Why I bought it: I loved Cold Comfort Farm so much I wanted to read more of Gibbons' novels. So I bought this one.
The plot in brief: Constance Fielding and her bachelor brother, Kenneth, share a house outside of London. An elderly cousin lives with them. Their life is ordered and quiet...and a little dull. But with World War II still going on, they end up having to take in some boarders. First comes a former sweetheart of Ken's with her 26-year-old son, Richard. Then comes a young refugee named Vartouhi Annamatta. And it's Vartouhi who really livens up all their lives.
My thoughts: This novel got off to a slow start. So slow, in fact, I almost quit reading it. But I persisted, and I'm glad I did because the novel got better, and the ending was humorous and fun. I never liked Connie; she's one of those sanctimonious and controlling characters who take all the joy out of life. Her brother, Ken, on the other hand, and the other members of the household were quite likable. But it's Vartouhi who's really one of a kind. I liked her a lot. While I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did Cold Comfort Farm, it's still a decent read.
My rating: 3/5 stars.
Happy Reading!
Another Stella Gibbons' book that I enjoyed: Nightingale Wood
Thanks for this review - I hadn't really heard about Stella Gibbons before, but am always interested to find new-to-me authors. I will get 'Cold Comfort Farm' some time - it sounds great, so I look forward to reading it!
ReplyDeleteI loved Cold Comfort Farm. Her other book, Nightingale Wood, is pretty funny, too. Both are better than this one. :)
DeleteI'm glad the ending was a good one despite the slow start. Guess I'll have to read Cold Comfort Farm first should I want to try out this author's books. :)
ReplyDeleteCold Comfort Farm is the one to try. That's my favorite of her books by far. :)
DeleteI'm glad you stuck with this one, even though it seems you've enjoyed her other books better.
ReplyDeleteYeah, this one will never be my favorite, but I'm glad I didn't give up on it. :)
DeleteI'm glad this book ended up getting better. I'll have to look into Cold Comfort Farm. Hope you have a great weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteYou might like Cold Comfort Farm. It's a little old-fashioned, but very charming. :)
DeleteI really liked Cold Comfort Farm but haven't read any of her others. Sounds like Nightingale Wood, though, is the next one to try.
ReplyDeleteI liked Nightingale Wood almost as much as Cold Comfort Farm. :)
DeleteCold Comfort Farm is one of those iconic novels... that I haven't read. About time I put that right.
ReplyDeleteIt's short and reads fast and totally made me laugh. I highly recommend it. :D
DeleteSounds like another good find on your shelves. Keep digging...I'm enjoying the "adventure."
ReplyDeleteIt is a little bit like a bookish treasure hunt, isn't it? :D
DeleteI never did read 'Cold Comfort Farm'. My mum's cousin used to buy me classic books but I never wanted to read them!
ReplyDeleteGrowing up I never wanted to read the books other people told me I needed to read; it was always better if I found them on my own.
DeleteThat's one of the reasons that I don't DNF a book. You never know when it will pick up and end up being a good book
ReplyDeleteThat's true so many times, isn't it? :)
DeleteGlad to hear this turned out good even with the slow start. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd it was a very slow start! :)
DeleteI've had a copy of Cold Comfort Farm for years. That's the problem with too many books. One day I'll get to it but this one sounds interesting to me too.
ReplyDeleteI have that same problem! My "someday" is getting very crowded. ;D
DeleteI am glad the novel got better for you! This does sound good.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it got better...and that I didn't quit too soon on it. :)
DeleteThis has me really curious! for some reason that set-up and the WWII angle is piquing my interest. Good to know it's a little slow to start, so if I try it I know to stick with...
ReplyDeleteThe first chapter especially felt like it had very little to do with the rest of the novel. But it does get better. :)
DeleteThis is why I have a hard time DNF a book...sometimes slow starts end up being good reads!
ReplyDeleteYou're so right. I've become a more impatient reader lately, so I usually DNF books that don't grab my interest right away, but now I'm thinking maybe I should give some of them a second try. :)
DeleteI often find that Gibbons' non-CCF novels hover around the 3/5 mark - usually were parts that are definitely 5/5 and then frustrating weaknesses. E.g. Bassett was sublime for the first half and then got lost in a dull love triangle. I think I have this one on my shelves somewhere...
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad because she did Cold Comfort Farm so well. I own a copy of Westwood that I haven't read yet. Have you read that one? I hope it leans closer to the 5/5 mark rather than the 3/5 mark. Thanks for commenting! :)
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