Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Overall, we rated the book between a 3 and a 4.5.  It was a refreshing, sweet, and humorous story.  While it opens on a particularly sad event (the death of Major Pettigrew's brother) it is anything but a depressing book.  Parts were poignant but not in the way that stays with you and, in turn, makes you sad.  The writing and the character development was excellent.  We could picture the characters so well and felt an emotional tie to them.  We found ourselves pulling for the major and Mrs. Ali to make their relationship successful despite the many obstacles that were thrown at them.  His staunch, British correctness is so funny and endearing.  Although we are all Americans, we could laugh at the jokes about American excesses, particularly the vulgar American characters that turn up in the Major’s village.  Of course, we can't go without mentioning his insensitive son Roger!  We all would highly recommend this book, but not to our husbands.  This was definitely a chick book!