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Friday, June 24, 2016

Miss Buncle's Book

"...the only thing I could do was to write a book, and the only kind of book I could write was about people I knew..."

Strapped for money, Barbara Buncle decides to write a book about Silverstream, the little English village where she lives, and the people who live there. She changes all their names. And hers, too. But when her book is published, people in her village soon recognize themselves in its pages. The town busybody. The vicar. The doctor's wife. The retired Colonel. And others. Some are decidedly unhappy about how they've been portrayed. Good thing they don't know that Barbara is the author. But what will happen when they find out the truth?

D.E. Stevenson has written a delightfully humorous novel of English manners reminiscent of Barbara Pym's A Few Green Leaves and Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford. There's not a lot of action, but there is a lot of drama. And a little romance, too. I like character-driven novels, and the characters in this novel are a lot of fun. Especially plain, unremarkable (and slightly frumpy) Barbara Buncle. But my favorite part is how Barbara's little novel changes not only her, but everyone in the entire village of Silverstream. It's a great read! I liked it a lot.

Happy Reading!

16 comments:

  1. Love the cover! I read Amberwell by Stevenson last year and liked it. This one sounds very different, but more fun!

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    1. Fun is the perfect word to describe this book!

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  2. This sounds wonderful and it's on my shelf! I love Barbara Pym, though have not read A Few Green Leaves, and just finished Cranford.

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    1. Yay that it's on your shelf! It's definitely a book worth owning. How did you like Cranford?

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  3. This sounds like a delightful read. Hadn't heard of it before but I'll be keeping my eyes out for it now.

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    1. It's a lot of fun. There's a second one: Miss Buncle Marries which I'm looking forward to reading as well.

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  4. I am glad you enjoyed this one. My mother-in-law has recommended I read it as well.

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  5. I never heard of this book or author before, but it sounds great and I must admit I love the cover!
    I will see if I will be able to get is somewhere, it sounds like a book I would enjoy.

    Kind regards,

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    1. I hope you can find a copy of it! I really loved this book; it's just so much fun.

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  6. This sounds like a fun read! I love a good character-driven story and I love that cover too! :)

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    1. It is a great cover, isn't it? That's partly why I wanted to read the book. :)

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  7. I've never heard of this book, but it sounds super cute. I'll have to get my hands on a copy. Thanks for the rec!

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    1. If you're lucky your library will have a copy; mine did. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

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  8. Oh, this sounds lovely! I wish I'd found this book when I was in high school, because it would've delighted 16-year-old me so very much. (Same is true today, but it particularly fits a reading pattern I was in, back in those days)

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    1. I know what you mean about certain books dovetailing perfectly with certain times in your life. At least you can still read it now. :)

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