The last day of the Persephone Reading Week is here...unbelievably. I can't say enough about the phenomenal job Claire and Verity did. They were the perfect hosts and I hope they will hold another week of Persephone reading soon.
I finished Miss Buncles' Book this evening and do wish I had Miss Buncle Married on hand. I suppose I have the sequel to look forward to as well as all the other titles added to my wishlist thanks to many wonderful reviews of other Persephone titles written by other participants in the challenge.
Barbara Buncle has watched her dividends dwindle (if anyone can explain the concept behind dividends I would be so grateful) and must find another source of income. She decides to write a book but because she has 'no imagination', she decides to write about the village she lives in. Once the book is published and read by her neighbors, the drama ensues, and Miss Buncle's quiet life is turned upside down.
I do agree with the Persphone catalogue that describes DE Stevenson's book as "an undemanding, fun and absorbing novel" but it is a also a book that made me think...about the ethical aspect of publishing; how others see us as compared to how we see ourselves; the realities of living in a small town or village; and, how reading, as well as writing books, can influence lives. Stevenson created a world I wanted to crawl into and be a part of. I wanted to put certain characters in their place and befriend others but most of all I wanted to sit in a cozy chair and put my feet up to the fire with a copy of Disturber of the Peace in one hand and a hot cup of tea in another.
This is my first Persephone read and it has been a charming place to begin. Where will it lead? For the time being I have three other Persephone titles on my shelf but soon I will have to place an order and start ticking off titles on my wishlist. Nymeth and Claire shared some of the titles they look forward to reading and I thought I would do the same. Here are my top ten...
Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple
Fidelity by Susan Glaspell
The Home-Maker by Dorothy Canfield-Fisher
Saplings by Noel Streatfeild
Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey
Flush by Virginia Woolf
They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple
Princes in the Land by Joanna Cannan
The Village by Marghanita Laski
Making Conversation by Christine Longford
Thank you again to Claire and Verity for a wonderful reading week.
I finished Miss Buncles' Book this evening and do wish I had Miss Buncle Married on hand. I suppose I have the sequel to look forward to as well as all the other titles added to my wishlist thanks to many wonderful reviews of other Persephone titles written by other participants in the challenge.
Barbara Buncle has watched her dividends dwindle (if anyone can explain the concept behind dividends I would be so grateful) and must find another source of income. She decides to write a book but because she has 'no imagination', she decides to write about the village she lives in. Once the book is published and read by her neighbors, the drama ensues, and Miss Buncle's quiet life is turned upside down.
I do agree with the Persphone catalogue that describes DE Stevenson's book as "an undemanding, fun and absorbing novel" but it is a also a book that made me think...about the ethical aspect of publishing; how others see us as compared to how we see ourselves; the realities of living in a small town or village; and, how reading, as well as writing books, can influence lives. Stevenson created a world I wanted to crawl into and be a part of. I wanted to put certain characters in their place and befriend others but most of all I wanted to sit in a cozy chair and put my feet up to the fire with a copy of Disturber of the Peace in one hand and a hot cup of tea in another.
This is my first Persephone read and it has been a charming place to begin. Where will it lead? For the time being I have three other Persephone titles on my shelf but soon I will have to place an order and start ticking off titles on my wishlist. Nymeth and Claire shared some of the titles they look forward to reading and I thought I would do the same. Here are my top ten...
Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple
Fidelity by Susan Glaspell
The Home-Maker by Dorothy Canfield-Fisher
Saplings by Noel Streatfeild
Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey
Flush by Virginia Woolf
They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple
Princes in the Land by Joanna Cannan
The Village by Marghanita Laski
Making Conversation by Christine Longford
Thank you again to Claire and Verity for a wonderful reading week.
11 comments:
Thank you for participating! It's been such a fun week and now all I want to do is read more Persephones, especially Miss Buncle's Book.
I'm glad you enjoyed your first Persephone experience; which titles to you already have on the bookshelf? You have some great ones added to the list that will come in handy for the next reading week!
As for dividends: um, a regular payment made from shares?
If you read one Persephone you had better clear a shelf on your bookcase for more. Miss Buncle's Book is sitting on my shelf, I look forward to it knowing how much you and others enjoyed it. Last night I started Minnie's Room, this week of all things Persephone isn't over for me yet!
"Stevenson created a world I wanted to crawl into and be a part of." I so love it when that happens :)
I love that you included a picture with a bookmark - I must make sure I order my next Persephone from their directly so that I get one too.
Sounds like a great week of reading!
Paperback Reader - I wasn't sure if it was connected to market shares but it would make sense since the book discussed difficult economic times. I have Few Eggs, On the Other Side, and Greenery Street. Can't wait till the next one.
Darlene - I don't have a shelf to spare. I have my eye on an Amish bookcase but have decided to first look at some of the antique markets that are near. Enjoy Minnie's Room:)
Nymeth - Me too...it is the sign of a very good book:) The bookmarks are a nice surprise and I know each time I see the one that came with Miss Buncle it will bring back great reading memories.
Lit and Life - It was:) Perhaps you will join the next one in 2010?
It sounds like Persephone week was a huge success! I will be adding Miss Buncles's Book to my wish list. Love your top ten - less than 100 pages into Someone at a Distance, but can't wait to get back to it. The Home-Maker was also outstanding. Even though I read it last spring, I still keep thinking about it. Next time, I will plan my travels around Persephone week...so sorry to have missed it.
JoAnn - We missed you too but enjoyed your posts and checking in. I thought you should know I am officially hooked on Wharton starting with the Bell story you introduced me to. I recently read Roman Fever which was so good and will be reading more of her ghost stories in October. Will this inevitably lead to James? You also lead me to The Home-Maker. Your recommendations have led me to some great reading.
Ooh I didn't know there was a Miss Buncle Married! We should get that one sometime soon, I hope? I so enjoyed Persephone Week, too, and hope another one isn't too far away. :)
Glad you enjoyed your Persephone week. Hopefully next time I'll be able to join in.
Dividends are sort of interest payments when you own shares. The amount you get goes up and down with the stock market of course.
So glad you discovered Wharton! I just found my copy of the Persephone Biannually with Roman Fever in it (hurray!) and will be looking for more ghost stories for fall, too. James will probably follow soon...Daisy Miller is a nice starting point, I think.
Now how about Willa Cather? ;-)
Claire - From what I understand, there is a third book...The Two Mrs. Abbotts...but the later two are harder to find. It would be cool to see Perspephone publish them. I do hope the second reading week will be in early 2010. This was just too much fun.
Cath - I hope you will be able to participate in the next one. I think you will really enjoy it. Well I am glad Miss Buncle found another way to support herself...to count on the stock market for your income is way too risky:)
JoAnn - I noted the James recommendation. Thank you. I put in an order at Powells for a 1975 copy of Wharton's ghost stories but the condition listed possible underlining. I emailed a request for a more detailed description of the book's condition. I am crossing my fingers there is no writing because the book contains illustrations which I am a little crazy over right now. We'll see...
Post a Comment