tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post2980937350484216862..comments2024-03-27T20:36:43.009-04:00Comments on Letters from a Hill Farm: An Unsuitable Attachment by Barbara PymNanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-37005014228085483272010-05-07T10:34:43.918-04:002010-05-07T10:34:43.918-04:00Marcia, thanks for coming back and leaving a note....Marcia, thanks for coming back and leaving a note. I'm going to check out the cover - it sounds nicer than what I've seen. I don't see why Persephone doesn't republish all of Pym's work. I look forward to reading your feelings about the books.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-77466909491916431892010-05-06T18:33:52.492-04:002010-05-06T18:33:52.492-04:00Nan~ I finally ordered and received two Barbara Py...Nan~ I finally ordered and received two Barbara Pym books - Excellent Women and Some Tame Gazelle. Excellent Women is a Penguin Classics edition with a lovely cover image (Still Life, Lyme Regis by Richard Ernest Eurich). As soon as I catch up with some library books with those pesky due dates, I'm going to start my Barbara Pym reading!Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05456358514871810611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-48856332138570006102010-02-25T10:08:55.068-05:002010-02-25T10:08:55.068-05:00Robin, your recent review was just wonderful. QinA...Robin, your recent review was just wonderful. QinA may be my next BP book.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-88678360286453033442010-02-24T21:39:27.318-05:002010-02-24T21:39:27.318-05:00I do love Barbara Pym and her beautifully written,...I do love Barbara Pym and her beautifully written, quiet stories.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01857602206725562335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-86009383247737904172010-02-24T15:57:36.281-05:002010-02-24T15:57:36.281-05:00Commonweeder, I so agree! And this is why I prefer...Commonweeder, I so agree! And this is why I prefer to read books about good people.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-65498265615629619662010-02-24T11:56:00.413-05:002010-02-24T11:56:00.413-05:00I love Barbara Pym. She writes quiet books, but I ...I love Barbara Pym. She writes quiet books, but I can really care about her characters. It is because of the characters I meet that is my reason for reading.Commonweederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10913336590036045901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-87803085449151862272010-02-23T14:17:55.845-05:002010-02-23T14:17:55.845-05:00Marcia, my first Pym book was Excellent Women - a ...Marcia, my first Pym book was Excellent Women - a really great place to start, but I think you could choose whatever appeals to you and be fine. Here is the list from fantastic fiction (that fantastic site!):<br /><br />http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/<br />p/barbara-pym/<br /><br />Thomas, I have the Hazel Holt biog. on the table waiting.<br /><br />And thank you for coming by, Hannah. I'll be over to visit.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-53710868167492686082010-02-23T08:11:10.978-05:002010-02-23T08:11:10.978-05:00This is a great review of on eof my favourite writ...This is a great review of on eof my favourite writers - her characters are definately not always stellar - but they are so reaslistic and I do love that. Thanks for sharing, HannahHannah Stonehamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11139146341592918233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-68483687570564797052010-02-22T23:30:39.385-05:002010-02-22T23:30:39.385-05:00I just finished reading a biographical work about ...I just finished reading a biographical work about Pym and then launched straight into Excellent Women. The more I read Pym the more I like her.Thomas Hogglestockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14284352537015457974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-87986922852437704162010-02-22T12:17:47.842-05:002010-02-22T12:17:47.842-05:00This is an author I have not read, Nan. Is there ...This is an author I have not read, Nan. Is there one book that I should start with or just dive right in? I'm particularly drawn to a cat with a strong personality!Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05456358514871810611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-40090518057404654802010-02-22T10:37:32.825-05:002010-02-22T10:37:32.825-05:00Geranium Cat, I look forward to it. Thanks for you...Geranium Cat, I look forward to it. Thanks for your support about the links thing. :<)Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-44348479543014300552010-02-21T11:47:49.992-05:002010-02-21T11:47:49.992-05:00I love Pym too, and I know you'll enjoy the bi...I love Pym too, and I know you'll enjoy the biography. What could be better than Barbara Pym *and* Hazel Holt? I remember there are some wonderful snippets from her diary entries - observations that might come up later in her books.<br /><br />I struggle with the clickable links in comments too - I know how to do it, but sometimes it doesn't work, so now I always check it before I post, which can be very long-winded :)Jodie Robsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02442935205880334932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-64972891752829223672010-02-20T11:15:20.699-05:002010-02-20T11:15:20.699-05:00I've just tried (by copying and pasting) some ...I've just tried (by copying and pasting) some of the page links I gave and they don't come up. Librarian, if you are really interested, you could go to the sidebar and look under book reports 2009 and you'll find the Miss Read books. And JoAnn, you can just go to Robin's blog and do a search for Quartet in Autumn.<br /><br />I know I really should learn that clickable thing with links, but I've had it explained to me a few times and my brain just can't figure out the little arrows, etc. to make it happen. So sorry.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-1690750821411639052010-02-20T11:14:50.142-05:002010-02-20T11:14:50.142-05:00I've just tried (by copying and pasting) some ...I've just tried (by copying and pasting) some of the page links I gave and they don't come up. Librarian, if you are really interested, you could go to the sidebar and look under book reports 2009 and you'll find the Miss Read books. And JoAnn, you can just go to Robin's blog and do a search for Quartet in Autumn.<br /><br />I know I really should learn that clickable thing with links, but I've had it explained to me a few times and my brain just can't figure out the little arrows, etc. to make it happen. So sorry.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-2062956518201810492010-02-20T11:02:39.179-05:002010-02-20T11:02:39.179-05:00Staci, I actually give better attention to slower,...Staci, I actually give better attention to slower, quieter books. <br /><br />fleurfisher, you are so right. What a gift she had. <br /><br />Jenclair, the cat's name is Faustina!<br /><br />Librarian, yes! I love Miss Read. I first read them maybe twenty years ago, and went right through both series. I've recently begun reading them again. I've written book reports on the first three fairacre books here on the blog.<br /><br />http://lettersfromahillfarm.blogspot.com/2009/01/village-school-by-miss-read.html<br /><br />http://lettersfromahillfarm.blogspot.com/2009/01/village-diary-by-miss-read.html<br /><br />http://lettersfromahillfarm.blogspot.com/2009/02/storm-in-village-by-miss-read.html<br /><br />And if you go over to Book Psmith's blog, she is reading a lot of Miss Read:<br /><br />http://bookpsmith.blogspot.com/<br /><br />Books Please, I had read only Excellent Women years ago, then Jane and Prudence in 2007, and now this one. I just love her. I have the biography by Hazel Holt waiting for me.<br /><br />Oh, JoAnn, I just love EW. Did you read Robin's review of Quartet in Autumn? I haven't read that one yet.<br /><br />http://afondnessforreading.wordpress.com/2009/12/28/quartet-in-autumn/<br /><br />Janell, I can't tell you what that means to me. I so hope you like the books you bought.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-64455368684965861052010-02-20T09:53:32.756-05:002010-02-20T09:53:32.756-05:00Nan,
This was a lovely and gentle review. I zipp...Nan,<br /><br />This was a lovely and gentle review. I zipped right over to Amazon & bought two of her books.<br /><br />I look forward to my visit to Pym's world.<br /><br />JanellAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-87017966838185195942010-02-20T06:50:20.998-05:002010-02-20T06:50:20.998-05:00I discovered Pym through Quartet in Autumn. Like B...I discovered Pym through Quartet in Autumn. Like Book Psmith, I seem to be enjoying 'quiet' books more and more lately. This sounds like a good one, but Excellent Women will be next.... it's waiting on the shelf.JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-71414413011596352752010-02-20T02:35:39.764-05:002010-02-20T02:35:39.764-05:00This one looks good to me. It's been years sin...This one looks good to me. It's been years since I read anything by Barbara Pym - thanks for reminding me of her books.BooksPleasehttp://www.booksplease.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-9638904192349928282010-02-20T02:28:19.504-05:002010-02-20T02:28:19.504-05:00Good morning Nan, it does not sound dull at all! I...Good morning Nan, it does not sound dull at all! It reminds me of the "Miss Read" books; have you ever come across them? My mother-in-law has sent me three, "Village School", "Village Diary" and "Storm in the Village", and they could be counted among quiet books as well, I guess. Very relaxing!Librarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-12919392034642727782010-02-19T19:55:35.954-05:002010-02-19T19:55:35.954-05:00Sounds good to me! I like the idea of the cat, to...Sounds good to me! I like the idea of the cat, too.jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-56734088566371907902010-02-19T19:08:35.313-05:002010-02-19T19:08:35.313-05:00Now in some writer's hands I could see this wo...Now in some writer's hands I could see this would be dull, but it is the kind of thing she does beautifully. I always think that her books would be spoiled if too much happened as you would miss the wonderful, subtle details. And i must say that your edition is so much prettier than my own 1870a paperback.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-37872303373362522122010-02-19T17:43:45.023-05:002010-02-19T17:43:45.023-05:00I've realized that not all books need to have ...I've realized that not all books need to have violence or be fast paced in order to get my attention. This sounds like a great read.Stacihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07600979915661464945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-19292136025574423022010-02-19T15:59:18.661-05:002010-02-19T15:59:18.661-05:00Book Psmith, it was refused for just that reason -...Book Psmith, it was refused for just that reason - too dull, too ordinary for the times. From wikipedia:<br /><br />'According to some accounts, the reason was its being "out of step with the racier literary climate of the sixties" ; others say Cape and others viewed it as commercially unviable, even when endorsed by Philip Larkin'Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-49269887694163867612010-02-19T15:53:18.766-05:002010-02-19T15:53:18.766-05:00I am beginning to form an attachment to and prefer...I am beginning to form an attachment to and preference for quiet books and it is one reason I enjoyed the one Pym I read. It doesn't sound dull for sure and I have added it to my tbr list. I wonder why it was refused for publication while she was alive.Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12387313238448432017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-81522262001169501072010-02-19T15:30:37.667-05:002010-02-19T15:30:37.667-05:00Yeah, it was 'concise' wasn't it, Juli...Yeah, it was 'concise' wasn't it, Julie! Anthropologists, cats, Anglican clergy, single women - they are definitely 'her' characters. Even the cat in this one is a strong personality. :<)Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.com