This novel was a case of being pleasantly surprised by a story about which you don't know what to expect. I greatly enjoyed reading this book peopled by an abundance of quirky characters, whose vibrant personalities enliven the otherwise dull setting where they live.

The only reason I had heard of Taylor (not the actress) was because of the Virago group here on LT; the front of the book is a simple landscape of a harbor front and the description on the back indicates that the story is about an affair, and frankly, that theme has been done before. So there was nothing to indicate what kind of reading experience this would be. On the other hand, I had hopes for Taylor, since she seemed to be well-loved by the other Viragoites, but then I had never read her myself, and the book packaging just did not draw me in. I had a go at it, anyway.

How delighted I was to choose this green cover as my next read! The story, as expected, is not that original, but it doesn't matter, because the characters are marvelous. Poor Lilly, watching the world through her window of fear and widowhood, Bertram, the newcomer, who likes to insinuate himself into other lives, the wonderful writer and not so wonderful mother, Beth, and Tory, fashionable, intelligent, passionate and a bit cold, having an affair with her best friend's (Beth's) husband. I could go on about the others, but I don't want to become obnoxious. Suffice it to say that every person introduced is complex and interesting. No stereotypes here - all the cast have their positive and negative aspects, and at times I loved them, at times I disliked them, a variety of actions in between. This is a real slice-of-life tale, that focuses on one stage in the lives of these villagers, these beautifully crafted people. ( )

'Interesting,' he observed, 'what two people can make of the same view. We all see places a bit different to what the next man does. That stands to reason. (p. 309)

Newby is an English seaside town a bit past its prime. The fishing trade has waned, and summer visitors are not as numerous as before the war. Taylor's imagery brings the scene to life: To the men on the boats the harbour was at first dingy and familiar, a row of buildings, shops, cafe, pub, with peeling plaster of apricot and sky blue; then as the boats steered purposefully from the harbour-mouth to the sea, houses rose up in tiers, the church-tower extricated itself from the roofs, the lettering on the shops faded and the sordid became picturesque. (p. 9)

With this backdrop, A View of the Harbour focuses on the day-to-day events and relationships of the community. Like any small town, people spend a lot of time watching one another and gossiping. Characters are presented first at a distance, as viewed through a window by a neighbor. But Taylor also transitions seamlessly to first-hand accounts of each character, bringing detail, depth and emotion to each situation. Many events play out through the perspective of Bertram, a visitor who has supposedly come to paint the scenery, but manages to insert himself into the lives of several community members. As he becomes acquainted with various people, so does the reader.

Women's friendships are a key theme in the novel. Beth, a writer and mother of two daughters, has been close friends with Tory, a vain and frivolous divorcee, since they were in school. Although these two women were close as children, now they have little in common but still turn to each other for support. And, sadly, each puts relationships with men ahead of their relationship with each other.

I love Elizabeth Taylor's writing, which so vividly evokes the shabby seaside town and the recent impact of the war on its inhabitants. And her characters are "real people," that could be found anywhere. I am looking forward to reading more by this wonderful author. ( )

My second Elizabeth Taylor novel. I enjoyed this book. It is an easy read, but not of mass-market paperback ilk (which isn't always a bad thing, mind you). Smart, with depth, and amusing in all the right places. ( )

Read on holiday in Italy.

I bought this book on the cover recommendations from Sarah Waters and Kingsley Amis. What a shame. Nothing near the quality of those two writers.

The story centres on characters in an English seaside town during WW2 - and discusses relationships within the village. An absent-minded writer is oblivious to her husband's affair with her neighbour., although her adult daughter is not. The character development is fair to good and the plot - well what plot? (the divorced friend departs town with a new fiance). Her descriptive prose is clever at times but I wouldn't rush out for her other books.

A beach-read - nothing more. ( )