tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post8057692219137616337..comments2024-03-28T12:00:55.653-07:00Comments on FURROWED MIDDLEBROW: The Furrowed Middlebrow Dozen 2019 (a day or two late)Furrowed Middlebrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-48794524953837487322020-01-13T19:02:45.619-08:002020-01-13T19:02:45.619-08:00I've read The Green Bough and Summer Brings Gi...I've read The Green Bough and Summer Brings Gifts. I recommend Summer, didn't like the Bough much.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05531966039516535951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-12471041117834543652020-01-12T07:55:45.292-08:002020-01-12T07:55:45.292-08:00Oh its difficult! However I absolutely loved The L...Oh its difficult! However I absolutely loved The Leaves of the Tree by Eiluned Lewis. Hard to describe it but Max Beerbohm writes on the dustjacket "What beauty and profundity and pathos and poetry and all that the heart desires!" I think I agree with that. <br /><br />Otherwise, you introduced me to Elizabeth Fair and I devoured the lot courtesy of Dean Street! And I very recently discovered Flora Klickmann (what a woman!!!) and her Flower Patch. A laugh and a smile on every page! I have to have the lot!!! Oh, but there's still so many on my TBR shelf!Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07549006313944585453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-28510488437381722622020-01-10T05:52:05.754-08:002020-01-10T05:52:05.754-08:00Thanks Liz!Thanks Liz!Furrowed Middlebrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-71242251689383754922020-01-10T05:51:32.586-08:002020-01-10T05:51:32.586-08:00Hope you enjoy Spam Tomorrow as much as I did!Hope you enjoy Spam Tomorrow as much as I did!Furrowed Middlebrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-3960850632260758762020-01-09T05:13:17.518-08:002020-01-09T05:13:17.518-08:00I've read The Green Bought and Summer Brings G...I've read The Green Bought and Summer Brings Gifts. The Green Bough is a family story in Pennsylvania, early 1900s. It felt thin and unconvincing. Summer Brings Gifts is set in Colorado in a small town and I liked it quite a bit. Seize a Nettle was still best though.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05531966039516535951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-15585175490293925272020-01-05T11:25:23.855-08:002020-01-05T11:25:23.855-08:00What a lovely set! I did my top 10 (well, 12, well...What a lovely set! I did my top 10 (well, 12, well, 13 really) on 1 Jan and as usual a book from between Christmas and New Year snuck in there. LyzzyBeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16398604923871095647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-32484461595747729962020-01-04T20:35:56.973-08:002020-01-04T20:35:56.973-08:00These all sound great! I bought Spam but haven...These all sound great! I bought Spam but haven't read it yet. Romansgrove is one of my favorite MAEs (along with Time to Go Back, The Ballet Family, and We Danced at Bloomsbury Square) and I am glad you enjoyed it! Happy New Year!CLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03595294217111602231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-70765193899141702842020-01-04T10:24:55.629-08:002020-01-04T10:24:55.629-08:00Thanks Claire. Hope you enjoy Spam (so to speak)! ...Thanks Claire. Hope you enjoy Spam (so to speak)! Furrowed Middlebrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-15766550941040822312020-01-04T10:23:54.404-08:002020-01-04T10:23:54.404-08:00Thanks for these recommendations! The Elliott soun...Thanks for these recommendations! The Elliott sounds intriguing for sure, and I've always meant to get round to Cowpers. The Jane Shaw, meanwhile, is on my TBR shortlist already--glad to know it's well worthwhile!Furrowed Middlebrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-71022103310000970122020-01-04T10:21:30.877-08:002020-01-04T10:21:30.877-08:00Thanks Brian, those all sound wonderful, and I'...Thanks Brian, those all sound wonderful, and I've made a note of Rees for the American list if it ever revives. <br /><br />I did some poking around on Google (as I'm sure you did) and couldn't come up with any ideas for Cordelia, especially at that time period. But my brilliant readers may have more to contribute.Furrowed Middlebrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-30427212247461700692020-01-04T10:16:21.415-08:002020-01-04T10:16:21.415-08:00I hope you enjoy Romansgrove. Seize a Nettle does...I hope you enjoy Romansgrove. Seize a Nettle does look really interesting--I've added it to my library list and have flagged her for my American list if it ever comes back to life. I see she wrote several other novels as well, including earlier titles--have you read any of those?Furrowed Middlebrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-28437612350283812872020-01-04T10:12:18.434-08:002020-01-04T10:12:18.434-08:00Hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Tom! You'...Hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Tom! You're making me want to re-read it again.Furrowed Middlebrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-62425825567135232282020-01-04T10:11:55.938-08:002020-01-04T10:11:55.938-08:00Oh lovely, I have Pure Gold Baby but haven't r...Oh lovely, I have Pure Gold Baby but haven't read it yet, so that's great to know. And I've just ordered Achachlacher--how did I not know about Menzies??? I'm hoping to do something about the cost of Apricot Sky, but we'll see...Furrowed Middlebrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-25907567680633148412020-01-04T10:08:49.622-08:002020-01-04T10:08:49.622-08:00Thanks, Simon, and also for the shoutout to Miss C...Thanks, Simon, and also for the shoutout to Miss Carter in your own year-end list!Furrowed Middlebrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-18519365991877106152020-01-04T10:07:00.083-08:002020-01-04T10:07:00.083-08:00Thanks Jerri! Here's to another year of happy...Thanks Jerri! Here's to another year of happy reading!Furrowed Middlebrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-39609613123476844972020-01-03T22:19:48.841-08:002020-01-03T22:19:48.841-08:00I always love to see what's on your list! The...I always love to see what's on your list! The only one of these I've read is <i>Apricot Sky</i> (a few years back after you first wrote about it) but I've got my Furrowed Middlebrow copy of <i>Spam Tomorrow</i> standing by and ready for me to pick up whenever I like. Thank you for making it so easy to get hold of after years of hunting for a copy!Claire (The Captive Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07430380065718826213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-75643654033870377792020-01-03T14:48:23.532-08:002020-01-03T14:48:23.532-08:00Treasure on the broads, by W Gerald Elliott, a com...Treasure on the broads, by W Gerald Elliott, a comedy /romance set on the Norfolk broads, a book you have to limit yourself to a few pages at a time or you would not put it down. The house of the Glimmering light by Jane Shaw and EE Cowpers books set in England during WW1Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17167612444594609755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-3240602362147163942020-01-03T14:30:28.695-08:002020-01-03T14:30:28.695-08:00My three favourite novels of the year were by Cana...My three favourite novels of the year were by Canadian women:<br /><br />1) <i>The Arch-Satirist</i> (1910) by the wonderfully named Frances de Wolfe Fenwick takes place amongst the upper crust of <i>fin de siecle</i> Montreal. At its centre are a half-sister and brother, the latter being a young, beautiful, drug-addled, talented poet who is dying of consumption.<br /><br />2) Frances Shelley Wees's horribly titled <i>M'Lord, I Am Not Guilty</i> (1954) will appeal to any fan of post-war domestic suspense. I should add that, as a transplanted American, Mrs Wees belongs on your American Women Writers of Fiction list. <br /><br />3) Attributed to "Kendal Young," <i>The Ravine</i> is the lone Phyllis Brett Young. A disturbing novel about a young art teacher's pursuit of a murdering rapist, I'm bringing it back to print this spring. <i>Assault!</i>, the 1970 film adaptation is not recommended.<br /><br />It occurs to me only now that you or your readers may be able to solve a mystery. Another of this year's favourite novels was Arthur Stringer's <i>The Silver Poppy</i> (1903). Its story revolves around Englishman John Hartley and Southern Belle Cordelia Vaughan. John is the author of an ignored volume of verse inspired by the tragic death of his fiancée. Cordelia is the celebrated authoress of a first novel titled (confusingly) <i>The Silver Poppy</i>. A bestseller, critics consider the work one for the ages. However, as things progress, John discovers that Cordelia is a plagiarist; <i>The Silver Poppy</i> is the work of a dead man that she has presented as her own. <br /><br />Newspaper of the day had it that Cordelia was based on a well-known American authoress, but never identified the woman in question. Would you or any of your readers have an idea. Any leads will be greatly appreciated.<br /><br />If interested, this is my blog piece on the novel:<br /><br /><a href="http://brianbusby.blogspot.com/2019/09/a-literary-vampire-alights-upon.html" rel="nofollow">A Literary Vampire Alights upon an Impoverished Poet</a><br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br /><br />Brian Busbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04120341319506205062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-68434742921972782092020-01-03T10:13:24.098-08:002020-01-03T10:13:24.098-08:00I have ordered Romansgrove! I want to recommend Se...I have ordered Romansgrove! I want to recommend Seize a Nettle by Ann Ritner. It's a wonderful family story set in Depression-era Denver. I think the copyright is 1961 but it's so close!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05531966039516535951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-89349777731027498052020-01-03T09:40:54.200-08:002020-01-03T09:40:54.200-08:00I am just starting Apricot Sky now - got lucky, an...I am just starting Apricot Sky now - got lucky, and my library had two copies and only one is circulating. Looking forward, based on your rave reviews!<br />And happy 2020 to you both!<br />TomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-8766850212977024622020-01-03T02:24:18.334-08:002020-01-03T02:24:18.334-08:00I second the recommendation of The Dark Flood Rise...I second the recommendation of <i>The Dark Flood Rises</i>, although it was a little dark for someone my age! Even better, I think, is <i>The Pure Gold Baby</i>.<br /><br />I also enjoy the Pennithornes books and agree that the first is the best.<br /><br />I've been wanting to read <i>Apricot Sky</i> for ages but it's so expensive!<br /><br />Books of the year? Right up your street, I think, would be <i>Achachlacher</i> by Emma Menzies, about the life of a minister's wife in the Highlands. Scotland again! Probably not your sort of thing but I love Mick Herron's Jackson Lamb spy series, which is both exciting and funny.callmemadamhttps://callmemadam.livejournal.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-53429916739399650312020-01-03T02:09:19.234-08:002020-01-03T02:09:19.234-08:00Wonderful! I've read none of them and want to ...Wonderful! I've read none of them and want to read them all.Simon T - StuckinaBookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15199322354592885363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-74050455681647204412020-01-02T09:39:57.050-08:002020-01-02T09:39:57.050-08:00Holiday in Scotland books: One of my loves. Perh...Holiday in Scotland books: One of my loves. Perhaps a good idea for both a trip and a Furrowed Middlbrow theme publication day?<br /><br />I am not so organized as you, and do a LOT of re-reads, including some DEStevenson, Angela Thirkell, Georgette Heyer and Dorothy L. Sayers each year. Some new to me books that I loved in 2019 include:<br /><br />The novella Knife Children by Lois McMaster Bujold, a continuation of her Sharing Knife series, I love just about everything she has written. SF/Fantasy.<br /><br />Turning Darkness into Light by Marie Brennen, also a new addition to her existing series, also SF.<br /><br />I discovered and loved the ongoing Regency Mystery series by Sheri Cobb South featuring John Pickett. <br /><br />Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole. Actually letters from lots of places, and dealing with both WWI and WWII. Love and Scotland and the wars.<br /><br />And of course, I enjoyed the new Furrowed Middlebrow publications, especially Miss Carter and the Ifrit, Nothing to Report and Somewhere in England and the DES titles.<br /><br />And reading your blog! Happy New Year.<br /><br />JerriAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com