alineh's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
5.0
Barbara Pym started writing this, her first novel, in her twenties. Basing the characters on herself and her sister and friends, she placed them, middle-aged, in a parochial setting in the countryside.
Sisters Belinda (Pym) and Harriet (Pym's sister Hilary) are confirmed spinsters sharing a house and a life filled with gardening, church activities and endless speculation about other people's comings and goings. Belinda carries a torch for the Archdeacon, who is unhappily married to prickly Agatha, while Harriet regularly turns down proposals from a sweet Italian count. Agatha's departure to a German spa, and the arrival of a famous librarian (back then, famous librarians walked the earth) and a bishop from Africa shake things up. There is so much for Belinda to worry about: her inappropriate attachment to the Archdeacon (who is as arrogant as real-life Henry), the risk of Harriet being lured into marriage by one of the many suitors skulking about, the proper lunch for the visiting seamstress (lesson learnt: if the cauliflower served contains a huge caterpillar, the guest may be compensated with a boiled egg).
A delightful, funny, sharp and thoroughly entertaining comedy. I am in awe of this woman. She wrote most of this in her early twenties, and already possessed so much wit, smarts and knowledge of human nature. Her satirical eye gently observes the peculiarities of her fellow men. Here the bishop shares his African experience with the parishioners, singing and playing native instruments:
'Imagine yourselves taking part in a Mbawawa wedding'.
'I do not feel myself equal to that', whispered Edith to Belinda. 'Death would have been a better choice, or even birth'. The voice of the Bishop rang out through the hall in song. Many handkerchiefs were taken out hastily, especially among the younger members of the audience, for the noise which filled the hall was quite unexpected. Even Belinda, who had heard the Bishop sing as a curate, was a little unprepared. And yet perhaps the Mbawawa did have voices like that and it was wrong to feel one wanted to laugh.
After this ordeal , it is time for the next instrument, the characteristic Hmwoq:
Everyone looked with interest at the curiously shaped object which had had now appeared on the screen. It was certainly a very peculiar shape and there was more giggling from the back of the hall. It could hardly be what it seemed to be, thought Belinda doubtfully, though one knew that among primitive peoples one might find almost anything. The anthropologist who went among them must go with an open mind... The Bishop turned towards the screen and prodded it uncertainly. Then he advanced toward the edge of the platform and said in a loud clear voice, 'I think that slide is upside down'.
Ah, the British.
Sisters Belinda (Pym) and Harriet (Pym's sister Hilary) are confirmed spinsters sharing a house and a life filled with gardening, church activities and endless speculation about other people's comings and goings. Belinda carries a torch for the Archdeacon, who is unhappily married to prickly Agatha, while Harriet regularly turns down proposals from a sweet Italian count. Agatha's departure to a German spa, and the arrival of a famous librarian (back then, famous librarians walked the earth) and a bishop from Africa shake things up. There is so much for Belinda to worry about: her inappropriate attachment to the Archdeacon (who is as arrogant as real-life Henry), the risk of Harriet being lured into marriage by one of the many suitors skulking about, the proper lunch for the visiting seamstress (lesson learnt: if the cauliflower served contains a huge caterpillar, the guest may be compensated with a boiled egg).
A delightful, funny, sharp and thoroughly entertaining comedy. I am in awe of this woman. She wrote most of this in her early twenties, and already possessed so much wit, smarts and knowledge of human nature. Her satirical eye gently observes the peculiarities of her fellow men. Here the bishop shares his African experience with the parishioners, singing and playing native instruments:
'Imagine yourselves taking part in a Mbawawa wedding'.
'I do not feel myself equal to that', whispered Edith to Belinda. 'Death would have been a better choice, or even birth'. The voice of the Bishop rang out through the hall in song. Many handkerchiefs were taken out hastily, especially among the younger members of the audience, for the noise which filled the hall was quite unexpected. Even Belinda, who had heard the Bishop sing as a curate, was a little unprepared. And yet perhaps the Mbawawa did have voices like that and it was wrong to feel one wanted to laugh.
After this ordeal , it is time for the next instrument, the characteristic Hmwoq:
Everyone looked with interest at the curiously shaped object which had had now appeared on the screen. It was certainly a very peculiar shape and there was more giggling from the back of the hall. It could hardly be what it seemed to be, thought Belinda doubtfully, though one knew that among primitive peoples one might find almost anything. The anthropologist who went among them must go with an open mind... The Bishop turned towards the screen and prodded it uncertainly. Then he advanced toward the edge of the platform and said in a loud clear voice, 'I think that slide is upside down'.
Ah, the British.
msliz's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Nobody but Barbara Pym can write such hilarious scenes in such a quiet way. Two spinster sisters, Harriet and Belinda Bede, live in a small English village and do good work in their parish. Harriet in particular makes a special interest of doting on curates. Belinda is the observer; and most of the story is told in third person from her point of view. Themes of marriage, love, and friendship deepen the simple village narrative. And the sisters' domestic adventures are wickedly funny. Wonderful book.
phettberg's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
abroadwell's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite of her works. The sisters at the center of the novel (Harriet and Belinda) seemed to me fairly unlikable -- extremely concerned with tiny class distinctions of dress, speech, etc. The men who pass in and out of their lives seem like ciphers to me, so that I could hardly remember the differences between the curate, the archdeacon, and the bishop.
kez's review
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
sonia_reppe's review against another edition
4.0
This comedy of manners is the second Barbara Pym book I've read. Lots of church humor, good characters. This is about a "spinster", fortyish, who contains her love for the married archdeacon whom she has loved since college but he was snatched by Agatha.
"Her love was like a warm, comfortable garment, bedsocks, perhaps, or even woollen combinations; certainly something without glamour or romance. All the same, it was rather nice to think that Henry might prefer her to Agatha...It was one of the advantages of being the one he hadn't married that one could be in a position to imagine such things."
"Her love was like a warm, comfortable garment, bedsocks, perhaps, or even woollen combinations; certainly something without glamour or romance. All the same, it was rather nice to think that Henry might prefer her to Agatha...It was one of the advantages of being the one he hadn't married that one could be in a position to imagine such things."
_dunno_'s review against another edition
4.0
Seriously, do yourselves a favour and read Barbara already.
ashleyjean6's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to love this more. It had all the right ingredients; a small English village set in the mid-century, curates & spinsters, tea, love thwarted. But the characters remained shallow, the plot stagnant. It's harmless, but really more mindless. Such a shame. I think I will try her another time, a different book. But as it stands now, not overly impressed. It would be just the ticket if you're looking for a slow, retro, anglophile read without much depth there.