These are the kinds of stories which expose the imperfections which lie beneath a carefully smoothed comforter. Honest characterization is key, Lisa McInerney explains to Marie Gethins,: "There is absolutely no element or aspect of their characters’ lives a writer should shy away from presenting, no matter how unpleasant.
Making Conversation is, for me, one of those Persephones, like Miss Pettigrew and Miss Buncle, that are readily recommendable: it’s the sort of book that will appeal to a wide variety of readers and has little to discourage. And, just as these books do have more serious ideas beneath their
Even though it was described as "easily the wittiest novel of the season" when it was published in 1931, I wasn't expecting to find Poor Caroline so amusing. Not laugh-out-loud hilarity, no, but many quiet chuckles, gentle hrumphs, and the occasional indignant snort at Mr. Johnson's impressions of women, which
