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An Unsuitable Attachment
An Unsuitable Attachment | Barbara Pym
13 posts | 16 read | 5 to read
Set in St Basils, an undistinguished North London parish, An Unsuitable Attachment is indeed full of the high comedy for which Barbara Pym is famed. There is Mark Ainger, the vicar, who introduces his sermons with remarks like Those of you who are familiar with the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. His wife Sophia with her cat, I feel sometimes that I cant reach Faustina as Ive reached other cats. Rupert Stonebird, anthropologist and eligible bachelor. The well-bred Ianthe Broome who works at the library and forms an unsuitable attachment with a young man there. The sharp-tongue Mervyn Cantrell, chief librarian, who complains that when books have things spilt on them it is always bottled sauce or gravy of the thickest and most repellent kind rather than something utterly exquisite and delicious. There is also Daisy Pettigrew, the vets sister, another obsessional cat person, and Sister Dew who bears a strong resemblance to Sister Blatt in Excellent Women.
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CarolynM
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Pymworld seems to consist almost exclusively of anthropologists, librarians and functionaries of the Anglican Church and I am so here for the delightful ways in which she puts them through their paces. Near the end an anthropologist suggests (facetiously) a study called “The Wiles of Nice Women in Civilized Society” which would fit this story nicely if we added “and the Self-Absorption of Men”.

Ruthiella This is one I‘ve not yet read. Sounds wonderful. 1y
LeahBergen I could happily reside in Pymworld. 😆 1y
Tamra I don‘t know why I haven‘t fallen into Pymworld - I keep saying I need to bump her up on the TBR. 1y
Centique It makes me so happy to hear about a Pym I haven‘t read - I love “Pymworld”! 1y
74 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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coffeenebula
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The Pym-is-the-ultimate-comfort-readathon continues.

Ruthiella Nice! The “wallpaper” covers of her books are my favorites aesthetically. 😀 3y
41 likes1 comment
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Lcsmcat
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“She saw herself perhaps as an Elizabeth Bowen heroine - for one did not openly identify oneself with Jane Austen‘s heroines - and To the North was her favorite novel.”
I needed something light and fun after 2 dark books in a row, and Cordélia needed a face wash. #pemberlittens #littenkitten #catsoflitsy

LeahBergen And now I‘ll have to read To the North. 😄 3y
Lcsmcat @LeahBergen Yes, me too! 3y
Crazeedi Kitty is soo precious 😻 3y
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Lcsmcat @Crazeedi Thanks, she‘s a sweetie. 3y
Ruthiella It looks as if your cat is about to blow you a kiss💋 ! 😃 3y
batsy This edition is so nice! (And same, @LeahBergen ! I also have to read this Pym novel 😁) 3y
Lcsmcat @batsy Thanks. It was a library sale find from the days when we could go to library sales. 3y
47 likes1 stack add8 comments
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shawnmooney
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Aimeesue I‘m a Pymphomaniac. 😁 5y
shawnmooney @Aimeesue You and me both! 😄 (edited) 5y
kspenmoll Love Pym! 4y
40 likes3 comments
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shawnmooney
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shawnmooney
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Suet624 What a bummer - to be dreary even after you die. 5y
19 likes1 comment
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shawnmooney
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shawnmooney
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jfount
Pickpick

Some great scenes of cross-purposes and misunderstandings; not just love across a social divide but across understandings of social hierarchy.

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jfount
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"What was its significance in the pattern?"

SusanInTiburon ❤️️Pym❤️ 7y
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jfount

A vague idea formed in his mind -- not that he loved her but that he would like to see her always in his house, like some suitable decoration or finishing touch.

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jfount
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The binding on this copy is falling apart, but it still makes for a leisurely morning.

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DaphneLee
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An Unsuitable Attachment (my 2nd favourite BP novel) is a particularly Pymish story, filled with Anglican vicars and their wives (and female admirers), fussy bachelors, socially awkward anthropologists, excellent spinsters, single persons ineffectually navigating the perilous seas of love.