dixiet's review against another edition
4.0
The title is a little misleading; this is a book of short stories, only one of which takes place at Cold Comfort Farm. It isn't one of the best, in my opinion, but many of the stories in this collection are excellent.
leoniepeonie's review against another edition
4.0
I thought there was a lot to be found in this collection and I loved the way Gibbons captured the 30s and 40s so wholly, while picking at different bits of society and its mores. Her exploration of women in society was really interesting throughout the whole book. For the most part, I really enjoyed the way the stories were written and it was genuinely FUN reading a new one each day because of how they all had their little surprises and bits of humour secreted inside. Some of them had hints of tragedy about them which I found poignant, and I had a bloomin good time reading it.
angelica_jardinerica's review against another edition
4.0
Possibly wrongly titled as only two of the stories are set at Christmas, it's still a recommended read. It presents a snapshot of 1930s middle-class England, whilst including some timeless, universal themes and reflections, gilded with the humourous Gibbons touch so characteristic of CCF.
jodarroch4's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
lolalu's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bgg616's review against another edition
5.0
This book was such a surprise! I expected some short stories about England in the 1930's that were related to Christmas. What I discovered were stories that explored the intricacies of life in England as it moved from the Edwardian Age into the Modern Era. Gibbons explores deep themes - the meaning of life, the role of women, relationships versus isolation in her stories. It is a cliché to describe stories in a collection such as this as gems, but each of these stories truly is. I liked every single one. Alexander McCall Smith wrote the introduction to this edition. He compliments Gibbons but reserves higher praise for her contemporary Barbara Pym. I don't think a comparison is needed or even fair. Gibbons work in this collection shows she stands the test of time, and richly deserves a contemporary readership.
pikaharlow98's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75