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Title: Queen Lucia: A Novel (Lucia) by E. F. Benson ISBN: 1-55921-252-7 Publisher: Moyer Bell Ltd. Pub. Date: 28 May, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.74 (19 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: One of the 3 funniest novels ever written
Comment: And the other 2 are also by Benson ... well, tied with Toole's "Confedearcy of Dunces" and Keenan's "Blue Heaven."
There's a slow start with the first chapter--Benson's humour is entirely character-based, so you needs must meet the character before the jokes can begin--but once they begin, they don't let up.
Luckily (because you'll want more, more more after this book) there are others in the series. This first book sets the pattern: wealthy, intellectually-pretentious, English housewife Lucia wants to be thought of as the exemplar of good/interesting taste, and will stop at nothing to achieve her goal. The characters are all frightfully interested in the most trivial things, and it's screamingly funny.
If you like Benson, try Beverley Nichols (oh, and do read the other two funniest novels ever written, mentioned above--you owe it to yourself.)
Note: a 3 star ranking from me is actually pretty good; I reserve 4 stars for tremendously good works, and 5 only for the rare few that are or ought to be classic; unfortunately most books published are 2 or less.
Rating: 5
Summary: Oh, Lucia!
Comment: If you can imagine TV's Aaron Spelling writing his brand of witty and campy fun in an English town in the 1920s & 30s, then you can imagine Benson's Lucia series. I'd often heard how great the series was, and finally got around to reading the first book. What a delight! It's been ages since I've read a book that simply glided off the page. Lucia is the center of Riseholme's cultural life, and without her, life just couldn't be the same, right? With her husband Peppino, and her sidekick Georgie (so repressed he's nearly an origami flamingo), Lucia controls the fads and fashions of Riseholme. When a diva opera singer moves into town, Lucia finds herself knocked off her throne, and all but declares war on the upstart. Full of devious gossip and fascinating characters, this story is wonderfully enjoyable, as well as incredibly intelligent in its rendering of small town life. I can hardly wait to read the entire series, or see the "Mapp and Lucia" miniseries.
Rating: 5
Summary: A must buy: Reader Geraldine McEwan IS Lucia
Comment: Since the other reviews here relate to the printed version of the E.F. Benson book, I thought I'd chime in with a review that is specific to this CD version read by Geraldine McEwan.
McEwan starred as Lucia in the delightful "Mapp and Lucia" series in the mid-1980s. It's out on DVD now and I highly recommend you snatch it up immediately before it goes out of print. It's one of the very best British comedies ever.
In the series, McEwan establishes what I consider to be the definitive version of Lucia. She is so delightful that as soon as I found out her readings of two of the Lucia books had also been recorded, I bought them -- although I had never purchased books on tape/CD before.
Suffice it so say, I was not disappointed. McEwan is a wonderful reader who brings out all the wit of the books, and I can't stress enough how marvelous it is to hear her once again using her "Lucia voice."
This has my highest recommendation.
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Title: Lucia in London : A Novel by E. F. Benson, Micheàl MacLiammóir ISBN: 1559212772 Publisher: Moyer Bell Ltd. Pub. Date: 01 April, 1999 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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Title: Mapp & Lucia by E. F. Benson ISBN: 1559212322 Publisher: Moyer Bell Ltd. Pub. Date: 01 April, 2000 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: Miss Mapp by E. F. Benson, E.F. Benson ISBN: 1559212756 Publisher: Moyer Bell Ltd. Pub. Date: September, 1999 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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Title: Trouble for Lucia: A Novel by E. F. Benson, Micheàl MacLiammóir ISBN: 1559212985 Publisher: Moyer Bell Ltd. Pub. Date: November, 2001 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: Lucia's Progress: A Novel (Lucia Series) by E. F. Benson ISBN: 1559212330 Publisher: Moyer Bell Ltd. Pub. Date: 13 November, 2000 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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