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Bilgewater
Bilgewater | Jane Gardam
7 posts | 7 read | 16 to read
Originally published in 1977, Jane Gardam's Bilgewater is an affectionate and complex rendering-in-miniature of the discomforts of growing up and first love seen through the eyes of inimitable Marigold Green, an awkward, eccentric, highly intelligent girl. The Evening Standard described Bilgewater as "one of the funniest, most entertaining, most unusual stories about young love." Motherless and 16, Marigold is the headmaster's daughter at a private backwater all-boys school. To make matters worse, Marigold pines for head boy Jack Rose, reckons with the beautiful and domineering Grace, and yanks herself headlong out of her interior world and into the seething cauldron of adolescence. With everything happening all at once, Marigold faces the greatest of teenage crucibles. A smart and painterly romp in the rich tradition of The Hollow Land and A Long Way From Verona, Gardam's elegant, evocative prose, possessed of sharp irony and easy surrealism makes Bilgewater a book for readers of all ages.
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blurb
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
Bilgewater | Jane Gardam
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Went to the library with a list. (Despite 500+ TBR stack)
Found nothing on my list.
Left with two fabulous discoveries!
Book hunting is fun!! 😁

Sace Isn't it? I actually never start with a list. I just wander around stacks and wait for the siren call. 4y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @sace I do that sometimes too! I lie and tell myself, “I‘m just going to see what‘s in the new fiction section . . . “ 4y
Texreader Yes it is! 4y
readordierachel The most fun! I love Europa Editions 😍 4y
54 likes4 comments
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RealLifeReading
Bilgewater | Jane Gardam
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At the lovely Point Reyes Books! Tiny town on the Northern California coast. Full of weekend trippers. Lots of good books!

alisonrose Do you live in the area? Or just visiting? 8y
katedensen So funny! I bought the Gardam book today! 8y
KVanRead Such a beautiful place. 8y
See All 9 Comments
RealLifeReading @alisonrose just visiting. I live about 1.5 h fr here 8y
RealLifeReading @KVanRead it is. Also full of people. 8y
alisonrose Ah okay - I'm 45 minutes or so from there 😊 8y
RealLifeReading @alisonrose nice! Are you in the north bay? 8y
alisonrose @RealLifeReading yup, in Petaluma! 8y
148 likes1 stack add9 comments
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Zoonoo
Bilgewater | Jane Gardam
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My at-work reading, one I've picked up many times but never opened. I'm a sucker for those clean, angular Europa covers.

bookloversnevergotobedalone I agree about the Europa covers, love them! 8y
1 like1 comment
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SarahK
Bilgewater | Jane Gardam
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I hate this feeling. I've started a couple of books recently and just can't get into them. It's not that I don't like them but I'm just not getting into the groove. Both of these have such promise too.

Eyelit I hate it when that happens. Maybe put them aside and try something new? 8y
MrBook Aww, I don't like the blah feeling I get from some books 😕. 8y
Lindy I agree with @Eyelit - set them aside for now, pick up something completely different, and come back to these when your mood is right. 8y
SarahK @Eyelit and @Lindy that's what I typically do if it's just a mood thing. It definitely helps. Thanks for the suggestion! 8y
SusanInTiburon That's what bookmarks are for! 📖📌 8y
8 likes5 comments
review
BibliophileBytheSea
Bilgewater | Jane Gardam
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Pickpick

A coming of age story with a delightful protagonist, Marigold Daisy Green -- AKA Bilgewater--Bilge. The nickname given to her by the cruel boys at the boarding school where her father, William the Silent works in northern England. A funny, touching story told from Bilge's POV. It was delightful watching her transformation over a period of two years. Just 227 pages, if you like quirky characters and an academic setting give this one a try.

29 likes7 stack adds
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BibliophileBytheSea
Bilgewater | Jane Gardam
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I've heard so many good things about the way Jane Gardam writes that I've decided to finally try her. I love Europa Editions as well.

WordWaller I love Europa Editions!! 8y
Reviewsbylola I was obsessed with Europa editions a couple years ago and would always buy one if I saw it. I try to be a little more discerning now about whether I will actually read the book because lord knows my TBR pile is way too high already! 8y
shawnmooney I'd heard nothing until your post. I want to read it! 8y
BookishMarginalia Europa Editions 💜💜💜 8y
Gulfsidemusing I love Europa Editions, too! Enjoyed Gardam's Old Filth and have God on the Rocks on my TBR pile. Can't wait to hear what you think of this. 8y
27 likes3 stack adds5 comments
blurb
BibliophileBytheSea
Bilgewater | Jane Gardam

I've heard so many good things about the way Jane Gardam writes that I've decided to finally try her. I love Europa Editions as well.