Yoked with a Lamb

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This was a charming story about a woman's attempts to help her friend get reintegrated into society after a breakup and reconciliation. I was uncomfortable with some of the attitudes toward women but had to remind myself that this book was written in 1938. I especially liked the main character and the humour.

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub
#192025 #1938 @Librarybelle
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Librarybelle Hooray!! 11mo

Ruthiella I agree. It‘s a novel “of its time”, but I liked it in spite of those aspects. 11mo

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 11mo

kwmg40 @Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks Thanks for stopping by! 11mo

kwmg40 @Ruthiella I really liked it too despite the issues. It was a fun read! 11mo

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quietjenn

Yoked with a Lamb | Molly Clavering

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Almost forgot to post about our #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub read, although I did enjoy it, despite some frustrating bits that others have already mentioned. I'm not sure how much of it will stick with me, but the scene seeing was lovely and the characters I liked, I liked enormously. Will certainly read more by Clavering.

quietjenn @LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads @batsy @CarolynM @Ruthiella @jlhammar @erzascarletbookgasm @Tamra @Aimeesue @Cathythoughts @Jess_Read_This @Kimzey @catebutler @elkeOriginal @Sparklemn @MrsK 11mo

Ruthiella Yes, this was a nice introduction to a new author! DSP has re-published a number of Clavering‘s novels, so it‘s likely we‘ll run into her again! 😃 11mo

CarolynM Yes, I‘m keen to read more of her too. Nice review. 11mo

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Cathythoughts Nice review ❤️ I really enjoyed this one, and would also like to read more of her too. 11mo

jlhammar Yes, I'd definitely be interested in trying another Clavering, see how it compares. Glad you enjoyed! 11mo

Tamra Agreed, overall there were many enjoyable aspects of the novel. This was my first of her books and I‘d be game to try another. 11mo

MaureenMc @quietjenn @CarolynM @Ruthiella @Cathythoughts @jlhammar @Tamra I‘ve read this Clavering, & really enjoyed it. It‘s supposedly based on her friendship with D.E. Stevenson

Mrs. Lorimer's Quiet Summer

11mo

Tamra @MaureenMc thank you for the suggestion! 11mo

LeahBergen Nice review! Yes, I‘m up for reading more by Clavering, too (especially when I need something cozy and non-taxing 😆). 11mo

LeahBergen @MaureenMc I have that waiting on my shelves. 👍 11mo

Aimeesue More Clavering is clearly called for! 11mo

quietjenn @MaureenMc Ooh, that may be a good one to try as the next one! 11mo

quietjenn @Ruthiella @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @Tamra @LeahBergen @Aimeeue This is my second, as I read “Dear Hugo“ sometime last year. I really liked that one! Oh, just realized via Goodreads that I also read “Near Neighbors“ via a group on their earlier this year. That was great! So, I guess I am not so unfamiliar with Clavering as I thought 😆 (edited) 11mo

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LeahBergen

Yoked with a Lamb | Molly Clavering

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I enjoyed this 1938 novel set in a gossipy town on the Scottish Borders. I initially thought it was going to be just a typical “light romance” of the era so the theme of adultery and marital reconciliation was a bit surprising at first (and we‘ve all already discussed Andrew and Lucy!).

I could definitely see similarities between this and the writings of her friend and neighbour, DE Stevenson, especially in regards to plot and scenery.

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LeahBergen #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub 11mo

Tamra Those themes came as a surprise to me as well! 11mo

jlhammar Yes, it is such an interesting and unexpected mix when you think about it! It has the romantic and comedic elements, but the situation with Andrew and his family is actually quite heavy. I mean, he left them all for another woman for four years! That is a very difficult thing to recover from. Makes me wonder where Clavering got her inspiration for this story. I'll have to give Stevenson a try sometime. 11mo

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Ruthiella Besides our earlier group read of The English Air, I‘d only read the first two Miss Buncle books by DE Stevenson, so I was not expecting the drama! 😂 11mo

batsy Yes! Reading these FM titles have been interesting in terms of seeing the depth of the topics addressed in "domestic" or "women's fiction". 11mo

BarbaraBB Those shelves 🥰🥰 11mo

CarolynM I don‘t think I‘d fully comprehended that DE Stevenson and Molly Clavering were Scottish writers. It‘s interesting to contrast with the English village stories. I think DES has the edge for wit. @Ruthiella You need to get to know Mrs Tim!

Mrs Tim of the Regiment: The Bloomsbury Group

11mo

Cathythoughts I love how you are bringing in the other writers.. I‘d be all for the Scottish being a Celt myself 👍🏻❤️ 11mo

Ruthiella @BarbaraBB IKR? Total shelf envy! 😍 11mo

LeahBergen @Tamra They were probably still a bit shocking for this sort of “domestic fiction” in 1938! 11mo

LeahBergen @jlhammar The four years (!) is really what got to me. I found myself wanting to know more about what went on during that relationship before Andrew returned home. And definitely try some DE Stevenson; I recommend Miss Buncle‘s Book or Mrs Tim of the Regiment. 👍 11mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella SO much drama in such a small town. 😆 11mo

LeahBergen @batsy I agree! I think I enjoy these books so much just for that “fly on the wall” peep into history. 11mo

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB @Ruthiella Thank you both! I sort of love them, too. 😆 11mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I think DES has the edge for wit, too! Although I was reading someone‘s review of this one and she said the other Clavering books she‘d read were funnier. We‘ll have to try more! 😁 11mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Have you read any other DE Stevenson yet? Other than The English Air? Try Miss Buncle‘s Book or Mrs Tim of the Regiment. 👍 11mo

Cathythoughts I will try them. Painting new book shelves at the moment , so I will have to get new books to celebrate ❤️ 11mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Ooo, how exciting! I hope you share a photo when they‘re done. 😍 11mo

Cathythoughts I will ! My growing FMB books and Persephones have been a bit homeless.. but they will be getting a fine permanent spot now 🥰 11mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I can‘t wait to see! 11mo

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Aimeesue

Yoked with a Lamb | Molly Clavering

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I enjoyed this one, for the most part. The characters were very enjoyable, and even the more odious ones were substantial enough so that they didn‘t feel like stock villains. I had difficulty with one of the children hero-worshipping Confederate generals and their "Lost Cause" but that was more identifying with underdogs than political. Other readers felt that Lucy was being blamed for Andrew‘s infidelity and abandonment of the family - and ⬇️

Aimeesue (2) to be sure, some of the other characters did do that. I don‘t feel that Clavering was, though. It felt more like a giant mismatch of personalities between A&L, where her insecurities and perfectionism+ social mores of the time drove her controlling micromanagement, which EVENTUALLY led to the calm and unflappable A. running away. I think her biting bitterness and his unhappiness + unwillingness to deal with it head on was the real problem. 11mo

Aimeesue @CarolynM @catebutler @Cathythoughts @elkeOriginal @erzascarletbookgasm @Jess_Read_This @jlhammar @kimzey @LeahBergen @MrsK @quietjenn @Sparklemn @Ruthiella @rubyslippersreads @Tamra @willaful 11mo

Tamra Thoughtful review! 😁 Spot on with respect to the mismatch. It is hard for me to see them living happily or even contentedly thereafter. 11mo

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CarolynM Henry stopped talking about the Civil War, and I forgot about his unfortunate allegiance, or I wouldn‘t have ended up liking him so much 😆 Nice review! 11mo

jlhammar Great points! @Tamra Yeah, A & L might find a way to stay together for the long run, but I agree, hard to see their relationship thriving. 11mo

Ruthiella I think you are right that the author didn‘t support the other characters‘ view of the L/A relationship and failure there of. But other than that first introduction of Lucy touring the empty house, we don‘t get much of a sympathetic point of view from her. (edited) 11mo

batsy Great points, especially about the mismatch between Andrew & Lucy. But even at the end I felt like Lucy's good aspects had to be qualified, whereas even Andrew's sense of (newfound) superiority is deemed the "not obtrusive" kind by Kate, but instead as an ideal kind of check and balance for Lucy's character. 11mo

Cathythoughts Great review! Good points , the whole Andrew/Lucy story is causing great debate. This might be an IRL Bookclub pick 👍🏻😁 11mo

Aimeesue @Tamra @jlhammar It would be interesting to catch up with them again in ten years! 11mo

Aimeesue @CarolynM Oh, i really liked Henry, despite his unfortunate, probably unconsidered allegiance. He had some verve, that kid! 11mo

Aimeesue @Ruthiella It was pretty subtle. The scene at the end with Mrs. Anstruther where she says she‘s just discovered that she has a "nasty nature" is hopeful in a way - at least she‘s had that epiphany. What she does about it after that would be revealing. I do like that she went and got Mrs. MacOstritch to leave. ? (edited) 11mo

Aimeesue @batsy True. Society has a really difficult time with prickly women in particular. It‘s the old aggressive/assertive, domineering/commanding split that we can‘t seem to get past. Prickly people are just difficult and hard to get along with, so maybe it‘s more that she‘s the prickly one in the relationship than that she‘s a woman? I mean, look at Cousin Charlotte and Uncle Henry -They‘re practically porcupines! 11mo

Aimeesue @Cathythoughts Great idea! I may propose It the next time it‘s my turn to pick for my book club! 😄 11mo

LeahBergen Great review! And I completely agree with you about the mismatch of A & L‘s temperaments in regards to the collapse of their marriage. And also the eviction of The MacOstrich. 😆 11mo

batsy @Aimeesue Yes, you're so right. Especially for women at the time, once past the age of being eligible, like Cousin Charlotte, then you can lean into your prickliness and go full porcupine 😆 I felt a bit for Lucy because in that one scene with Mrs Anstruther she showed a hidden, more vulnerable side and I liked seeing it. 11mo

Aimeesue @LeahBergen The MacOstritch scene was brilliant. So funny! And maybe a demonstration of the *good* side of not behaving according to societal expectations? (edited) 11mo

Aimeesue @batsy I don‘t really read romance/ rom-com novels much, but there seems to be a trend lately in the “grumpy/ sunshine” category. A lot are about happy women rescuing/redeeming grumpy men in that stereotypical way, but there have also been a lot where the gender roles are reversed, or in LGBTQIA romances, not related to gender. It‘s interesting to think about. (edited) 11mo

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CarolynM

Yoked with a Lamb | Molly Clavering

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#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub
Some great characters (particularly Kate & young Henry) & amusing escapades kept me reading & enjoying in spite of the “blame the woman for the man‘s infidelity” theme (Lucy & Mrs Farrell both). I agree that holier-than-thou types can be annoying, but shouldn‘t Andrew have had the guts to actually discuss that with L instead of running away with Mrs F? I hope Kate is happy, but I don‘t think Robin is much of a prize.

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Ruthiella I hear ya! But I think Kate and Robin will rub along well enough together. I was a little surprised at the Grey/Anne romance. That came from nowhere. Maybe there‘s a longer version somewhere. 11mo

LeahBergen I‘m almost done! I‘ll come back to comment. 11mo

batsy Nicely said! I don't find Robin to be much of a prize, either, but it does seem that Kate and him get on super well together. 11mo

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Cathythoughts Great review! Yes I agree with Andrew/Lucy relationship. Andrew was painted as such a lovely guy , and Lucy as a real drag. Not fair. I‘m ok with Kate and Robin , I think they will do well together. (edited) 11mo

Aimeesue Nice review! 11mo

Aimeesue @Ruthiella Yeah, The Grey/Anne thing was a surprise. The malapropisms wore on me after a while too. Still, Anne seems a good sort. 11mo

jlhammar Yes! The amusing escapades really made the book for me. That coffee looks delicious! 11mo

Tamra You are right about Robin. It was as if Robin & Grey were simply conveniently there to marry the two women off. I liked the novel overall, but there were aspects underdeveloped. 11mo

Tamra @Ruthiella yes, that seemed to have manifest out of nowhere! 11mo

LeahBergen Now, I quite liked Robin. I don‘t know why! 😆 11mo

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jlhammar

Yoked with a Lamb | Molly Clavering

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Quite enjoyed this. Loved getting the dynamics of this Scottish Border community and really enjoyed the humor throughout. Some great madcap scenes—Kate locking Andrew in the cupboard, Cousin Charlotte being mistaken for a “bundle of old clothes” while carried out of the window, stealing leeks, the missing dentures 😂. Sharp-tongued Mrs. Anstruther was a delight. I took issue with how Lucy was portrayed though and the whole “poor Andrew” bit.

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jlhammar #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub 11mo

Tamra Yes, that was a bit much in terms of “poor Andrew.” Lucy‘s character wasn‘t developed enough. 11mo

LeahBergen I‘m hoping to finish up today and I‘ll come back to read this! 😊 11mo

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Ruthiella Good point about the physical humor throughout. Would have maybe made a good film. 🤔 11mo

charl08 Never heard of this one, sounds intriguing. 11mo

Cathythoughts Nice review 👍🏻♥️ It was a fun read with lots of crazy situations. I loved old Anstruther too ♥️ 11mo

LeahBergen Great review! I enjoyed the madcap scenes, too. 11mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts That Anstruther was a sharp old thing, wasn‘t she? 😆 11mo

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Tamra

Yoked with a Lamb | Molly Clavering

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There is more here than the happy romance one might expect. I would have liked more of Lucy to better understand her character beyond mere “shrew.” Henry was a riot when he tried to use Virginia to get out of school. 😆

Oh my, what fun it could have been had Great Uncle Henry and Cousin Charlotte stayed on! 🧨 ☄️

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Tamra @CarolynM @catebutler @Cathythoughts @elkeOriginal @erzascarletbookgasm @Jess_Read_This @jlhammar @kimzey @LeahBergen @MrsK @quietjenn @Sparklemn @Ruthiella @rubyslippersreads @Tamra @willaful @Aimeesue 11mo

Ruthiella I was kinda hoping for a last minute romance between Cousin Charlotte and Uncle Henry! 😂 Definitely this book was not what I expected. One fun thing about our club is I get to read knowing nothing. I don‘t read the blurb first, just dive in! 11mo

Tamra @Ruthiella oh my, wouldn‘t that have been fun? I see sequel material! 😂 Me too, I never read the forward for fear of spoilers. 11mo

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Cathythoughts Great review 👍🏻❤️ Yes , Charlotte and Henry were fun, and relatable as relatives we are not too overjoyed to have staying for long ( small doses ). @Ruthiella I was definitely thinking something would happen with Charlotte and Henry .. 11mo

Cathythoughts Lovely photo ❤️ 11mo

Aimeesue @Ruthiella @Tamra I enjoyed the non-resolution between Cousin Charlotte and Uncle Henry - reminded me of Moonlighting with all that flirty, feistiness! 11mo

Tamra @Cathythoughts 😉😉 bah, indeed!! 11mo

Tamra @Cathythoughts I am loving all the bloom color in everyone‘s pics lately! 11mo

rubyslippersreads ❤️ your Kindle decal. 11mo

batsy Ah yes, Uncle Henry and Cousin Charlotte! Love them 😆 11mo

jlhammar Pretty photo! Just finished. Lucy as shrew driving her husband astray did not work for me either. It did seemed like a missed opportunity in terms of presenting a full picture. But, I suppose that is how many would have seen things at the time (even still today if we're being honest!) Loved Henry and Virginia. And it was just too good when Anne came back with both Uncle Henry and Cousin Charlotte 😂 11mo

CarolynM So many great characters in this book! I‘m very glad I don‘t have to put up with Cousin Charlotte as a house guest🤣 11mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella I was hoping for that romance, too! They certainly had a secret crotchety fondness for each other. 11mo

LeahBergen @Tamra I felt the same about Lucy. She wasn‘t as fleshed out as some of the other characters and we really didn‘t get a lot of scenes from her POV. Maybe it was intentional on the author‘s part as she wasn‘t “one of the family”, so to speak. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 11mo

Tamra @LeahBergen 🤣 Crotchety romance (edited) 11mo

Tamra @LeahBergen good point! 11mo

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batsy

Yoked with a Lamb | Molly Clavering

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I liked this, though it improved as the story got going. I agree with others that presenting Lucy as somehow the cause of her husband's infidelity was hard to overlook, while her husband got away with an intact Nice Guy rep. He's so meh. I thought Kate a delightful character, but the narrative was pitting Kate vs. Lucy in terms of women men like to be around, & that was also tiresome. Mrs. Anstruther & Virginia for the win! #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

batsy The book is more complex than my review, though, in that it tries to show how harmful gossip can be when it's mere entertainment for some, while involving real people's lives. It also I guess tries to show that marriage is more complex on the inside than any judgment that can be made of it from the outside. It's an interesting novel to think about! It just has some aspects that might seem dated. 11mo

batsy @CarolynM @catebutler @Cathythoughts @elkeOriginal @erzascarletbookgasm @Jess_Read_This @jlhammar @kimzey @LeahBergen @MrsK @quietjenn @Sparklemn @Ruthiella @rubyslippersreads @Tamra @willaful 11mo

Tamra Wonderful review! I agree, so far it is more complicated than it may appear on the surface and deals with some heavy themes. 11mo

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Cathythoughts Great review! Definitely more complicated than it appears , good point. Yes and I think Mrs. Anstruther has some interesting words of wisdom.. and her name has ‘ truth ‘ in it. ‘ Life is always interesting even at its most disagreeable‘ 11mo

Ruthiella Excellent review! I also felt it got better in the second half. It took me a while to figure out Kate was actually the main focus and that this wouldn‘t be a light hearted romance, but had more heft. 11mo

Ruthiella @Cathythoughts Great observation about Mrs. Anstruther‘s name! 11mo

batsy @Tamra @Ruthiella Thank you! I also didn't realise about Kate being the focus, and thought it'll be a light and sweet family saga, but it went in a different and intriguing direction. 11mo

batsy @Cathythoughts Nice point about Mrs Anstruther's name! Yes, I thought that whole scene with Lucy was great and I highlighted that line, too. It would seem like on the surface she was just exhibiting dry wit, but I agree about the wisdom. "Don't tell me any more, or you will be sorry one day. It is a very great mistake to comfide in people" is also something that holds value in that context! 11mo

batsy I forgot to tag you, @Aimeesue sorry about that! Tagging is such a chore on the Android app that I have a list of FM participants saved to copy paste, but I never stop to check if I need to update the list 🙈 11mo

Tamra @Cathythoughts so observant, yes re: her name. Loved her character. 11mo

jlhammar Fantastic review! Just finished and agree completely. @Cathythoughts I hadn't even caught that about Mrs. Anstruther's name - how apt! 11mo

CarolynM Great review! I loved the female characters, the males, with the exception of young Henry, not so much. The gossip was awful, but I thought it was quite sad at the end when Miss Milligan thought how dull it would be if there was no-one to talk about. What a very empty life! 11mo

batsy @jlhammar Thank you! 11mo

batsy @CarolynM Thanks, Carolyn! I felt the same re: Flora. Her joys seem so small; it ranges from potted head to gossip, and the presence of her emotionally overbearing mother made me feel bad. 11mo

LeahBergen I hear ya! And I must say, Virginia was one of my favourite characters. 😆 11mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM That Miss Milligan was the saddest character of the bunch, wasn‘t she? 11mo

batsy @LeahBergen She is such a feisty goof 😆 11mo

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen @Carolyn And her mother was the worst! 11mo

batsy @rubyslippersreads Yes 😩 11mo

87 likes19 comments

Ruthiella

Yoked with a Lamb | Molly Clavering

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#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

I was very bothered by the suggestion here that men are driven to cheat because their wives are shrews. Sexual politics aside (and awkward US civil war commentary) I did like this romance set in Scotland. It‘s clear Clavering has a real love of the landscape. I knew roughly how it must end, but not how the happy couple would actually get there. Also, Kate‘s friendship with young Henry and Virginia the dog was lovely.

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, Cathythoughts, jlhammar, Sparklemn, willaful, MrsK

Aimeesue Great review! I felt exactly the same way about the Civil War hero worship + the holding Women responsible for men‘s behavior. Ick to both. Name checking KKK founder Nathan Bedford Forrest was particularly bad. But I do like Kate and her interactions with almost everyone. 11mo

Ruthiella @Aimeesue Thanks! Yes, plucky Kate saved the book for me. I also liked straight talking Mrs. Anstruther. 11mo

CarolynM Yes, both those things are uncomfortable for me too. The blithe “I‘m for the South” makes me wonder how much they actually knew about the wider circumstances of the Civil War? But I am enjoying Kate. Great review. (edited) 11mo

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Ruthiella @CarolynM Apparently the myth of “the lost cause” was perpetuated in Scotland too. But sure, I knew boys in high school who were obsessed with WWII tactics and strategy and who likely didn‘t connect it with Nazi atrocities. 11mo

quietjenn Yeah, I'm only about halfway through but the South/Civil War thing is so weird and off-putting. 11mo

Tamra Oh, spot on your observations re: sexism & the civil war! Such a weird thing about siding with the south, I‘m not sure I understand it from the text. 11mo

Ruthiella @quietjenn Right? It‘s so jarring. 11mo

Ruthiella @Tamra I think it‘s just to show what a quirky kid Henry is. And this was the ‘30s. Long before the Civil Rights movement. 11mo

batsy Great review! I just finished this morning and my main issues with it are the same as yours. I found Lucy a very interesting character despite her having to be the kind of "villain" of sorts; the brief scene between her and Mrs Anstruther was my favourite. And I did find Andrew sort of tiresome for the most part—the amiable, mild-mannered nice guy for whom lots of excuses are made...? Loved Virginia! ? 11mo

Ruthiella @batsy Thanks! I think the only forward thinking here was pointing out the unfairness that Andrew is accepted back but Elizabeth Faradell is social pariah. 11mo

batsy @Ruthiella That's true! And it says something about Andrew that he could see it. Darn, I was determined to dislike him 😂 11mo

LeahBergen I‘m coming back to read this when I‘m done! 11mo

Cathythoughts Great review! I was annoyed too with the whole Andrew and Lucy situation. It was particularly annoying because Lucy was not developed as a character, so it didn‘t make any sense at all to me. Another fan of Virginia ♥️ 11mo

Ruthiella @Cathythoughts Thanks! Yes, it would have been better to have some more development (and compassion) for Lucy. They were together for 10 years before he left. And it wasn‘t just that he had an affair. He left her for FOUR years. Honestly, I would have given him the divorce and good riddance….but I know times were different then. 11mo

jlhammar Yes! I just finished and was also very bothered by that! When Kate said “has Andrew always got to have things like that said about him just because of what he did when he was so unhappy that he couldn't help himself?“ I just cringed. 11mo

Ruthiella @jlhammar Yup. Total cringe! I‘m glad the rest was strong enough to keep me from fuming at every page. 😂 11mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella That‘s such a fantastic point about the myth of The Lost Cause and its relation to Scotland‘s own history! 11mo

Ruthiella @LeahBergen Actually, I‘d not made that connection! But you‘re probably right! 🤔 (edited) 11mo

rubyslippersreads I agree with everyone about Andrew and Lucy. She and Mrs. Fardell were the villains, while Andrew was just misunderstood. 11mo

rubyslippersreads Also, I just thought of someone who would probably enjoy potted head—Virginia! 🤣 11mo

Ruthiella @rubyslippersreads Yes, you are right. Virginia would love potted head! 😂 11mo

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Cathythoughts

Yoked with a Lamb | Molly Clavering

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Well that was a fun read. I think I almost shed a tear at the end too. I enjoyed the second half, far more than the first. The emotional action and intrigue picked up. Lucy is really put down as a villain, but it didn‘t work for me ( aren‘t we supposed to secretly love/hate villains ? ? )
I won‘t say anymore, Darlings! 😂
But I‘m looking forward to a bit of discussion 😁 . #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

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Cathythoughts I still don‘t really understand the title. Does it mean to have a lamb like nature inside us ? 🤔 11mo

batsy Gorgeous photo! I'm almost towards the end, and I also agree that the second half is much better. I was just at the "yoked with a lamb" bit in the book and mulling over the title, as well... Need to have a think. Was wondering if I have to reread Julius Caesar to get it ? 11mo

Cathythoughts @batsy reread Julius Caesar to get it !! Keep us posted 😂 This reading life won‘t let us rest ! 11mo

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batsy @Cathythoughts Isn't that the truth! We're now branching out to #FurrowedMiddlebrowHomework 😂 11mo

Cathythoughts @batsy Stop ! 😂 Homework 🙄🤣 11mo

CarolynM Lovely review. I‘m really looking forward to getting back to it tomorrow. 11mo

jlhammar What a beautiful photo! Great review. I‘m almost to the second half. Can‘t wait to read more today! 11mo

Tamra What a gorgeous pic! 🌸 I‘m only halfway in and I am hoping to get a bead on Lucy, so far there isn‘t much to go on. I love the small village gossipy vibe.😜 11mo

Cathythoughts @CarolynM @jlhammar @Tamra Enjoy the rest of the book Ladies ❤️ 11mo

Ruthiella Totally agree. The Lucy vs Andrew thing irritated me to no end. FOUR YEARS! 😳 11mo

catebutler Love your review! I definitely agree that the second half of the book picks up. I think I have two chapters left and it has completely sucked me in. 11mo

LeahBergen What a gorgeous photo, Cathy! I‘m still not very far into this but I‘ll come back to comment when I‘m done. 😘 11mo

erzascarletbookgasm I am hoping to start this tomorrow. Lovely review.🩷 11mo

Cathythoughts @Ruthiella I know. It‘s not even pegged down into any kind of reality. 🙄 11mo

Cathythoughts @catebutler Thankyou. It‘s really good. ❤️ 11mo

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I hope you enjoy the rest ❤️ 11mo

Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm It‘s a good one 👍🏻😁 11mo

Tamra @Cathythoughts I had to look it up, but I think Clavering applied it brilliantly. https://myshakespeare.com/julius-caesar/act-4-scene-2-popup-note-index-item-the-... (edited) 11mo

Cathythoughts @Tamra Thanks for the link. I‘ll have to put on my thinking cap … very interesting 👍🏻😘 11mo

jlhammar Okay, just finished. Lucy as villain didn't work for me either! It actually really bothered me. Struck me as very unfair. Typical and not all that surprising though, especially for the time. It was all the more troubling to me that a woman, Molly Clavering, chose to write Lucy and Andrew's relationship the way she did. I guess I would have preferred a more feminist slant and some female solidarity. 11mo

Cathythoughts @jlhammar Not surprising for the time , as you say. Yes we want more female solidarity ♥️👍🏻 (edited) 11mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @batsy I just finished and found myself doing “homework”… I listened to the Leezie Lindsay song on YouTube. 😆 11mo

Centique Love how the purple blue of the flowers matches your book! 😍 11mo

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I must look up your homework 😘 11mo

Cathythoughts @Centique Thanks Paula X 11mo

74 likes1 stack add25 comments

LeahBergen

Yoked with a Lamb | Molly Clavering

I‘m getting a bit of a late start on this month‘s #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub pick but I‘m enjoying what I‘ve read so far.

Personally, I think I‘d just buy some of this pre made potted head to donate to the “Fancye Fayre”, wouldn‘t you? 😆

Ruthiella They‘d find you out and then you would be ostracized in the town! 😂 11mo

Tamra 😂 I had to look it up! 11mo

Cathythoughts I think I‘ll pass on the potted head 🫢😂 11mo

See All 16 Comments

CarolynM Sounds very unappealing to me, even if it‘s homemade🤢 11mo

batsy I had to look up potted head, as well! And felt terribly bad for poor Flora that that was her specialty 😬 11mo

sarahbarnes I feel pretty certain I don‘t want to know a lot about what potted head involves. 11mo

jlhammar I will most definitely be passing on the potted head! @batsy Yes, what a specialty! 😆 I‘m finding the book quite funny so far. 11mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella You‘re right! 😆 11mo

LeahBergen @Tamra I believe it was also called “head cheese”, a favourite of my Nan‘s. 🤢😆😆 11mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @CarolynM Right? Just the name… yikes. 😆 11mo

LeahBergen @batsy And the bit about her “oddly” having no appetite for it after she‘d finished making it all. 😆 11mo

LeahBergen @sarahbarnes That‘s probably for the best. 😆 11mo

LeahBergen @jlhammar Come on … just a teeny bite? 😆😆 11mo

Tamra @LeahBergen 😳 11mo

rubyslippersreads I‘ll definitely pass on the potted head. Although it made me think of the calves‘ foot jelly from Pollyanna. Both equally appealing. 🤢 11mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I agree! 😆 11mo

62 likes16 comments

Aimeesue

Yoked with a Lamb | Molly Clavering

Only just stared, but I‘m enjoying Mrs. Anstruther‘s ruthless honesty and Flora‘s pearl-clutching. 😄
From the beginning, there‘s that tension between the practical people and traditional social mores, which, I have to admit, the rebel in me loooooves.
#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

jlhammar I'm on page 75 and enjoying it so far. Mrs. Anstruther is a great character. Look forward to finishing this weekend! 11mo

Tamra Isn‘t it fun?! 11mo

Ruthiella I‘ve finished. Just need to gather my thoughts. 11mo

See All 13 Comments

Cathythoughts I‘m about halfway. I‘m loving this possible romance… at midway it seems predictable, but we‘ll see. Comforting read. ♥️ 11mo

Aimeesue @jlhammar Yay! 11mo

Aimeesue @Tamra Such fun! 11mo

Aimeesue @Ruthiella Can‘t wait to hear what you think! 11mo

Aimeesue @Cathythoughts I find I‘m all about the comforting reads lately. Real life has enough twists and turns for me these days. 😉 11mo

CarolynM I could have written almost the same comment @Cathythoughts 😀 My only reservation is the way Lucy and Andrew are being presented. I‘m going to be really annoyed if I‘m told that Lucy drove him to infidelity. 11mo

Cathythoughts @CarolynM Oh me too !! I will freak out if that‘s the way it‘s told 😡 Fsir enough if things weren‘t working out. But to blame her !! No!! 11mo

Aimeesue @CarolynM @Cathythoughts Absolutely! But I am hopeful that an independent, single woman living on her own in a house in the country, tramping the fields with weeds in her hair *might* take another view 😄 (Though I‘m sure some of the fictional townsfolk will think that!) (edited) 11mo

rubyslippersreads @Aimeesue @Cathythoughts i just want to hide in comforting reads lately. 😏 11mo

Aimeesue @rubyslippersreads It seems like the only safe space left these lately. 11mo

34 likes13 comments

LitsyEvents

Yoked with a Lamb | Molly Clavering

repost for @Ruthiella:

Hey party people! It‘s almost time for us to start reading the next #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub book! As per usual, read and post at your own pace. The rough goal is to finish by mid-May.

Trivia - The title comes from Shakespeare‘s Julius Caesar:

“O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb
That carries anger as the flint bears fire,
Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark,
And straight is cold again.”

Let‘s find out why! 🤔😀

LitsyEvents #BuddyRead

original post: https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2581818 12mo

31 likes1 comment

Ruthiella

Yoked with a Lamb | Molly Clavering

Hey party people! It‘s almost time for us to start reading the next #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub book! As per usual, read and post at your own pace. The rough goal is to finish by mid-May.

Trivia - The title comes from Shakespeare‘s Julius Caesar:

“O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb
That carries anger as the flint bears fire,
Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark,
And straight is cold again.”

Let‘s find out why! 🤔😀

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, Cathythoughts, jlhammar, Sparklemn, willaful, MrsK

Tamra Thank you! 12mo

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 12mo

catebutler Can‘t wait! 12mo

See All 14 Comments

jlhammar Woo-hoo! I've got it in my May stack, ready to go! 12mo

Kimzey Oops! I need to get that one ordered. Thanks for the reminder! 12mo

quietjenn Yes! I spent some time earlier, gathering and/or downloading my monthly rewards - very satisfying 🙂 12mo

Cathythoughts Thankyou ! It‘s coming down off the shelf now 👍🏻😁 12mo

willaful For those who couldn't find this in ebook, hoopla has it. Which of course is only helpful if your library subscribes. 12mo

Jess_Read_This Thanks for the tag and reminder we are starting this one! 😬I think I need to get it ordered asap! Thought I owned it lol 12mo

LeahBergen Yay! 👏👏👏 12mo

CarolynM Looking forward to getting started on this one! 12mo

erzascarletbookgasm Thanks for the reminder. Looking forward to this after missing out last round. 12mo

batsy Thanks for the reminder! I seem to already have the Kindle version of this! Which is great, because it's not unavailable... I'm not sure when I ordered it 😆 12mo

elkeOriginal Looking forward to this! 12mo

55 likes14 comments

Ruthiella

Yoked with a Lamb | Molly Clavering

I ended up buying the print version of our next couple #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub books. Oddly, one wasn‘t available for kindle. 🤔 No matter. Looking forward to reading them both in the coming months.

BiblioLitten That cutie hedgehog! 🤓 13mo

Ruthiella @BiblioLitten Thanks! 😊 13mo

batsy Oh, thanks for the heads up that Lamb wasn't available on Kindle. I was trying to stuff my BD cart with books that aren't available as epubs (😢) and just assumed all FM titles were available on Kindle. 13mo

See All 8 Comments

Ruthiella @batsy Yeah, it‘s weirdly “not currently available” on Kindle, even though it does show as an option and has a price on the website. 😟 13mo

LeahBergen Oh, yes! I‘ve noticed that the ebook rights aren‘t availability for certain Furrowed Middle books. 🤔 13mo

Ruthiella @LeahBergen This is the first time I‘ve encountered it. 😬 13mo

willaful I found Yoked with a Lamb in ebook on Hoopla, fortunately. Weird how it's there and not elsewhere. 12mo

Ruthiella @willaful Ooh! I didn‘t even think to check Hoopla! Thanks for the tip! 👍 12mo

61 likes8 comments

LeahBergen

Yoked with a Lamb | Molly Clavering

Okay #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub , it‘s time to vote on our May read.

I haven‘t read either of these authors yet but I already own several of their books. Help me out here and vote away!😆

@catebutler @elkeOriginal @erzascarletbookgasm @rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @LeahBergen @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @Ruthiella @batsy @Kimzey @Jess_Read_This

LeahBergen

Seaview House

Ruthiella Oh dear. This is a tough choice because both sound delightful. I think I‘ll go for the Molly Clavering title because it seems slightly more salacious! 😆

Yoked with a Lamb

elkeOriginal I vote Seaview House! 1y

See All 23 Comments

Cathythoughts I‘m voting Seaview House ! 1y

CarolynM I vote

Yoked with a Lamb

CarolynM I‘m going to hold off posting my suggestion because I want to see if Yoked or Wine (which I had picked out to suggest) get up. 1y

LeahBergen @CarolynM Good idea! I was thinking that, too. 👍 1y

batsy Nice! My favourite moment 😁 I'm voting for

Yoked with a Lamb

quietjenn I love Elizabeth Fair (and this book), but voting for

Yoked with a Lamb

erzascarletbookgasm

Yoked with a Lamb

rubyslippersreads Baaa! 🐑

Yoked with a Lamb

catebutler My vote is for

Yoked with a Lamb

LeahBergen Well, it looks like Yoked With a Lamb has won this one! @Jess_Read_This and @Kimzey , we still need your vote for our March choice. Head over to @quietjenn ‘s post and exercise your Middlebrow rights by voting. 😆 1y

CarolynM Yay for the Lamb😆 Now let‘s see about Wine then I‘ll post my options. 1y

LeahBergen @CarolynM It‘s a close race! 😆 1y

Kimzey Looking forward to Yoked with a Lamb! 1y

quietjenn @LeahBergen @CarolynM currently tied, with only @Jess_Read_This left to vote! 1y

batsy Nice!! 🐑 1y

LeahBergen @Kimzey I am, too! 1y

LeahBergen @batsy yes! 👍 1y

LeahBergen @quietjenn @CarolynM It‘s a nail biter! 😆 1y

Jess_Read_This Guys, I‘m so sorry. I just got all these notifications today at once on the app. 😬 And I never want to be a tiebreaker!!

Yoked with a Lamb

LeahBergen @Jess_Read_This No worries! I‘ll make sure to keep bombarding you with tags. 😆 1y

49 likes23 comments

LeahBergen

Yoked with a Lamb | Molly Clavering

Now, who do I have to thank for this wonderful Christmas gift that just arrived in the post? ❤️❤️❤️

#FurrowedMiddlebrow

jlhammar Oooh, pretty. Love your little lambs! 1y

AlaMich “Miss Flora Milligan, tripping westwards through the royal burgh of Haystoun with a bowl of her famous potted head, decently shrouded from vulgar gaze by a snowy napkin” 1y

AlaMich I just pasted that from the description…😂 There‘s a lot to unpack in that sentence! (edited) 1y

See All 19 Comments

LeahBergen @jlhammar Thanks! 🐑 1y

LeahBergen @AlaMich Right? 😆😆 1y

AlaMich I dunno about you but potted head sounds delightful! 🤢 (edited) 1y

LeahBergen @AlaMich I think it sound even more delightful by its North American name: “head cheese”. 😆 My Nan used to love it. 😆 1y

CarolynM That would be me 😘 I‘m glad it got there this week, even if the card hasn‘t. Happy holidays! 1y

LeahBergen @CarolynM Aww, thanks so much! I love any addition to my Furrowed Middlebrow shelf. I think I should suggest this author when it comes around to my turn again. Happy Holidays to you! 😘😘 1y

CarolynM I think this is going to be one of my suggestions when it's my turn😆 1y

LeahBergen @CarolynM Oh, good! I‘ll hold off then. I think I‘m ahead of you in line (but just by a couple of spots). 😆 1y

CarolynM If you're first and you want to suggest it please do. Then if it doesn't get up I can suggest it when it's my turn and everyone else will feel they HAVE to vote for it😆 1y

batsy How lovely! 💕 I hope you get mine before Christmas; BD says it was despatched on the 6th. 1y

Cathythoughts That‘s a lovely gift , and you have your little lambs to go with it 🥰 1y

LeahBergen @CarolynM That‘s a good plan! 😆 1y

LeahBergen @batsy Thank you and no worries if it doesn‘t make it by then! BD parcels always seem to be a bit random in their arrival times here. 😆 1y

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I‘m always happy when I bring these little lambs out at Christmas. 😄 1y

batsy @LeahBergen Here's hoping you'll see it soon! 🤞🏾 1y

rubyslippersreads ❤️💚 your lambs! 🐑🐏 1y

62 likes19 comments

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