Timeless Values: I love you Major Pettigrew!!!

The first novel from Helen Simonson, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand is a charming read. Like slipping on a pair of well worn slippers, it feels comfortable right from the start. Over the Christmas holidays, it was a pleasure to find this novel waiting for me at the end of the busy day.



Helen Simonson's website summarizes the novel in the following way

"When Major Pettigrew, a retired British army major in a small English village, embarks on an unexpected friendship with the widowed Mrs. Ali, who runs the local shop, trouble erupts to disturb the bucolic serenity of the village and of the Major’s carefully regimented life.

As the Major and Mrs. Ali discover just how much they have in common, including an educated background and a shared love of books, they must struggle to understand what it means to belong and how far the obligations of family and tradition can be set aside for personal freedom. Meanwhile, the village itself, lost in its petty prejudices and traditions, may not see its own destruction coming."

http://www.helensimonson.com/

Here is the author in discussion about her journey through the writing of this novel:

In a small, quaint English village Major Pettigrew is playing the role of stiff, traditionalist--his small village and his country club see him as old-school gentry. But as his friendship with Mrs. Ali grows,  he feels alienated from his old chums, and we discover that at heart, Major Pettigrew is a non-conformist. He is confronted with the reality that discrimination and ignorance abound in his happy little world, and he takes a stand that must surprise many.

This was an entertaining novel, and I really enjoyed the character development. Simonson does a great job painting a realistic picture with lots of details. I look forward to her next work.

In doing the research for this blog, I found a couple of entertaining video clips of the author speaking on a panel about making the shift from writing student to author. She has a good sense of humor. Check it out:  Simonson as Panelist