Tuesday Intro: They Were Sisters

Lucy, reading Vera's letter at breakfast, smiled. Vera would come when Charlotte came and they would all be together. Once more, like old times, they would all be together. She must break it tactfully to William. Across the dazzle struck from the cloth and the silver by the sunshine of the September morning, she looked at him. Should she tell him now or later?

They Were Sisters
by Dorothy Whipple

My current read was selected for me by the Classics Club spin and I couldn't be happier. Dorothy Whipple, sometimes referred to as the "Jane Austen of the 20th Century", became an instant favorite in 2009 when I read Someone at a Distance. I am enjoying this 1943 novel immensely.

Summary from Persephone Books:

This, the fourth Dorothy Whipple novel we have republished, is, like the others, apparently gentle but has a very strong theme, in this case domestic violence. Three sisters marry very different men and the choices they make determine whether they will flourish, be tamed or be repressed. Lucy's husband is her beloved companion; Vera's husband bores her and she turns elsewhere; and Charlotte's husband is a bully who turns a high-spirited naive young girl into a deeply unhappy woman.

What do you think of the opening? Would you keep reading?

Every Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea posts the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book she decided to read based on the opening. Feel free to grab the banner and play along.

And the Number is...

Ten! That means I'll be reading Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey for the latest Classics Club Spin. The book was in my "Quickie" category and, at only 128 pages, might qualify as a novella.  I purchased the beautiful Persephone Classic edition (shown below) at a used book sale last spring and can't wait to get started. I'll probably watch the 2012 film, too.

 Have you read this book or seen the movie? What was number ten on your list?

TSS: The Persephone Pilgrimage... Our Trip to London

We're back, unpacked, and finally caught up after a week in London. Now it's time to ease back into blogging.

Windsor Castle

The trip was all we'd hoped for. It was the perfect 25th anniversary celebration, with plenty of time to reconnect with our daughter studying abroad and see 'her' London. There were opportunities to meet with friends, old and new, see a show, and visit  historic sites and museums. Sure, there was a little rain and the natives kept apologizing for the cold weather, but it was wonderful to see daffodils, crocus, forsythia and flowering trees!

Hampton Court Palace

From the moment we checked into our hotel room with its beautiful view of Kensington Gardens, to the final day touring Winsdor Castle and Hampton Court Palace, I loved every moment! A highlight was meeting the lovely Claire from Paperback Reader at Primrose Bakery for cupcakes and tea. We recognized each other immediately. She was so friendly and easy to talk to, and we're still laughing about the Swiss tourists who took our picture because we were such 'typically English people drinking tea'! Wish I'd remembered to take a picture of my own....

This meeting tempered the previous day's disappointment of missing Verity in Oxford. Our group tour took us to Warwick Castle, Stratford-Upon-Avon, and finally to Oxford where we had less than 15 minutes of free time. Our tour guide did hustle us past her library though...

"Are you in there, Verity?"

Naturally, I made the pilgrimage to Persephone Books. The shop was just as cozy and charming as expected, and I came out with a dovegrey tote filled with six books and matching bookmarks.

From the bottom:
The Priory by Dorothy Whipple
They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple
The Closed Door and Other Stories by Dorothy Whipple
Few Eggs and No Oranges:  The Diaries of Vera Hodgson 1940-45
Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski
Good Evening, Mrs. Craven: The Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes

We also visited Waterstones, where a few more treasures were collected.

From the bottom:
The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt (I really dislike the US paperback cover)
A Game of Hide and Seek by Elizabeth Taylor
Some Tame Gazelle by Barbara Pym
Jane and Prudence by Barbara Pym

At this point, with mounting concern over luggage weight limits, my book browsing was curtailed.  There was nearly one final purchase at Heathrow Airport.... I needed a copy of South Riding, but my husband, already toting a carry-on loaded with 10 books, put his foot down.

So, did I read on the trip?
I listened to The Color Purple on the flight over (outstanding audio read by the author), got through a stack of New Yorker magazines, then finished Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller as our return flight landed.

Current reading
Ten exciting new books to choose from, but the last month of the TBR Dare and a post- Hampton Court "Tudor mood" lead me to start Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. As many bloggers have noted, unclear usage of the pronoun 'he' is annoying, but I'm quickly becoming engrossed in the story.

On audio, The Big Rock Candy Mountain by Wallace Stegner has captured my imagination. Stegner's Crossing to Safety is an all-time favorite, and this 20 CD semi-autobiographical family saga has me totally hooked.

Have I missed anything important while away? Unfortunately, I had to press the 'mark all as read' button on my google reader. Let me know if there is something I should go back and read. It's good to be back...

Persephone Reading Weekend

Persephone Reading Weekend, hosted by Claire and Verity, is officially underway. What better way to begin than with a trip to London? We leave this afternoon (in the midst of yet another snowstorm) for New York City, where we'll catch an overnight flight to London. Although I may not get to Persephone Books before closing time on Saturday, a visit later in the week is a given. If I'm lucky, there may even be an opportunity to meet our hostesses!

Of course Persephone Reading Weekend is not the reason for our trip, but it is a very fortuitous coincidence.  Daughter #1 is studying in London this semester, and my husband and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary with this trip.  We have a full week planned, but ample time has been set aside for book browsing.

I hope you enjoy this Persephone-filled weekend... will catch up on all your posts when I return.

photo credit

TSS: Let It Snow

The view from my window this Sunday morning reminds me of our holiday snow globe featuring the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball,  just removed from the mantle yesterday and packed away with the rest of the Christmas decorations.  Yes, the holidays are officially over, and we're heading into the heart of winter. I usually read more during these months and this year, thanks to the TBR Dare, all the books will come from my own shelves. So, let it snow!

This week I was in the mood for short stories and pulled down Tales from the Jazz Age by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  My Short Story Monday post featured "The Jelly Bean".  Later in the week, I turned to The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton.

My current novel is Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson. This charming, cozy book is perfect for a winter evening by the fire. My book club will discuss it later in the month.

A review of The Group was finally posted on Wednesday. Now if I can just get a few more written...

In other news, Daughter #1 arrived safely in London for her semester abroad. There were, thankfully, no weather delays as she traveled from central New York, to JFK, to Heathrow.  She settled into her South Kensington housing and began to explore the city. Formal orientation started today.

The Royal Wedding thwarted our original plan to visit in late April, so we're looking at February. We may arrive just in time to celebrate Claire and Verity's Persephone Reading Weekend with a trip to the Persephone Bookshop!

It may be a quiet day today - shoveling snow, soup or chili in the crock-pot, and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand.  How will you spend this snowy Sunday?

Teaser Tuesday: Mariana

"People were kind and friendly and amusing, but they though that companionship and conversation were synonymous; and some of them had voices that jarred in your head. There was a lot to be said for dogs. They understood without telling you so, and they were pleasing to look at, awake or asleep..." (page 2)

Mariana

by Monica Dickens

I just started this morning, but I think Mariana is going to be an excellent summer read!

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading.

Persephone Purchases

Persephone Reading Week may be over, but the acquisition continues. Last Friday, I stopped in Barnes & Noble to pick up a couple of review books for Twin B. From time to time they have classics editions in stock and, since it was Persephone Week, I just had to check.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day was on the shelf, of course, and so was Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple. Since they are already on my shelf too (I loved them both), I kept looking...

After Claire's mention of Team Whipple vs. Team Laski, my hope was to find Laski's Little Boy Lost, but no luck there. Although I'm firmly affiliated with Team Whipple, Laski remains an unknown - and that needs to be remedied soon!

I was very happy to find two other books from my wish list:

• Mariana by Monica Dickens
• The Making of a Marchioness by Frances Hodgson Burnett

This weekend, the plan is to finish Molly Fox's Birthday by Deirdre Madden and make a dent in The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (for my book group), but after that it should be time for another Persephone!

Doreen by Barbara Noble

Doreen

by Barbara Noble

238 pages

originally published in 1946

Persephone Books, No. 60

My growing curiosity about children's experiences during WWII has been behind a couple of recent reading choices. Persephone Reading Week provided the perfect opportunity for one more - Doreen by Barbara Noble.

Operation Pied Piper was a program the British government enacted in 1939 to evacuate children from London to the safety of the countryside. Nine-year old Doreen Rawlings' mother, a proud, intelligent yet poorly educated cleaning woman, opted to keep her child in London during what came to be known as the 'Phoney War'. However, when the Blitz began in 1940, Mrs Rawlings was forced to reconsider and Doreen was sent off to the well-to-do Osbornes.

Background on the novel's main theme is provided in Jessica Mann's exceptionally well-written preface:

In some cases hosts were compelled by billeting officers to take in verminous, badly behaved children from inner city slums who had never seen plumbing, cutlery or a change of clothes. The genteel middle classes were appalled to encounter a hitherto unimagined underclass - 'one half of England does not know how the other half lives' wrote Vera Brittain.

Doreen's case does not approach this extreme, but Barbara Noble uses it to take a frank look at the wide gulf between social classes. Her writing shows great compassion toward all sides - the Osbornes who treat Doreen as the child they never had, Mrs. Rawlings who is afraid Doreen will get 'ideas above her station in life', and especially nine-year old Doreen who is torn between two very different lifestyles.

They [the Osbornes] did not remotely suspect the state of tension in which Doreen lived from hour to hour or the watchfulness which lay behind her ready acquiescence. But Doreen watched and imitated and labored to conform the whole time. She never once betrayed ignorance or expressed surprise. (page 49)

While the Osbornes believe Doreen has settled in to the point of taking her new environment for granted, she remained acutely aware of the differences.

She was fascinated by the thought of such a large house to contain three persons. At home, there had been fewer rooms than people. It did not occur to her to wonder whether this were right or wrong; she thought only that it was nice to have so many rooms to walk about in and when she was grow up she would buy Mum a house as big as this one. (page 89)

Mr. Osborne's sister Helen, who works in the London office Mrs. Rawlings cleans, sees danger in the supposed adjustment, cautions her brother, and begins to feel sorry for Doreen's mother:

"You're turning her into a child of your own class." (page 103)

"She'll go back to a world where most of the things you've taught her will be drawbacks rather than advantages." (page 104)

"You're giving her [Mrs. Rawlings] a lot to live up to." (page 105)

Doreen's father, estranged from Mrs. Rawlings, dropped by the Osbornes while on leave. He issues a similar warning to Doreen's mother:

"They've got a nice place there. Too nice. That's the trouble as I see it. Look, Ada, what's it going to seem like to her, coming back to this", his gesture embraced the room, "after what she's had down there?.. You'd have done better to send her away to people in her own station... You've had all the work and worry of bringing her up and it don't seem fair, somehow, that these strangers should come along and make a pet of her and put all sorts of ideas into her head. They don't mean no harm, but it's just the way it is... it don't seem fair to you, Ada." (page 161)

And as for Doreen...

"She felt different herself, self-conscious and even shy, as if there were two Doreens, one who lived at home with Mum and another who lived in the country with Mr. and Mrs. Osborne, and only embarrassment and misunderstanding could result from their temporary fusion." (page 178)

Mrs. Rawlings finally begins grasp the full extent of the problem when she visits the Osbornes to tend a sick Doreen:

"It was only now, since she had realized the place Doreen occupied in this household, had watched her with the Osbornes and measured their concern for her, that she understood at last how serious their rivalry had become. This discovery was terrifying to her....

These people spoke a language that was foreign to her; but Doreen could interpret it. Their ways were unfamiliar to her; but Doreen was at home with them. They were courteous and kind in all their dealings with her; but it was only Doreen whom they really wanted.... She felt now that Doreen in her turn was leaving her... (page 218)

Doreen is honest and real. It is heartbreaking, yet sympathetic to all involved in a program that wreaked havoc in countless lives. Doreen will remain on my mind for quite some time, and I fully expect it to appear on my list of favorites at the end of the year.

Special thanks to Claire and Verity for hosting a wildly successful week. I'm already looking ahead to Persephone Reading Week #3!

Persephone Passages: Someone at a Distance

Dorothy Whipple is arguably one of Persephone's most popular authors. Six titles are currently available but, if Thomas had his way (see his wonderful letter), many more would be reissued.

It only took Someone at a Distance to make a fan of me. In the spirit of Teaser Tuesdays, I've decided to post a few of my favorite passages.

"To live dangerously became the most exciting of games to Louise. The double life she led, the lies she told, the necessity of deceiving, became almost second nature to her... Also, her inclination to despise people had been fostered by finding them so easy to deceive. They were stupid to be so gullible. If you were clever enough - and she was - you could get away with anything." (page 134)

"These women were old, time had softened them, they had learned something from loss, helplessness, loneliness; they knew almost anything can happen to anybody. They were kinder than when they were young." (page 359)

"Life is like a sea, sometimes you are in the trough of a wave, sometimes on the crest. When you are in the trough, you wait for the crest, and always, trough or crest, a mysterious tide bears you forward to an unseen, but certain shore." (page 413)

At the end of the week, I will be placing a Persephone order (Sunday is Mother's Day here in the US). You can be certain another Dorothy Whipple title will be included. Now if I could only decide which one... Are you a member of "Team Whipple"?

It's Persephone Reading Week!

Persephone Reading Week is finally here! Our hosts for the week of " dove-grey covers and striking end-papers" are Verity of The B Files and Claire of Paperback Reader. Verity and Claire will run a series of posts high-lighting Persephone Books, collect review posts from participants, and also sponsor a giveaway or two.

This is actually the second Persephone Reading Week. We were away on vacation for last August's edition (though I still managed to read most of Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple), so I'm very excited to be participating this time around. What will I be reading?

Doreen by Barbara Noble (No. 60)

from the Persephone website:

In 1946 the theme of Doreen was, alas, horrifyingly topical - whether parents should have sent their children away from cities that might be bombed; and if they had done so, whether they could hope to maintain their relationship with them. 'The experience of this long separation, very difficult for all concerned at the time, often proved traumatic over a lifetime' comments Jessica Mann.

Barbara Noble writes with great insight about the mind of a child torn between her mother, whom she leaves behind in London, and the couple who take her in. Everyone wants only the best for Doreen yet, in the end, what is being explored is a clash of values: those looking after her will eventually realise that Doreen will go back 'to a world where most of the things you've taught her will be drawbacks rather than advantages.'

This is a deeply involving book, fascinating for the portrayal of the child torn between mother and temporary mother, and for its understanding of the tyrannies of the English class system. 'The manner of telling this poignant, subtle tragedy is beyond admiration, restrained, penetrating, deeply moving,' wrote Dorothy Canfield Fisher; and the Spectator reviewer described 'a gentle, serious story in which...the author's argument is scrupulously fair; she is observant, sensitive and intellligent.'

The endpaper is taken from a 1940 silk scarf 'London Alert' designed by Arnold Lever for Jacqmar (it is owned by a Persephone reader).

Are you in? What are you reading?

The Sunday Salon: Lessons Learned

Good morning and Happy May! April was not an especially productive reading month here by the lake. In fact, it was the least productive since I began blogging, but it was a month that taught a few valuable lessons.

There were several firsts for me this month:

• My first read-along (Wuthering Heights Wednesdays).
• My first Classics Circuit Tour (Zola - Paris in the Spring)
• My first book tour (South of Broad for TLC Book Tours)

Lesson #1

I am a social reader. This read-along thing is a lot of fun! Sure, I could blast through Wuthering Heights in a week, write a review, carry on a conversation in the comments, and be perfectly happy.

But, it's really fun to read three chapters a week and see all the posts appear on Wednesdays. We may focus on different plot points, have varying impressions or questions, or make some interesting (and often funny) comparisons. Jerry Springer was mentioned several times last week!

Thinking back to January, Woolf in Winter served the same purpose. The group read four Woolf novels and posted on one every other Friday. Although I only read Mrs. Dalloway, it was an amazing experience to read (and comment on) all the other posts that day! It certainly enhanced both my understanding and enjoyment.

In the past, challenges have filled this 'social' need, but that came primarily through sign-up and wrap-up posts. The read-alongs are much more fun - for me anyway. That said, I will be ending my 'no challenges in 2010' resolution soon. Bellezza tells me the Japanese Literature 4 Challenge will begin in June rather than July, and I have four books all ready to go.

Other events, such as Claire's Angela Carter Month and Rachel reading her way through Richard Yates novels, have also been very memorable... and social.

Persephone Reading Week, hosted by Verity and Claire, starts tomorrow! I still regret being away on vacation for last August's edition. Doreen by Barbara Noble will be my Persephone of choice for the week. Are you participating?

Lesson #2

I don't like deadlines. I've never really posted with a deadline in mind. Blogging has been all about fun. This month there were six. The four for Wuthering Heights Wednesday weren't bad... I'm sure people would have 'talked to me' even if I posted on Thursday.

Posting for The Classics Circuit and TLC Book Tours added pressure to have a review done on schedule. I don't write a review immediately upon finishing a book. It sort of percolates until 'inspiration' strikes.... and I haven't found a way to speed that process up!

I should mention that I loved The Classics Circuit tour last month! With participants reading many different books by the same author, the scope of discussion was very broad and interesting.

Maybe reading the books further ahead of time and setting an earlier deadline for myself would help.

Lesson #3

I'm uncomfortable with giveaways, and don't like gimmicks or limitations. I'm hosting one now in conjunction with the South Of Broad tour, but (at the publisher's request) it is open only to residents of the US and Canada. I apologize to my international readers.

There you have it - the April lessons. Now what will I do with this new self knowledge? More read-alongs, skip the giveaways, and, given my slow reading speed, carefully consider commitments with a deadline.

Any other suggestions?

Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple

Someone at a Distance

by Dorothy Whipple

413 pages

first published 1953 by John Murray

2008, Persephone Classic Edition

J.B. Priestly once described Dorothy Whipple as the "Jane Austen of the 20th century". After reading Someone at a Distance, I think this may be a pretty fair comparison. The novel takes a look at a post-WW II upper middle class family in England. Almost all the action revolves around the domestic drama that occurs when a young French woman (Louise Lanier) takes a position as a live-in companion to Old Mrs. North, and gradually insinuates herself into the North family.

When circumstances eventually force an extended stay at the home of Avery (Old Mrs. North's son) and Ellen North, the situation deteriorates. Louise, recently dumped by her lover for a woman of higher social status, is in desperate need of a new conquest to bolster her self-esteem.

"To live dangerously became the most exciting of games to Louise. The double life she led, the lies she told, the necessity of deceiving, became almost second nature to her... Also, her inclination to despise people had been fostered by finding them so easy to deceive. They were stupid to be so gullible. If you were clever enough - and she was - you could get away with anything." (page 134)

Ellen North's entire life revolves around her husband Avery, her children Hugh and Anne, her home, and her garden. She is sweet, gentle, and down-to-earth.

"He [Avery] took Ellen for granted and that was, Louise considered, Ellen's own fault. She was altogether too open and simple. A woman needed art and subtlety and Ellen had neither." (page 164)

"The foolish creature [Ellen] didn't seem to realize that it was necessary to fight. The battle was joined and would be over before she knew there was one." (page 202)

Whipple's writing exquisitely shows the pure, raw emotional responses of all parties involved as this domestic drama unfolds... and it is riveting! I'll simply let the author's words complete this review. They could not be more beautiful.

"A family is like a jigsaw puzzle. If a piece is lost, the rest no longer makes a pattern." (page 254)

"These women were old, time had softened them, they had learned something from loss, helplessness, loneliness; they knew almost anything can happen to anybody. They were kinder than when they were young." (page 359)

"Life is like a sea, sometimes you are in the trough of a wave, sometimes on the crest. When you are in the trough, you wait for the crest, and always, trough or crest, a mysterious tide bears you forward to an unseen, but certain shore." (page 413)

Teaser Tuesday - September 1

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Here's how it works:

-grab your current read

-open to a random page

-share two teaser sentences from somewhere on the page (avoid spoilers!)

-be sure to include the title and author so other TT participants can add the book to their tbr list if they like your teaser

-leave a comment with your link at Should Be Reading

"When she recovered from the first shock of hearing what her mother had arranged for her, she decided that she could not miss this unique opportunity of satisfying her curiosity and embarrassing Paul. And how she would embarrass him by appearing in his house. How uneasy he must be already at the prospect! She was filled with savage pleasure at the thought of it..." (page 96)

Someone at a Distance

by Dorothy Whipple

TSS: Hey, It's Good To Be Back Home Again...

Good morning! Our family adventure is over. We returned home late Friday night, spent Saturday tackling the mountain of laundry and packing Daughter #1 for her return to college, and will be leaving shortly to drive her back. The week went far too quickly.

We spent the first night in Boulder, Colorado before moving on to Vail. The drive through the Rocky Mountains was absolutely spectacular! It's been over 25 years since I listened to John Denver but, much to my family's dismay, it was impossible to resist the urge to sing a chorus or two along the way. Being the off-season, Vail was fairly quiet but we enjoyed the mountain views, hiking, and great restaurants. From there we took the scenic route south to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The picture above was taken as we were leaving the Rockies.

Santa Fe is a very artsy city in the high desert. The Native American crafts and galleries long Canyon Road were amazing. We also enjoyed a few museums and, of course, the great restaurants. There will be some photos to share for the next few weeks of Wordless Wednesdays.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson was the only book completed on this trip. It's the first YA title I've read since I was a young adult (did they even have this designation back then?)... and what a great starting point it was! My 16 year old daughter will be reading this shortly and I look forward to discussing it with her. It is also my book club's September selection, so I'll wait and combine a review with the group's reaction. Let's just say high school is a lot different now than it was 30 years ago!

Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple, a Persephone Classic, is my current book. I only managed about 75 pages while on vacation, but can't wait to pick it up again later this evening. Paperback Reader and Verity did a marvelous job hosting the Persephone Reading Week Challenge. Hopefully I can carve out some time later in the week to visit all the participants and read their reviews. It was certainly bad timing on my part to be away all week. Next time, I will schedule my travels around it!

A quick reminder - I will draw a winner in the Two Guys Read Jane Austen giveaway on Tuesday. You can still enter here.

For the week ahead, I will be reviewing That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo, wrapping up the summer vacation reading challenge, reading Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple, and getting the twins ready for the start of their school year. My blogging routine should begin to return to normal this week and, once school starts, the rest of my life should fall back into place too.

Enjoy your reading time today, and I look forward to visiting all your blogs again soon!

Persephone Reading Week Challenge

The Persephone Reading Week Challenge hosted by Paperback Reader and Verity of The B Files begins on August 24. It didn't look like participation would be an option, since I'll be away on vacation and the library book I'd had on hold for literally months showed no sign of appearing any time soon.

All of that changed Friday with one phone call from the library. Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple had arrived and was ready for pick-up! I'm still heading out of town momentarily, but now there's a Persephone book tucked away in my bag. I'll try and check in, depending on internet access. We'll get home just in time to take Daughter #1 back to college. The twins don't start school until after Labor Day.

See you in September...