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thenovelbook's review against another edition
5.0
Hester's husband is stationed in Egypt (World War II is over), and her two children are safely off to boarding school. What is she to do to while away her days? A friend tells her that a woman named Miss Clutterbuck has been forced to turn her family home into a hotel to make ends meet, and she badly needs an assistant. Hester takes up the job, but with many misgivings. This book is a fun look at how she gets to know her eccentric employer, try to patch up the lives of Major Elden and Miss McQueen (an engaged couple for whom things are not going well), and accustom herself to her children growing up.
There is a cute scene where Miss Clutterbuck elects to read aloud to a sewing circle. They fawn over "a scene from Jane Austen," but clearly they are fans in name only, for they fail to recognize that the scene and the characters are absolutely nowhere to be found in the Austen canon. Miss Clutterbuck wrote up the excerpt herself, just for amusement, and because she feels that Jane Austen is too good for the likes of them.
Enjoyed this book--possibly the strongest of the Mrs. Tim books so far. There are only 4 (I think).
There is a cute scene where Miss Clutterbuck elects to read aloud to a sewing circle. They fawn over "a scene from Jane Austen," but clearly they are fans in name only, for they fail to recognize that the scene and the characters are absolutely nowhere to be found in the Austen canon. Miss Clutterbuck wrote up the excerpt herself, just for amusement, and because she feels that Jane Austen is too good for the likes of them.
Enjoyed this book--possibly the strongest of the Mrs. Tim books so far. There are only 4 (I think).
krobart's review against another edition
4.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2021/03/18/review-1631-mrs-tim-gets-a-job/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2021/03/18/review-1631-mrs-tim-gets-a-job/
we_are_all_mad_here26's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
An introduction to the Mrs Tim books was written by Alexander McCall Smith and in it he says, "Some books can be prescribed for anxiety - these are in that category." I could not agree more.
I thoroughly enjoyed Mrs Tim and her very grumpy new boss, Erica Clutterbuck. On the other hand I could have done without the lengthy visit with Tony the womanizer, who does not seem to mind if the woman in question is married to his good friend or not.
I thoroughly enjoyed Mrs Tim and her very grumpy new boss, Erica Clutterbuck. On the other hand I could have done without the lengthy visit with Tony the womanizer, who does not seem to mind if the woman in question is married to his good friend or not.
readbooks_fightpatriarchy's review against another edition
5.0
I adore Mrs. Tim. These books are refreshing despite being written and set well over 50 years ago. The diary style doesn't feel forced like some books written in the style can, and it can make you wish you kept a diary yourself.
quietjenn's review against another edition
5.0
My favorite so far! We are into the post-War years, which is a nice change. As was a shift in location - to a hotel on the border and away from the in's and out's of military/base life. I love the new grumpy old lady owner and the new adventures that Mrs. Tim has as a working lady. Some predictable turn of events, but in the best of ways. And true to form, as soon as I finished it, I started the final volume.
loribeth1961's review
3.0
This third volume in the "Mrs. Tim" series about a British military wife and her family, "Mrs. Tim Gets a Job," was first published in 1947. The war is over, but Tim is still in Egypt. Children Bryan and Betty are both off at boarding school, and the lease on the family's home is being terminated by the landlord. Where will Hester go and what will she do? Fate intervenes in the form of a job offer, helping the prickly Miss Erica Clutterbuck -- a friend of Hester's friend Grace -- run a small hotel out of her ancestral home in Scotland.
Like most of D.E. Stevenson's novels, this is a "comfort read" -- short on plot and long on characterization, humour and wonderful descriptions. I enjoyed catching up with Hester and seeing her in this new setting, facing new challenges. Erica Clutterbuck (what a name!) is a wonderful character whose bark turns out to be worse than her bite. And Tim & Hester's friend Tony Morley (now a Brigadier, and still obviously carrying a torch for Hester) drops by for an unexpected brief visit.
We're also privy to Hester's thoughts and some interesting discussions on a number of different subjects. For example, Hester finds herself debating the American vs British definition of happiness with an American hotel guest (which several Goodreads reviewers have commented on -- is happiness a right or a privilege?).
Unfortunately, I felt the book sort of petered out toward the end, with a brief and somewhat unsatisfying visit from Bryan and a rather abrupt conclusion that had me thinking, "That's it??" This probably knocked a few points off my Goodreads rating. Three stars. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable read from one of my favourite authors.
Like most of D.E. Stevenson's novels, this is a "comfort read" -- short on plot and long on characterization, humour and wonderful descriptions. I enjoyed catching up with Hester and seeing her in this new setting, facing new challenges. Erica Clutterbuck (what a name!) is a wonderful character whose bark turns out to be worse than her bite. And Tim & Hester's friend Tony Morley (now a Brigadier, and still obviously carrying a torch for Hester) drops by for an unexpected brief visit.
We're also privy to Hester's thoughts and some interesting discussions on a number of different subjects. For example, Hester finds herself debating the American vs British definition of happiness with an American hotel guest (which several Goodreads reviewers have commented on -- is happiness a right or a privilege?).
Unfortunately, I felt the book sort of petered out toward the end, with a brief and somewhat unsatisfying visit from Bryan and a rather abrupt conclusion that had me thinking, "That's it??" This probably knocked a few points off my Goodreads rating. Three stars. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable read from one of my favourite authors.
readingwithcats's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Racial slurs
A character calls the faux fortune teller a “greasy g****y”ejderwood's review
4.0
"Breathes there a man with soul so dead that he can refrain from exploring a ruined castle?"
Absolutely not and an excellent point was made.
Also, Tony, Hester, and Tim absolutely retire together to a nice place in the country and have all their friends to visit all the time and Betty and Bryan live just a couple of cottages over with Sheila and Hedgehog.
Absolutely not and an excellent point was made.
Also, Tony, Hester, and Tim absolutely retire together to a nice place in the country and have all their friends to visit all the time and Betty and Bryan live just a couple of cottages over with Sheila and Hedgehog.