tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post3440175684968865719..comments2024-03-25T22:59:30.053+00:00Comments on Desperate Reader: Miss Browne's Friend - F. M. MayorDesperate Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-39548772667447958822021-05-27T13:43:27.594+01:002021-05-27T13:43:27.594+01:00She gets a lot into a short novella! It's not ...She gets a lot into a short novella! It's not every writer who could take that ending and not make it a sentimental mess, but Mayor gives us something real in the genuine, if exasperated, affection between her 2 women which makes Mabel jump off the page too. Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-34093840953502223382021-05-27T13:40:15.802+01:002021-05-27T13:40:15.802+01:00Regarding the VMC's I think it was probably a ...Regarding the VMC's I think it was probably a mix of all those people who were buying them in the 80's having a clear out, and it being the last moment before places like goodreads made them particularly collectable, a new generation discovered them, and ebay etc seemed like a better place to sell them. I'm glad I got mine in good time as there are things that would certainly not get reprinted now. The only one I'm missing that I really hope to turn up one day is Barbara Comyns 'The Skin Chairs'. <br /><br />Mayor is definitely worth reading, Miss Browne's Friend shows how much she can do in a short story. The more I think about it (I guess Mabel's fate was necessary in a church publication) the more touching the relationship between Mabel and Miss Browne is, they both want the other to be happy for purely altruistic reasons, and if they don't always succeed Mabel try's just as hard in her way as Miss Browne does.Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-76844748071786017652021-05-26T20:49:10.385+01:002021-05-26T20:49:10.385+01:00Thanks so much for this Hayley. I think your point...Thanks so much for this Hayley. I think your point about Miss Browne's dignity at the end is an important one. Such an up and down relationship between them, and so much humour, but there's real poignancy at the climax, and a heartfelt last thought from Miss Browne.Michael Walmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00033096170021038784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-85851918646710348512021-05-26T10:40:25.598+01:002021-05-26T10:40:25.598+01:00It's great, isn't it, and you're spot ...It's great, isn't it, and you're spot on about the mix of pathos and humour. I don't think I've read any of her other books but I really will have to. And why is it that there was a phase of VMCs turning up in charity shops? Like you, I haven't seen any in ages!kaggsysbookishramblingshttp://www.kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com