Review: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand (Helen Simonson)

I loved this book!!! Well written and with a heartwarming story (that's right, I wrote heartwarming) this book made my commute a joy.

It's the story of Major Ernest Pettigrew, retired, and Mrs. Jasmina Ali, grocer. Both have lost their spouses and still feel a little lost. They strike up a friendship after Mrs. Ali helps Major Pettigrew on the day of his brother's death. They discover they share a love of books (they had me at hello!) and an appreciation for long walks.

Major Pettigrew enjoys these simple pleasures and assumes there was a time when everyone did. Of course, times weren't really simpler, and Mrs. Ali shows him this. The story isn't preachy, but it does highlight race relations in a small English town. Simonson manages to do this while writing a witty, and funny book.

Secondary characters highlight the pair's differences, and that adds a bittersweet tone to the story. You cheer for the Major and Mrs. Ali, especially as they maneuver how people in town see them. Neither one is used to the attention or the gossip. Still, I was glad that the story still led to a satisfying conclusion. Usually books that are written this well have tragic endings. It almost seems like those authors do that because they take themselves too seriously. Glad this book didn't do that!

I can't recommend this book enough. A real treat!

Next up: The Scarlett Contessa, by Jeanne Kalogridis.