Past Imperfect Audiobook

" Interminable repetitions of his theme(of change and how it affected his "Society") almost smothers the story (which isn't a bad one). "

" I found the story line quite interesting and well told but Fellowe's tends to go on almost to the point of obsession with analysis of the British class system and that put me off. "

" Not as good as Snobs but still better than most of the fiction our there. "

" i finally got my hands on the book that i've been waiting for some time to be published in my country. 'past imperfect' by julian fellowes is one of the books that every vorshiper of british culture should read, especially if you're familiar with and like his other work too. he portraits a group of londoners connected with friendship and love affairs in the sixties and their lives today, forty years later when they've all gone separate ways. the way he describes the era where aristocratic way of life clashed with the unconventional things that modern times have brought, the contrast of life back then and now, the status of high-class society and how it was changing are just some of the things that make this book more than enjoyable and interesting to read. although he's not focused directly on what popular culture was all about back then, you'll inevitably think about carnaby street and king's road, beatlemania and the rolling stones hyde park concert, groupies and mods, pattie boyd and twiggy, past times which seem like past perfect from today. "

" I really enjoyed listening to this book, which was about a group of upper-class British teenagers in 1968 and the handsome, lower-class interloper (Damian) who infiltrates the group and steals many girlish hearts. 40 years later, dying Damian, who has become a billionaire, asks a friend from those days to find an illegitimate child he fathered in 1970, who will inherit his fortune. The narrator is never given a name, which I found kind of annoying, but other than that, an excellent book. "

" A mystery, a cultural critique, a novel. More than escapist fare, especially if you remember 1968, can understand the references and remember life in those days. The story is told from the viewpoint of someone who was in college then so is near my age now, thus making it particularly interesting for more than the story. "

" Loved it. I wish he wrote more novels. "

" One of the best books I've read. The writing is reminiscent of Evelyn Waugh; a book one reads slowly to enjoy every word. A story of the class sytem in Britain, of love, friendship and destiny. Recommend it very highly. "

" Extremely well written. On a par with Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead... Perceptive and witty with a sharp, slightly peevish, view of human failings... "

" This is pretty slight and pretty entertaining and pretty far fetched. It's also quite funny. It's certainly a world (of titled Britain in the 1960s) that most of us can't relate to. The reader of the audio version is very good. "

" I liked Snobs (and the movie Gosford Park, for which Fellowes wrote the screenplay) much better. I realized about 2/3 of the way in this one I wasn't crazy about this book, but it was too late to give up then. Overall, too wordy, too slow, too dull. "

" I liked the story well enough, but I was irritated by the long passages EXPLAINING the story. Let the characters speak for themselves! I understand the author is a successful screenwriter. That makes sense. "

" Took awhile to follow authors style but really enjoyed it after giving it a chane "

" Incredibly long winded and gives a lot of detail about things that aren't really pertinent and you don't really care about. The mystery was barely enough to sustain me through the 400+ pages. And when it was solved, I felt cheated by the result. Very underwhelming, tedious book. "

" The creator of Downton Abbey has written an excellent book offering a glimpse of the late 60s and present day England. He intertwines the past and present in an engaging way. A good bedtime read. "

" This book was a little too long, and the big event that he spent most of the book teasing wasn't really as exciting as purported. "

" Reading this led me to read Snobs, his other novel on British manors and manners. Liked Snobs better, but this too was a good book principally because of the beauty of the well-turned English heel it introduces. "

" A fun read, I always enjoy Julian Fellowes's work and this was no exception. If you have not read Snobs, I highly recommend it! "

" English society in the 1960s examined under the same sort of microscope as Downton Abbey. Interesting and sharp "

" I liked this book after about 150 pages. It was a very complicated and emotional story and I liked how you were kept guessing about the back story between some of the characters. However, it felt like work to read this book so I'm not sure I'll read another by this author. "

" Started off slowly with many digressions that felt repetitive. However, by the time I reached the final chapters, I felt attached and I greatly enjoyed the ending! "

" He wrote the screenplay for Downton Abbey as well. "

" A friend called Julian Fellowes' novels a guilty pleasure, and I know what she's saying. This is a social comedy about the British upper class--Julian Fellowes' territory--and it's compellingly readable. "

" This novel isn't for those who like a plot-driven story. Those who enjoy droll, measured writing may enjoy it. My hardcover version of Past Imperfect has 410 pages. A talented editor could have brought it in around 300 pages and it would have merited four stars. "

" While I found this book to be quite entertaining, this book typifies why I often get annoyed whilst reading fiction. I felt that much of the "background" story rather lengthy and boring. Get to the point! "

" Great story, well written, of a mystery wrapped in 1960s England. "

" One of the best books I've read. The writing is reminiscent of Evelyn Waugh; a book one reads slowly to enjoy every word. A story of the class sytem in Britain, of love, friendship and destiny. Recommend it very highly. "