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Anyone joining this thread at a later date, please do share your thoughts about:

1. Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor - our September book

2. Anything else you've been enjoying this September - always a treat to get your recommendations.

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Gillian and Claire - thank you so much for joining me today

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Sep 30, 2022Liked by Emily Rhodes

But she may well have been better off with some light attention from the family that only became interested when they felt that their inheritance might be impacted ...

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I LOVED Ruth & Pen by Emilie Pine. The whole thing takes place over a single day in Dublin. We follow two women around and they connect for a moment. She is brilliant at bringing her reader inside her characters' heads. I was absolutely transported and haven't been so moved by a novel in a long long time.

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Golly time flies! Do feel free to add on to the existing Mrs Palfrey questions /comments...

And also, what else have you been enjoying this September?

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What did you make of the relationship between Ludo and Mrs Palfrey? Did the romantic moments feel unusual but right to you, or misjudged, or unremarkable?

And do you think her life was all the better for having met him, or - like one walking book clubber - do you think she'd have been better off without him?

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Sep 30, 2022Liked by Emily Rhodes

It gives it a nobler purpose than (eventually and inevitably) borrowing cash ...

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Sep 30, 2022Liked by Emily Rhodes

Definitely! It’s the reason that the friendship works: it’s not wholly opportunistic and transaction from the fall/pick up

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Do you think we can forgive Ludo his rather selfish intention of using Mrs Palfrey in his novel?

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Sep 30, 2022Liked by Emily Rhodes

My third reading of Mrs P. I'm now 71 and found myself viewing her and really every character quite differently than in my previous readings of many years ago. I know we often find books quite different at various times in our life but this one was most obvious to me. I guess for obvious reasons! I felt much more sympathetic to them all.

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