Pack of Cards

Penelope Lively is a wonderful writer. Short stories are a favorite form. Whenever I felt like a read, one of these stories would take me away. Most all the stories are only 2 - 4 pages but so varied. Love her!

This author has a way of getting in to her character's heads and making the reader feel they know, understand, and relate to that character. These stories are not long, often with an unexpectedt twist , and very enjoyable. I am so happy I discovered this author and have read most of her works.

This was the last PL I had left to read. Moon Tiger got me utterly hooked and reading her entire catalogue has been fiction bliss. I read Pack of Cards slowly to make it last as long as possible. She understands what makes people tick (women in particular) You will smile recognizing the petty insecure edging on over the edge (Interpreting the Past, Revenant as Typewriter), the deliciously pompous (Servants Talk About People, Presents of Fish and Game), relationships (At the Pitt-Rivers "I could see her face then, and I hope I don't ever see anyone look so unhappy again. I truly hope that.") and the hilarious elderly woman at a pop concert trying to talk to a young couple ("Anti-aestheticism was something of a cult of course. I always felt Patience was responsible for a lot of it. Seeing that the girl again looked bewildered, she added Gilbert and Sullivan, you know. There was that song a greenery-yallery, Grovenor Gallery, foot in the grave young man'" The man and the girl gazed at her and after a moment the girl said "I never heard of that.'" ). If this is your first PL, I suspect you will read everything she has written and enjoy every page.

Print is so small I could not read.

Penelope Lively is a first-rate British novelist, who writes books that are smart, beautifully written, and emotionally involving. In Pack of Cards she does that same thing but in story form. Not every novelist can do it, but she can. Highly recommended especially if you already have read her earlier novels (Moon Tiger is the most popular, but not necessarily the best).

These stories are brilliant, each a separate world, with characters of a wide range, all fully dimensional. Each story is a memorable treat.

Very different short stories - she has a wonderful imagination!

Same pleasure to read as all her other books

Well written story, particularly the setting and characters. I did not rate it as a very good detective story since it was not a gripping tale. the story entered around the disappearance of a young boy but was all about the efffect this had on the characters only. The story was also left unresolved.

Perhaps Britain's finest short story writer. Subjects as varied as cruel vengance, reminiscence, superficiality, psychiatric illness, regret for lost love and loneliness. In short a magnificent collection of beatifully written short stories to make you think.

You'll find it difficult to find a better collection of short stories than these. If you don't believe me, buy it and see for yourself.

Wry humour, empathy and honesty about the human condition - as usual, wonderful erudite story telling from a favourite of mine.

great writer - good stories