Liza's England

Liza's England is a wake up for someone who grew up in England. I enjoyed it so much that I sent it, and another book, to a friend who lives in Texas but whom was at school with me in England in the '50s. It reminded me of things that my grandmother had told me about, but also later in the 50s, 60s, 70s and so on. For people who have an interest in the time period and/or happenings in Britain, pre and post war, it is an enjoyable read.

Pat Barker is good at characterisation and this was a nice mix of old and modern. Stephen is the social worker who's aim is to encourage and support Liza into moving out of her home so the developers can demolish it...however he and Liza really gel and she tells him of her life from when she was born at the turn of the century (1900) up to the present. We also learn a little of Stephen's own family issues and although Liza's life is by far the more interesting as it's covered so many decades of change, it's interesting to see how similar relationships between human beings (especially parents and children) can be no matter which decade or century.As 'modern day' in this story is 1984 it was interesting to draw comparisons between the unemployment issues and social work load Stephen has, and the recession we're experiencing now in 2009.I felt the ending was realistic and almost comforting, however unpleasant the acts that initiated it. The many many details of one persons life; the relationships and experiences, the loss, the hardship, the happiness...they are all unique to the person who experienced them.

I have read 5 books by Ms. Barker recently. Reading a number of works in succession by a writer that is new to me is a frequent event. There was a recurring problem within what could have been a very good book that made this the weakest book of Ms. Barker's I have read. In fairness, had I read this first, my opinion would have been different, but then her later books would have suffered the same repeated flaw.The story began with a charming premise, a young male social worker, meets an 84 year old woman who must be moved from her home, where she has experienced the greater part of her life. She is virtually the last occupant in this neighborhood of memories and wraiths. Her memories are all she has left of what has been a long and painful life. Her sole companion is an eccentric Parrot, which again could have been an interesting facet/a nice aside to the story. The social worker Stephen is characterized as being gay, unlike the World War I trilogy when a main character's lifestyle was a central part of the story, a character trait that was a large part of what defined him, in this book it was meaningless. If it had merit it was far too subtle for me to grasp.The book's failing is that many stories within the book, or metaphors that are memorable, not only appeared here, they also appeared verbatim in the other books I had read, or were so slightly changed as to be nearly indistinguishable. World War I experiences are related here and then in the trilogy, metaphors that are memorable, again appear here and again in the trilogy. It does not happen once or even 5 times, but many times. The result is this reader kept thinking about the other books I had given such high marks to, but I now know I was reading recycled ideas from an earlier work.The exposition of Liza's life, and the shifting back and forth to present day, and the life that is Stephen's is clumsy at best. Far from being seamless, they are incongruous, jarring, and prevent any sort of cadence from developing for the reader.Stephen's relationship with Liza pretended to be the Grandmother to this young man who had come into her life to serve bad news, but became someone she was fond of in spite of the change he represented, as Grandmothers tend to do. However, the end of the book while not predictable, makes a mockery of all that has gone before, destroys the structure of what had been written, and is so out of character with the balance of the book as to be absurd. The actual event will leave you with strong feelings about many people and issues, but none that would bring you back to Ms. Barker's work, were this the first you had read.This is book number 5 for me, and the first 4 I still enthusiastically recommend.On this one, pass.

I’ve read this before , 25 or so years ago. I loved it then but it was even better this time . Beautiful use of language and structure created powerful characters and compelling storylines. And it takes no effort to read . Maybe I just know more now . Lisa’s England sadly is still here for some . I’m rereading all her books again now.

I am a Pat Barker groupie and I enjoyed this book every bit as much as all her other novels which are set during the war years. Liza was a thoroughly entertaining and likeable character,

Poignant and beautifully written. Two life stories intertwined. I was equally absorbed by both the protagonists. A rare literary treat.

Pat Barker is a great author. Full stop.

very good