Marking Time

The Cazalet Chronicles

To anyone unfamiliar with Elizabeth Jane Howard's work, the Cazalet Chronicles are wonderful books with which to begin, despite having been written quite late in her career. They follow the Cazlet family from 1938 until after the war has ended and to some extent are auto biographical. Her characterizations of the family members and her diaglogue for the children in the story are particularly accomplished and one is left enitrely convinced that these are real people and not just the producrt of the author's imagination. The awful Neville is my favourite - well, one of them anyway. The thing about these books is that they involve the reader/listener utterly and completely and one no sooner finishes one than one rushes on to the next to find out how things have turned out. Jill Balcon reads and interprets the boofks brilliantly: I cannot imagine anyone doing it better. Buy this series! If you love good, well crafted literature, you won't regret it!

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Fantastic

I have downloaded confusion immediately!
The writing is superb and the narration fantastic. Don't get the abridged version I implore you!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Fusion of perfect story and gifted narrator

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. The best kind of family saga.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Louise. Probably the best drawn character. Close to the author's own experience I guess. But they are all brilliantly drawn by EJH.

Which character – as performed by Jill Balcon – was your favourite?

She does a marvellous job with the pre-pubescent boys in the tale. The mark of a true professional.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Life, love, and loss in a world at war

Any additional comments?

You don't get much better writing than this. Neither will you find a more consummate professional than Jill Balcon to take you so convincingly into the England of the upper middle classes of the 1940s

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

evocative historical novel

a brilliantly read and intensely moving novel which leads further into the Cazalet history. The characters are richly described and Jill Balcon's reading is perfect. mesmerising.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Every bit as enjoyable as the printed book

Would you listen to Marking Time again? Why?

Yes, I shall definitely listen to this again. I have read the book a few times and found this just as enjoyable. The performance is excellent and didn't take away from what I always imagined.

What other book might you compare Marking Time to, and why?

Although this story is on a much larger scale being part of a quartet of books (I don't count the recent addition "All Change" as it contained a lot of inaccuracies) I would compare it to "Coming Home" by Rosamunde Pilcher as it is set in the same time frame.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I don't really have a favourite scene but I do feel in sympathy with Clary who seems to have had a raw deal.

Any additional comments?

The only fault I could find with this audio version is that it is split into chapters which bear no relation to the chapters in the print version. If you set the sleep timer they sometimes finish in mid paragraph.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Well read and written family saga

Would you listen to Marking Time again? Why?

Well written, insightful book in Cazalet Saga by Elizabeth Jane Howard. Interesting background of range of different characters, their relationships and experience of WW II. Different sections are written from different characters points of view and build up a real and moving story.Accretion of convincing detail of daily life and emotions I find fascinating.

What does Jill Balcon bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Jill Balcon reads this very well, and the story with a large cast of convincing characters is almost hypnotically addictive. I prefer Elaernor Bron, but she has recorded the abridged version only, and the unabridged version is so much better and more satisfying.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Fates of favourite characters and seeing them grow, grow up and change is moving, I care what happens to them, and they seem real.

Any additional comments?

Great series- five parts, best to start at book I, The Light Years.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Falling out of love with this narrator

This is the second novel in 'the Cazalet Chronicles' series. I'd quite enjoyed Jill Balcon's reading of the first novel 'The Light Years', but here the story's focus is on the women and children of the extended family. Unfortunately the narrator chooses to portray each young child in a high-pitched mincing voice, and there seem to be a LOT of young children in this book... I veered between switching it off for a moment's peace and wanting to hear the story of the remaining adults. Can't say I enjoyed it much.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Compelling story

Wonderful narration by Jill Balcon. Layered family dynamics skillfully interwoven. The reality of Britain entering the Second World War told from different perspectives.

Good story - poor audio

This is Volume 2 of a 5 part chronicle. Rather a slow moving story but enjoyable and easy listening when dog walking. However the volume for this (and Volume 1) is so low it is very hard to hear unless surroundings are completely silent. Phone volume has to be set to "dangerous" level. Other audio books are much more "audible". I want to get to the end of the series but may revert to traditional books due to quality of audio presentation.

Love it again

So close to life in all aspects. Endearing characters make you want to know more.