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?

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.

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.

Yes, I do, though they are highly sentimentalised.

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

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.

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

I used to love them

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.

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

I loved them as a child/tween.

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.

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 :)

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.)

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.

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.

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.

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 -

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 :).

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!