Perfectly Correct

I have read most of Gregory's books and If this had been my first I don't think I would have bothered to buy a second. I thought that the gentle lampooning of feminist academic life was leading up to something. It doesn't, and the tacked-on romance is implausible as it comes out of nowhere. Character development is virtually non-existent and I found the "heroine" rather unpleasant. The only interesting character was Rosie, and she made too-short and infrequent appearances effectively as a 'deus ex machina'.

A bit of a fluffy read, but good enough for a Friday commute home.
Louise is a feminist entangled in a long affair with her best friend's husband. She is trying to write a feminist critique of Lawrence's "the virgin and the gypsy", but is distracted by the woman who moves into her orchard in her smelly blue van.

A delightful afternoon spent reading this book. I was unsure when I first started reading it as it seemed to be just an average romance with nothing new in it. It picked up and I found myself thoroughly enjoying the torment Dr Case feels when she is torn between what she thinks are her feminist beliefs and the traditional life she genuinely craves and wants.

Louise (Dr Case) has what she wants, she's a writer/researcher and a University lecturer. She has also inherited a wonderful country cottage from her Aunt. Caught up in a relationship with a married man - this is the bit that I was confused with at the start, she's quite happy playing second best to Miriam (who is also her friend) with Toby. Then Rose arrives in her old van, parks show more up in Louise's orchard and Louise's life changes.

Bit by bit her life changes and unravels around her with Louise feeling like she has little control over anything. Rose is there every step of the way though engineering some of the changes to help Louise realise what it is she really wants.

You can't take this book too seriously and you shouldn't find yourself thinking about how she's gone back on her beliefs - it's fiction after all. Lots of lessons learned in this plot and a chance to think about your own life - have you got what you really want? A good plot, midly irritating at times how she does manage to fall so nicely on her feet but otherwise an entertaining read.

The length is just right and you are given a chance to get to know all of the characters through Gregory's wonderful descriptive prose. The plot includes references to the Suffragette movement and DH Lawrence, so a good mix of literature and social politics. As mentioned, the relationship between Louise, Toby and Miriam was confusing but became understandable after a few chapters.

Set over 11 days, each chapter is a different day, with an epilogue at the end to tie up the loose ends. You do need to suspend belief for part of it but it is fiction and isn't likely to happen this way so enjoy it. show less

I picked this book up in a book exchange in a pub and didn't realise immediately that it was THAT Phillipa Gregory. This was written before her Tudor series which got me hooked on this writer. This is not an historical novel, but I do sense that the characters are written from personal experience. Underlining the easy going main story is women's politics and the extremes people will go to. I didn't expect much from the title and blurb on the back, but was pleasantly surprised. This passed the time.

OK I re-read this yesterday (26 Dec 08) and it wasn't bad. The heroine is Dr. Louise Case, she has a lovely job, a lovely cottage in the country and a totally modern romance with her best friend's husband.

I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I though the plot a little bland. But my real issue was at the end of a chapter called Tuesday, when *spolier alert* after a lovely romp in the fields with Andrew; he, after a small tiff with Louise, says in his car as his drives off, "My little darling! I'll have have you yet in spite of of yourself, my darling lollipop." WTF! So out of character for a rugged man of the country, regardless of how evolved he seems to be. The reading Austen via audiotapes in his tractor, a stretch, but I could show more forgive.

Wrapped up way too neatly, but I can't complain I didn't pay for my copy. It was a "Special promotional book exclusive to Cosmopolitan. Not for re-sale." show less

Passable but a bit annoying message wise.

This tries to be several things and fails. Louise is a lecturer in college with a committment free relationship with Toby, another academic, who's married to Miriam, Louise's best friend. Rose comes along to stay in her orchard, who's 80, and starts stirring things.

Best bit:

"You read novels?" she asked rudely.
"Sometimes. Mostly I listen to them." he smiled. "I've got a Walkman and I like to listen to novels when I'm in the tractor cab. I like Jane Austen best I think, but I like them all."
He did up the buttons on his jacket. "George Eliot is good for a long field," he said. "And Henry James is the best for harrowing. But that post-modernist fiction I just can't get on with. It's no good for show more ploughing at all." He shot a mischievous grin at her astonished face. show less

I very much enjoyed Perfectly Correct .
Very witty and clever - as I would have expected from Philippa.