kmg365's review against another edition
3.0
Three and a half stars.
I noticed that many Goodreads reviewers mentioned that they did not like this one as well as the first two books. So of course, I liked this one better than the first two. The pacing is faster, and we meet many new characters, instead of the same two or three people back home. My favorite part is when she takes a side trip to Canada, where an acquaintance presents her with the gift of a handgun. Think about that for a minute. She tours America for a few months, and it's not until she goes to Canada that someone hands her a gun. How times change!
I think I'm committed to finishing out the series at this point. The Provincial Lady in Wartime appears to be readily available in audio, but The Provincial Lady in Russia (which seems to have several alternate titles) is not. The idea of her traipsing around Soviet Russia is fascinating, to say the least, so I may have to carve out the time to read a print version.
ashleylm's review against another edition
4.0
I just adore these. They're like stumbling across those expensive little bites of chocolate, only mistakenly priced at $2.99 for 24. There's no plot to speak of—and I can't tell if these are barely disguised autobiographical stories, or mostly fabricated imaginative digressions—and don't really care.
Have you read Beverley Nichol's? It's a bit like that. And because of our protagonist's candour, and the author's excellent writing, this is as fresh as ever. There is a lot of fiction from 100 years ago that's completely unreadable, but this person is recognizably human, real, and as alive as you or I. And it's funny, and funny (in writing) is so rare and precious. I read a lot of amusing, charming, sweet, whimsical, etc., but that's not the same as actually funny. (Nothing will hit the high point of Joe Keenan's Blue Heaven or E.F. Benson's Lucia series, but this comes near).
But if you don't know all that already, you haven't read her first book. And you may as well start there. But this is an entirely satisfactory follow-up.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful.)
Have you read Beverley Nichol's? It's a bit like that. And because of our protagonist's candour, and the author's excellent writing, this is as fresh as ever. There is a lot of fiction from 100 years ago that's completely unreadable, but this person is recognizably human, real, and as alive as you or I. And it's funny, and funny (in writing) is so rare and precious. I read a lot of amusing, charming, sweet, whimsical, etc., but that's not the same as actually funny. (Nothing will hit the high point of Joe Keenan's Blue Heaven or E.F. Benson's Lucia series, but this comes near).
But if you don't know all that already, you haven't read her first book. And you may as well start there. But this is an entirely satisfactory follow-up.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful.)
lagobond's review against another edition
5.0
Endlessly entertaining and fabulously funny. I just love Delafield's writing style so much. Her observations of social intercourse are clever, eloquent, exquisitely witty and at times downright snarky, and frequently hilarious.
I get the impression that the author probably had not visited America prior to writing this book, as most of what she writes about the places visited appears to have come from tourist brochures or books. But that's of course not the draw of this little gem... it's all about the frequently absurd polite interactions we force ourselves to have, in order to be considered civilized persons.
Yes there's a lot of repetition, a lot of talk about dinner parties and dresses and whatnot, so if you're looking for excitement and action this isn't the book for you. But if you you enjoy funny (and fairly ageless) social commentary, give The Provincial Lady a try. (Start with book 1: [b:Diary of a Provincial Lady|249823|Diary of a Provincial Lady|E.M. Delafield|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408938782l/249823._SX50_.jpg|242076])
I get the impression that the author probably had not visited America prior to writing this book, as most of what she writes about the places visited appears to have come from tourist brochures or books. But that's of course not the draw of this little gem... it's all about the frequently absurd polite interactions we force ourselves to have, in order to be considered civilized persons.
Yes there's a lot of repetition, a lot of talk about dinner parties and dresses and whatnot, so if you're looking for excitement and action this isn't the book for you. But if you you enjoy funny (and fairly ageless) social commentary, give The Provincial Lady a try. (Start with book 1: [b:Diary of a Provincial Lady|249823|Diary of a Provincial Lady|E.M. Delafield|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408938782l/249823._SX50_.jpg|242076])
bookpossum's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this next episode of the doings of the Provincial Lady, though not quite as much as I did the first two volumes. I'm not sure whether this was because the freshness was wearing off the idea, or because her trip to America (she ventures up into Canada as well as to various cities in the US) took us away from the funniness of the doings in the village. What was delightful was the kindness and hospitality of the many people who welcomed her in the course of her book tour.
She still has her moments though. In a discussion about English food, a young man called Taylor said that "he has suffered a good deal from English cabbage. Savouries, on the other hand, are excellent. They are eaten, he surprisingly adds, with a special little knife and fork, usually of gold. Can only suppose that Taylor, when in England, moves exclusively in ducal circles, and hastily resolve never in any circumstances to ask him to my own house where savouries, if any, are eaten with perfectly ordinary electro-plate."
Worth reading.
She still has her moments though. In a discussion about English food, a young man called Taylor said that "he has suffered a good deal from English cabbage. Savouries, on the other hand, are excellent. They are eaten, he surprisingly adds, with a special little knife and fork, usually of gold. Can only suppose that Taylor, when in England, moves exclusively in ducal circles, and hastily resolve never in any circumstances to ask him to my own house where savouries, if any, are eaten with perfectly ordinary electro-plate."
Worth reading.
quietjenn's review against another edition
4.0
It was particularly entertaining to see Delafield's take on American cities, circa the early twentieth century and the literary landscapes thereof. I still think the first book in the series is the best, but I'm highly enjoying my time spent with our provincial lady.
austen_to_zafon's review against another edition
4.0
I have enjoyed all the Provincial Lady books. In this one, it was fun to see a Brit's impression of 1930's America during her visits to Boston, New York and Niagara Falls.
jessreadthis's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a delight to read. I think it might rank as my second favorite in the series. Just a tad behind the first which made me fall in love with the Provincial Lady (PL).
This novel shows us America through the eyes of the Provincial Lady. We embark on a whirlwind press tour with a quick stop in Canada. I enjoyed her adventures and hopeful wish to see Louisa May Alcott's home. So many scenes made me laugh out loud. I also empathized with the PL's disappointment on learning there was no cherry tree for George Washington to chop down.. and therefore that timeless story she's used to illustrate truthfulness to Vicky was a false one. Meeting new faces on the PL's journey is always a hoot but it was especially nice to see some familiar ones making their appearances. I didn't realize how I missed Mademoiselle until she pops in for a few chapters in this novel.
Overall, I love the self deprecating wryness in the PL and her observations. And even with that outlook, she maintains an avid curiosity about life and is a good sport to try most anything at least once. It's always a comfort to go back into a different time and way of life than the current. Even though there are differences, there is also a constancy in behaviors.
This novel shows us America through the eyes of the Provincial Lady. We embark on a whirlwind press tour with a quick stop in Canada. I enjoyed her adventures and hopeful wish to see Louisa May Alcott's home. So many scenes made me laugh out loud. I also empathized with the PL's disappointment on learning there was no cherry tree for George Washington to chop down.. and therefore that timeless story she's used to illustrate truthfulness to Vicky was a false one. Meeting new faces on the PL's journey is always a hoot but it was especially nice to see some familiar ones making their appearances. I didn't realize how I missed Mademoiselle until she pops in for a few chapters in this novel.
Overall, I love the self deprecating wryness in the PL and her observations. And even with that outlook, she maintains an avid curiosity about life and is a good sport to try most anything at least once. It's always a comfort to go back into a different time and way of life than the current. Even though there are differences, there is also a constancy in behaviors.
cmcg's review against another edition
5.0
Full marks for making me repeatedly laugh out loud in public when I was feeling very down. Adored the first, mildly disappointed by the second, but faith in EM Delafield completely restored by this third installment.
garbo2garbo's review against another edition
4.0
E.M Delafields's 'Provincial Lady' series is a warm, witty blanket of charm to snuggle into, and this volume was just as delightful as the previous. There are some dated remarks about Harlem, but it's not mean-spirited.
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