Monday, January 24, 2011

Virago Reading Week

E.M. Delafield created a turning point in my life...literally. 

The classics built a strong foundation for my love of English literature and the silky swish of a long dress.  There were brief forays into the world of crime novels and chick-lit but if I read one more book about a blonde twenty-something in a publishing office I was going to scream!  I was searching for something but I didn't know what.

Three years ago, The Heiress was about to move into a townhouse near her university.  Five young men had vacated and five young ladies were taking residence...I was armed with a bucket, rubber gloves and lots of cleaning supplies, LOTS. 

Once we were in Waterloo, our first stop was a plaza so The Heiress could hand out some resumes.  One of the businesses was a Chapters and well, you might as well have a look around once you're there, right?  Sitting on a display was an adorable book covered in pink roses.  Who was this Cath Kidston woman who designed the print?  Flipping to the first page, hilarious writing about the planting of bulbs and a Lady B coming to visit had me digging for my wallet.

Back in the car I began to flip through the pages and laughing out loud.  'Listen to this!' I said a few times.  The Heiress and R begged me to stop.  So my book was tucked back into its bag but I had a big smile on my face and was ready to tackle the scariest kitchen and bathroom disasters you've ever seen.

Back at home and relaxing with The Diary of a Provincial Lady, I knew that this was the type of story that I had been searching for through the years.  Witty, intelligent with an atmosphere rich in period detail and sensibilities I had found my reading nirvana.  But where would I find more like it?

Through my research I discovered the enriching world of book blogs.  StuckInABook, dovegreyreader and Random Jottings were my first introduction and favourites.  A short note to Simon was sent and he replied telling me about a wonderful bookshop by the name of Persephone.  I had never ordered a book on-line before *snort* so the search began in second-hand bookshops.  My first trip out resulted in my copy of The Way Things Are and due to loads of catching up in this blissful era of authors, it has been languishing on my shelves ever since.  When Virago Reading Week was announced I knew exactly which book would be my choice.

Thanks Carolyn and Rachel for the creation of a brilliant reading week!  Click on the links should you be interested in joining in.

17 comments:

  1. Hi! What a lovely post! I really enjoyed reading it and how wonderful to be able to point to a certain point in time as a personal literary turning point. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I also enjoyed "Diary" but have yet to acquire the sequels... I really should rectify that soon.

    I look forward to reading your review about your choice. I love the cover :-)

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  2. That is such a lovely post Darlene. I love that fact that you got the Cath Kidston copy and hadn't come across her. SO glad that you discovered the world of book blogs :)

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  3. Oh, Darlene! What a fantastic post, and how glad I am that you picked up Diary of a Provincial Lady! It's amazing what little things can trigger life changing moments, isn't it?! I look forward to reading your thoughts on The Way Things Are. I remember finding it rather perplexing, but now I've read more non Provincial Lady Delafields, I think I'd appreciate it more on a re-read. Thank you for taking part in the reading week! It is SUCH a pleasure to have you! x

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  4. Love this post. I got a Delafield to read with great difficulty and had to reluctantly give it back! I was so keen to hang on to it permanently. Its a book I could go back to over and over again.

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  5. Brilliant post. I must try another Delafield. Didn't enjoy The Diary of a Provincial Lady as much as I would have liked.

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  6. That's wonderful Darlene, and I felt very much the same way last year on discovering the Persephone, Virago, and Bloomsbury early 20th century reprints through book blogs, that finally I'd found the kind of comfort books I could enjoy. Lovely book cover too!

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  7. I loved The Diary of a Provincial Lady, too. I have The Way Things Are on my pile, so I look forward to hearing what you think. And I am thoroughly enjoying Thank Heaven Fasting in case you're in the market for more by Delafield! :)

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  8. I really enjoyed reading this post. I think I can totally relate to the joy of finding that right book - even if one does not know that one has been looking for. I have been reading such wonderful things about EM Delafield that I have finally requested my copy from the library. Fingers crossed!

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  9. A truly evocative post - loved reading it. Thank you.

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  10. Rochester Reader, I am thrilled to hear from you, it has been awhile and you were missed!

    You know, at the beginning I thought the shadey area on the cover was a stain, ugh.

    verity, Now I proudly cart around a Cath Kidston bag and drool over her catalogues.

    bookssnob, Quite enjoying the book so far but have yet to experience a really funny moment. There's still time though! And thank you, Rachel, for kicking things off with Carolyn!

    Mystica, Oh no! I hope the book finds its way back to you one day soon.

    Vivienne, Try again one day, sometimes it's the right book but wrong mood. The sense of humour is right up my alley!

    Carolyn, I thank goodness every day for the discovery of these publishers, these books and all of you lovely bloggers! It's my virtual English Lit classroom and fills me up in such a satisfying way. I'm poorer for my book purchases but happier!

    Danielle, Thank Heaven, Fasting is going to be on my shelf one day mark my words. Can't wait to read your review!

    shadesofwords09, Thanks for stopping by! It really pays to be curious and receptive as you just never know where joy lies do you. Consequences is another Delafield which was not at all funny and left me shocked at the end but oh how wonderful!

    Joan, And thank you for stopping by, enjoy your day!

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  11. What a wonderful post! I just loved reading this, Darlene. Now I need to find something by Delafield, too....

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  12. What a lovely post, Darlene - and so pleased that I could help you along the way to an empty purse and a full bookshelf! I'd forgotten that I introduced you to Persephone - and had somehow imagined that you'd loved Delafield for decades! I remember those Cath Kidston covers coming out, and admiring them, and am pleased that they introduced you to one of my favourite ever books.

    I came to Delafield in a roundabout way - an excerpt from her wonderful book As Others Hear Us was included in a 1940 collection I had called Modern Humour. I loved it, so went on the hunt to find more Delafield - all my library had was a large print edition of the second Provincial Lady book, so that was my first encounter with the PL!

    EMD is now one of my favourite authors, although her novels do tend to be quite different from her PL, in general. Very good, but sadder - albeit with moments of hilarity.

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  13. Such a super story. I love my Cath Kidston-covered copy of Provincial Lady. Definitely a book to read (and just admire!) again and again. Really looking forward to hearing what you think of The Way Things Are.

    K x

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  14. Just arrived at your blog via Cornflower - and how could I not comment on one of my favourite writers, E M Delafield? Diary of a Provincial Lady is an all-time favourite of mine. I also notice you've been reading One Fine Day by Mollie Panter-Downe, another of my favourite writers - if you like One Fine Day then you might like Try Anything Twice also by Mollie Panter-Downes.
    Margaret P

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  15. JoAnn, If you would like a laugh give Diary of a Provincial Lady a try. For something different I can highly recommend Consequences, which is a Persephone title. But not until your TBR Dare is over!

    StuckInABook, Hahaha! Yes, I absolutely have you to thank for my empty purse and full bookshelf! But you did save me from a lifetime of contemporary fiction and I will forever be grateful.

    Kristina, And do you know that I turned my nose up at the cloth-covered edition of A Game of Hide and Seek that day. Who is this Elizabeth Taylor woman? Goodness me...such a dolt!

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  16. Actually, I arrived at your blog not via Cornflower but by A Work in Progress! It's been a long day!
    Margaret P

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  17. galant, Welcome and thanks for stopping by! Your comment must have appeared just as I was responding to the others.

    Lovely to hear that you are a fan of The Provincial Lady and Delafield, such a talented author! You just know that she had a wicked sense of humour as well. And thank you for the mention of the Panter-Downes novel, I haven't heard of that one. Off to see what it's about!

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