Lovereading Reader reviews of The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp by Eva Rice

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1 Lovereading Reader reviews of The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp by Eva Rice Below are the complete reviews, written by Lovereading members. Francesca Ashurst My copy of Eva Rice s new novel arrived on a rainy autumn day and I settled down to be transported into the magical world of Tara Jupp. It s the dawn of the swinging sixties, a time when the old world was being replaced by all that was new, modern and hip. The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp is peopled with a wonderful and compelling cast of characters some new -and some familiar to those who have read The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets. We are invited to follow Tara, her sister Lucy, friends, families and lovers as they pursue dreams and discover that maybe what they are searching for is closer than they realise. Rice weaves in romance, family history and the fight to save buildings of architectural significance, alongside the emergence of popular culture, fashion and music. The rural idyll of Cornwall is juxtaposed with the excitement of London on the cusp of change. The plot fizzes and sparkles, guaranteeing that you will be reading long into the night. Whilst the story embraces relationships, misunderstandings, the longing for a lost world and yearning for lost love it is also about hope, discovery and happiness. Towards the end one of the characters reflects that We didn t know anything we were just blundering about being young. And really, that s about the most magical state that anyone can be in. If Eva Rice first seduced you with The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets her new novel, The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp, will steal your heart. Annabel Gaskell Take one big happy family; add some horses, a big country manor in Cornwall, plus doses of first love which doesn t go easily. Shake it up and relocate to London; mix with rock n roll and serve with love again. This is the essential recipe for Eva Rice s new novel, a thick and satisfying feel-good read.

2 It s the story of Lucy and Tara, third and sixth of eight children in the Jupp family. Pa is a country vicar, Ma died some years ago. Lucy is a beauty who loves old buildings (Pevsner is her bible), whereas Tara can sing but prefers horses. Sneaking a ride on their neighbour s steeds and becoming friends with poor little rich girl Matilda, the daughter of the Manor, will change Tara and Lucy s lives forever, ending up with Tara becoming a pop star at seventeen in the ready-to-swing London of the early 1960s. Lucy and Tara are strong young women who want to experience life in full. Lucy s relationship with her husband may be troubled, but Tara s coming of age and first real romance with photographer Digby, (obviously based on David Bailey) is fun. Matilda continues to feature too, becoming a mainstay in their lives. This is a big-hearted novel about achieving your dreams, and while it may not spring any big surprises, the characters are rounded and compelling to read about. My only quibble was that it ended just as the 60s were about to really take off, and I d have loved to read more. Vanessa Wild A delightful coming of age tale set in the rock 'n' roll 50s and swinging 60s about the life and times of Tara Jupp, a budding singing star. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the easy style of writing and the way it was told in the first person - I really felt Tara was speaking to me personally. The story just flowed along seamlessly and had me eagerly turning the pages. I thought the characters were well drawn and believable, especially Tara and her sister, Lucy. The whole atmosphere of the book caught the era perfectly. It also vividly depicted the differences between the fast pace of life in swinging London and the sleepiness of living a countrified existence in Cornwall. I can only add I was hooked from the first page and I couldn't put the book down. I found it an engrossing, entertaining and absorbing read. If, like me, you enjoyed Eva Rice's The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, you will not be disappointed by this one - I didn't want it to end! Nicola Foster This is the book that fans of Eva Rice's previous novel 'The Household Guide to Keeping Secrets,' have been waiting years to read and if they're anything like me, they won't be disappointed by her newest offering. Set at the dawn of the swinging sixties, this magical coming of age story sees naive teenager Tara Jupp lured away from her rural Cornwall home to bustling, hedonistic London to make her first record. Horse-mad and tomboyish, on the surface Tara may not appear the ideal pop-star, but her fantastic voice is set to make the whole music industry sit up and take notice... and it might just win her the affections of the man of

3 her dreams in the process. The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp is about pursuing your ambitions, yet staying true to yourself. It is an alluring mix of secrets, friendship and betrayal combined with an unforgettable narrator that I just adored. The rock n' roll music, the fashion... everything seemed so evocative of the eras in question that I found myself pulled entirely into the reading experience. I think romance-wise it was perhaps a little bit rushed towards the end and the pace did feel a bit slow-moving at times, but it was so charming and beautifully written that I didn't want to put it down. This engaging and atmospheric story should appeal to absolutely anyone looking for an entertaining, character-driven read. I can't wait for the authors next book! Lindsay Healy Tara Jupp and her sister Lucy, along with six other siblings, live with their widowed vicar father in his Rectory in the Cornish countryside. We learn of Tara s life growing up, the loss of her mother, her love of horses. She has a beautiful singing voice and this will be the asset that steers her life in a whole new direction. Her beautiful elder sister Lucy has a keen interest in preserving historic houses and their contents. Tara becomes acquainted with the owner of Trellanack, a large old house in Cornwall near her home, and the owner asks if Tara and Lucy would befriend her daughter Matilda. The friendship and events between these three girls will shape their lives. Tara is our first-person narrator throughout; from her carefree days spent riding horses to the moment she enters a recording studio in London, we are there to experience the dramatic changes in her life with her. Tara and Lucy experience first-hand the excitement of the early sixties in London; the world of famous models, photographers and hit music makers, the new fashions and the in places to see and be seen. This is an enjoyable, atmospheric and engaging read that brings another time and place vividly to life. The writing is warm and witty and the characters, especially Tara, are charming and come to life as you read; you feel part of the journey, spirited back to the sixties with Tara and Lucy as they grow up, fall in love, leave their familiar surroundings to take on the world and follow their dreams. Kath Martin Eva Rice's story of vicar's daughter Tara Jupp leaving her large family and starting a new life in the swinging London of the early 1960s has all the ingredients of an entertaining read. From historic houses, large family estates with horses and ponies set in Capability Brown landscapes to the burgeoning pop-scene of the city full of larger

4 than life characters, smoking, drinking and dining in Claridges. This is a tale of the 'sex, drugs and rock and roll' beginnings of the swinging sixties (before the drugs!) when teenagers had only just been invented. The final chapter manages to sort everyone out and provide all the happy endings you could wish for. I would really like to read another version - this time from the viewpoint of Tara's beautiful sister Lucy! Joan Hill This is the fifth book written by Eva Rice, the most celebrated being The Lost Art Of Keeping Secrets, a Richard & Judy Book Club pick that sold over a quarter of a million copies. In many ways themes that were used to good effect in the success of The Lost Art are again employed in this latest novel. We have a young heroine longing to fall in love, her glittering success as a young, newly discovered solo singing artist in the vibrant London of the 1960 s, her eccentric family left behind in rural Cornwall and a beautiful older sister with a fascination for historical buildings. This novel is written in three parts. The first part tells of Tara and her older sister Lucy helping their widowed father, the local Vicar bringing up their family of four brothers and sisters. They are encouraged to befriend boarding school pupil Matilda who is lonely in her beautiful nearby mansion house. This friendship is central to the plot and continues throughout the story. The second part of the story continues when Tara is discovered to be a really accomplished singer and is taken to London with her sister acting as chaperone. She is an overnight sensation and soon performs at the London Palladium. The last and shortest part of the 583 page book unwinds the romances that have been initiated within the story as the three girls find partners with whom they settle down, Tara reflecting about the insincerity of the celebrity lifestyle and feeling more comfortable with the simple life revolving around friends and family. I found the story engaging enough, the different settings were well described and interesting, the characters, particularly the females, were well drawn but at times the story lacked direction and pace. My favourite character was Tara who was always true to herself and had great empathy for both Lucy and Matilda throughout their trials and troubles. If you loved The Lost Art Of Keeping Secrets I think you would enjoy reading this novel. Tracey Poulter This is a charming, coming of age novel which deals with friendship, love and trust. It follows the lives of sisters Tara and Lucy along with Matilda, the poor little rich girl from their beginnings in Cornwall to London in the Sixties. Matilda s mother changes all of their lives when she asks Tara to arrange for her sister to befriend Matilda in exchange for permission to ride the horses at the big house. The lives of the sisters are very much influenced by their mother even though, or perhaps because, she died when they were young Tara being driven to become a pop-star with her mother s words If I

5 had had your voice I would have done something with it ringing in her ears; Lucy to overcome the guilt she has carried since she was 13, convinced it was her fault that her mother died. The story hinges around the breakdown of trust between Lucy and Matilda leading to a parting of the ways in Cornwall and how the three girls are eventually brought back together in the London of the Sixties. Tara is the endearing central link between them and holds the story together as we see her growing up and discovering more about herself and the nature of love. I found the beginning a little slow-paced but this does serve to highlight the contrast between life in sleepy Cornwall and the excitement of London when the Sixties were just beginning to swing.