing saved the day? Are you serious? Friendships shattered, her one champion dead, the antagonistic force triumphant, and our hero shipped out on a train of defeat? What did I just read??

Bloody depressing book. Boring, too many characters not handled well, and a ridiculously pessimistic outcome. How this was shortlisted for the Booker AND made into a film is beyond my grasp. Good gracious.