Phyllida Law

I had the privilege of having one of the sweetest, most considerate, most understanding mother-in laws that anyone could ever want. She was a precious gift... and she kept on giving for the 12 years I knew and loved her. When I saw this book, I thought, “How in the world did this author, that I had never heard of, known my mother-in-law"? I just knew I had to meet and get to know the woman, that the description said was as important to this author, as mine was to me. I learned something show more about the author that I didn’t know. She is Dame Phyllida Law and best known as the mother of Oscar-winner... Emma Thompson. She began jotting notes about things her mother-in law did and said shortly after she married the woman’s son. The lady went into service at 14. She baked... knitted..., dusted... polished brass...sewed... and helped around the household until nearly the very end of her life. Law would comment not only on day-to-day household matters...but also on family gossip...funny happenings... and the quest for the discontinued items that her mother-in-law hoped to get. It’s a daughter-in-law's memorial and tribute to a woman that was everything beautiful in her life that was way too short... and was “more” than she ever had to be. show less

Despite being a noted actress in her own right, Dame Phyllida Law is probably best known as the mother of Oscar-winner Emma Thompson, but, in my heart, she will always be the loving daughter-in-law of Annie Thompson. Law’s mother-in-law lived with the Thompsons for 17 years, and this book makes the relationship between the two sound so loving and wonderful.

Law began scribbling notes when her mother-in-law became increasingly deaf. At a flip suggestion of her husband, fellow actor Eric show more Thompson, Law turned the notes into a book, for which many readers will thank her!

Mrs. Thompson, who went into service at 14, was baking, knitting, dusting, polishing brass, sewing and helping around the Thompson household until nearly the very end of her life. Law would comment on day-to-day household matters, yes, but on family gossip, funny happenings, and the quest for the discontinued items that her mother-in-law hoped to get. This slim book will delight readers with its warmth and humor. show less

Mr and Mrs Brown have a huge family of incredibly naughty children. They had once been fortunate enough to acquire the services of Nurse Matilda, who had transformed the children into models of good behaviour. But now the children have slipped back into their wicked Tora has put glue in the sandwiches - Emma has made a chocolate cake out of mud - David has put a toad in the milk jug - and Tim is tying Nanny's shoelaces to her chair! Their stay in London with their Great Aunt Adelaide seems show more set for disaster - until the arrival of Nurse Matilda show less

Several years ago, I greatly enjoyed Law’s Notes to My Mother-in-Law. A sweet & short memoir of sorts, written in the titular notes by the author to her mother-in-law, who was hard of hearing and yet wanted the day’s news and arrangements, it was a short and charming read. Both women sounded like people I’d like to know, and Phyllida’s respect and affection for her mother-in-law were evident.

In How Many Camels Law recounts the final months of caring for her mother, who suffered from show more Alzheimer’s, in the tiny Scottish village of Ardentinny – with the help of friends, local villagers, and her two daughters, actresses Emma and Sophie Thompson. Amazon says that running through the account are “anecdotes, memories and legends that form the fabric of every family.”

Unfortunately when I tried to read it a couple of years ago, I got no further than the first chapter and just couldn’t make sense of it. That probably says more about my state of mind at the time than it does about the book. show less