“But Jack is not offended; he has a sense of his place in the world, and a sensible man expects snooty people to be snooty.”
Louis de Bernières, Notwithstanding
Title: Notwithstanding
Author: Louis de Bernières
Genres: Short Stories, Literary, Contemporary Fiction.
Pages: 384 (Paperback)
Published: December 14th, 2009
My Rating: ★★★
Read: 7/14/2023 – 7/21/2023
Review:
I first heard about this book in a YouTube video and decided to check it out when I saw that my library had a copy. It lived up to its cozy recommendation. A quick and easy read, and at its core, cute.
Nothwithstanding is a collection of short stories set in a small English town. The stories sometimes intertwine and go in and out of different perspectives. There isn’t a whole lot of action. Each story is very character (focusing on certain characters more than others) oriented while each individual represents their role in this community.
I liked some of the stories, others I could have done without. One in particular had me perplexed (and not in a good or inquisitive way). Otherwise, I enjoyed the quaintness of the book even though I didn’t connect deeply with any of the characters.
Likes & Dislikes:
What I liked:
- The coziness of the setting and the writing.
- Witty.
What I didn’t like:
- There were some bizarre elements to the story, one in particular involving a dog.
- I couldn’t tell if the author was poking fun at some religious practices or was genuinely not informed.
Afterthoughts:
Aside from cozy mysteries, I feel like lately the idea of cozy reads is capturing my attention. I would love some recommendations!