Why read Loitering with Intent?

Book cover of Loitering with Intent

Book description

Happily loitering about London, c. 1949, with the intent of gathering material for her writing, Fleur Talbot finds a job "on the grubby edge of the literary world" at the very peculiar Autobiographical Association. Mad egomaniacs writing their memoirs in advance - or poor fools ensnared by a blackmailer? When…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Loitering with Intent as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Laura Catherine Brown

Author

The writing in this novel is cutting and sharp and clever, as is the narrator, Fleur, a young writer in post-war London who lands a job transcribing stories for an Autobiographical Association, and finds the members' stories so deadly boring that she needs to embellish them beyond recognition. The world of post-war London and of this young woman’s place in it feels both real and completely invented. Fleur’s voice carries the reader along through many absurdities and ultimately through pathos and heart.

From Laura's 3 favorite reads in 2025.