Please can you help me find this book?

[PinkysEars]

I'm driving myself mad with frustration because I can't remember a book/author. Please can you help me?

It's about a woman who moves to a small English village (possibly because her marriage is over, not sure about that bit) and starts to do up a house. She finds some sort of household book that is contemporaneous with the house and follows a few of the instructions. I don't remember many examples, but one is definitely making tallow dips.

To start with the villagers are quite interested in her "finds" but then she creates a ruckus/offends them by making them feel as though she's actually patronising them.

I read a few books by this woman and liked them all, but I'm damned if I can remember her name.

Please help me: I've googled the hell out of it and I'm getting nowhere.

No idea, sorry, but I’m curious about it now.

What sort of genre/cover - was it a commercial fiction sort of book, what they call “women’s fiction”? Or more literary?

More literary I think, definitely not "women's fiction".

There may have been another one by the same writer, which was about a woman author who didn't go on her own book launch/tour, instead sending someone else who looked the part. That's an even dimmer memory and may be an entirely different author. [I appreciate that's not terribly helpful.]

Any idea when it was written - just by approximate decade?

It will be 1990s.

It has a bit of a Penelope Fitzgerald feeling (in my head...) but it isn't her.

Thank you for answering me by the way: really appreciate it.

I did a search on keywords “tallow” and “old house” on the ABE Books bookfinder, which suggested The Turnpike House.

You are kind! Thank you, but that's not it.

Definitely a female author and I'm fairly sure also British. Dammit I can even see the colour of the cover. I have to hope that I'll wake up with a start at 3am having suddenly remembered.

Thank you so much for trying to put me out of my misery. There's something particularly irksome about a title/author that refuse to be pinned down.

I haven’t read Joanna Trollope, so I don’t know how literary (or not!) she is - but she is quite 1990s and village-settings-y. Could it be her?

Rings a bell with me but more of a modern novel- women’s fiction like Catherine Alliot or similar

Or what’s she called? Driving me mad now

I know this book I think, it's someone who I read because it sounded like another author I liked, but wasn't but was OK.

Am trying to think.of the author ahe sounded similar to, possibly Lisa Jewell, off to google.

It sounds a bit like Victoria Clayton but if so it isn't one I have read (recommend her though if you like that kind of story).

This particular story isn't ringing any bells, but could it be something by Jill Mansell?

No, definitely not Trollope.

Driving myself potty, but comforted slightly by tormenting you as well Whoops. Misery loves company.

Could it be Lucy Diamond maybe? I think at one point I got the 2 confused and it would be the 90s as that's when I first read Lisa Jewell.

None of the above I'm afraid. Although enjoying (and understanding) the confusion between Lucy Diamond & Lisa Jewell.

I think people are suggesting these authors because the sketched-out plot sounds like a typical commercial fiction story, but op is sure it’s not someone like that, so ... hmm. I’m just trying to think of authors to suggest.

Penelope Lively
AS Byatt

umm ...

Ooooh, I remember the tallow candles - think they made the house smoky? - and the neighbours thinking she’s off her head! Think the woman in the book was called Elizabeth? Off to do some searching....

Mrs Fytton’s Country Life by Mavis Cheek?

Yes 64, you've got completely the right feel there I think.

I've just been through the Costa prize short-lists (back when it was the Whitbread) and it's taken me back in time in a rather alarming way. Isn't it amazing how books do that? Remembering where you were when you read something, or a particular phase in your life when you read groups of authors together.

So I've completely narrowed it down () to when I was reading Margaret Atwood, Anne Tyler and Kate Atkinson. But I still can't remember the name of the bloody book.

Oh my god Gaviscon you complete genius. That's it!! Thank you.

Thank you everyone for helping me. I can sleep tonight.

My pleasure! That might be the single most useful thing I’ve done today

I want to read it now, too .

Mumsnet is a marvellous place isn't it? All questions answered, no matter how obscure.

I really recommend Mavis Cheek (now I can remember her name...) Screaming, really good reads.

Oh I’m so pleased you have it! Well done gaviscon

And thank you 64 for sticking with me.