Time to Be in Earnest: A Fragment of Autobiography

I'm a big fan of P. D. James's mystery novels, so I looked forward to getting to know her better in this book. I guess fame has ruined her. She comes across as opinionated and self-righteous, and drops names to impress us. She's not a person I'd want to sit next to on a train.

I have loved P.D. James mysteries for years and looked forward to getting a glimpse of the author herself. While the book is extremely well-written, as her books invariably are, I found it somewhat disappointing. I found it to be, more than anything, a rather uninteresting description of daily events in 1997 -- luncheons or dinner parties she attended, speaking engagements, conversations with friends and so forth. In addition, I was slightly put off by what seemed to me to be a rather stuffy and self-satisfied tone to the book. I look forward to her next effort -- fiction only, please.

Time to Be in Earnest is a journal kept by mystery writer P.D. James beginning in 1997 and ending in late 1998. She does not confine herself just to events during these dates, instead recaling her life earlier. She writes of starting to write because she did not want to be a grandmother who said "I wanted to write a novel", the England she remembers after World War 1 and surviving World War ll. She recalls old friends, literary influences, historic events, infamous crimes of the British Isles. Also touched upon is the struggle of living with a husband with chrinic mental illness and the acceptance of being the support of her family. All this is conveyed in some of the most flowing and beautiful language I have ever read. The everyday is lifted up by the command of the English language and the observant eye of someone embracing life. A wonderful book, a joy to read.

P.D.James writes wonderful novels, but this autobiographical sketch of one year in her life is not her best. The year she has chosen to relive for us, 1997, seems to be one continuous round of speaking engagements interspersed with frequently stuffy opinions on English political and social issues. Her discussions of writing and writers were of the most interest to me and I wish she had spent more time talking about her own writing and research.Her opinions of the House of Lords were a bit self-serving. Back to Adam Dalgleish, I say!

I found this book in my library yesterday and have read it almost non-stop.

It is truly delightful. I like the understated way she weaves her life story. What impressed me most is her down to earth way of saying that she realized that she would have to support her family since her husband was unable to. She just did it without whining or expecting anyone to help her. Her ideas and opinions on the health care system are right on target.

Her references to other works, both hers and other authors, will keep me busy for a long time. I want to check out all of them.

What I envy most is her mention of going here and there to conferences and book signings, etc on the great train system in England. I have spent some time there and know how convenient it is. Wish we had such a rail system in the U.S.

Her thoughts on the writing experience are also informative. Am so glad she has written this book.