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I read several Barbara Pym novels 35-40 years ago, including Excellent Women. This one is even better now, second time around.
Book gets off to a slow start, telling the story of Mildred, in the London of 1950, a thirtyish single woman who works part-time for a volunteer organization devoted to improving the lot of impoverished gentlewomen and who is actively involved in her High Anglican church (and in the lives of the church father and his sister). And somehow she gets involved, in subtle way ...more
Book gets off to a slow start, telling the story of Mildred, in the London of 1950, a thirtyish single woman who works part-time for a volunteer organization devoted to improving the lot of impoverished gentlewomen and who is actively involved in her High Anglican church (and in the lives of the church father and his sister). And somehow she gets involved, in subtle way ...more
I don't remember the last time I read anything as funny as this! My favorite moments are when (view spoiler) and (view spoiler)
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Someone compared this to a precursor to Bridget Jones's Diary - it is a bit, but a completely different era. When I think of this book, I remember Manda talking about "cooking joints" with a fake British accent.
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Aug 22, 2013
Robin
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I am a total sucker for British-ish books about ladies and manners. Perhaps because Americans are so...anti-manners? Ok, that's not really what I mean. But it is a contrast to American society generally.
This book: great writing, nice plot, interesting characters, perhaps a bit predictable at times, but I still liked it. I read it in all of two days, in between chores.
Looking forward to reading other Barbara Pym books! ...more
This book: great writing, nice plot, interesting characters, perhaps a bit predictable at times, but I still liked it. I read it in all of two days, in between chores.
Looking forward to reading other Barbara Pym books! ...more
Enjoyed the conversational style of the work, but am glad that I didn't read this when I was still single or it would have hit a nerve lol. So much speculation on the prospects of a 30 year old 'spinster'.
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This is one of those books whose charm lies in the writing...clever turns of phrase and funny portraits of quirky characters.
Jun 12, 2012
Kathy
marked it as to-read
Apr 16, 2013
Lindi
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Jun 29, 2013
Nicole
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Jan 14, 2014
Sarah
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Feb 08, 2014
Lindsy Lawrence
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Apr 04, 2015
Sarah
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Apr 05, 2015
Hazel
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Dec 09, 2016
Erin
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Aug 26, 2017
anne
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Nov 23, 2018
Julianne Dunn
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Apr 20, 2020
Meg
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Jun 23, 2021
Heidi
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Jun 29, 2022
charlie
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