Take a Girl Like You

Take a Girl Like You is set in a small town near London in the 1960s, following twenty-year-old Jenny Bunn as she moves from Northern England to begin her career as a primary school teacher. The story centers on the relationship between Jenny, who holds traditional values about marriage and intimacy, and Patrick Standish, a thirty-year-old private school teacher who pursues her with determination. Their dynamic plays out against the backdrop of Jenny's new life in her lodging house, run by the middle-aged Thompsons, where she navigates relationships with her landlords and a French co-tenant. The novel captures a moment of cultural transition in British society, examining the clash between traditional morality and modern sexual attitudes through the lens of its central characters. The work stands as a social commentary on class differences, regional identity, and changing sexual mores in post-war Britain, while maintaining Amis's characteristic wit and sharp social observation.

Readers describe this as a darker and more serious work compared to Amis's other novels, focusing on social attitudes around sex and relationships in 1950s Britain. Many note the sharp contrast between the humor in the first half and the bleaker themes that emerge later. Readers appreciate: - The complex portrayal of protagonist Jenny Bunn - Period details of provincial English life - The balance of comedy and social commentary - Clear, precise prose style Common criticisms: - Dated attitudes toward gender and consent - Abrupt tonal shifts - Male characters described as unlikeable - Final third of book feels rushed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (487 ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (26 ratings) Several readers on Goodreads note they found the book "uncomfortable" but "thought-provoking." Multiple Amazon reviewers mention struggling with the protagonist Patrick's behavior while acknowledging this was likely Amis's intent.

Lucky Jim - Follows a young academic navigating British university life and romance with similar wit and social satire to Take a Girl Like You.

The L-Shaped Room by Lynne Reid Banks Chronicles a young woman's journey of independence in 1950s London while dealing with social expectations and personal values.

The Country Girls by Edna O'Brien Portrays two young women from rural Ireland moving to Dublin and London, exploring similar themes of provincial values meeting urban life.

Room at the Top by John Braine Depicts class tensions and social climbing in post-war Britain through a working-class protagonist's romantic entanglements.

A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark Sets a young woman's story against the backdrop of 1950s London publishing world with parallel explorations of social class and morality.

🔸 The novel was adapted into a film in 1970, starring Hayley Mills as Jenny Bunn and Oliver Reed as Patrick Standish, with George Melly writing the screenplay. 🔸 Kingsley Amis wrote this book at a pivotal moment in British social history, just as the Sexual Revolution of the 1960s was beginning to challenge traditional Victorian values. 🔸 The author drew inspiration from his own experiences as a teacher in provincial England, having taught at various institutions including Swansea University. 🔸 The book's themes of moral conflict between tradition and modernity mirror Amis's own journey from being a radical young socialist to becoming increasingly conservative in his later years. 🔸 Take a Girl Like You (1960) was Amis's fourth novel, following his breakthrough success Lucky Jim (1954), which established him as a key figure in the "Angry Young Men" literary movement.