Starts out as a very 70s working class novel - I mean it deals with the working class... then it suddenly turns into a Agatha Christie's who done it. Towards the end it turns out to be a psyhcological novel. I enjoyed it but you must also be a bit interested in the social aspect of the past to appreciate it (I think).

This is an odd little book. Combo of absurdism, Joyce and Dreiser, this story tells the tale of a couple of friends' unfortunately happenings at a work picnic. The prose was sparse and none of the characters very developed, but it was quite readable. I don't know if I'd go as far as recommending it, but I wouldn't be upset if I caught you reading it.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

not as good as The Dressmaker

Dipping my toe into the more batshit and bizarre and I had a good time with Beryl. Everyone in this book is so messy and comical yet matter-of-fact, it's such a window into madness and the lives of lost women

2009 bookcrossing:

I had never heard of Beryl Bainbridge before I picked up this book. It says in the front that she was born in the 30s in Liverpool. This book was first written in the 70s. It is set in London and focuses on two women: the dramatic and well-built blonde Freda, and the skinny, mousey Brenda, who have haphazardly joined forces in life. They share a bedsit and bed and work at an Italian bottle factory. Freda is keen to seduce the Italian manager, and arranges a works outing for one Sunday. Brenda is dreading it because she is being persued by another of the Italian managers. The day trip doesn´t exactly go to plan and ends really quite grimly.

The book really focuses in on the events and people´s conversations - I mean, time-wise this isn´t a long story. But this doesn´t make it boring or feel long and drawn out. It was a pretty addictive read: I finished it in a day. There are some fantastic characters in this book, and I would certainly try more of her work if I ever come across it.

One of the minor characters really fascinated me - Brenda´s mad mother-in-law. Some of the little anecdotes about what she did were brilliant. I particularly liked the one about her sneaking out in the wee small hours, stealing the hens´eggs to draw faces on them before putting them back.

I have no idea what the point of this book was. It did nothing for me. The characters were not relatable to me in any way, the story was boring. I got nothing from it. Boo.