Always good to see Steve and hear about him taking one for the team with reading Ainsworth! Doesn’t sound like an unknown obscure author I need to try 😬 I’ve somehow never read Zadie Smith but I don’t think I’ll be starting here although it was great fun hearing you discuss this book.
I am just coming to the end of The Fraud now and I completely agree I thought the book was disjointed and didn't really work. She would have been better choosing one of the strands and focussing on it or she should have written three different novels. It was OK but to be honest it hasn't made me want to go out and read more Zadie Smith though it has made me want to go out and read more Ainsworth :D
Steve says avoid Ainsworth like the plague 😉 Glad you feel the same about The Fraud. It was on various review lists of best books of the year and I was thinking have they read it or are they just mates of hers?
I found the content interesting. I had looked into the Tichbourne case before so I was familiar but knew nothing about Ainsworth. But I wasn't compelled by the book. It was hard for me to get through. When I really thought the themes, setting, characters would compel me
I'm surprised this has just lukewarm reviews, I thought it would be a bit hit, but maybe not. I own several Zadie books but strangely haven't read any of them - think I'll start with a different one!
The only Ainsworth I have read is ‘The Lancashire Witches’ which I thoroughly enjoyed. Maybe because I live in the shadow of Pendle Hill I’m biased 🙂🧙♀️
I listened to Zoe reading this on audio book & loved listening to her. I agree that the short element of the slaves' significant sad experiences should have been more focused on the whole book.
I read an Ainsworth biography by Stephen Carver a couple of years ago which I found very interesting, but every attempt at reading one of his novels ended after a couple of chapters. They just did not age well and I did not get on with his writing style at all. As a Victorian writer I found him quite interesting though. I think I will check out Zadie Smith's novel.
Just started reading The Fraud so your conversation gave me some good preemptive background - thank you! Keep your chats going!
Thanks Carol. Glad it was vaguely useful!
Fascinating. It is so lovely to see the two of you talking together about books...
Thank you Hannah. I know you will be missing talking about books with David so lovely of you to say this.
@@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711 ♥️
Fantastic conversation! I’d love to read a nonfiction book about this dude that impersonated the dead aristocrat.
Yes it is an extraordinary saga. The trials ran over two years and the claimant was funded through public appeal.
This was so interesting and enjoyable to watch! You are great together, but I think you know that already. 😉
Aww thanks 😊
Steve and I talk about books a lot but I only get him on camera occasionally.
Always good to see Steve and hear about him taking one for the team with reading Ainsworth! Doesn’t sound like an unknown obscure author I need to try 😬 I’ve somehow never read Zadie Smith but I don’t think I’ll be starting here although it was great fun hearing you discuss this book.
Yes I amgoing to skip on Ainsworth. Zadie Smith is talented but somehow I never absolutely love her books.
I am just coming to the end of The Fraud now and I completely agree I thought the book was disjointed and didn't really work. She would have been better choosing one of the strands and focussing on it or she should have written three different novels. It was OK but to be honest it hasn't made me want to go out and read more Zadie Smith though it has made me want to go out and read more Ainsworth :D
Steve says avoid Ainsworth like the plague 😉
Glad you feel the same about The Fraud. It was on various review lists of best books of the year and I was thinking have they read it or are they just mates of hers?
I found the content interesting. I had looked into the Tichbourne case before so I was familiar but knew nothing about Ainsworth. But I wasn't compelled by the book. It was hard for me to get through. When I really thought the themes, setting, characters would compel me
Not compelling is a good way to describe it for me too. I could see what she was doing but it didn't quite come together.
The two of you are adorable.😊
Thanks Tracy. I'll tell Steve that 😀
I'm surprised this has just lukewarm reviews, I thought it would be a bit hit, but maybe not. I own several Zadie books but strangely haven't read any of them - think I'll start with a different one!
Yes she is a very skilled writer at the sentence and even chapter level but I have never absolutely loved a novel of hers. It is odd.
The only Ainsworth I have read is ‘The Lancashire Witches’ which I thoroughly enjoyed. Maybe because I live in the shadow of Pendle Hill I’m biased 🙂🧙♀️
What a lovely place to live. I thought he must surely have written some better ones than Ovingdean Grange, the one that Steve read.
An Eliot cameo appearance is about the only enticement I might find. 😂
And it's barely a cameo. More of a glimpse.
I have not read any Smith since White Teeth first came out. Really must put that right and read some more. PS changed name but still Kate
Hi Kate. I have only read three and I'd say they were all good and yet somehow none an absolute favourite.
I listened to Zoe reading this on audio book & loved listening to her. I agree that the short element of the slaves' significant sad experiences should have been more focused on the whole book.
Yes it felt shoehorned in at that point which didn't give it enough space.
I read an Ainsworth biography by Stephen Carver a couple of years ago which I found very interesting, but every attempt at reading one of his novels ended after a couple of chapters. They just did not age well and I did not get on with his writing style at all. As a Victorian writer I found him quite interesting though. I think I will check out Zadie Smith's novel.
You will find her novel even more interesting as you read the biography. I expect Smith will have used it for research.