Time to Be in Earnest: A Fragment of Autobiography

Reading this thoughtful and immensely readable book, appropriately subtitled "a fragment of autobiography", is like a personal invitation to a friendly, but never cozy, English cream tea prepared specially by the author. One comes away captivated by her honesty, humility, intelligence and wit, touched by her courage and fortitude in the face of troubles and sorrows, cheered by her masterful writing, grateful for her keen discretion in choosing to exclude the more sensitive areas of her private life (an uncommon but wise option in this "confessional" age), and finally, satisfied but never satiated by the delicious repast. Thanks for the memories, P.D. James!

I was amazed by all the positions which P.D. James has held, at her bravery and persistance in handling family problems and becoming a writer. Even now, when she might just enjoy her peaceful home, she doesn't seem to ever decline exhausting promotion tours (I attended her lecture in Phoenix, and she looked so tired)and she is involved in so many boards, etc. If you love her books, you will appreciate her revealing how she got her ideas for each one. This is a book to dip into, and it can get a bit repetitious (she always stops to smell the flowers, AND describe them). I was especially interested in the true cases of murder and how she wove them into her novels.

What a marvellous book P.D. James has written!

It is not just for fans of her mysteries. Rather, it is for anyone who has had to have a day job to pursue other interests, who has toiled in hospitals or government bureaucracies, who had to deal with family problems--all of which P.D. James had to do. Luckily, the book, like her life, has a happy ending, with a seat in the House of Lords, a place on the BBC Board of Governors, and visits to the Queen's Garden Party, in addition to best-sellerdom and homes in Oxford and London, to top it off! It is so charming that after reading it, I gave it to my mother to celebrate her 77th birthday (P.D. James' gave this milestone as the reason she wrote the book -- at 77 it is time to be in earnest).

In addition to being one of the best contemporary mystery writers, P.D. James has an extraordinary command of the English language. Her book, a combination diary of her 77th year and a reflective looking back, is a must read for her fans. Some parts relating to her personal life, such as having a baby while bombs were being dropped during World War II and her relationship with her cat Polly-Hodge, make for interesting reading. Other parts about the more technical aspects of book writing and publishing, with the exception of her comments about adapting her books into TV movies, tend to be dry and would hold more appeal to writers and those in the publishing business.

As an avid P.D. James fan, I had no idea what to expect from her autobiography. I found myself intrigued by the style and substance of her writings; she is a brilliant writer and thinker. I turned the pages of this book compulsively--feeling a wide range of emotions from amusement(she has a wonderful sense of humor) to sadness.(her musings on old age and death are very profound and poignant) Thank you P.D. James for writing a classic in the autobiographical genre.