The Peacock Emporium

Like the other books I’ve read by JoJo Moyes, this has an interesting and unpredictable plot and a cast of distinctive characters, in both primary and supporting roles. Dialog and relationships are original, complex, and believable. All good! I like this author. My main criticism with this one is the book’s structure.

At the beginning, Moyes introduces a bunch of characters in sequential, stand-alone chapters. No connection between them. This is a technique I’ve found several authors using lately — so it must be in vogue. The issue, for me, is that I then need to remember multiple story lines, without yet knowing how they will ultimately intersect. So just as I’m just getting to know one character, the chapter ends and that show more character is then set aside for some chunk of the book. And whatever emotional attachment I might have is set aside as well.

Obviously, the storylines do eventually link up and the central part of the novel follows a more linear plot line, focusing on Suzannah. She is a child of privilege from a family where she feels like an outsider and she has just returned to live in the small English town where she grew up, near that family. She is unsettled in her 10 year marriage to Neal and ambivalent about having children. Somewhat whimsically she decides she will find her true purpose by opening up a new shop (aka The Peacock Emporium).

As an entrepreneur, Suzannah (and we) gets to know a bunch of locals. A lonely old women who comes regularly to pass judgement on everything and everyone and to exercise her relentless self-involvement. A sunny young mother who becomes the cornerstone of establishing a welcoming atmosphere at the shop. A foreign-born male midwife whose darker skin makes it difficult to find acceptance in this small town. Plus, a few nearby shop owners.

Then, as we approach the end of the novel, the author employs the same writing technique as she did at the start — ending with a number of chapters that seem unconnected, where Moyes initially, intentionally obscures which character is being discussed. I’m not sure what this adds.

To be honest, I simply find this technique annoying. To me, an author should create something that so immerses the reader that they get lost inside the novel. Instead, what Moyes has done in this one is use such a heavy-handed structure that it interferes in that total immersion. Form over content. Not my preferred approach to fiction. show less

Like the other books I’ve read by JoJo Moyes, this has an interesting and unpredictable plot and a cast of distinctive characters, in both primary and supporting roles. Dialog and relationships are original, complex, and believable. All good! I like this author. My main criticism with this one is the book’s structure.

At the beginning, Moyes introduces a bunch of characters in sequential, stand-alone chapters. No connection between them. This is a technique I’ve found several authors using lately — so it must be in vogue. The issue, for me, is that I then need to remember multiple story lines, without yet knowing how they will ultimately intersect. So just as I’m just getting to know one character, the chapter ends and that show more character is then set aside for some chunk of the book. And whatever emotional attachment I might have is set aside as well.

Obviously, the storylines do eventually link up and the central part of the novel follows a more linear plot line, focusing on Suzannah. She is a child of privilege from a family where she feels like an outsider and she has just returned to live in the small English town where she grew up, near that family. She is unsettled in her 10 year marriage to Neal and ambivalent about having children. Somewhat whimsically she decides she will find her true purpose by opening up a new shop (aka The Peacock Emporium).

As an entrepreneur, Suzannah (and we) gets to know a bunch of locals. A lonely old women who comes regularly to pass judgement on everything and everyone and to exercise her relentless self-involvement. A sunny young mother who becomes the cornerstone of establishing a welcoming atmosphere at the shop. A foreign-born male midwife whose darker skin makes it difficult to find acceptance in this small town. Plus, a few nearby shop owners.

Then, as we approach the end of the novel, the author employs the same writing technique as she did at the start — ending with a number of chapters that seem unconnected, where Moyes initially, intentionally obscures which character is being discussed. I’m not sure what this adds.

To be honest, I simply find this technique annoying. To me, an author should create something that so immerses the reader that they get lost inside the novel. Instead, what Moyes has done in this one is use such a heavy-handed structure that it interferes in that total immersion. Form over content. Not my preferred approach to fiction. show less

I've loved almost all of Jojo Moyes' books, but this one wasn't quite as good. It starts off slowly, but some parts are excellent. She creatively crafted the tale about different generations and sometimes it's not clear which character is narrating the chapter for a page or two. I liked that, but I don't mind figuring things out. As usual for Moyes, I could identify with the characters or I know someone similar. I'll still recommend this one, but not at enthusiastically as her other novels.

This book from Moyes' backlist seems a bit different than other books by this author; it is darker in ways, and fewer of the characters are likable. On the other hand, they are portrayed in such a realistic way that one can’t help but develop - for most of them - an understanding of, and sympathy for, both their good and bad aspects.

The focus of the book is on the family of the Fairley-Hulmes and the people with whom their lives have intersected over the past 50 years or so. (The novel moves back and forth in time.) In particular, the story centers around Suzanna, one of the Fairley-Hulme daughters, now 35 and married to Neil Peacock. Her life seems boring and passionless to her, and she thinks perhaps a shop will help make her feel show more fulfilled. Thus she opens The Peacock Emporium, a little boutique for “found” objects with a coffee bar.

One of Suzanna’s first customers, Jessie Carter, offers to help in the shop. Because Jessie is genial and friendly in contrast to Suzanna, Suzanna realizes Jessie can help bring in customers. In time, surly Suzanna succumbs to Jessie’s charm as well, and in spite of their nine-year age difference (Suzanna is 35 and Jessie is 26), they become the best of friends.

Through the influence of Jessie, Suzanna gets to know the other shopkeepers and customers in the neighborhood, and the store’s business grows, as does Suzanna’s happiness. One male customer in particular seems to drop by more and more frequently. But Suzanna is married, and Jessie has a long-time boyfriend. They’re not sure what it means.

Changes are also occurring in her parents’ lives, but Suzanna, pre-occupied with herself, is largely oblivious to it. Then disaster strikes, and everyone has to re-evaluate who they are and what they want out of their lives.

Discussion: It takes longer than usual for Moyes to set up the background for the story and the ways in which its threads are tied together, but once the scaffolding is laid the pace is much improved. The story is cleverly bookended by the author, which adds to one's appreciation at the end.

While Moyes doesn't make it easy for us to like the characters, she adds the right amount of subtlety to convince us there is more to her protagonists than first meets the eye. In addition, the characters lives are quite interesting, and Moyes has you wishing you were there in the shop, having an espresso, and watching the story unfold.

Evaluation: I enjoy all of Moyes books. Her writing is quite good and her talent for realistic dialogue is outstanding. show less

The book opens in 2001 with a midwife in Buenos Aires involved in a delivery which leaves a bittersweet taste. The next chapter takes us back almost forty years, when Vivi is going to a dance with her friend Douglas. That story continues for a few chapters, as we get to know Douglas and his family rather better... then suddenly we're back to 2001, and a young woman called Suzanna Peacock who is feeling frustrated in life in general, and plans to open a shop - the Peacock Emporium of the book's title.

Reading just a chapter or two at night, I found myself totally confused at first, wondering how on earth these diverse threads would meld together. But gradually I found myself drawn more and more into the story, which is full of show more believable, and mostly likeable people, along with a few caricatures.

I wasn't sure I was going to like it at all, but by the end could barely put it down. The writing is crisp and very readable; the story cleverly bound together, even if the viewpoint and decade switches are sometimes a little confusing. Recommended. show less

Contrary to Moyes usual likeable heroines , the main character is as deliberately unlikeable* as possible . I suspect Moyes was trying to write a successful romance with an unlikeable heroine since romance heroines are always so perfect. Unfortunately , I did not find the theme of the book romantic and didn't like the heroine enough to wish her a HEA. As always Moyes writing style and language are lovely and it was a well laid plot. I read till the end but I hope she returns to her intensely likeable characters.

Edit: Mystery solved, apparently this is actually an early book from her released in the U.K. in 2004 but just recently released in the U.S.






*I found her childish, selfish, and dishonest.

Exquisite character work. Moyes has a gift of juggling many complex characters and making all their actions/words make perfect sense for them. I thoroughly enjoyed diving into them all through their stories.