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Read The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax (1983)

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax (1983)

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Series
Rating
4.13 of 5 Votes: 2
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ISBN
0449208281 (ISBN13: 9780449208281)
Language
English
Publisher
random house ballantine fawcett crest

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax (1983) - Plot & Excerpts

This is one of my favorite books, probably because I first read it at a young and impressionable age. I don't mean that it's a bad book that I only love because I was too dumb to know otherwise; it's just that adolescence is so intense that it allows these lasting and powerful impressions. It's been a while since I last read it, and I was so happy to discover that it was still a very satisfying read. I think what I love about it is that it feels urgent without being graphic and violent, even though part of me is aware that Mrs. Pollifax and her co-captive Farrell would not have been treated so gently by enemies who thought they were spies. And, of course, there's Mrs. Pollifax herself, clever and sensible and bloody-minded when she has to be. Her point that she is all these things because she's lived so long makes a lot more sense to me now that I'm an adult with almost-grown children; how many crises have I had to deal with, and how many skills have I had to learn, simply because I've lived this long? Though it cracks me up that she's from a time when married women were still referred to by their husband's name (Mrs. Virgil Pollifax, how quaint), her courage and toughness have definitely not gone out of date.Still, the ending is my favorite: (view spoiler)[HOLY CRAP IT WAS THE CARDS ALL ALONG that completely blew me away the first time I read the book. I never saw it coming. And her telegram to Carstairs, summing up their adventure and ending with "otherwise trip has been most interesting"--I could just see the guy's face after he'd been so worried about her not being able to handle things, and in the end she's the one who pulled everyone out of Albania. Excellent. (hide spoiler)]

This series is my favorite comfort read, although this book is not one I've gone back to as often as some of the others. Always a pleasure, and definitely more plausible and better-written than some of the later entries.I was fortunate to meet Ms Gilman a number of years ago, while she was touring to promote Mrs Pollifax and the Lion Killer. I told her that I've gone back to some of her books three or four times, and she said, "There's no better compliment than that."She told a charming story about how Mrs P. came to be created: She had previously written a couple of children's books, but had just gone through a difficult divorce. She was working at a grocery store and struggling financially to support her children. Mrs Pollifax was a kind of wish fulfillment, an older woman who sets out competently to find new worth and work in the world. Why is the book set in Albania? Because Ms Gilman had never been out of the country, and at that time, Albania was a closed country. She figured that if no one had been there, they wouldn't know if she got the details wrong.Another interesting tidbit related to a later book, Mrs Pollifax Pursued. That's the only book that is (almost) entirely set in the US, because at that time Gilman was dealing with agoraphobia - so Mrs Pollifax stuck (relatively) close to home, also.In our real lives, kind words and a good heart aren't always rewarded, but they work wonders for Mrs Pollifax, senior citizen spy. In a cold world, these books are little bound bundles of warmth, and I'm always glad to see them back in print.

What do You think about The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax (1983)?

This is the story of someone's widowed grandmother who, bored by volunteer duties and the life of an elderly spinster, volunteers to be a spy. Yes, a spy. She waltzes down to the CIA, gets an interview on false pretenses and offers her services. Accidentally mistaken as someone else, she gets the job -- a simple courier mission. Go to Mexico, utter a code phrase at the right time to the right person and bring the results back.Mrs. Pollifax is a more than a bit dotty, but she's desperately good with people, and she makes friends with her contact prior to their scheduled rendezvous. He suggests solitaire to pass the time, and she takes it up as a hobby, only to be kidnapped when she shows up for her arranged contact meeting. From there, she's flown to Albania to be imprisoned with another spy, who's the standard kind of spy. One who knows things that shouldn't be spoken of and tries to throw himself off a cliff in order to avoid being interrogated. Mrs. Pollifax has to get herself, the spy with a broken leg and the delightful gentleman in the next cell down out of the country. Somehow. With the contents of her handbag and her wits.It's a very light story. Quite humorous, without ever trying to make jokes. Mrs. Pollifax is the most unexpected spy ever, but you don't need to teach this granny how to suck eggs.
—Dixie A.

Emily Pollifax is bored in retirement. Her husband is deceased. Her children and grown and married. She still volunteers for various charities, but that’s getting old, too. But what else could she possibly do? America is engage in the Cold War against Communist countries. She figures she’s resourceful, intelligent, patriotic, loyal, and good at puzzles, so she leaves her New Jersey home and goes to Washington DC to meet with the CIA and offer her services as a spy. It so happens they are looking for the perfect operative to pose as a tourist in Mexico City and pick up a certain package, and the director calls in a certain candidate for an interview. He’s charmed by the woman he meets in the interview room, and before he discovers his mistake, he has offered Mrs Pollifax the job. Well, how difficult could this be? She only has to go to Mexico City (paid for entirely by the CIA, of course), play the tourist for nearly three weeks, and then on a particular day go to a particular book shop and ask for a specific book, commenting on one of the characters. The proprietor will sell her the book and she will bring it back to America. But the best laid plans … oft go awry. And this one is no exception. But Emily Pollifax IS perfect as a spy. She’s bright, inquisitive, observant and has a great deal of courage. She may be an amateur but she handles herself very well against the enemy. Some of the plot turns really stretch credulity, and the whole thing is obviously dated, but it’s a fun read nonetheless. I figured out the secret right away, but I was still entertained. I’ll definitely read more of this series.
—Book Concierge

Mrs. Pollifax is bored. Her husband passed away, her children are grown. Oh sure, there's her volunteer work, but that's become rather tedious of late. Definitely lacking in excitement. So, Mrs. Pollifax does what any sensible woman in her 60s does in her situation. She volunteers to serve her country as a spy for the CIA. What should be a simple assignment in Mexico gives Mrs. Pollifax much more adventure than she bargained for. Why I picked it up: I finished the Amelia Peabody series and the Vicky Bliss series and was looking for something similar. I discovered via Barbara Rosenblat's website that she narrated the Mrs. Pollifax series, so decided to give it a try.Why I kept listening: I admired Mrs. Pollifax's spunk and determination. Even kidnapping and imprisonment didn't daunt her. I enjoyed Ms. Gilman's portrayal of most of the other characters as well. The action and suspense made it difficult for me to get out of my car at the end of my drives because I wanted to know what would happen next. In the end: The only character I had a hard time liking was Mr. Farrell. He was a bit whiny and not as helpful initially as he might have been. It took me awhile to come around, but I didn't think him too bad by the end. While the action scenes did drive the story, I was starting to wonder just how much more poor Mrs. Pollifax would have to endure. At times it seemed a bit much. Overall I enjoyed this venture into a new series. I'm looking forward to the next book.
—librarian4Him02

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