I do like Atkinson's novels so when this one popped up, I was anxious to begin turning pages. My thanks to netgalley and Little, Brown for an advance copy of this novel. There are some interesting ideas here, like what constitutes the real self. What is the nature of historical fiction? (“The clowns are the dangerous ones”, Perry said.)” “Nationalism is the first step on the road to Fascism.” Or this “Juliet could still remember when Hitler had seemed like a harmless clown. “Do not equate nationalism with patriotism,” Perry warned Juliet. But it seems fitting that Atkinson picks as her topic the problem of Fascism in England during WWII. In this day and age, I’m never sure if I’m seeing symbolism where it doesn’t belong. “Juliet had the sense that she was taking part in a farce, although not one that was particularly funny - in fact, not funny at all.” But it is, in its own weird way. But there is a tension to the book and the ending wasn’t anything I saw coming. The writing is meant to be enjoyed, lots of beautiful phrasing. This is not a fast paced book by any stretch. The pettiness, the certainty, all are brought out for our inspection. The rest of the characters are equally well drawn. She keeps waiting for a romance the reader knows is never going to come. Like sex.” Poor Juliet is truly naive and I had to keep reminding myself how young she was. (She was becoming bolder with the word if not the act.) For Perry, it seemed to be the other way around - he had all the advantages of having a mistress and none of the drawbacks. “It seemed she had acquired all the drawbacks of being a mistress and none of the advantages - like sex.

Juliet is only 18 and before she knows it, has been drafted for some spying in addition to her transcription duties.Ītkinson displays a dry sense of humor. The story revolves around a young woman who is drafted to transcribe conversations among a group of fascists that have been infiltrated by MI5. The book immediately transports you back to London in the 1940s and 50s. It’s funny how some books can immediately grab hold of you and cast you under their spell.

Transcription by kate atkinson summary