What Did It Mean?

Angela Thirkell's chronicle of Barsetshire are unto themselves. You'll either love them or hate them. Very little happens. The humor is of the gentle sort, neither slapstick like Wodehouse, nor satirical, but more amused observation. The sentences frequently run on for most of a paragraph. To the extent that there is a plot, it's all about preparing to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. For quite some time we follow Lydia Keith and her attempt to bring a young man out of his shell, but the final fifth -- and best part IMO -- of the book drops that line to focus on a triangle of elderly denizens and the relationships between them. Despite a lot of character history from previous books, which may make some scenes more important, this show more still works as a standalone novel. At least, for Thirkell.

If you can find a Thirkell novel, try it, especially if you are a fan of Austen or Heyer. show less

More of the same, but now that there is no longer a Labour government the political comments are considerably less (and therefore less annoying). I am getting to be interested in and like the characters more. The sexist, classist views continue but they are of their time and the author's point of view, so can be ignored (at least by me). The story leads up to the coronation of Elizabeth II and the celebrations that occurred.

From the onset, I didn't think I would care for What Did It Mean?. Before the reader gets ten pages in he or she is introduced to a myriad of characters with no clue as to their importance to the plot. I had to start a list and was constantly wondering if I needed to remember these people later on. The plot itself centers around the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Everyone is frantically planning complicated festivities through various committees. Of course, every member has ulterior motives and the main objective is often forgotten in the frenzy. With there being so many different characters, it is a study in society as much as it is about a specific locale, Barsetshire. I couldn't help it but I found myself getting bored.