Does/did anyone else like Miss Read's books?

[CambridgeBlue]

I was sad to discover that she died recently. I am enjoying her last book (a collection of memoirs complied by her daughter) but it's a shame to think there won't be any more although 'her' last fiction book was actually written by her editor and was a bit rubbish.

I have read everything she's ever written, many of them several times. I don't think anyone could call it great literature but it's lovely gentle reading with some beautiful descriptions of the English countryside and some interesting historical stuff. I just wondered if anyone else was a fan?

[NCISaddict]

I love them, have downloaded some to my kindle as my hard copies have fallen apart. They are the sort of thing I go back to when I'm not feeling very well and need comfort.

[emmelinelucas]

I re-read them all every winter, in fact I replaced some last week, as they are extremely tatty.
They are so gentle, but with some reminders of how life could be in the idyllically remembered country villages. I always felt so desperately sorry for poor little Joe Coggs.
I like her short stories, too.

[ancientbuchanan]

Yes, I do, though they are highly sentimentalised.

The day Mrs Coggs fought back and when Joe got school dinners was great.

[ShoeJunkie]

Yes, I really enjoy re-reading them. I remember one of the last times was when I has just started mat leave and was waiting for DS to arrive.

Sad to hear she died recently.

[Chottie]

I love them too, her wry observations on family life and country ways are a balm to the soul. RIP Miss Read.

[WipsGlitter]

I used to love them

[womma]

My mum loved these books. She died 25 years ago. I'm obviously going to have to read them all for myself now, so glad I found this thread.

[maudpringle]

They are a safe haven for me, my ultimate comfort read .
Can you tell my favourite character?

[Bonsoir]

I loved them as a child/tween.

[NCISaddict]

I used to buy them for my Mum too womma, she wasn't a great reader but enjoyed them. They also remind me of stories my Dad used to tell of growing up in a Cambridgeshire village in the 1920's.

[CambridgeBlue]

I discovered them when I was at school - they first caught my attention on the bookshelf because my maiden name was Read so seeing 'Miss Read' on a book was in effect seeing my own name! I also grew up in a Cambridgeshire village.

I agree they are the ultimate comfort read and great for this time of year - I am looking forward to getting the Christmassy ones out soon for yet another re-read.

Love your username maud, hope you are a little less belligerent than your namesake :)

[NCISaddict]

I love the Christmas ones. Will make one of them my Christmas eve read. Thank you for reminding me.

[Mignonette]

I started reading them some years ago when Paula Yates recommended them. Yes, that is how old I am .

I agree w/ Cambridge that they are particularly timely at Christmas making me nostalgic for something I never had. Along with Alison Uttley's 'A Country Child' and Susan Hill's 'Magic Apple Tree Cottage' they are my comfort reading.

[SolidGold]

They are very comforting and nostalgic. I particularly love the Christmas ones. Glad to hear they are available on kindle, I will have a look for them.

[PeterParkerSays]

I read all the Fairacre ones when I was breastfeeding DS. They were wonderful and so cosy.

I hadn't realised that she'd died.

Oddly enough, I never got on with her other books, just the Fairacre ones.

[ExcuseTypos]

I used to love them. Haven't re read them but am going to dig them out and do just that!

[ObtuseAngel]

Is it the type of book that you have to have read them as a child/teen in order to enjoy them as an adult? (I remember the bitter disappointment when I read I Capture the Castle as an adult after strong recommendation from people who had read it in their early teens.)

[NCISaddict]

I don't think you have to read them as a child, I only read them because I read so much that I'd gone through the childrens section in the library by the time I was 9 and these were 'nice' books in the adult section that I could understand. I've since read more from the series and loved them just as much.

[CambridgeBlue]

I think if you accept them for what they are, and are aware that they're not especially highbrow, then they are just as good for adults as children.

How funny Mignonette - The Magic Apple Tree is one of my all-time favourite books and I haven't read A County Child but it's on my wish list, you have persuaded me to buy it now!

PeterParker the Fairacre ones are my favourite too. The Thrush Green series is a bit more about the characters rather than the countryside and changing seasons which feature more in the others. I love the more historical ones too - The Caxley Chronicles is a lovely read, as is Miss Clare Remembers.

[maudpringle]

Oh I love Miss Clare Remembers! I found her whole 'story' fascinating.
I too enjoyed the Fairacre series the best, though the Caxley/ Thrush Green are also interesting I never felt the same connection to the characters.
Bob and Alice Willet are my grandparents to a tee. Wonderful, wonderful stories.

[emmelinelucas]

Oh yes - its true that you were either a Fairacre fan or a Caxley/Thrush Green girl.
At the same time as I borrowed Miss Read books from the library I chose the Madeleine books by Mrs Robert Henry and the Molly Weir autobiographies.
Miss Clare Remembers is one of my favourite books.
Reading -

[CambridgeBlue]

Have to say, I am really enjoying the new book - lots of unpublished Fairacre stuff and beautiful descriptive writing. Well worth getting IMO, it's Miss Read at her best :).

[gwenniebee]

I loved them when I was a young teen. I'm now a primary teacher in a little village school and rather resent Miss Read for making it sound so idyllic! I also blame Gervaise Phinn (sp?) for my poor career choice!