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Rating: 
Summary: Freedom is headier than whisky
Review: "Freedom is headier than whisky" is a quote from "A Village Affair" and comes almost at the end of the book. And freedom, or individuality and the freedom to express it, is the theme of this Joanna Trollope novel.Alice Meadows, a budding artist, meets Martin Jordan, and the two--a mismatched pair--marry. Alice seems drawn in to the marriage by the strong bond she forms with Martin's mother, Cecily. Indeed, Alice seems to have a stronger bond with Cecily than she does with Martin. Alice falls in love with the Jordan's home and the idyllic life she imagines they lead. This idyllic life is in direct contrast to the hellish marriage endured by Alice's parents, Elizabeth (a terminal nag), and Sam (the forever unfaithful). Alice seems to lose her identity and is absorbed into the Jordan family quite seamlessly. 10 years and 3 children later, Alice persuades Martin to buy "the Grey House"--another idyllic home in the idyllic setting of the tiny village of Pitcombe. Alice is determined to have a perfect life--after all--what's she got to complain about? She has 3 beautiful healthy children, an indulgent husband, a cleaning lady, and a beautiful home. In fact, Alice finally has everything she's ever wanted. But there's trouble in paradise... No matter how Alice surrounds herself with local do-gooders, she is suffocating. She is depressed and hasn't picked up a paint brush in years. This is noted by her husband and her mother-in-law, but nothing changes. Enter Clodagh Unwin--the spoiled daughter of the local gentry. She notices Alice's unhappiness immediately, and she sets out to do something about it.... I had a rather difficult time rating this book. This was due to the fact that I felt differently about it as I read. When I started the book, I really enjoyed it at first. But then I found myself losing interest in it as Clodagh and Alice started their relationship. However, the ending rallied, and I was rather pleased with the novel again. The weakest point of the novel, I think was the fact that so many of the major characters aren't interesting at all. Martin is dull, Clodagh is one-dimensional, and Alice is just like a blank chalk board. On the other hand, the minor characters, such as Mr Finch, Peter Morris, Buntie Payne, Lettice, and even Alice's mother are far more interesting. By far the most interesting aspects of this novel remain the reactions of the villagers to "the affair," and Richard Jordan's somewhat inappropiate confession and subsequent offer to Alice. I did not think this novel had the depth of "Other People's Children," but I did enjoy it a lot more than "Marrying the Mistress" and "The Rector's Wife."
Rating:
Summary: Freedom is headier than whisky
Review: "Freedom is headier than whisky" is a quote from "A Village Affair" and comes almost at the end of the book. And freedom, or individuality and the freedom to express it, is the theme of this Joanna Trollope novel. Alice Meadows, a budding artist, meets Martin Jordan, and the two--a mismatched pair--marry. Alice seems drawn in to the marriage by the strong bond she forms with Martin's mother, Cecily. Indeed, Alice seems to have a stronger bond with Cecily than she does with Martin. Alice falls in love with the Jordan's home and the idyllic life she imagines they lead. This idyllic life is in direct contrast to the hellish marriage endured by Alice's parents, Elizabeth (a terminal nag), and Sam (the forever unfaithful). Alice seems to lose her identity and is absorbed into the Jordan family quite seamlessly. 10 years and 3 children later, Alice persuades Martin to buy "the Grey House"--another idyllic home in the idyllic setting of the tiny village of Pitcombe. Alice is determined to have a perfect life--after all--what's she got to complain about? She has 3 beautiful healthy children, an indulgent husband, a cleaning lady, and a beautiful home. In fact, Alice finally has everything she's ever wanted. But there's trouble in paradise... No matter how Alice surrounds herself with local do-gooders, she is suffocating. She is depressed and hasn't picked up a paint brush in years. This is noted by her husband and her mother-in-law, but nothing changes. Enter Clodagh Unwin--the spoiled daughter of the local gentry. She notices Alice's unhappiness immediately, and she sets out to do something about it.... I had a rather difficult time rating this book. This was due to the fact that I felt differently about it as I read. When I started the book, I really enjoyed it at first. But then I found myself losing interest in it as Clodagh and Alice started their relationship. However, the ending rallied, and I was rather pleased with the novel again. The weakest point of the novel, I think was the fact that so many of the major characters aren't interesting at all. Martin is dull, Clodagh is one-dimensional, and Alice is just like a blank chalk board. On the other hand, the minor characters, such as Mr Finch, Peter Morris, Buntie Payne, Lettice, and even Alice's mother are far more interesting. By far the most interesting aspects of this novel remain the reactions of the villagers to "the affair," and Richard Jordan's somewhat inappropiate confession and subsequent offer to Alice. I did not think this novel had the depth of "Other People's Children," but I did enjoy it a lot more than "Marrying the Mistress" and "The Rector's Wife."
Rating: 
Summary: Passions run high amidst rural idyll-
Review: A Village Affair takes advantage of all the skilful expertise of its author in unraveling a tale of repressed sexuality , passion and rejection set in a the quintessential English village. Alice, the mother of 3 well defined and lovable children( all children in Joanna Trollope's novels are remarkably fleshed out )moves with her husband Martin to the "Grey House" a symbol of achievement, respectablity and class , the perfect home in the perfect village setting. But Alice appears to be on the verge of a breakdown from the day they arrive... As we meet their respective families and see the lack of emotion on one hand, and overabundance of it on the other, we recognise the gaping holes that have formed in their seemingly "perfect " marriage. The lack of sexual excitement is the final - or most vital - symptom. The crisis comes when Alice meets Clodagh, the youngest daughter up at the"Big House" who has supposedly come home from New York with a broken heart. Though we are already anticipating loopholes, ready to expose the sham of Alice and Martin"s relationship, there is a delightful shock when Clodagh reveals first her preference for women , and amidst domestic bliss in Alice's home, a preference for Alice too. This is true love for both women, made ragged by the inevitable and terrible consequences for the grandparents, Martin, and in a subtle and open ended fashion, the children. Trollope has a huge gift for presenting every facet of these events without bias or critiscm,through the villagers, the vicar, inlaws and family friends. The reader is kept entranced by the unfolding tale of passionate reaction and despair resulting from a declaration of their affair by the two women. I found this one of the most engrossing Trollope novels with a sharp contemporary edge and a bittersweet ending, that left you wanting to know what would happen next in the lives of these characters. ( and ready to pick up another Joanna Trollope novel!)
Rating:
Summary: Passions run high amidst rural idyll-
Review: A Village Affair takes advantage of all the skilful expertise of its author in unraveling a tale of repressed sexuality , passion and rejection set in a the quintessential English village. Alice, the mother of 3 well defined and lovable children( all children in Joanna Trollope's novels are remarkably fleshed out )moves with her husband Martin to the "Grey House" a symbol of achievement, respectablity and class , the perfect home in the perfect village setting. But Alice appears to be on the verge of a breakdown from the day they arrive... As we meet their respective families and see the lack of emotion on one hand, and overabundance of it on the other, we recognise the gaping holes that have formed in their seemingly "perfect " marriage. The lack of sexual excitement is the final - or most vital - symptom. The crisis comes when Alice meets Clodagh, the youngest daughter up at the"Big House" who has supposedly come home from New York with a broken heart. Though we are already anticipating loopholes, ready to expose the sham of Alice and Martin"s relationship, there is a delightful shock when Clodagh reveals first her preference for women , and amidst domestic bliss in Alice's home, a preference for Alice too. This is true love for both women, made ragged by the inevitable and terrible consequences for the grandparents, Martin, and in a subtle and open ended fashion, the children. Trollope has a huge gift for presenting every facet of these events without bias or critiscm,through the villagers, the vicar, inlaws and family friends. The reader is kept entranced by the unfolding tale of passionate reaction and despair resulting from a declaration of their affair by the two women. I found this one of the most engrossing Trollope novels with a sharp contemporary edge and a bittersweet ending, that left you wanting to know what would happen next in the lives of these characters. ( and ready to pick up another Joanna Trollope novel!)
Rating:
Summary: A good read-realistic fiction
Review: Even before Alice married Martin, his parents loved her. Alice and Martin share a contented life as she paints and he works as a country solicitor. Over the years they had three children. However, after the birth of their second child, Alice stops painting. By the birth of their third child, Alice seems mentally ill as she sinks into a deep depression. To get her out of her morass, Martin reluctantly buys the Grey House in the small village of Pitcombe. However, Alice remains unhappy and Martin does not know what to do to help her with her funk. Alice meets and falls in love with Clodagh, and the two women have an affair. Will Alice leave with Clodagh, remain with Martin, or leave both of them behind? In any case, what will happen to her children? Best selling author Joanna Trollope is renowned for her complex, modern relationship dramas. A VILLAGE AFFAIR will leave no doubt that the author is one of the leading lights on writing daring, intelligent, and entertaining contemporary tales. The elaborate story line centers on Alice's various relationships (not all happy) with a myriad of people. Each interaction whether it is to her spouse, lover, children, in-laws, or her own biological family, seems genuine and adds to the overall worth of the novel. Fans of an authentic plot will gain much pleasure from Ms. Trollope's modern day relationship novel. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I am an avid fan of Joanna Trollope but this book was boring and tedious. I couldn't wait to finish it so I could put myself out of my misery. I much preferred A Spanish Lover and The Men and The Girls.
Rating: 
Summary: Not At All Ordinary
Review: Joanna Trollope never goes for the easy way out. All of her books are full of people that are so real, so full of the layers of "humanhood," if you will, that we can't help but feel we know everybody in her books. This is, of course, her very great talent. "A Village Affair" is, on the surface, the story of a marriage grown slightly stale after 3 children and the predictable daily chores that accompany parenthood. Alice and Martin are settled into a comfortable, upwardly mobile, slightly boring lifestyle. Neither is particularly happy, but neither will acknowledge this fact to themselves or each other.
When Alice's third child, Charlie, is born, Alice, the quintessential latter-day flower child, falls into a deep depression that she cannot shake. As she tries to regain her equilibrium, we are taken back to her earlier years as a university student whose wretched homelife spurs her to seek the life she imagines she wants. Alice's great flaw then, and later, when we meet her several years into her marriage, is that she has no notion of herself whatsoever, but only sees herself as reflected in the mirror of others' approval or disapproval. Thus, when Alice is a very young woman, the reflected glory of Cecily Jordan, a famous gardener/author, leads Alice to marry Cecily's son Martin, even though she is not in love with him. It is Cecily and her beautiful house that Alice loves--but she doesn't realize it for quite a while. After the marriage, Alice is happy as a young wife, artist (she paints quite well and has a small following to whom she sells her works), and quasi-hippie, her long braid and offbeat clothes advertising her "otherness" to her admiring circle of friends and neighbors. When her first child, Natasha, is born, Alice is able to keep going in this mold. Natasha is an easy baby, Alice is even more admired as the perfect wife and mother, and things are easy. But with the birth of James, a much more difficult little person, Alice begins to unravel. And finally, the birth of Charlie destroys any illustions she may have had of a happy and fulfilled marriage. Enter Clodagh, the youngest and very flamboyant daughter of the "big house" in the village. Clodagh has a secret...but Alice doesn't know it for quite a while. As Clodagh swiftly and surely takes over Alice's life and identity, the two begin a quite unorthodox relationship that shocks the village, destroys Alice's reputation, ruins her marriage, and makes her finally, at long last, take a look at herself as a woman and a human being. The ending is not predictable, the characters are not one-dimensional. There is great pain in this book...and great love. As happens many times with Trollope, I felt that Alice was my dearest friend, as close to me as a sister would be. I could see her in my mind's eye, see her clothes, her beautiful hair, her children--see her paintings, her house, and her garden. I understood completely where she was coming from, even when I despaired of her destructive actions. "A Village Affair" proves once again that life is not black and white--and that things are rarely what they seem. It is written with charm, humor, compassion and warmth, almost as if Trollope herself despairs of her naughty Alice, but wants her so much to be OK at the end, as does the reader. This book kept my interest until the very last sentence, and haunted me for days. It brings up as many questions as it answers, and offers no pat solutions. It is just, plain and simple, a story of ordinary, and very likeable, people.
Rating:
Summary: Not At All Ordinary
Review: Joanna Trollope never goes for the easy way out. All of her books are full of people that are so real, so full of the layers of "humanhood," if you will, that we can't help but feel we know everybody in her books. This is, of course, her very great talent. "A Village Affair" is, on the surface, the story of a marriage grown slightly stale after 3 children and the predictable daily chores that accompany parenthood. Alice and Martin are settled into a comfortable, upwardly mobile, slightly boring lifestyle. Neither is particularly happy, but neither will acknowledge this fact to themselves or each other.
When Alice's third child, Charlie, is born, Alice, the quintessential latter-day flower child, falls into a deep depression that she cannot shake. As she tries to regain her equilibrium, we are taken back to her earlier years as a university student whose wretched homelife spurs her to seek the life she imagines she wants. Alice's great flaw then, and later, when we meet her several years into her marriage, is that she has no notion of herself whatsoever, but only sees herself as reflected in the mirror of others' approval or disapproval. Thus, when Alice is a very young woman, the reflected glory of Cecily Jordan, a famous gardener/author, leads Alice to marry Cecily's son Martin, even though she is not in love with him. It is Cecily and her beautiful house that Alice loves--but she doesn't realize it for quite a while. After the marriage, Alice is happy as a young wife, artist (she paints quite well and has a small following to whom she sells her works), and quasi-hippie, her long braid and offbeat clothes advertising her "otherness" to her admiring circle of friends and neighbors. When her first child, Natasha, is born, Alice is able to keep going in this mold. Natasha is an easy baby, Alice is even more admired as the perfect wife and mother, and things are easy. But with the birth of James, a much more difficult little person, Alice begins to unravel. And finally, the birth of Charlie destroys any illustions she may have had of a happy and fulfilled marriage. Enter Clodagh, the youngest and very flamboyant daughter of the "big house" in the village. Clodagh has a secret...but Alice doesn't know it for quite a while. As Clodagh swiftly and surely takes over Alice's life and identity, the two begin a quite unorthodox relationship that shocks the village, destroys Alice's reputation, ruins her marriage, and makes her finally, at long last, take a look at herself as a woman and a human being. The ending is not predictable, the characters are not one-dimensional. There is great pain in this book...and great love. As happens many times with Trollope, I felt that Alice was my dearest friend, as close to me as a sister would be. I could see her in my mind's eye, see her clothes, her beautiful hair, her children--see her paintings, her house, and her garden. I understood completely where she was coming from, even when I despaired of her destructive actions. "A Village Affair" proves once again that life is not black and white--and that things are rarely what they seem. It is written with charm, humor, compassion and warmth, almost as if Trollope herself despairs of her naughty Alice, but wants her so much to be OK at the end, as does the reader. This book kept my interest until the very last sentence, and haunted me for days. It brings up as many questions as it answers, and offers no pat solutions. It is just, plain and simple, a story of ordinary, and very likeable, people.
Rating: 
Summary: The gay love affair in this story did not interest me
Review: The cover of this book hinted of an affair, but not that it was between two women. I would not have read the book if I had known, because, though I have no problem accepting gay lifestyles, I could not relate to these characters. Also, the main character seemed to just fall into this affair because she was bored with life. This lack of motivation weakened her as a character and made the story less believable.
Rating:
Summary: top notch
Review: This was the first novel I had read by this author and I am hooked. The focus should not be on the "plot" but on the incredible ability Ms. Trollope has to involve you in her characters' lives. I highly suggest that you give this book a chance. Trust me!
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