Reader Reviews

I thought it might be nice to have a place where we could post links to our off-site reviews of Viragos we've read. Here's my adoring review of Naomi Mitchison's Travel Light.

'Adoring' is the exact description! I can picture you with your Viking Red Hair gathering Halla in your strong arms in your cozy dragonish cave.

Thank you Rob, for this very lovely review and for opening up a new forum!

>1 rbhardy3rd: - your review has one major fact incorrect - Travel Light is a children's book, a YA book to be precise. Mitchison wrote a number of books for this market, usually based on Northern European mythology. It certainly reads like one - although that is a vague memory from my childhood.

Perhaps I should have said, not just a children's book. Although, to me, it transcends any such label.

I've only read 2 of my Viragos so far, but here you go:

Frost in May - review

Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont - review

I am itching to read more and hope I can work one in this month.

In a Summer Season by Elizabeth Taylor

My Review

The Shutter of Snow by Emily Holmes Coleman

My Review

Troy Chimneys by Margaret Kennedy

My Review

The Squire by Enid Bagnold

My Review

Rob, your review made me WANT THAT BOOK.

on the hunt...

tiffin: Ditto your review of The Shutter of Snow! And your review of The Squire reminded me of how much I had liked that novel.

Wow I need to read Travel Light now. I have a feeling I must read these reviews slowly so that I moderate my book purchases somewhat.

I know Marensr! I feel like I have to hide my credit card so I won't fly right out to various online booksellers and do serious damage.

Here's my review of Ordinary Families. I was surprised that it only has two-and-a-half stars on its LT page. No one has posted a negative review. I wonder why I liked it so much, and other people seemed to be lukewarm about it.

Great review, Rob! I guess I will dig it up from the Viragos' piles once I am done reading The Song of the Lark, by Willa Cather, which is, incidentally, another Virago!
:-))

Oh, that reminds me! I read Elizabeth and her German Garden last week and loved, loved, loved it! Here's my review.

Good review, lindsacl. You've moved that book to the Must Have That Book category for me.

Just read your review of Ordinary Families Rob and if the narrator made you fall in love with her, much like the one in I Capture the Castle, then that's another Must Have That Book, because I loved the narrative voice in ICtC.

Thanks, both of you for your reviews.

Rob, its definitely moving up in my TBR stack!

lindsacl, excellent review on your blog! And you have reminded me that I must find a copy of Elizabeth and Her German Garden!

Here's my review of Daphne du Maurier's The Infernal World of Branwell Brontë.

As usual, an excellent review, Rob. Thank you!!
:-))

Very fine review! I especially enjoyed reading it because, as I've noted here before, I have been so curious about this book and have long thought of buying a copy. Now I know that I need to pick one up!

If Branwell's rather pathetic life continues to interest you, you may want to read Douglas Martin's novel Branwell. Initially, I found Martin's decision to write the novel in a strongly declarative mode a little disconcerting. It took me a while to relax into his prose and the story but once I did the richness of Martin's language and the power of his characterizations, not just of Branwell but of Charlotte, Emily, and to a lesser degree, Anne, captivated me. It's a really good novel-although not a Virago, of course ;-)

An excellent review, Rob. Very well written and entirely engaging. With the latest celebrations of Daphne du Maurier, the timing of your reading is spot on. There is a festival in Cornwall beginning this Thursday, May 8th. du Maurier Festival. Justine Picardie will be speaking among others.

Marietherese, thank you for suggesting Mr. Martin's novel on the lamentable Branwell. This, too sounds very interesting.

Just catching up here. Rob, your review of Ordinary Families is so lovingly written, I can't help but feel smitten for Lallie myself! I very much admire your style of reading and writing.

Thank you all! And thank you, marietherese, for recommendation of Branwell. I'm also looking forward to Justine Picardie's novel Daphne, for which I could find no touchstone.

#17: excellent review, Rob. But oh what a sad life.

At the risk of overloading you with my reviews, here's one for Kate O'Brien's The Land of Spices.

Keep them coming, Rob. You are not overloading us, but providing great insight into our beloved greencovers.
Thank you, dear friend, it is always a pleasure to read your thoughts.
:-))

What aluva said *nodding sagely*

Rob, you are a intuitive and tender reader and possess a poetic delicacy in conveying your ruminations. I thoroughly enjoy reading you reviews! Thank you for sharing them here. Perhaps someday, you'll grace us with a poem of your own.

Oh yes Rob, I second all the others who enjoy your reviews. They are very thoughtful and well-written. Post as many as you like. My to be read list always exceeds my reading time but I enjoy adding new titles. Yes we'd love to see your poetry.

Well, since you asked...here's a link to my poem "Jane Austen's Toes." :)

I like it!

Excellent, Rob!

That was delightful Rob. I enjoyed it very much.

Rob - A lovely piece of poetry and very thoughtful.

It calls to mind Miss Elizabeth Bennett. She must have had a very comfortable pair of walking shoes for all the cross country walking that she did and never any mention of tired feet.

I also enjoy your reviews.

Lovely poem. Thank you for sharing it.

Rob, that was a good poem. I'm now going to have to reread all of my Austen to be on the look out for body parts! Completely agree about kidneys and intestines.

I've just finished The Return of the Soldier : why isn't it more famous ?
My review is here : http://sibylleskitchensink.blogspot.com/2008/05/cold-comfort-farm-etc.html

(how do I make my link so that you have to click on a word rather than a whole long url ?)

Well, I am trying to say that there is a film of The Return of the Soldier with Glenda Jackson, Julie Christie and Alan Bates.

Here is a tutorial on the type of link that you want.

(Let's try, then : like this ?)

Marise, thanks for telling me, I had no idea ! Do you know if it's any good ?

Happy Belated Birthday, Miss Sibylle! I'm off again to your blog to read more about your lunch with Catherine Delors. How exciting!

p.s. Your link worked!

>40 Sibylle.Night: Sibylle, I haven't seen it, but with that cast I would definitely be willing to take a chance!

And a Happy Belated Birthday from me, too!!

And from me as well, dear Sibylle!!!!
:-))

Miss Mole by E.H. Young

My Review

Replying on posts latest to earliest...

Miss Tiffin, between you and Eurydice, I would be remiss in not inviting Miss Mole for tea sooner!

Marise, I watched Return of the Soldier last night. Oddly enough, I have the DVD of Women in Love here as well which both feature Glenda Jackson and Alan Bates. I have to say, the interpretation of The Return of the Soldier reflected more of the cinema of the time a la Ken Russell. I must look to the book to see if it's a close rendering. Perhaps you can elaborate? On a side note, I was pleasantly surprised to see Ian Holm cast as well.

Sybille-night. Where are you! Hope all is well!

Rob, to write your enchanting poem on what is not mentioned in Miss Austen's books deepens my admiration for your keen perceptions. There is no wonder that you are a poet, as you possess a poet's soul.

Thanks for your kind words, Cate!

I believe Sibylle is in the midst of final exams. I wish there were a way of sending a Virago care package to Paris!:)

#46 What a lovely idea! Just read Sybille's review of my present read The Return of The Soldier and enjoyed her thoughts.

Here's my review of Kate O'Brien's Mary Lavelle. It's rated PG-13!

Oh, this daft addled brain of mine....how did I overlook Sybille's review!

I finally finished Beatrix Lehmann's Rumour of Heaven. Here's my review.

Thank you, Rob! It brought back, and made them clear, the feelings I had when I read the book, many years ago.
:-))

48 & 50: Rob, both of those reviews were excellent. Your review of Mary Lavelle made the hair on my arms stand on end, it was so good. Beautifully written and much appreciated here.

There was a little flurry of interest in Ruth Adam's I'm Not Complaining in another thread. Now, here's my review.

48, 50, 52 -- hear, hear -- excellent review -- I'm so happy to read such thoughtful analysis of one of my favorite authors that doesn't get written about so often!