tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post830830091870112203..comments2024-02-10T19:58:20.327+00:00Comments on Stuck in a Book: "The open road, the dusty highway, the heath, the common, the hedgerows, the rolling downs!"StuckInABookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-5896716399922000232011-04-10T23:37:40.475+01:002011-04-10T23:37:40.475+01:00Michelle - I definitely need to read Elizabeth and...<b>Michelle</b> - I definitely need to read Elizabeth and Her German Garden - it's how I first heard of E von A, I think, when it is mentioned in Diary of a Provincial LadyStuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-54565735324442887812011-04-10T23:36:59.127+01:002011-04-10T23:36:59.127+01:00Sakura - aww, a lovely book! Don't resist nex...<b>Sakura</b> - aww, a lovely book! Don't resist next time ;)StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-14294135036712492072011-04-05T16:24:24.303+01:002011-04-05T16:24:24.303+01:00For your next read, can I recommend her classic wo...For your next read, can I recommend her classic work, Elizabeth and Her German Garden? Or my own particular favourite, Fraulein Schmit and Mr Anstruther, another light but charming tale, of a young woman who falls in love with an English lodger. All does not run smoothly, and he gets more than he bargained for!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16035532686438142780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-29166724471623961272011-04-05T15:05:08.565+01:002011-04-05T15:05:08.565+01:00I saw 2 copies of Enchanted April in Oxfam, Crouch...I saw 2 copies of Enchanted April in Oxfam, Crouch End and thought of you:) I didn't get a copy this time (as I got lots of other books) but I will eventually when I've whittled down my TBR pile a little more as I've been wondering about E von A for a while now!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-78541026161865342522011-04-05T10:04:11.064+01:002011-04-05T10:04:11.064+01:00Hayley - I was a little ambivalent about the endin...<b>Hayley</b> - I was a little ambivalent about the ending (didn't want to spoil it in my review!) but perhaps that was von A's touch of realism - that, in all likelihood, Edelgard wouldn't escape and the others wouldn't exert too much effort to help her.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-25268550066352785582011-04-05T10:03:11.686+01:002011-04-05T10:03:11.686+01:00Elaine - I vaguely remember you mentioning the Sal...<b>Elaine</b> - I vaguely remember you mentioning the Sally book, and I think a funny one would be nice, next... I've emailed you elsewhere about Otto - I think he is so self-deluded that he doesn't even notice that other people don't like him - so at least he's happy!StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-10973500327398752222011-04-05T10:02:22.093+01:002011-04-05T10:02:22.093+01:00Verity - oh, Verity, don't say that! I left a...<b>Verity</b> - oh, Verity, don't say that! I left a lovely copy of Christopher and Colombus behind in an Edinburgh shop (one on Karen Cornflower's road, actually) because it was too heavy to add to my others...StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-80085121990002501402011-04-05T10:01:32.038+01:002011-04-05T10:01:32.038+01:00Peter - ok, I should have said that the implied re...<b>Peter</b> - ok, I should have said that the implied reader loves Pooter ;) I should have known that you wouldn't... And well done on spotting Wind in the Willows - I hope you spotted it, rather than cheating!StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-81694222507258262062011-04-05T10:00:47.696+01:002011-04-05T10:00:47.696+01:00Claire - I know you'll love this, since you...<b>Claire</b> - I know you'll love this, since you're such a fan of E von A. I have The Pastor's Wife at home, I think, but only Vera and Elizabeth and Her German Garden in Oxford.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-56411620036261234762011-04-05T09:59:53.881+01:002011-04-05T09:59:53.881+01:00Rachel - thanks Rachel! I hope Claire manages to ...<b>Rachel</b> - thanks Rachel! I hope Claire manages to post, even if it's about why she gave up on it - would even things out! What's next.. hmm.. I'm very open to suggestions! Well, we both have our little projects to be getting on with don't we, and yours is a third of the length of mine ;)StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-45375376728909019202011-04-05T09:58:51.983+01:002011-04-05T09:58:51.983+01:00Susan - cheating or not, you are right!<b>Susan</b> - cheating or not, you are right!StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-21987408052445621432011-04-05T09:57:44.915+01:002011-04-05T09:57:44.915+01:00Nancy - I do want to track down the film of The En...<b>Nancy</b> - I do want to track down the film of The Enchanted April, but I don't think it's on DVD in the UK. The biography sounds interesting - from what I've heard of her life, it definitely sounds as complex as her novels.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-61680086727846871912011-04-05T09:51:44.736+01:002011-04-05T09:51:44.736+01:00I'm with Elaine on this one. Otto is an object...I'm with Elaine on this one. Otto is an objectionable man but he's the product of his background and it's clear what he is. It bothered me that the rest of the party - supposedly more enlightened - not only cut the baron out but also his wife.<br /><br />Having shown Edelgard that all men are not like her husband she's just left behind to manage as best she can. The characters we're meant to admire are in the end almost all as objectionable and selfish as Baron Otto.<br /><br />I found lots to laugh at in 'The Caravaners' but by the end found it a disturbing book with some really unpleasent intimations in it. 'Vera' is an even more explicit exploration of some of the same ideas but without the comedy which makes it a very dark book indeed.Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-78948570797115050602011-04-05T09:48:46.496+01:002011-04-05T09:48:46.496+01:00Cristina - Maybe this could be the next off your s...<b>Cristina</b> - Maybe this could be the next off your shelf, if you have it? She's definitely become a very intriguing author to me now - I have on idea what the next will be like!StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-3000006921890799932011-04-05T09:48:01.988+01:002011-04-05T09:48:01.988+01:00spotsoftime - what can I say, it's a talent! ...<b>spotsoftime</b> - what can I say, it's a talent! I'm very good at collecting quite a few authors... indeed, there are some I buy loads off, assuming I'll like them, before I've read a word.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-7004843322627119852011-04-05T09:22:53.035+01:002011-04-05T09:22:53.035+01:00I have every single one of EVA on my shelves and o...I have every single one of EVA on my shelves and only have one or two unread. I think she is a superb writer and though many of her output is funny, some are not. think Mr Skeffington and Vera. I feel sorry for the Baron in the Caravaners as he is so unaware of just how awful he is - how could he be when he has lived and been brought up in a particular way? <br /><br />I actually got rather cross with all the other members of the party who obviously loathed him and decided to encourage him to be obnoxious. Underneath it all I think there lurks a rather sad and puzzled man who knows he is unloved and cannot work out why. <br /><br />Can you imagine feeling that way and how unhappy he must be? and the worse think is, there is nothing he can do about it.<br /><br />Many of EVA in print, many not, do wish Persephone would do one or two and I did suggest it a long time ago.<br /><br />If you want a funny EVA please try An Introduction to Sally which features a stunningly beautiful girl who, all unwittingly, causes mayhem whereever she goes.<br /><br />As ever Simon you have made me want to go and write about EVA now. On my list it goesElainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17739410242766153431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-59586649620056763002011-04-05T09:20:47.368+01:002011-04-05T09:20:47.368+01:00I LOVED this one. And it is SO different from Enc...I LOVED this one. And it is SO different from Enchanted April. I came to her via The pastor's wife which is very different from Enchanted April which meant that this one wasn't so much of a shock. Anyway, since you enjoyed this I would recommend Christopher and Columbus which is similarly amusing.verityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16825551404394913715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-80189850042690987332011-04-05T07:38:46.411+01:002011-04-05T07:38:46.411+01:00Pooter is absurd, but we can't help loving him...<i>Pooter is absurd, but we can't help loving him.</i><br /><br />Some of us can!<br /><br />Your quotation is from The Wind in the Willows.Dark Pusshttp://morganas-cat.tumblr.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-54139963218024383462011-04-05T04:00:41.212+01:002011-04-05T04:00:41.212+01:00I grabbed a copy of this from a local used booksto...I grabbed a copy of this from a local used bookstore during Virago Reading Week and am so looking forward to reading it! Sounds like I have a real treat in store. I would definitely recommend von Arnim's <i>The Pastor's Wife</i> about a timid English girl who marries an oblivious German pastor. Again, it's an example of von Arnim penning characters meant more to be laughed at than sympathized with and it's marvelous.Claire (The Captive Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07430380065718826213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-83121397958783316102011-04-05T03:41:46.612+01:002011-04-05T03:41:46.612+01:00Fantastic review, Simon! I loved the periphery cha...Fantastic review, Simon! I loved the periphery characters as well, though Jellaby WAS rather annoying - however I can imagine myself being rather antagonistic towards Otto! I'm so glad we encouraged each other to read this - what's up next?!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-63290382192712679032011-04-05T03:16:10.880+01:002011-04-05T03:16:10.880+01:00The Wind in the Willows? Maybe cheating since OVW ...The Wind in the Willows? Maybe cheating since OVW reminded me last week of the yellow caravan in same. Thanks for the review. I haven't read a von Armin yet, (or even shopped for them) so I feel like I have something to look forward to. :)Susan in TXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09550766549670690646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-90667437796245359732011-04-05T01:46:52.852+01:002011-04-05T01:46:52.852+01:00I first meant to say that after seeing the movie &...I first meant to say that after seeing the movie "Enchanted April" I went looking for one of her books to read but came across the biography first. It really is a good book.nancy b thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14689071270691516915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-72418623546279217152011-04-05T01:35:47.356+01:002011-04-05T01:35:47.356+01:00I found it interesting to read _about_ Mary Annett...I found it interesting to read _about_ Mary Annette Beauchamp von Armin, starting with "Elizabeth of the German Garden" by her daughter. Her life has to far outstrip any of her characters - fascinating reading. There is a "select bibliography" of her books on her Wikipedia page.nancy b thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14689071270691516915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-70214319915707900942011-04-05T01:21:12.884+01:002011-04-05T01:21:12.884+01:00I too am guilty of collecting Von Arnims without r...I too am guilty of collecting Von Arnims without reading them (aside from Enchanted April). Thank you for a great review... it keeps things fresh when an author surprises you with a twist in style or content.Cristina (Rochester Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11157196972931051576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-38417446752552930002011-04-05T00:14:51.936+01:002011-04-05T00:14:51.936+01:00I laughed out loud at your comment about being goo...I laughed out loud at your comment about being good at collecting Elizabeth von Arnim's books - I've also read and loved Enchanted April and have had many of her other books for years! You've inspired me to pick up The Caravaners at last!<br />(also have to say how much I enjoyed life in books week)spotsoftimenoreply@blogger.com