A review by bunnieslikediamonds
A Few Green Leaves by Barbara Pym

4.0

Pym's last novel before her death (there have been some posthumously published novels since) contains the usual mix of gentle satire, delightful humor and clear-eyed observations about the human condition. This one comes across a tad more modern, written and taking place in the late 70's, but you still have your gossiping parishioners, jumble sales and social anxieties. It's set in a sleepy little village where anthropologist Emma settles to get some work done, but is distracted by the eccentric villagers who make for an even more fascinating anthropological study. The cast consists of not only one vicar but two (although the second one left the C of E for Rome and is now a pompous food critic), a fair number of spinsters, two doctors (of different generations but equally sexist), a dull old lover of Emma's and his hippie ex-wife. All of them struggle with social obligations and the changing times, but nevertheless manage to be unfailingly polite to one another, buying disgusting marmalades at the Bring & Buy and treating uninvited guests to ham mousse (yes, I'm sure ham mousse is supposed to be a treat rather than an act of aggression). Sad to say I'm nearing the end of my Pym binge. She is quite inimitable.