Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

When Laura Willowes’s beloved father dies, she is absorbed in the household of her brother and his family. There, she leaves behind “Laura” and enters into the state of “Aunt Lolly,” a genteel spinster indispensable to the upbringing of her nieces. For twenty years, Lolly is neither indulgent nor impulsive, until one day when she decides to move to a village in the Chilterns, much to her family’s chagrin.
But it’s in the countryside, among nature, where Lolly has her first taste of freedom. Duty-bound to no one except herself, she revels in the solitary life. When her nephew moves there, and Lolly feels once again thrust into her old familial role, she reaches out to the otherworldly, to the darkness, to the unheeded power within the hearts of women to feel at peace once more . . .

I am looking forward to Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner. It's a short book from 1926.

I understand that Lolly Willowes might be considered fantasy, but why science-fiction? Just a thought .😊

Mbuye wrote: "I understand that Lolly Willowes might be considered fantasy, but why science-fiction? Just a thought .😊"
It's not. Some things are both sci-fi and fantasy but most are one or the other. (People who say there's no difference get on my nerves.)

I'm about a hundred pages in. Nothing really magical has happened yet but I'm enjoying it.

by Sylvia Townsend Warner

Finish date: 08.12.2024
Genre: fantasy
Rating: A
#Classic


Good News: Complete new author for me: Sylvia T. Warner (STW)! Lolly moves to London and lives with her brother in a well-served house. She ages into Aunt Lolly while a number of efforts were made to "marry her off". I had to laugh when Lolly tells one of her suitors: "If you were a were-wolf...February is the month you most likely to go out on a dark windy night and worry sheep."

Good News: Witty, eerie history of a middle-class Englishwoman who politely declines to make the expected connection with the opposite sex and becomes a witch! You can't make this stuff up...or according to Svlvia T. Warner, (STW) you can. She moves into the supernatural as a comfortable and placid everyday scene.

Personal: Really, be honest, wouldn''t you like to sit down and have a heart-to-heart with the devil? Well buckle up because Lolly Willowes is taking no prisoners and tells the devil (...and the readers in the last 5 % of the book) exactly what a women's life feels like. Just wonderfully refreshing!
Bravo STW...I hope more readers discover her magic.
Reading time: 5,5 hrs

Nice review, Nancy. I read this a few years ago and went into it "blind" - just thinking it was another quiet story of a woman's life in England. Suddenly it took a turn and I was so surprised, and happy that the story was definitely not typical.

This was the first book offered by Book of the Month Club in 1926.

Yep, nice review, Nancy.
I found this kind of odd but in a good way.
(view spoiler)[I feel like you could make an argument that none of this actually happened. Most of it was just weird feelings she had and coincidences like a kitten getting into her apartment.
She did actually have a conversation with Satan at the end but that could have just been in her head.

Anyway I felt for her feeling trapped by the expectations of her family but was envious the whole time that she doesn't ever have to work or worry about money. (hide spoiler)]

I appreciate these comments getting me excited for this one. Still waiting for it from the library and finishing up other reads this week. I hope to be reading this next week.

Just finished it. Read it in 1 day. It’s like 2 books in 1 with the story changing mid way in an unexpected way. Interesting story, well written and slightly disturbing. I would like to read more by this author.

Cozy in bed, rain due to start soon, starting Lolly Willowes tonight.

It would probably be agood book to read in the rain.

I bailed. I wanted to read this book but it just wasn't working. If I left it for a few days I was lost
when I returned. I think between time periods? And Laura, Lolly, and where was Emmy? I might try later in a quieter and on a bigger screen than my cell phone.

I read this book many years ago and don't remember a single thing about the book!
Other books have stayed with me since high school!

I finished this up the other day. I liked it. I like the writing. It's lovely with some humor. I think I did myself a disservice in stretching it out because I was reading something else too but I still enjoyed it.
A story of a woman resisting the life conservative patriarchal society expects her to fill, with complete lack of interest in marriage and relationships, even running away from being a live-in aunt, is refreshing.

Emmy was a really minor character. I had to look back to find her.

Book Nerd wrote: "Emmy was a really minor character. I had to look back to find her."

Who was she? I forget too.

She was Laura's aunt.

Book Nerd wrote: "She was Laura's aunt."

Ha. It's funny that doesn't actually help bring anything to mind about her... but thanks for the reply.

I found the first part heartwarming and a very enjoyable read.

Glad to see you enjoyed this one Caroline!

Caroline wrote: "I found the first part heartwarming and a very enjoyable read."
Are you finished? Heartwarming isn't exactly what I'd call it, more just asserting her independence.

I went back and finished it. I wish I had not.

Blueberry wrote: "I went back and finished it. I wish I had not."

That's too bad. At least it was short!

True

Blueberry wrote: "I went back and finished it. I wish I had not."
lol sorry

Book Nerd wrote: "Caroline wrote: "I found the first part heartwarming and a very enjoyable read."
Are you finished? Heartwarming isn't exactly what I'd call it, more just asserting her independence."

I can understand seeing it as heartwarming. I found the character somewhat endearing and a woman asserting her independence especially in this world/era is a kind of underdog story.

Although I would say, now that some time has passed, I am finding it a bit forgettable. But I enjoyed the book alright as I was reading it...