tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post6375446637681968762..comments2024-03-07T03:01:03.672-05:00Comments on roses over a cottage door: My American by Stella GibbonsDarlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-37249513793210379792012-05-20T15:48:51.597-04:002012-05-20T15:48:51.597-04:00I have indeed! It was lovely but I just didn'...I have indeed! It was lovely but I just didn't miss it when off doing other things. You can always tell that a book is top-notch at my house if the hoovering isn't getting done. A really, really good book will have me reading while I cook dinner and considering my klutzy nature, that is saying something!Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-13023434977101465622012-05-18T16:27:26.820-04:002012-05-18T16:27:26.820-04:00I've only ever read Nightingale Wood by Gibbon...I've only ever read Nightingale Wood by Gibbons and actually quite enjoyed it. Have you read this one?A Bookish Spacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15352870732457077916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-51983176191843129532012-05-18T11:31:07.061-04:002012-05-18T11:31:07.061-04:00Hi Alex, thanks for stopping by! 'Fort of the...Hi Alex, thanks for stopping by! 'Fort of the Bear' is a new one to me but I am less than inspired...did Gibbons have an editor at all, I wonder? Oh, and there are a whopping handful of prejudice views in 'My American' as well, some books from this era really make a modern reader squirm. Thanks for sharing your opinion on 'CCF', might as well end things with this author on a high note. Enjoy your day!Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-1413732691650311092012-05-17T12:11:29.890-04:002012-05-17T12:11:29.890-04:00I love 'Cold Comfort Farm' and would recom...I love 'Cold Comfort Farm' and would recommend it to anyone. I've only read one other book by Gibbons, 'Fort of the Bear' and that was a very worrying experience. Not only did it need a very firm editor with an extremely sharp pair of scissors, but it expressed various prejudice views that I couldn't square with the woman who'd written such a romp as 'CCF'.Alexhttp://thinkinginfragments.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-28220132122357837962012-05-17T07:40:41.664-04:002012-05-17T07:40:41.664-04:00I will be very surprised if I don't like it ba...I will be very surprised if I don't like it based on most of the comments from my lovely blog friends. Then again, 'The Woman in White' was one of those reads that thousands seem to love but I couldn't wait to see the back of! 'No Name' was much better.Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-73085617563817054612012-05-16T04:54:26.132-04:002012-05-16T04:54:26.132-04:00I don't have a degree, and I always enjoy Cold...I don't have a degree, and I always enjoy Cold Comfort Farm! It's a kind of parody of tortured rural idylls (if that's not a contradiction in terms!) like Hardy, I guess, and Mary Webb. It's very funny, and quite tightly constructed and well written. It's quite short, and very easy to read - I hope you like it because there's nothing worse than reading a novel which everyone has flagged up, and finding that it doesn't live up to your expectations.Christine Hardinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814026435889782750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-34942915436873420222012-05-15T06:52:38.683-04:002012-05-15T06:52:38.683-04:00If the mood strikes, Sunday, you can always let me...If the mood strikes, Sunday, you can always let me know! If I have got my hands on a copy then perhaps we can do a read-along!Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-33921719693664898382012-05-15T06:51:10.824-04:002012-05-15T06:51:10.824-04:00A bit of background information or a knowledge abo...A bit of background information or a knowledge about style can make all the difference can't it? Without a proper English course behind me or anyone close who likes the same novels to point the way, I would have fallen into the same trap of thinking 'this isn't funny at all!'. I am going to pick up a copy the next chance I get, the edition with that huge cow muzzle makes me laugh every time I see it. Enjoy your day, Nicola!Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-38733799557013806892012-05-14T22:47:03.479-04:002012-05-14T22:47:03.479-04:00I never read the book Cold Comfort Farm but I enjo...I never read the book Cold Comfort Farm but I enjoyed the movie, and have always meant to read the book. I think I will read it now. I am intrigued.Sunday Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-70602246592836318412012-05-13T18:27:22.729-04:002012-05-13T18:27:22.729-04:00I'm not the greatest Stella Gibbons fan, but I...I'm not the greatest Stella Gibbons fan, but I would say it is certainly worth reading Cold Comfort Farm. I first read it when I was very young and didn't even 'get' that it was satire, but once I did I really enjoyed it!Vintage Readinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05971819409379613967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-57232262816513093842012-05-11T13:12:54.205-04:002012-05-11T13:12:54.205-04:00No forgiveness necessary! I have read Nightingale...No forgiveness necessary! I have read <i>Nightingale Wood</i> and perhaps it was a bit too light and fluffy, that may be the problem. This could simply be a case of right book, wrong mood but I'm going to keep trying!Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-55592174069595563942012-05-11T12:16:22.957-04:002012-05-11T12:16:22.957-04:00Cold Comfort Farm is worth a read - it deserves it...Cold Comfort Farm is worth a read - it deserves it's classic status, but I really liked 'Nightingale Wood' as well - it's a classic cinderella story, quite light and fluffy (forgive me if you've already read it) but fun and with some lovely descriptions of spring time.Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-67989710122860420662012-05-10T10:49:38.007-04:002012-05-10T10:49:38.007-04:00I so appreciate you sharing your opinion and since...I so appreciate you sharing your opinion and sincerity. If there is a book out there with universal appeal and not one negative review then I haven't heard of it! My sense of humour is definitely more in tune with that of the English but there is no degree in English I'm afraid. Perhaps a good bit of CCF will go over my head as well so watch this space and one day you'll find out which side of the fence I fall on, thanks for stopping by!Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-32800503072256583562012-05-10T10:39:51.712-04:002012-05-10T10:39:51.712-04:00There are a handful of copies at my favourite shop...There are a handful of copies at my favourite shop in Toronto so next time we're there I will grab one. Don't you just love books that have you laughing out loud, Rachel? There is a section in 'The Clothes They Stood Up In' by Alan Bennett that had me laughing so hard I couldn't see the print for tears...which was really frustrating let me tell you!Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-13382029373160079532012-05-10T10:32:50.095-04:002012-05-10T10:32:50.095-04:00What a wonderful clip! I really enjoyed the panel...What a wonderful clip! I really enjoyed the panel and have saved that site to my favourites so I can go back and and discover some other great reads. Wonder how many times a reference to what's in the woodshed has gone completely over my head? Thanks very much, Pam!Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-26824530716551546572012-05-10T10:16:27.652-04:002012-05-10T10:16:27.652-04:00This is just the sort of reassurance I was looking...This is just the sort of reassurance I was looking for, thank you! I can't begin to imagine the sorts of feelings, not to mention terror, that writers must feel when they put forward a work of writing. The next decent copy of Cold Comfort Farm I stumble across will be mine, thanks for stopping by!Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-74589025531409007972012-05-10T10:12:15.125-04:002012-05-10T10:12:15.125-04:00I think it was Fleur Fisher who said it best. Whi...I think it was Fleur Fisher who said it best. While she was reading Nightingale Wood she was happy enough but when she wasn't she didn't miss it..or something to that effect. That is exactly how I felt about NW and the other two books by Gibbons that I have read. Who knows, it may just be the perfect book for a certain mood one day so don't let us put you off, Claire!Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-51720296092049958672012-05-10T10:08:56.398-04:002012-05-10T10:08:56.398-04:00I am thrilled to mention a book that you're no...I am thrilled to mention a book that you're not longing to read and can't get hold of, Mystica. My heart breaks for you when we talk about Persephone titles that barely ever show up on shelves here in Canada much less Sri Lanka! Thanks for sharing your opinion and have a super day.Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-9907559689969633232012-05-10T10:04:17.824-04:002012-05-10T10:04:17.824-04:00When I find myself thinking 'would I like this...When I find myself thinking 'would I like this book better if I were stranded on an island with nothing else to read?', things are not good. But who could possibly resist a three 'brilliants' review?! It is a bit of an iconic book so I'll plow ahead (pun intended). Thanks, Simon!Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-20049815748881485002012-05-10T09:54:31.208-04:002012-05-10T09:54:31.208-04:00A couple of days ago I lucked out in spying a copy...A couple of days ago I lucked out in spying a copy of 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die on a cart at the library. It had just been discarded, lucky me! Cold Comfort Farm has made the list so I'll be picking up a copy. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Mary!Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-57131932098734950892012-05-09T17:33:35.930-04:002012-05-09T17:33:35.930-04:00I hate to be the fly in the ointment, but I really...I hate to be the fly in the ointment, but I really didn't enjoy CCF at all. Perhaps it helps to have a very strong (and fairly recently earned) background in English lit., as she uses a lot of refs to Hardy etc. which went way over my head. I didn't hate it, but I definitely didn't see it as a masterpiece, and in fact, it has steered me away from any of her other works. I would say that if this one didn't strike your fancy, then CCF might fall flat as well. <br /><br />However, this is one person's opinion... :-}Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-49732952610820266762012-05-09T16:38:36.995-04:002012-05-09T16:38:36.995-04:00Oh she was a one hit wonder, Darlene. Cold Comfort...Oh she was a one hit wonder, Darlene. Cold Comfort Farm is magnificent - you'll roll around laughing! Read it next!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-51888937706853770992012-05-09T06:40:18.981-04:002012-05-09T06:40:18.981-04:00Australian TV has a book club called The First ABC...Australian TV has a book club called The First ABC Book Club that airs, you guessed it, on ABC TV on the first Tuesday of the month at 10 pm. Last year they reviewed Cold Comfort Farm and as I remember all of them really enjoyed it. You can read their review and watch the 10 min. segment if you like on: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/firsttuesday/s3237559.htm<br />I never miss this show. It's lost of fun. Happy page turning, PamTravellin' Penguin - Pamhttp://travellinpenguin.blogspot.com.aunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-27886796907697357182012-05-09T04:33:25.308-04:002012-05-09T04:33:25.308-04:00I've read several of her books and none is a p...I've read several of her books and none is a patch on <i>Cold Comfort Farm</i>.<br />Sad when a novelist writes one classic and the rest of her work doesn't measure up, but it's true in Gibbons' case.callmemadamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359300308013419608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4035650454978982433.post-962564937563766942012-05-08T23:56:23.734-04:002012-05-08T23:56:23.734-04:00This does sound rather frustrating; it's never...This does sound rather frustrating; it's never a good sign when you find yourself wishing the book had had a better editor! I've yet to read any of Gibbons' books beyond <i>Cold Comfort Farm</i>, though I've been sufficiently warned that nothing else is quite so good. Still, I've got <i>Nightingale Wood</i> sitting on my shelf and will get around to it some day.Claire (The Captive Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07430380065718826213noreply@blogger.com