tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post8983509726512233314..comments2024-03-25T22:59:30.053+00:00Comments on Desperate Reader: Northbridge Rectory - Angela Thirkell Desperate Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-15777634727538570312018-06-25T19:28:07.098+01:002018-06-25T19:28:07.098+01:00You'll have no problem finding fellow fans. Th...You'll have no problem finding fellow fans. There's a lot to enjoy in a Thirkell, and she definitely rewards rereading, you find so many more details. I think Kate Macdonald has written a bit about her, and some of the real people she sends up in her books which I found really interesting too. Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-44482542569676355822018-06-25T08:32:52.584+01:002018-06-25T08:32:52.584+01:00I've just read this for the very first time. I...I've just read this for the very first time. It is also my very first Thirkell & I'm hooked. So much so that I'm trawling the blogosphere for other devotees so we can rave and gush together! <br /><br />I loved your comment about rereading as I'm already planning for the time when I can read all the Thirkell's in chronological order #bookgeekalertBronahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11110584237325026052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-48981646127371960242016-12-05T22:56:29.247+00:002016-12-05T22:56:29.247+00:00Desperate because I never find enough time to read...Desperate because I never find enough time to read as much as I'd like, desperate to escape into a book, and yes, desperate because books are a bit of an addiction. Thank you so much for your comment, I'm sort of aware of the society but haven't really investigated before. My preference is for hard copies, and I look askance on a virago policy that will essentially make me cough up twice. But I'll also undoubtedly do it. I'm just so grateful to be able to read more of her books reasonably cheaply. She's a fascinating writer. Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-64291739110924721652016-12-03T10:24:53.964+00:002016-12-03T10:24:53.964+00:00So glad to have found your posting by chance, Desp...So glad to have found your posting by chance, Desperate Reader [why desperate? Because addicted or never finding quite what you want?] I think the Angela Thirkell Society chairman commented to Virago on the appearance of titles only in e-book form and they said if the title sold well enough they'd consider hard copy. The Society's membership tends to prefer "proper books", preferably first editions with dust-jackets! But that is a counsel of perfection. There is certainly an increase in interest - academic and normal - in Middlebrow Writers, which is great for us like-minded people. If you're on Facebook the Angela Thirkell Appreciation Group is a good way of sharing opinions as well as here. For the cognoscenti (?) the Society produces its own Journal each year plus two newsletters and an annual meeting, all for £10 - go to angelathirkellsociety.co.uk HilaryATShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05373239111831142677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-39664227904501748682016-05-26T09:59:06.114+01:002016-05-26T09:59:06.114+01:00Hi Jerri, thank you for that. I'm a big fan of...Hi Jerri, thank you for that. I'm a big fan of the dead tree book - especially the paperback, so perhaps for that reason alone I ought to get involved with the Thirkell society. I'm finding her an increasingly interesting author for all sorts of reasons and the chance to know more about her is tempting. Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-10251335955551033862016-05-23T23:44:26.225+01:002016-05-23T23:44:26.225+01:00I very much enjoy the works of Angela Thirkell, es...I very much enjoy the works of Angela Thirkell, especially the Barsetshire novels, but also some of the others like Trooper to the Southern Cross, Three Houses and Coronation Summer. I can highly recommend joining the Angela Thirkell Society, if you live in the US or Canada the Angela Thirkell Society of North America is probably the best fit:<br /><br />http://www.angelathirkell.org/<br /><br />If you live in the UK, the original ATS is located there:<br /><br />http://www.angelathirkellsociety.co.uk/<br /><br />Both societies have meetings, both national and some regional/local ones, where you can meet in person people who share interests in Thirkell and similar authors. Both have publications about Thirkell and her works that are fun to read, and both from time to time have some form of "book redistribution" that allow members to get affordable "dead tree" versions of the books. <br /><br />Another fun resource is Going to Barsetshire by Cynthia Snowden, a reference book about the Barsetshire novels that is fun to read from cover to cover as well as informative when trying to determine when a book is set, continuing characters, characters related to Trollope's, etc. Members of the ATS of North America can purchase copies at VERY affordable prices.<br /><br />Jerri<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-13650840382458400542016-05-19T20:43:36.642+01:002016-05-19T20:43:36.642+01:00I find them soul- soothing too. I don't much c...I find them soul- soothing too. I don't much care about the plot, just enjoy her observations and humour. Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-69188974998496282722016-05-19T20:42:28.759+01:002016-05-19T20:42:28.759+01:00I find her funnier every time I read her, and bett...I find her funnier every time I read her, and better the more I read her as well which was unexpected. I'm so glad that she's coming back into print. Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-11104171304394694222016-05-19T20:40:05.534+01:002016-05-19T20:40:05.534+01:00I enjoyed Northbridge Rectory, especially as it wa...I enjoyed Northbridge Rectory, especially as it was new to me, and I rather fell for Miss Pemberton who became such an unexpectedly complex character. There were other details in it - mostly evacuee based that I found interesting too. I'm reading Before Lunch again now and must admit I'm enjoying it very much, again for the details. But the ebook thing is frustrating, it's not high art but she deserves to be in print and I can't get as excited by a digital file. I've heard that the late titles really aren't as good (I don't know) so could understand books seen as sub standard but still interesting only getting an e release - the sort of book you might read once out of interest but not necessarily again (which says more about my attitude to ebooks than anything else). Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-81393026079425314642016-05-19T20:30:35.961+01:002016-05-19T20:30:35.961+01:00Hah, I think that level of multitasking would be b...Hah, I think that level of multitasking would be beyond me! I can knit to TV or radio but made some terrible mistakes on a cowl when fake or fortune got too exciting. Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-83677910112254047422016-05-19T20:28:22.137+01:002016-05-19T20:28:22.137+01:00There seem to be a few coming out just as ebooks, ...There seem to be a few coming out just as ebooks, I don't know if that's to test the waters, or for some other reason, I've not read it so have no idea if there's any question over the comparative quality of Cheerfulness, but Kate Macdonalds review suggests not so it is odd. I prefer paper books anyway, but especially for a series like this. Maybe the actual books will follow?Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-60124583760795857502016-05-19T13:19:35.320+01:002016-05-19T13:19:35.320+01:00I haven't read Northbridge Rectory but I do so...I haven't read <i>Northbridge Rectory</i> but I do so enjoy Thirkell. <i>"Not very much happens, but it doesn't happen in a very enjoyable way."</i> is a perfect way to describe a number of her books. Soul-soothing.Debbie Rodgershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15630059470408161434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-74972959618942050522016-05-19T11:12:58.013+01:002016-05-19T11:12:58.013+01:00Northbridge Rectory isn't my favourite Thirkel...Northbridge Rectory isn't my favourite Thirkell, but I'm always happy to read it again to renew my acquaintance with Mrs Spender ... After a gap I find I've forgotten just how funny Thirkell is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-89489685039642458182016-05-19T04:44:43.524+01:002016-05-19T04:44:43.524+01:00I always rejoice to see Thirkell back in print and...I always rejoice to see Thirkell back in print and others reading her! However, I am so miffed that <i>Cheerfulness Breaks In</i> was left as an ebook that my usual level of Thirkell enthusiasm is a bit dimmed. It doesn't help that I'm not overly fond of either <i>Northbridge Rectory</i> (though I enjoy it well enough) or <i>Before Lunch</i> (which I won't even pretend to find anything other than tedious - I tried rereading it last week and abandoned it in favour of the perfectly delightful <i>Miss Bunting</i>). The five titles next to be released are all excellent but it looks like only three of them will be available as paperbacks with the other two as ebooks. So frustrating!Claire (The Captive Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07430380065718826213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-68695199813446602652016-05-19T01:27:25.959+01:002016-05-19T01:27:25.959+01:00One good thing about reading books on an iPad or a...One good thing about reading books on an iPad or an ereader with a stand means it's easy to knit and read at the same time...Belindahttp://www.hereiknit.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-42411194691756207892016-05-18T22:08:07.382+01:002016-05-18T22:08:07.382+01:00That is exactly where I am with Cheerfulness Break...That is exactly where I am with Cheerfulness Breaks In! I would like a real book, please. I do wonder why that particular title is only available electronically. So odd. And now you've made me want to start at the beginning and re-read all of them!Heather Bondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10441892975188480682noreply@blogger.com