Shannon's review
Excellent Women (Penguin Classics) by Barbara Pym
I deeply enjoyed this book, but it also hit too close to home. I just ended a relationship with someone who is studying to be a minister, and this novel is about a clergyman's daughter (as I am) who spends much of her time in her church (as I do) and lives vicariously through others' relationships. Everyone expects her to marry the vicar. There is a great deal of subtle, pointed wit about the clergy and the church, and about single women and their propensity to fall in love with clergymen. So... very enjoyable, and also a bit too cutting for me at times. I do quite recommend it. I had read another Barbara Pym book last year (title escapes me) and had enjoyed it a bit but not nearly as much as this one.
I should mention that there are no end of wonderful quotes in this book. My favorite, though, as it is most applicable to my life at the moment is: "I had suffered, or I supposed that I had, for he had not broken the news of another attachment very gracefully. Perhaps high-princ...more
I should mention that there are no end of wonderful quotes in this book. My favorite, though, as it is most applicable to my life at the moment is: "I had suffered, or I supposed that I had, for he had not broken the news of another attachment very gracefully. Perhaps high-princ...more
