So while skyping with my family on Christmas morning, we got to laughing when my husband opened up the same gift from me that I had just opened from my sister (a wine aerator). This prompted my parents and sister to ask for a moment and they all went offscreen and returned to show us.....this:
Yep, all three of them had received Helen Simonson's Major Pettigrew's Last Stand for Christmas. Now I will admit that one of these copies I sent, and another I might have recommended, but the third was definitely not my doing! And I realized, when you can recommend a book to three different people, of varying generations and genders, well, then it's probably going to be a hit. Pennie, the book buyer at Costco agrees, and made Major Pettigrew's Last Stand her pick for last month. So you can pick it up there, and pretty much every place else. I for one, am putting this on my list for this year for sure.
In the small village of Edgecombe St. Mary in the English countryside lives Major Ernest Pettigrew (retired), the unlikely hero of Helen Simonson’s wondrous debut. Wry, courtly, opinionated, and completely endearing, the Major leads a quiet life valuing the proper things that Englishmen have lived by for generations: honor, duty, decorum, and a properly brewed cup of tea. But then his brother’s death sparks an unexpected friendship with Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper from the village. Drawn together by their shared love of literature and the loss of their spouses, the Major and Mrs. Ali soon find their friendship blossoming into something more. But village society insists on embracing him as the quintessential local and regarding her as the permanent foreigner. Can their relationship survive the risks one takes when pursuing happiness in the face of culture and tradition?
For more information, visit the official website; become a friend of Helen Simonson on Facebook and GoodReads; read an excerpt; and check out the reading group guide and the reviews.
I have this one and wanted to get it read in time for the paperback release. Of course, it didn't quite happen that way. With such wide appeal I'm going to have to get to it soon.
Posted by: Teresa | January 04, 2011 at 10:13 PM
My group is reading this one in March!
Posted by: Julie P. | January 04, 2011 at 10:17 PM
That gave me a chuckle! I thought it was a very good book!
Posted by: Elisabeth | January 04, 2011 at 10:54 PM
Hmm...I will admit to seeing this book around but not picking it up for some reason. Guess it is worth picking up! :) Thanks for the recommendation!
Posted by: Melissa C. | January 05, 2011 at 12:58 AM
Too funny! My local indie handsells this title, so I gave it to my sister for Christmas!
Posted by: bermudaonion (Kathy) | January 05, 2011 at 07:40 AM
I listened to the audio of this book last year and it was absolutely lovely, a charming book that wasn't trying too hard to be charming.
Posted by: Jen - Devourer of Books | January 05, 2011 at 08:01 AM
too funny!
I have a copy of this book as well and an audio version. I will listen this year, hopefully soon.
I also have Saving Cee Cee which I need to read... I'm excited for the run in Watchung this weekend, once over I will have time to read again!
Have a great day!
Posted by: Mari (Bookworm with a View) | January 05, 2011 at 08:01 AM
LOVED Major Pettigrew. It was one of my favorites of 2010 and I hope it takes off in paperback. Fabulous.
Posted by: Marie | January 05, 2011 at 08:07 AM
Great book and many points for discussion. It's a seemingly quiet read with a lot of layers. And I always love a story set in the English countryside.
Posted by: Shannon McKenna Schmidt | January 05, 2011 at 08:29 AM
I started this book several months ago and returned it to the library unfinished. Sounds like I should give it another try.
Posted by: Melanie | January 05, 2011 at 09:19 AM
I got it too! But for my birthday.
Posted by: Melissa Mc (Gerbera Daisy Mom) | January 05, 2011 at 09:24 AM
How funny, when something like that happens around here we just have to say Great Minds Think Alike. I started to listen to Maj. Pettigrew last month but then had to send the audio book back to the library. I'm next in line to get it and I can't wait.
Happy New Year, I hope you had a lovely holiday season and that you have a wonderful time in San Diego.
Posted by: Martha | January 05, 2011 at 09:29 AM
That's so funny! I really enjoyed Major Pettigrew.
Posted by: S. Krishna | January 05, 2011 at 09:59 AM
That's so funny. I just put my copy of this book
on my bookshelf this morning and thought; I must
read this soon! I'm proud to say it's a signed copy.
Posted by: Dianne | January 05, 2011 at 10:16 AM
I just reviewed this book as it made the Indie Lit Fiction shortlist for 2010.
I'm not sure I would have read it had it not been nominated. I had to read it because I am a judge for that category and I must say, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
Posted by: Ti | January 05, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Oh, good! I've been wanting to read this...I'll have to suggest it to my book club!
Posted by: Mrs. DeRaps | January 05, 2011 at 11:07 AM
I've been listening to the audiobook and absolutely loving it. Excellent narrator and the story is charming.
Posted by: Kristi | January 05, 2011 at 12:20 PM
I see a Betsy-Tacy connection!
Posted by: Ann | January 05, 2011 at 02:53 PM
That does sound like a good book!
Posted by: Heidi | January 05, 2011 at 09:22 PM
That is so funny.. I just bought my a few weeks ago. I was wondering if it would be a good book club book, since our group is so picky. Hope Harper is the one for the imprint,so we could do this one...
Posted by: Carolina Book Stacks | January 05, 2011 at 11:11 PM