Litsy

pick

what a winner! Alongside highwages, to bed with grand music, the homemaker & someone from a distance this is in my favourite Persephone reads, actually I think it is my favourite. Iv tried to tag everyone in the group onto this and it wouldn‘t let me post came up with an error code … anyway the way the author captures the complexities of families , the different personalities the clashes the matriarchs of each clan -Mrs fowler & Mrs Willoughby 👇

Bookbuyingaddict @LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @CarolynM @quietjenn 2d

Bookbuyingaddict @Tamra @willaful @sisilia @Caryl @daena @elkeOriginal @Gissy @Aimeesue 2d

Bookbuyingaddict @julieclair @rubyslippersreads @JenlovesJT47 @Teresereading @andrew61 @MaureenMc @BarbaraBB #persephonebookclub 2d

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Bookbuyingaddict Is just wonderful writing ✍️ anyone who loves family dynamics and drama will love this, not one of them has a truly happy marriage and no particular style of parenting is correct. Belle has become one of my most hated fictional characters she is awful 😣 she‘s totally unhinged & poor Gillian! As a mother in modern day she‘d be reported to child services! It‘s also a snapshot of life between the wars in a British town, a way of life which …. 2d

Bookbuyingaddict No longer exists. I looked up on Wikipedia the list of the authors published works , I enjoyed this so much I‘d love to read her others & I agree with @andrew61 😀very similar to my beloved cazalet chronicles - if you haven‘t read those YOU MUST they kept me going through lockdown , what a treasure trove to discover when we couldn‘t go out! Any recommendations for other similar works I‘d be very grateful ☺️ 2d

Tamra @Bookbuyingaddict Cazalet Chronicles have been on my TBR so long! 2d

Cathythoughts I loved the book too. I also love your photo.. pink and grey 🩷 2d

andrew61 Great review. Yes words fail me with Belle ! 2d

LeahBergen That Belle! I enjoyed this one so much I bought a couple of her others when I found them. I should read one soon! 😆 2d

CarolynM Glad you enjoyed it so much😊 I read some of the Just William books in childhood, I didn‘t know she had written books for adults until I saw this one in the Persephone catalogue. I‘m looking out for others now too. 1d

54 likes10 comments

andrew61

Family Roundabout | Richmal Crompton

pick

I very much enjoyed this inter War story of two families and the widowed matriarchs who are very different with parenting styles that put each other at odds. The story of the impact on the children who, in the end, seem lost while the g/children appear to be a thriving new generation.
@quietjenn @Tamra @CarolynM @sisilia @Caryl @daena @elkeOriginal @Gissy @Aimeesue @Bookbuyingaddict @julieclair @willaful @LeahBergen #persephoneclub ⬇️

andrew61 I loved the authors brilliant characterisation of the individual family members albeit the men are all fairly pathetic. The end scenes of Mrs fowler and Mrs Willoughby reflecting on the fact they have missed on a lifetime of friendship because of their images of each other is very poignant. There is so much in this book that I enjoyed and it felt like the cazaler chronicles may have drawn inspiration from the tale. 3d

Cathythoughts Great review Andrew. Yes poignant that these two women missed a lifetime of friendship together, I‘ve seen this happen with in-laws in families… such a loss at the end of the day. They had so many loved ones in common. 3d

LeahBergen Great review, Andrew! 3d

Bookbuyingaddict Great 👍 review I‘m just finishing it now as I type : it has been my favourite ❤️ Persephone since high wages , and yes hadn‘t thought about it but compares beautifully to the wonderful cazalet chronicles. I do love a good family drama 🎭 Iv just realised it‘s one of my favourite troupes 😆 it‘s a 5star read from me- I wish some one would drown Bella 😆 in a vat of tea 🫖 2d

43 likes4 comments

CarolynM

Family Roundabout | Richmal Crompton

pick

#PersephoneClub

I feel a bit guilty for enjoying this story so much since pretty much all the characters were unhappy one way or another. All those unhappy marriages! Did no one ever marry someone they actually liked? Widowed Mrs Fowler was the only one who seemed mostly contented, but even she was tinged with sadness about absent sons. Belle was quite a character - I thought she could be a grown up Violet Elizabeth from the Just William books 😆

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, daena, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, Teresereading, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

LeahBergen What a great review! I didn‘t get the Just William link but it was probably too much of an interval between my readings. 😆😆 6d

CarolynM @LeahBergen Belle was just the sort of woman I could imagine as a child threatening to “thcream and thcream and thcream til I‘m thick!” in order to get her own way🤣 6d

BarbaraBB Great review. 6d

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Cathythoughts Great review! All those unhappy marriages were sad to see. The way they were written was very insightful though. 6d

Cathythoughts I did love Mrs. Willoughby‘s inclusiveness of distant relatives , and her kindness behind her ‘ Sargeant Major‘ style of leading her family. It also made me look at my own role in my family and how much, and how, I move within its orbit… (edited) 6d

andrew61 Great review. The bit at the end when Mrs fowler and Mrs Willoughby are playing bridge and regretting their feelings towards each other was very moving. I felt I needed a book on each character particularly the g/c Jessica and Gillian. Reminded me a lot of the cazalet chronicles 6d

LeahBergen @CarolynM Haha, yes!! 😆 6d

MaureenMc @andrew61 Ooh, Cazalet Chronicles comparison! *stacked* 6d

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TheKidUpstairs

Still Missing | Beth Gutcheon

pick

Whew, what an emotional experience! When 6 year old Alex Selky goes missing on his walk to school one day, police are baffled - no one just disappears without ANY trace. As time goes by and leads dwindle, we follow his mother Susan as her determination to find him alive never falters, despite the changing attitudes of those around her.

Cont'd in comments

#AuldLangSpine @CarolynM @monalyisha

TheKidUpstairs I particularly appreciated the depiction of what happens after a case leaves the news cycle (and this was in the 80s, such a drop would happen so much quicker these days), and it is left to those who care to try and keep a case and a memory alive, as other people move on with their lives, and disinformation muddies the waters.

cont'd 1w

TheKidUpstairs As it is from the 80s, you can expect some things to be a bit dated. I particularly felt it in the depictions of gay men. While it does strive to point out that there is no correlation between gay men and pedophilia, there is a certain scene that really clouds the line in a way that I did not feel was necessary, and did a disservice to the issue.

TW: child kidnapping, pedophilia, child physical and sexual abuse 1w

BarbaraBB I still remember this one 1w

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sarahbarnes This one sounds like a lot. 7d

TheKidUpstairs @sarahbarnes it is, and I wasn't sure I'd be able to read it, considering the subject matter (I have a hard time with anything involving children in that way). But it's so engagingly written I found I couldn't put it down. I did have to skim through one part, involving discussion of a child exploration ring, but for the most part the focus is on the process for the mother and the lead detective. 7d

CarolynM I had grave reservations about reading it for the same reasons, but I‘m glad I was brave enough to do it. I‘m also glad you “enjoyed” it. It‘s just so well done, I think. I agree about the attitude to gay men, but I think it was very prevalent at the time the book was written. I liked that the mother refused to accept that solution. 6d

62 likes6 comments

Cathythoughts

Family Roundabout | Richmal Crompton

pick

I enjoyed our two widowed matriarchs , and both with five children. Helen was probably my favourite character. The title aptly describes family life and history repeating itself. It reminded me of Joni Mitchell‘s song The Circle Game. Great choice @CarolynM #PersephoneClub

LeahBergen Oh, you finished! I really enjoyed my time with these families, too. 1w

rwmg I was well into adulthood before I discovered Richmal Compton was a woman 1w

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Yes, a very enjoyable read. ❤️ 1w

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Cathythoughts @rwmg Yes, I got a bit of a surprise when I looked up the author 👍🏻😁 1w

andrew61 As Just William was one of my earliest reading experiences I am really enjoying this as well Cathy. The family scenes and characters evoke the Brown family and that middle class England feel. 1w

Cathythoughts @andrew61 I never read Just William… a gap in my education. But this is enjoyable … 👍🏻 1w

Tamra I am not very far in and enjoying it - feels like I‘m a bit of a nosey fly on the wall. 😆 1w

sarahbarnes I love that song. ♥️ Great review. This sounds lovely. 1w

Cathythoughts @Tamra I know ! We are getting all the info … love it 😂 1w

Cathythoughts @sarahbarnes Thanks X Yes , I love Joni Mitchell ❤️ 1w

CarolynM Lovely review. The repeating patterns were quite sad in this story, I thought. Maybe I was too young to judge, but I always thought the Brown family were happy @andrew61 6d

andrew61 @CarolynM I think it was those first scenes in the fowler household of them sitting in the sunshine having afternoon tea, I expected William to pop out of the bushes looking suitably mudded to pop his older brother and sisters pomposity. Definitely enjoying this pick although the fate of the children seems quite sad. 6d

70 likes12 comments

Bookbuyingaddict

Family Roundabout | Richmal Crompton

It‘s arrived ! Did order a second hand copy this time #persephone but the cover is slightly dirty - so annoying when that happens I sell my books on or give away in pristine condition- anyway il be wiping 🧻 it down 😆and starting after the great 👍 escapist read scarred not highbrow but hey read what you fancy. Also have to get in the safe keep & before the coffee gets cold before starting this & now im back at work not so much reading time 🫤

Bookbuyingaddict @LeahBergen have you started it yet ? 😀 1w

Tamra I‘ve started and am liking it, but slow going because of other reading obligations. 1w

Cathythoughts I‘ve started too .. and liking it too 👍🏻❤️ 1w

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LeahBergen This is one of the titles I‘ve previously read. I‘ll just be following everyone‘s comments! 😄 1w

Bookbuyingaddict @Tamra me too 😆 1w

Bookbuyingaddict @Cathythoughts Iv started it too only 50 odd pages 📄 in and really enjoying it , reminds me of the cazalet chronicles 😀 1w

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TheKidUpstairs

Still Missing | Beth Gutcheon

My ILLO on this one finally came in, so I'm returning to @CarolynM 's #AuldLangSpine list and preparing to be devastated.

@monalyisha

TrishB A good read 👍🏻 2w

Cathythoughts It‘s good , and yes , devastating ❤️ 2w

Tamra 😬 1w

TheKidUpstairs @TrishB @Cathythoughts @Tamra My daughter was begging me to walk to school on her own this morning. She's 5, and it's a 20 minute walk, so it would be a no anytime, but this morning it was a "heck no!" 1w

CarolynM It‘s tough but worth it. 1w

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BarbaraBB

Daddy's Gone A-hunting | Penelope Mortimer, Valerie Grove

pick

It‘s the 1950s and Ruth has a dull and unsatisfying life. Her husband is in town during the weeks and with her sons at boarding school and her daughter in Oxford, she leads an empty and lonely life. On the verge of a breakdown her daughter comes home with a secret. This makes her reflect on her marriage and being a mother. My heart broke for Ruth.

TheBookHippie Ah. I‘ve stacked it! Sounds good. 2w

Jas16 If I didn‘t already have this one stacked, your review would convince me to do it. 2w

LeahBergen I really enjoyed this one (and I‘m liking the look of your snacks 😆). 2w

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BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie @Jas16 So many good reviews here made me stack it as well. And they were right! 2w

BarbaraBB @LeahBergen Not really healthy but I so felt like it 🤣 2w

sarahbarnes I have this one stacked based on reviews here too - glad to see you liked it! And weekends are not for healthy. 😆 2w

CarolynM Loved this one, even though it made me furiously angry. 1w

BarbaraBB @CarolynM That husband is horrible. And I think it was quite realistic at the time! 1w

CarolynM Yes, it made me think differently about John Mortimer😡 The thing I got angriest about was the letter the boyfriend wrote, weaseling out of responsibility. What a pathetic little sh*t! 1w

BarbaraBB @CarolynM Yes!! Exactly that 🤯 1w

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Cathythoughts

Family Roundabout | Richmal Crompton