tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4512516523018627966.post7571250312345673669..comments2023-06-02T14:56:35.057+01:00Comments on The Book Trunk: Falling Leaves in High Rising!Christine Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814026435889782750noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4512516523018627966.post-35998732122078021182012-11-20T14:23:32.697+00:002012-11-20T14:23:32.697+00:00It was the hair falling down all the time that mad...It was the hair falling down all the time that made her so endearing I thought. It's such a small detail, but it really brought her to life.Christine Hardinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814026435889782750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4512516523018627966.post-89759099278544375952012-11-17T16:49:54.970+00:002012-11-17T16:49:54.970+00:00This is the only one of Thirkell's books I hav...This is the only one of Thirkell's books I have read. Thanks for reminding me that I want to read more about Laura Morland and her adventures. I too especially loved that Mrs. M's hair was always falling down. Re-pinning is such a feminine gesture and captures her somewhat harried personality to a T.<br /><br />I would dearly love to find any vintage Penguin. I only have one and it was bought on a trip to London. Not many floating around here in the South. Bellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04335523622158333456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4512516523018627966.post-20113193785023990542012-11-09T20:46:11.705+00:002012-11-09T20:46:11.705+00:00Her novels do seem to be quite rare, which was why...Her novels do seem to be quite rare, which was why I pounced on this one, even though it as falling to pieces - I've kept eyes open for one for quite a while and not seen anything. Christine Hardinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814026435889782750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4512516523018627966.post-32919262544567529492012-11-09T19:07:05.492+00:002012-11-09T19:07:05.492+00:00I'm also a Thirkell fan. It's a shame her...I'm also a Thirkell fan. It's a shame her books have become so hard to find. I'm very happy to see the new editions coming out, especialyl of this one, which is a favorite - and I hope they will draw more people into her Barsetshire.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17782561487396697870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4512516523018627966.post-61964008316931606282012-11-09T16:26:05.514+00:002012-11-09T16:26:05.514+00:00Oh Nan, thank you so much for sharing. The Demon i...Oh Nan, thank you so much for sharing. The Demon in the House sounds delightful, and yes, I can relate to Laura's fears, and it so difficult knowing when to let go and give your children the independence they want, and when to take a stand and say no because you feel they need protecting. My daughters are 25 and 23, and even now I'm no sure I achieved the right balance, and even now they have homes of their own I worry and want to keep them safe!Christine Hardinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814026435889782750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4512516523018627966.post-33980588761873095182012-11-09T15:46:27.976+00:002012-11-09T15:46:27.976+00:00AT is someone I should love. But I don't. I fi...AT is someone I should love. But I don't. I find her work confusing somehow. BUT there is one that I think is a fantastic book, and it features Mrs. M and Tony. It is called The Demon in the House.<br />High Rising was the first AT book I read, and I loved it. Then I read TDitH and really loved it. This is what I wrote twelve years ago:<br /><br /> "This book features Tony, the 4th son of Laura Morland who was introduced in High Rising. He is now thirteen, and this is his last year when he is the oldest in school. At the end of the book he goes off to the "upper form", where he will be the youngest and essentially starting all over again. The book is an expression of the deep love between the single (widowed- happily) mother and her last child at home. The wonder to me is that almost 70 years ago, she was worrying in the same way I do. When he goes off alone on his bike to a family picnic, she decides to have him go first while she follows in the car, rather than having him follow her. That way, if he crashes she will come upon him instead of worrying when he doesn't show up. This is just the sort of nutty thing I would do. The characters in this book are wonderfully drawn, and the reader feels a real affinity and love for them." <br /><br />I can't recommend it highly enough.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4512516523018627966.post-72185716712459022492012-11-09T13:34:42.705+00:002012-11-09T13:34:42.705+00:00Oh dear, I shall view her quite differently knowin...Oh dear, I shall view her quite differently knowing she was anti-Labour! Sometimes I wonder if it's better to know nothing about an author, as it can be very hard to judge a book on its merits, and not be influenced by other information. Thanks for the recommendation - I'll look out for that one.Christine Hardinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814026435889782750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4512516523018627966.post-6830714551749861632012-11-09T11:20:31.110+00:002012-11-09T11:20:31.110+00:00I'm so glad you loved this book; it's the ...I'm so glad you loved this book; it's the Thirkell I re-read most often. Her post-war books are marred by her hatred of the new Labour government, which she makes no secret of. Her very last books are even more plotless and rambling, and full of inconsistencies. Nevertheless, she's one of my favourite authors and I have all her books. Summer Half is a good one.callmemadamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359300308013419608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4512516523018627966.post-61929098652199643142012-11-09T08:39:16.511+00:002012-11-09T08:39:16.511+00:00It's always difficult to tell what other peopl...It's always difficult to tell what other people would like, but I think you would enjoy this. It was the perfect antidote to the disturbing world of Jean Rhys, that's for sure! <br />Christine Hardinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814026435889782750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4512516523018627966.post-24347501786296983212012-11-09T08:29:12.062+00:002012-11-09T08:29:12.062+00:00Claire, I am going to buy it, and say it's an ...Claire, I am going to buy it, and say it's an early Christmas present to myself! I have a weakness for Penguins - I think it's because I grew up with them. My parents had them, and as a child I had shelves full of Puffins before I started buying 'grown up' Penguins.Christine Hardinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814026435889782750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4512516523018627966.post-56386121308163019482012-11-09T08:24:00.649+00:002012-11-09T08:24:00.649+00:00I too enjoy Claire's blog and her taste in boo...I too enjoy Claire's blog and her taste in books, but though she and several others I also like are always going on about Angel Thirkell, I've never read her, and never quite felt impelled enough to actually order one. I expect, like you, I will stumble on one in a charity shop and be instantly hooked. Thanks!harriethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04470091985662379182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4512516523018627966.post-2894787449164417562012-11-09T00:21:33.752+00:002012-11-09T00:21:33.752+00:00I am so glad you enjoyed this! It is the only one...I am so glad you enjoyed this! It is the only one of the pre-war books I haven't read yet but I have my copy standing by and am planning to read it before the year is out. I am sorry that your copy fell apart (though I find that often happens with Penguins, which is why I don't like them) but isn't it lucky that Virago is reprinting <i>High Rising</i> and <i>Wild Strawberries</i> this month - you'll be able to get a brand new copy with all its pages firmly intact!Claire (The Captive Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07430380065718826213noreply@blogger.com