In the Place of Fallen Leaves (1993)

If Thomas Hardy read up on magic realism, took antidepressants, and was interested in writing sympathetic, believable characters, he might write In the Place of Fallen Leaves. In other words, it's a Thomas Hardy novel for people who don't like Thomas Hardy novels (such as me.)

I especially enjoyed reading it because it's set a bit to the south-west of where I'm currently living in Devon, and was full of fascinating local color.

Beautifully and unusually written; I highly recommend it! ( )

'Atmospheric' is the best word I can think of to describe the world laid out in this book. That and 'fabulous'. It's one of those stories that seems to have no real plot to it but kind of meanders until you realise that you've gone somewhere without being quite aware of the journey. It's set in the hot late summer of 1984 in a Devon village with eleven year old Alison leading us around her family and friends. The story is coming-of-ageish I suppose, but it's delightful. Definitely an author to read more of. Exceptionally well written too.

A lovely meandering tale about a number of people in a Devonshire village in the summer of 1984. Its main focus was Alison, impatiently waiting to start high school, but the other characters were far more interesting. I loved the Rector, and Maria, and the vivid descriptions of Alison's grandmother's experiences and her place in life.

I wanted to tell the author that he has a lovely, rich descriptive style that could on the odd occasion do with being reigned in a little. Sometimes he strained so hard to fit in a metaphor or simile that wasn't required that it just jarred, though mostly the story flowed beautifully.

Most of all, I want a follow up that tells me about the rest of Ian's life - he was by far the most interesting character.

Slow to get into, but growing more rewarding with each chapter, this novel is the story of one long, hot summer in 1984 set in an isolated Devon village. Seen through the eyes of Alison who is 11ish, the youngest of her farming family, we discover all the eccentric inhabitants of her village, and how the unbearable heat and drought affects them all over this Indian summer.
The prose, like the season it depicts, is languid and sultry and Pears describes the minutiae of this heatwave in detail without overdoing it generally, although the eventual rain does bring relief to all! ( )