Thoughts: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

This novel is essentially a subtle love story. The retired Major Pettigrew and the shopkeeper Mrs. Ali are brought together by loneliness, that comes with loss of a husband or a wife, and a shared passion for reading and talking books. But soon their friendship blossoms into something "more". But before they can even find out about the possibilities of that "more" they need to face the people living in their small village who do not oblige of their relationship. For them, Mrs. Ali is a stranger, though she was born and raised in England whereas the Major was born in Lahore. But it seems that the Major has to choose between his life in the village or the relationship with Mrs. Ali.

First I was reluctant to read a book about a 68 year old, widowed and retired Major in a sleepy village but the book offers life lessons which are never too late to be learned. The social predjudice Mrs. Ali has to face or the meaninglessness of decorum just to name a few. And of course it is never too late to learn, that it is never too late.

I'd say it is a perfectly English read, but what do I know? The conversations in this book are held in such a polite manner and they bristle up with this deadpan humor, I couldn't get enough. But I don't think there is a small town England like the one portrayed in the book anymore. Which is sad and for me totally justifies the need of this book.