Now it's time to take a Thirkell break. For two reasons: one, that ending just about killed me; two, because there were multiple times when I wanted tNow it's time to take a Thirkell break. For two reasons: one, that ending just about killed me; two, because there were multiple times when I wanted to kill her. An increasing charm of the series has been catching up with earlier leads. Setting all the stories in the one county makes updates feel natural. But her focus on already introduced characters means she's got to matchmake among those who were formerly comic bits. Like real wartime weddings I suppose, people are paired off more by proximity and timing than any natural affection developed slowly over the novel. Of course, this also means that sad events will happen to characters I've become quite fond of, which is even sadder. Now the other thing. At the first book one of my delights was the attention to the minor, mostly working-class characters. Thirkell hasn't devoted as much page time to the help since then. While she was clearly playing for laughs, it only seemed fair, because everyone came in for mockery. This book though has justified class prejudice by making it nearly universal among the gentry. The cottagers are salt of the earth, possibly only to make the evacuees look worse by comparison. But that's not all: there are refugees who awful. And other foreigners who are awful. Oh hell, she's made her available young women pretty awful too, and their suitors are even awfuller....more
After finishing the next one in the series, I wanted to come back and comment. I rather liked it right up until the very end. But, moving on to CheerfAfter finishing the next one in the series, I wanted to come back and comment. I rather liked it right up until the very end. But, moving on to Cheerfulness so soon puts this one into better perspective: ah, here is the melancholy tone coming along underneath the very happy ending.
"...Some of them are discharged lepers," said Lady Norton by way of making the position sound more attractive.
As much as one might long to be one o:
"...Some of them are discharged lepers," said Lady Norton by way of making the position sound more attractive.
As much as one might long to be one of Thirkell's vrry pretty, rich, young widows, she clearly has greatest sympathy for those who must work for a living, and for the unappealing nature of most opportunities.
Thirkell's heroine's aren't always clever, but they are always pretty and charming and devoted mothers, albeit, rather distant by 21st century US standards. The ones who are married are less mischievously flirtatious. Lavinia never listens to people, but she is mostly well intentioned: visiting grmpy aged relations or buying all the worst stuff from the stalls at the fete, looking after the poor but genteel companion, etc. All the chaps moon over her a bit then end up with appropriate and loving wives.
There's nothing but gooseberry fool for a month in any of the homes in the county, which seems off-putting. Delia is constantly eating all the ripe peaches she can get her hands on. I have rather forgotten a world where foods were only available in one short season.
I enjoy seeing Tony Morland grow up. These late teenagers are so very young still, and then boom, one year out of school the engagements start. FortunI enjoy seeing Tony Morland grow up. These late teenagers are so very young still, and then boom, one year out of school the engagements start. Fortunately Rose Burkitt, serial fiancee, doesn't seem in any actual haste to get to an altar. Such a very sweet book, with everyone falling in love in an instant and not having the foggiest idea how to talk to one another. No wonder the books end at the engagement: there's no way in hell any of these marriages should be tolerable. Picking names of a hat couldn't do worse, statistically. But probably no system is much better, and this one has the advantage of people looking young and charming, I suppose. The school stuff is all quite fun. The professionals take their work seriously, but the stories are all highjinks and tea parties, ignoring the really rough bits. There are worse places to live than in a Thirkell universe, all delicious foods and punting and croquet, where all the actual work takes place off stage, and no one is sick and the children are all adorable monsters. Barsetshire is just exactly as artificial as Mortshire, the romances as fake as the murders, and either way the conversations are about literature over the sandwiches at tea.
Very sweet. An eccentric family of aristocrats, a couple of school boys (17 but they seem much younger) some pretty and useless children, a curious faVery sweet. An eccentric family of aristocrats, a couple of school boys (17 but they seem much younger) some pretty and useless children, a curious family of summer renters, etc. Whether it is invention or careful observation, Thirkell is amazingly good at presenting amusing quirky people. The whole thing is as frothy as a glass of champagne, as airy as angelfood.
I hadn't realized she was Colin MacInnes' mother. Small world.
I was mildly disappointed that it wasn't a book of Christmas stories, but only very mildly. Lots of Laura and Tony, which I find hilarious and poignanI was mildly disappointed that it wasn't a book of Christmas stories, but only very mildly. Lots of Laura and Tony, which I find hilarious and poignant. The last story has Laura going to London to shop during wartime. I think I mentioned elsewhere that I didn't like Thirkell so much during wartime: she depresses the hell out of me. So Laura is going to London, and the train is cold and other people smoke in the non-smoking car, and there's this enormous list of things they need and the department store where she has long been a customer doesn't have any of those things...and it was depressing as hell, but I was nearly done with the book, so I finished it. And now I am charmed because most prosaic Christmas miracle ever (it's not specifically set at Christmas, but I am highly susceptible to titles apparently). I may have to reconsider the earlier decision to avoid the wartime books.
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