Friday, February 26, 2010

A London Girl of the Eighties

I know what you're thinking. Why is there a picture of a sink, lovely though it may be, accompanying a review of a book by M Vivian Hughes? Well, if you type 'London girl of the Eighties' in Google images you will see girls with big hair dressed like Madonna. Totally wrong century. My favourite part of this book takes place in Wales and after looking through ten pages of holiday ads for cottages in the Welsh countryside, I gave that up as well. So here on offer is a gorgeous traditional Welsh country sink. Moving right along... In this next book of a trilogy, Molly Hughes finds success as a teacher and love with Arthur, the man who would become her husband after a ten-year engagement. I loved the spirit with which Molly embraced her future in-laws and the Welsh countryside despite the twenty-six hour journey and seven trains it took to get to Aberdovey. One of my favourite stories was when Arthur's brother, Llewelyn, suggested they take the Torrent Walk. Asking an inn landlord for the shortest road to take they were told they could take the landlord's dog as he knew the way. 'Be sure you don't speak Welsh' shouted the landlord after us, or he won't take you. He thinks Welshmen ought to know the way.' 'All right, we'll remember,' answered Llewelyn, laughing, for we naturally thought this was one of those 'dog-stories'. All went well for some way, the dog duly trotting ahead, til one of those showers so common in Wales caught us suddenly. Spying a cowshed we went into it for shelter, dog and all. Presently a farm labourer came in for shelter too. Llewelyn, parson-like, began to chat with him about the weather and what not, of course, in Welsh; and Arthur joined in. 'Look there!' I cried, and pointed to the dog, who was fast disappearing along the road to the inn. We put it down to his impatience at the delay, but the labourer said that every one knew the dog, and that it was true that nothing would induce him to show Welsh people the way. Growing up with three brothers served Molly well as she explored rugged hillside on light lunches and flasks of lukewarm tea with Arthur. Having to get dirty and wet whilst pushing a rowboat off of a sandbar to get back home didn't faze our girl a bit! Reading that Molly and Arthur never tired of Keats made me smile and that they could never resist spending money on books made them even more dear to my heart. Then Molly laughs off an offer from another man who offers to escort her from Gower Street to Kensington after a Guild meeting. The B&B that I like to stay at when in London just so happens to be on Gower Street so I took joy in imagining that I've strolled past the very Georgian townhouses that Molly may have admired on her walk. This second book ends on as sad a note as the first which caught me off guard. But with her indomitable spirit I'm sure that Molly will be able to deal with any challenges she may face in the future.

12 comments:

  1. I am so glad that you enjoyed this - there were so many funny moments as well as poignant and sad bits. I don't know why I identified with it so much as a teenager but I did - I liked her spirit as you say.

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  2. The more I hear about these books, the more determined I am to read them!

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  3. It's such a wonderful book, isn't it? I've recently finished the third in the trilogy, and it's such a lovely combination of sad and funny and true. I'd be happy to loan you my copy if you're having trouble finding it.

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  4. I love that sink! The book sounds wonderful and I laughed at the bit about the dog :-) I could just picture such a canine!

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  5. I'm glad you enjoyed this. I found the trilogy wonderful :)

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  6. verity, Molly was the package...smart, witty, athletic. She would have been such a fun friend to have. Thank you so much for sending this book my way!

    Cornflower, I far prefer something old over something new...glad you like it.

    thecaptivereader, If you could find the trilogy intact it would be a great find, keep your eyes peeled in the second-hand shops.

    makedoandread, Thank you so much for your kind offer! I have a leaning tbr pile to get through and will be on the look-out in the meantime. I will definitely let you know if the third book is elusive!

    Rochester Reader, Isn't that too funny! I adore dogs...if I could just get mine to start dinner!

    A Bookish Space, Weren't they just a wonderful family! So modern in thinking but traditional at the same time...I adore them.

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  7. It's too bad Persephone hasn't published the other two books in this trilogy--wouldn't they make a nice set on a shelf? I can't wait to read the first book! Oh, and I love the sink. I bet the rest of the house is pretty nice, too!

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  8. The humorous parts make the sad bits all the more poignant - so glad you enjoyed this second book of the trilogy.
    Love the stone sink - its gorgeous!

    Jeanne

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  9. I love the sink and the review is very interesting indeed, thank you for sharing, Hannah

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  10. Oh Darlene! This sounds magnificent! I still have the first volume to read...if only I didn't have to go to work and could stay at home with my head buried in a book all day long!

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  11. Danielle, I'm crossing my fingers that Persephone will print the rest if they can.

    Cottage Garden, Absolutely!

    Hannah, You're very welcome!

    booksnob, I pray to the lottery gods quite frequently so that I can have that dream realized as well! I'm not holding my breath though *sigh*.

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