Dramatic events in war-torn France (Charlotte Gray - Sebastian Faulks)

Member Name: pmcds

Product:	Charlotte Gray - Sebastian Faulks
Date:	30/09/08 (44 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: High quality literature

Disadvantages: Not my style - found it hard going

Sebastian Faulks is well known as a period drama writer, focusing on wartime romance and long descriptive passages. Knowing this isn't really my thing, I thought I would give this a go. My wife and mum had both praised it, saying how well written it was, and I thought I would at least try it. I hadn't heard one person say anything negative about Faulks.

It became pretty clear early on that nothing was going to happen very quickly in this book. I am the sort of person who loves a good crime thriller or a fast paced, easy to read book such as a James Patterson or Ian Rankin. What I found with Charlotte Gray was a wonderful story but one that I would have to be patient with if I was to finish and enjoy it.

The plot is a well contrived one. It is set in 1942 during the second world war, and features Charlotte Gray, contributing to the war effort by travelling from London to Scotland, before being couriered over to France to aid the allies there. Along the way, she falls in love with an airman, and holds out hope that he will return safely from the war. Faulks gives us the impression that this will never happen, and I spent the whole of the novel hoping beyond hope everything was going to be okay.

Other events cause Charlotte to focus her attentions elsewhere, as Faulks examines the harsh conditions the occupying Nazis put on French citizens as they strove to win the war by force and political will. The treatment of the French is portrayed as brutal and unfair, which is the general consensus anyway. I found this to be a very clever way of drawing me in as a reader and getting me on side with Charlotte and her friends.

The book is very well written, but I couldn't get away from the fact that the passages were long and descriptive, and the language was far more proper than some of the easier to read books that are published on a more regular basis. The language is clean and crisp, but definitely suits the time the novel is based around. This is a good point for the novel and for how it works, but a negative for me as a reader. I found it hard to get into the book, and kept wanting something to happen. When it did, the actions and events tended to be glossed over a bit too abruptly for my liking before returning to what seems like Faulks' comfort zone: artistic description and the explanation of feelings.

Overall, I find it hard to give this book a thumbs up. It is not a bad book, but it is just not for me, and I have to accept that I will find books like this. I appreciate the quality of writing, but this is more the sort of book I would prefer to capture the story of by watching the film. I did finish the book, and was glad when I did because it had been hard going, but the tale did stick in my mind, and this is testament to a skillful author.

Charlotte Gray retails at £6.99, but is available from amazon.co.uk brand new for £5.99. I am sure you will be able to pick up an even cheaper copy somewhere, either online or in a charity shop, especially if you're happy with a second hand copy.

Summary: This isn't my thing, but I can see how it would appeal to others