tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post370370031745139531..comments2024-02-25T19:19:39.854+11:00Comments on I prefer reading: Henrietta Sees It Through - Joyce Dennyslynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04509400868331534237noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-69136989067872552862010-08-18T20:23:11.198+10:002010-08-18T20:23:11.198+10:00Simon, are the other Joyce Denys's similar - h...Simon, are the other Joyce Denys's similar - humorous, domestic etc?Mereniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00597354144052341218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-34183064714433089472010-08-18T09:52:24.539+10:002010-08-18T09:52:24.539+10:00I wonder why the Paper Dump scene had such an effe...I wonder why the Paper Dump scene had such an effect on us all?! I'm sure we could all imagine being in Lady B's position & shuddering at the thought. I agree that goodness is difficult to portray interestingly in fiction but Lady B is funny as well as good. Pure goodness often comes over as smugness. Just think of Fanny Price, although I felt fonder of her the last time I read Mansfield Park than ever before. I noticed the suppressed anger a lot more. This Lady B almost makes me forget the Provincial Lady's horrible Lady B!lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509400868331534237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-83568232148211192352010-08-17T18:33:13.190+10:002010-08-17T18:33:13.190+10:00Lovely review, Lyn... but you've reminded me o...Lovely review, Lyn... but you've reminded me of that horrible Paper Dump scene, which I'd successfully repressed. Somehow that seems much worse to me than many other sacrifices people would have had to make.<br /><br />I'm delighted with Karen/Bloomsbury for introducing me to Joyce Dennys - I've since read another four of her books, and loved them all. Economy Must Be Our Watchword is my favourite, though sadly nigh-on impossible to find.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-63006721822958476612010-08-16T07:53:52.299+10:002010-08-16T07:53:52.299+10:00I don't know why I've not yet read these a...I don't know why I've not yet read these as I love the sound of the story and it seems right up my alley. At the moment I seem to be picking up more post-WWII stories set in Austerity Britain, but I really need to pull out the first of these books and move it to the top of my pile.Daniellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06415242678720695754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-13870229674585808112010-08-14T22:55:32.865+10:002010-08-14T22:55:32.865+10:00I love reading about WWII on the home front -- but...I love reading about WWII on the home front -- but I don't think I could bear to sacrifice some of my beloved books! I think I'd need some comfort reads during wartime. These sound very good and I'll have to look for them.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-81880420761818753772010-08-14T17:24:47.846+10:002010-08-14T17:24:47.846+10:00Hi Lyn,
I enjoyed your review. And the book itse...Hi Lyn,<br /><br />I enjoyed your review. And the book itself, as I too am having a Home Front moment. This second volume had interesting depictions of literal war weariness. I thought the letter describing the enforced weekend of rest for Henrietta's husband, where he spent a lot of the time asleep was really telling of the strain ordinary people felt and the super hard work happening on the home front. <br /><br />I also love discovering gracious characters such as Lady B in fiction - she was so large minded, forgiving and peacemaking. Such characterisation seems somewhat rare. Goodness perhaps does not make for gripping reading??? (Alexander McCall Smith is someone who pulls off goodness well. )Mereniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00597354144052341218noreply@blogger.com