Hello friends. Welcome to everyone and especially new subscribers, I am so pleased to have you join our little community. This week’s post is a bit of a mixture—the garden gets a look in, and the garden birds, the rain (of course), and a couple of books that I’ve been reading lately. I hope you’ll enjoy it..
Lovely essay. thank you. Read A Fortnight in September right away -- finished it this morning. I don't know -- for me, it felt terribly sad with glimmers of happiness, rather than the other way around. It sounds from the author's bio as though it's autobiographical, and as an attempt by an author to think though their parents' lives it's rather beautiful. But still a painful read in some ways. May do an essay pairing it with a similar recent novel (not out in English) based on the writer's parents...thanks for mentioning it, although I'm rather sad from having read it!
I know what you mean. There is a poignancy there, I think, and after all, in a few years they would all be deep in another war. Sherriff had a bad first war and maybe this was a way of exorcising some of that by writing about simple lives and the innocence that will be taken away all too soon. I'm sorry it made you sad! I'll have to recommend something funny! And by the way - thanks for the recommendation!
Something funny is always welcome 😊. I don't know if you saw my comment on some other note about the between-the-wars novel ”Miss Mole” but it's both tougher and somehow happier. Highly recommended.
And the recommendation is for my readers' sake — I think that they'd enjoy it! Set up the list of recommended newsletters for the sake of people who come to mine via word-of-mouth outside of substack.
Enjoyed every bit of this article,June
Thanks, Maureen.
Thank you.
Lovely essay. thank you. Read A Fortnight in September right away -- finished it this morning. I don't know -- for me, it felt terribly sad with glimmers of happiness, rather than the other way around. It sounds from the author's bio as though it's autobiographical, and as an attempt by an author to think though their parents' lives it's rather beautiful. But still a painful read in some ways. May do an essay pairing it with a similar recent novel (not out in English) based on the writer's parents...thanks for mentioning it, although I'm rather sad from having read it!
I know what you mean. There is a poignancy there, I think, and after all, in a few years they would all be deep in another war. Sherriff had a bad first war and maybe this was a way of exorcising some of that by writing about simple lives and the innocence that will be taken away all too soon. I'm sorry it made you sad! I'll have to recommend something funny! And by the way - thanks for the recommendation!
Something funny is always welcome 😊. I don't know if you saw my comment on some other note about the between-the-wars novel ”Miss Mole” but it's both tougher and somehow happier. Highly recommended.
So enjoyed every bit of this, June. Thank you
And the recommendation is for my readers' sake — I think that they'd enjoy it! Set up the list of recommended newsletters for the sake of people who come to mine via word-of-mouth outside of substack.
That's a great way of looking at recommendations.
Thanks, yes I saw that, but it's a good reminder. I'm making a note!
Wonderful to hear that the birds are singing in East Devon! They're singing here in Tokyo, too. Thank you for this nostalgia-inspiring post.
Thank you! Is it cherry blossom time in Japan?
Ridding the fence of the shrubbery. It’s a good, accomplished feeling, isn’t it?
Comyns sounds fascinating. Her life. Her writing. I will see if I can find any of her books.
Happy March.
If you can find her earlier stuff, they're the best in my humble opinion. Some are not in print, but I think a couple are.
Your voice and my morning coffee is just a perfect way to start the day !
Oh thank you so much!