https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/marking-time-by-elizabeth-jane-howard/

Marking Time is the second of the series, set a year after the first, and concentrating very much on three teenage Cazalet girls, whose fathers are brothers. But it’s now war time – the book starts in September 1939 and ends with Pearl Harbour in December 1941, so it covers a long and crucial period of the girls’ lives; Louise, an aspiring actress, whose father is abusive; Clary, an aspiring writer, whose father goes missing after Dunkirk; and sensitive Polly, whose mother is very ill though nobody will admit it. Between the lines (and not only there) is a thoughtful reflection on the roles of women in English society of the time.

The cast of characters is huge – the family tree at the start lists eighteen living Cazalet relatives, and there are a half dozen more who get at least some viewpoint time – lovers, servants, in-laws. But Howard keeps them all under control, and although we know that parts of this are based on her own life, it doesn’t come across didactically. There is a minor twist at the end of the book which made me gasp, but in any case I would have been impatient for the next instalment; some very tempting plot lines have been set up. I’ll get to it soon enough! ( )

Extraordinarily well written second book in this family chromicle. Not only emotionally accurate but also very true to life historically as well ( )

The second volume of this series concentrates, for the most part, on the three adolescent girls of the family. Elizabeth Jane Howard captures their characters beautifully and just what it was like to be stuck at home trying to carry on with life when the world was descending into chaos. Frustration, fear and mundanity are the dominant themes. But also how are they going to make their way in the world? There are many secrets that lead to some heartbreaking misunderstandings. We also get glimpses into the lives of the other characters, family, extended family, friends and servants; their worries and concerns and the many secrets here too. Everything is beautifully observed and written. Can't wait to get onto the next instalment. ( )

**** : La guerre a éclaté. Une partie de la famille se réfugie à Home Place dirigé de main de maître par la Duche. Les enfants grandissent : les aînés tentent de vivre leurs rêves malgre la guerre; les plus jeunes partagés entre la réalité et l'insouciance de leur âge. On retrouve la finesse et l'humour du premier tome.

(54) The second book in the Cazalet Chronicles - I simply had to start on the next book immediately, dear. WW2 begins and the family are all sent to Home Place in the country to avoid the bombing of London. In this installment there is less of a miss-mash of point of views and the story is mostly told through Clary, Polly, and Louise. They girls are growing up and are frustrated by their youth and inexperience in particular as it regards being women without great opportunities for meaningful work. Rupert joins the Navy and is soon MIA; this casts a pall over the entire family as they try to make their way through this difficult time. It is one of those books where so much happens in many ways, but also so little. I could recite a laundry list of the plot points and goings-on and so forth - but it would not do it justice. Suffice it to say, it is charming, engaging, addicting. . .

I liked this one about as much as the first. Perhaps there was a bit of a feel of 'marking time' and there could be some times where the narrative seems to spin its wheels. I only take a star off because at its heart it is 'just' a family drama despite being quite an authentic-feeling period piece. However, I feel as if I could read about these characters forever and than I know them, despite being separated by culture and time. Howard has a knack for including just the right amount of the quotidian, just the right amount of inner dialogue, and just the right amount of action to keep the reader intrigued and a bit surprised - yet still creating entirely consistent characterizations and a familiar setting you can almost see and smell. I will happily read on. It is all I can do to not start the next right away. ( )