Storm in the Village

This is my third Miss Read book, and I find her work intriguing. There is a lightness almost of meringue that I expect in books where nothing goes wrong and there are no social issues to be grappled with, and where I end up a little choked at times by the twee perfection of it all. In Miss Read's books, almost without the reader noticing them at first, issues do abound. They are part and parcel of the whole cloth of village life.

"Storm in the Village" involves a threat by government to take over farmland for a housing development, an uninformed romantic impulsiveness that threatens a young teacher, and the difficulties faced by a poor child in a family where the father spends too much money on drink. No one is eviscerated, problems are show more solved more easily than in real life, but it is remarkable nevertheless that Miss Read manages to touch thoughtfully on the difficult matters that intrude on our lives while maintaining the calming tone her books were intended to create. She may be safe, but she is not maudlin.

Miss Read writes fine prose. Intimate details are sprinkled lightly across the pages with a baker's judicious hand. I'm delighted to read that the stove was kept going at night by burning fine coal dampened with tea leaves. But I never feel over-burdened with descriptions. I'm brightly aware of my surroundings, delight in the author's observations, and am buoyed along by them through the story which meanders, but never wanders lost.

Once again, an enjoyable read. show less

This one made me want to move to Fairacre and live in a little thatched cottage. Another lovely little tale of village denizens living their lives, all entangled, all fairly aligned. Mrs. Pringle stomps through, hilariously dour. She's fast becoming my favorite character, though the dear Doctor runs a close second.

These books are like a bowl of macaroni and cheese on a night full of sleet and bluster. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

I had suspected that I would love the Fairacre novels as much as Miss Read's other series, Thrush Green. However, these novels are even better!

In this third volume in the series, the village of Fairacre braces itself to oppose a proposed housing estate, while Miss Read's assistant, Miss Jackson, puts her job and reputation at risk over a womanizing man. How will it all end? Unlike Thrush Green, where the happy ending is preordained, in Storm in the Village, there is a real sense of suspense -- particularly with regard to the lovesick and foolish Miss Jackson.

While still cozy, they portray a more realistic view of village life in the 1950s, complete with adultery, a privileged harridan, wife and child abuse, unwed mothers, irascible show more figures, and a silly overwrought young woman intent on throwing it all away on a scalawag. The spinster schoolteacher, Miss Read, provides a sharp albeit somewhat sentimental social commentary on the joys and foibles of village life.

Who knew? Fairacre is even more enjoyable than Thrush Green, which was sometimes much too idealized. I've already ordered the next Fairacre novel, Miss Clare Remembers. I can hardly wait. show less

There are plans for a large housing estate to be built between the villages of Fairacre and Beech Green for workers at an atomic station. The villagers are appalled.

I loved the background picture of life in Fairacre but couldn't join wholeheartedly in the rather NIMBY-ish attitudes displayed in the main story. Yes, I want the Fairacre way of life to be preserved, though of course from the perspective of the present I know that in 1958 huge changes must be coming whatever happens. But the atomic station workers must live somewhere. So many parallels between then and current issues of immigration, Brexit etc.

Storm in the Village by Miss Read deals with both village and personal troubles. Fairacre and it’s neighbour Beech Green are battling to save a beautiful piece of farmland from the planners who are thinking of building a large housing development. This housing development would change both villages forever and village school headmistress, Miss Read is dreading the changes that this would bring about. But closer to home, Miss Read’s new assistant teacher, Hillary Jackson has developed an unwise attachment to unsuitable man, and someone needs to help nip this relationship in the bud.

The book chronicles a year of village life and the passing of the seasons along with the changes that nature brings about envelopes the reader in the show more timeless format of this series. We catch up with the familiar characters as they go about their day-to-day activities and follow the school year with Miss Read and her pupils.

Storm in the Village is the third book in the series and I find these books to be great comfort reads. show less

Book 3 of the Fairacre Chronicles. This was my favorite Miss Read so far; the wonderful wit and humor was in clear evidence. The Village is threatened with the development of a new housing estate on their doorstep and villagers raise up against it while dealing with everyday life of their town.

The major conflict of this novel is the threatened new development that would bring great upheaval to the town. There is nothing particularly momentous in this story, though lots of beautiful scenes.