Mavis Cheek (1948–2023)

Fine art picture-framer Margaret likes to take a leaf out of Gloriana’s book, reasoning that men are fine for occasional amusement but long-term entanglements are best avoided. She has a year off from childcare when her teenage niece goes off to do her own thing in North America, and determines to follow the advice of an old friend by using the time to have a bit of excitement before middle age cuts in. But of course it turns out that it’s not all that easy to get hold of a presentable show more man on an agreed limited-term basis. Also, it isn’t as simple as she had expected to deal with disapproval and/or envy from her women friends.

Not exactly high farce, but agreeably wistful comedy in a sort of 1990s version of Barbara Pym, with plenty of interesting cultural background from Ovid, the Tudors and the world of fine art, and a good ear for the absurdities of middle-class English suburban life. show less

Although the book does not seem to want to endeavor into discovering any eternal thuths, it is still such a fun read, and I have enjoyed Cheek's writing a lot, and her great sense of humor. She plays with serious issues and does not take them seriously at all. The country characters are partly caricatured through the main characters view and offer a truly funny set, as opposed to the goings on in the city: delicious and highly entertaining.

I didn't get this book. Not at all. It starts with the main character being a feminist, then turning into super mom and wife, then getting divorced and finally thinking of herself and not just the children and she moves to the country and tries to concentrate on the important things in life, things that give her joy, wants to be selfish for once in her life. And I like it. And then the end messes it all up again, because a woman obviously cannot be happy unless there's a man at her side.

Middle aged Flora who has lost her dashing but insufferable husband becomes interested in the history of Anna of Cleeves and fascinated by the Hans Holbein protrait of Anna that hangs in the Louvre. In researching Anna's story and liberating her from the "Flanders mare" label, Flora explores her own emergence as an intelligent and strong woman with some hilarious interactions with her neighbours and family.
A charming and witty story and i loved it.