I occasionally accept challenges so when James Wallace Harris posted (you can read about it here) about D. E. Stevenson’s novel, Miss Buncle’s Book and invited commentators to read the book from 1936 I decided to give it a try.
Here are the words that hooked me for this project:
Why do we love some books more than others? Why are some books so enchanting? Why is it so hard to always find the perfect book to read? Especially when we’re old and jaded and have read thousands of books.
I just finished Miss Buncle’s Book by D. E. Stevenson and I want to explain why I loved it so much.
Miss Barbara Buncle lives in a quaint English town called Silverstream. Miss Buncle, in the middle of the Great Depression, finds her “dividends” are NOT now enough to cover her living expenses. She consults with her maid, Dorcas, on the possibility of raising chickens. Dorcas discourages her boss. So Miss Buncle decides to write a novel based on her life in Silverstream. She changes the town’s name to Copperfield and begins writing her book.
Needless to say, Miss Buncle’s book gets published and becomes a best seller with “John Smith” as the author on the book’s cover. The citizens of Silverstream are not amused by the accurate and honest portraits of themselves in the pages of Disturber of the Peace. Mrs. Featherstone Hogg organizes the community to sue the author of Disturber of the Peace even though no one knows who the author really is.
I found Miss Buncle’s Book clever and fun. I listened to Patricia Gallimore brilliant narration on the audiobook version and loved every minute of it. I also included The Comfort Book Club YouTube link above where Miss Buncle’s Book is discussed. If you’re in the mood for a classic English novel from the 1930s, this book will entertain you from start to finish! GRADE: A (for both the book and the audiobook)
It looks perfect for my mood. Thanks!
Glad you liked the book and are spreading the word. I think MISS BUNCLE’S BOOK should be as popular as COLD COMFORT FARM by Stella Gibbons and THE PURSUIT OF LOVE by Nancy Mitford.
Jim, thanks again for the recommendation of MISS BUNCLE’S BOOK! And I took your advice and listened to Patrica Gallimore’s wonderful narration on that audiobook version!
I’m a big fan of COLD COMFORT FARM and THE PURSUIT OF LOVE too.
Just downloaded this from the library.
Jeff, you’re going to get a kick out of the haughty Mrs. Featherstone Hogg!
Mr. Eclectic strikes again!
Very interesting, in that the book this immediately reminded me of was MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY by Winifred Watson, and sure enough, he compares the two of them. MISS PETTIGEREW was made into a fun movie with Frances McDormand and Amy Adams, by the way. I loved the book and the movie, It was also reprinted by Persephone Books.
Jeff, Diane and her Book Club read MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY and enjoyed it.
I’ve had my eye on this for a while, as it’s been reprinted in England by Persephone Books, a woman-centered publisher that has an appealing catalog of books. They say “this is an entirely light-hearted, easy read, one of those books like Mariana, Miss Pettigrew, The Making of a Marchioness and Greenery Street which can be recommended unreservedly to anyone looking for something undemanding, fun and absorbing that is also well-written and intelligent.” In fact, the woman in the Comfort Book Club is reading a Persephone copy.
Sounds just like Mr. Belvedere with Clifton Webb!
Bob, you’re right!