false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172462470m/178565.jpg 178565 16 An unqualifiedly great novel from the writer most likely to be compared to Jane Austen, this is a very funny, perfectly written book that can rival any other in its ability to capture the essence of its characters on the page. Mildred Lathbury, the narrator of Pym's excellent book is a never-married woman in her 30s--which in 1950s England makes her a nearly-confirmed spinster. Hers is a pretty unexciting life, centered around her small church, and part-time job. But Mildred is far more perceptive and witty than even she seems to think, and when Helena and Rockingham Napier move into the flat below her, there seems to be a chance for her life to take a new direction. 1883997 book 1952 Excellent Women (Penguin Classics) total:654|5:200|4:278|3:133|2:34|1:9| 654 2588 1060 133 4 8 false false Tue May 13 13:42:13 -0700 2008 Sat May 09 23:11:36 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 5 false false Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Fri Oct 24 09:28:51 -0700 2008 Mon Jan 26 08:15:47 -0800 2009 more...]]> 4 2 false false Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sun Apr 22 11:52:31 -0700 2007 Mon Apr 23 09:49:08 -0700 2007 more...]]> 2 2 false false Thu May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Wed May 14 06:14:32 -0700 2008 Mon May 19 15:53:22 -0700 2008
I read this one a few years ago for a grad school course, and for some aberrant reason, I liked it. Now, however, reading this again, I think I can unequivocally state it was B-O-R-I-N-G.

Mildred Lathbury is this self-conscious noisy ass ...more...]]> 5 2 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1985 Sat Jul 19 16:40:47 -0700 2008 Sat Jul 19 17:05:27 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 2 false false Sat Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Apr 07 20:08:58 -0700 2009 Sun Apr 26 19:32:34 -0700 2009 Jane Eyre or even Pride and Prejudice I thought it was great. It was slow in some areas, but I still found it rich and thrilling.

Everyday life and excursions are related with humor and depth. Church gossip and those "delicate"...more...]]> 3 2 false false Tue Mar 31 14:21:53 -0700 2009 Tue Mar 31 14:37:12 -0700 2009 Quartet in Autumn, but I'd still heartily recommend it. Barbara Pym is becoming like a friend to me. She writes very well--and with wonderful wit and originality.

Excellent Women tells the story of Mildred, a single woman in her 30s...more...]]> 5 0 false false Mon Nov 16 19:08:54 -0800 2009 Mon Nov 16 19:09:13 -0800 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Aug 18 17:59:32 -0700 2009 Thu Aug 20 18:58:38 -0700 2009 1 more...]]> 3 0 false false Sat Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Apr 05 20:26:16 -0700 2009 Sat Apr 25 17:09:53 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 1 false false Sun Nov 02 08:56:30 -0800 2008 Sun Nov 02 08:58:57 -0800 2008 4 0 false false Sun Jul 05 22:43:07 -0700 2009 Sun Jul 05 22:47:29 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 1 false false Wed Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sun Aug 03 02:16:11 -0700 2008 Wed Oct 22 02:28:42 -0700 2008 here.]]> 1 0 false false Mon Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat Jun 06 21:28:20 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 08 19:35:35 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Mar 31 01:51:04 -0700 2009 Thu Apr 09 00:52:51 -0700 2009 Alexander McCall Smith rather concerns me. However, Excellent Women is a wonderful satire and the narrative voice is perfectly pitched...more...]]> 4 0 false false Wed Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Wed Oct 15 19:37:21 -0700 2008 Wed Oct 15 19:40:21 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Fri May 30 15:47:41 -0700 2008 Sun Aug 24 19:05:34 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Mar 23 18:41:06 -0700 2009 Mon Mar 23 18:53:17 -0700 2009 1
Pym however, included more humor and very real characters. Our he...more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Jan 06 18:57:23 -0800 2009 Thu Jan 08 19:55:08 -0800 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Wed Jan 23 10:20:54 -0800 2008 Fri Feb 01 08:01:47 -0800 2008 more...]]> http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=178565