Sara’s review of The Curate's Wife > Likes and Comments
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Loved your thoughtful review and your humorous take on memory and time Sara !
This sounds lovely, and I did like this author. I'm a bit afraid of series though, for the reasons you state. I never seem to get from one to another before forgetting them. :-(
Jaidee wrote: "Loved your thoughtful review and your humorous take on memory and time Sara !"
Thank you, Jaidee. I sometimes long for those days when I could read a book, wait three years, and then recall every detail like I had read it yesterday. A book has to really be special for me to do that now!
Kathleen wrote: "This sounds lovely, and I did like this author. I'm a bit afraid of series though, for the reasons you state. I never seem to get from one to another before forgetting them. :-("
The book would have still been good if you hadn't read the first one, but there were references to the earlier book and a character that emerged (not in a significant way) that I couldn't remember at all. I also prefer to read a series almost back-to-back. The exception is Trollope, who always manages to write a book that can 100% stand alone and yet contains earlier characters in ways that make you smile if you are familiar with the earlier books.
I keep putting off starting My Brilliant Friend, because I know I am going to want to read all four books in rapid fire order, so I am waiting to feel that I have that much time to spare. First world problems!
I felt much the same as you Sara, though I did read this one not too long after Jenny Wren. I really loved Dahlia's character. I find a lot of my favorite authors taking a dim view of "professional religious characters" who treat religion more as a business and a way to control, as opposed to truly good characters who do real good in their daily lives.
Unfortunately, nothing much has changed over the years.
Diane wrote: "I felt much the same as you Sara, though I did read this one not too long after Jenny Wren. I really loved Dahlia's character. I find a lot of my favorite authors taking a dim view of "professional..."
It happens often in English novels, and I think it might be the system of the church there, although it is seen in churches globally. Large religious concerns become more business-like than spiritual sometimes, so the entire thing hinges on the man who is the leader of the local church and whether he went into the church because it was convenient or because he wanted to serve God.
Dahlia is a splendid character. I became very attached to her. I liked Jenny Wren a bit more, but Dahlia is a more attractive character to me than Jenny was.
I have never read either, so I will try to read them one right after the other. I see that I gave "Chatterton Square" only 3 stars, but it keeps popping into my mind lately. That novel had definite staying power for me.
Ginny wrote: "I have never read either, so I will try to read them one right after the other. I see that I gave "Chatterton Square" only 3 stars, but it keeps popping into my mind lately. That novel had definite..."
I hope you do like these Ginny. I loved Chatterton Square. It was my first of her novels and I decided on the spot to read the rest of them.
I enjoyed Young's Miss Mole and hope to get acquainted with Jenny Wren and Dahlia one day. Lovely review, Sara.
Laysee wrote: "I enjoyed Young's Miss Mole and hope to get acquainted with Jenny Wren and Dahlia one day. Lovely review, Sara."
Thank you, Laysee. I also loved Miss Mole and these have much the same flavor. I think Young is an excellent writer...at least she seems to have a lot of appeal for me.
I really enjoyed this book (and Jenny Wren) and this review. Young is so good on relationships. You might enjoy The End of the House of Alard by Sheila Kaye-Smith. She explores the role of the Anglican church to both individual and community through the saga one aristocratic family. In fact a character basically asks what you are asking here--what can Christianity mean to these people?
Thank you for the recommendation, Dominika. I will add that to my TBR. I enjoy these quiet books that look at a society or community when they are done well. I'm always glad to add another good author of this type.
Such a thoughtful review, Sara and beautifully expressing how I felt about these characters. It seems we are all in the same boat about remembering and series! I am always concerned that because I only read one Trollope a year it will finish my enjoyment. Maybe one day I’ll read the again in succession.
I envy you that you still have My Beautiful Friend waiting for you. I admit that I read the first book twice to get my mind ready to read the second. They are fantastic!
Lovely review, Sara. I appreciate what you said about memory- I’m always glad I’m not the only one who forgets the storyline of a book. I have yet to read these books but know I will love them when I do.
Lori wrote: "Such a thoughtful review, Sara and beautifully expressing how I felt about these characters. It seems we are all in the same boat about remembering and series! I am always concerned that because I ..."
I am determined to set aside the time to read My Brilliant Friend series all back-to-back, Lori. I must say Trollope is very good about not making you feel lost if you take a lot of time between books.
Antoinette wrote: "Lovely review, Sara. I appreciate what you said about memory- I’m always glad I’m not the only one who forgets the storyline of a book. I have yet to read these books but know I will love them when..."
You will like these, Antoinette. I don't think I had any problem when I was young recalling details of books after a long time, but I look at book titles now and cannot remember that I even read them. Scary stuff.
This morning my husband spent 20 minutes looking for his favorite coffee mug, only to find it in the microwave where he had put it before it went missing. Scary stuff indeed!
Diane wrote: "This morning my husband spent 20 minutes looking for his favorite coffee mug, only to find it in the microwave where he had put it before it went missing. Scary stuff indeed!"
Oh, I wish I had a nickel. I was looking for my glasses so my sister and I could go out. She was helping me. Seems they were on my head. I felt I could be forgiven, but she was looking right at them! I'm not really fond of this aging thing.
Sara wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "This sounds lovely, and I did like this author. I'm a bit afraid of series though, for the reasons you state. I never seem to get from one to another before forgetting them. :-("
..."
Thank you for this, Sara. Comforting, both about this book and Trollope, who I need to get back to!
The phrase "to embark on wedded bliss" elicited a little chuckle. They really did not often know what they were getting themselves into those days, did they?! I hope Dahlia and Cecil worked it out :) Wonderful review, Sara.
Oh, the modern version of Cecil would have a change of heart ASAP if he tried this on a modern bride. I wonder how long I would have lasted back then!
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Apr 14, 2026 03:46PM
Loved your thoughtful review and your humorous take on memory and time Sara !
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This sounds lovely, and I did like this author. I'm a bit afraid of series though, for the reasons you state. I never seem to get from one to another before forgetting them. :-(
Jaidee wrote: "Loved your thoughtful review and your humorous take on memory and time Sara !"Thank you, Jaidee. I sometimes long for those days when I could read a book, wait three years, and then recall every detail like I had read it yesterday. A book has to really be special for me to do that now!
Kathleen wrote: "This sounds lovely, and I did like this author. I'm a bit afraid of series though, for the reasons you state. I never seem to get from one to another before forgetting them. :-("The book would have still been good if you hadn't read the first one, but there were references to the earlier book and a character that emerged (not in a significant way) that I couldn't remember at all. I also prefer to read a series almost back-to-back. The exception is Trollope, who always manages to write a book that can 100% stand alone and yet contains earlier characters in ways that make you smile if you are familiar with the earlier books.
I keep putting off starting My Brilliant Friend, because I know I am going to want to read all four books in rapid fire order, so I am waiting to feel that I have that much time to spare. First world problems!
I felt much the same as you Sara, though I did read this one not too long after Jenny Wren. I really loved Dahlia's character. I find a lot of my favorite authors taking a dim view of "professional religious characters" who treat religion more as a business and a way to control, as opposed to truly good characters who do real good in their daily lives.Unfortunately, nothing much has changed over the years.
Diane wrote: "I felt much the same as you Sara, though I did read this one not too long after Jenny Wren. I really loved Dahlia's character. I find a lot of my favorite authors taking a dim view of "professional..."It happens often in English novels, and I think it might be the system of the church there, although it is seen in churches globally. Large religious concerns become more business-like than spiritual sometimes, so the entire thing hinges on the man who is the leader of the local church and whether he went into the church because it was convenient or because he wanted to serve God.
Dahlia is a splendid character. I became very attached to her. I liked Jenny Wren a bit more, but Dahlia is a more attractive character to me than Jenny was.
I have never read either, so I will try to read them one right after the other. I see that I gave "Chatterton Square" only 3 stars, but it keeps popping into my mind lately. That novel had definite staying power for me.
Ginny wrote: "I have never read either, so I will try to read them one right after the other. I see that I gave "Chatterton Square" only 3 stars, but it keeps popping into my mind lately. That novel had definite..."I hope you do like these Ginny. I loved Chatterton Square. It was my first of her novels and I decided on the spot to read the rest of them.
I enjoyed Young's Miss Mole and hope to get acquainted with Jenny Wren and Dahlia one day. Lovely review, Sara.
Laysee wrote: "I enjoyed Young's Miss Mole and hope to get acquainted with Jenny Wren and Dahlia one day. Lovely review, Sara."Thank you, Laysee. I also loved Miss Mole and these have much the same flavor. I think Young is an excellent writer...at least she seems to have a lot of appeal for me.
I really enjoyed this book (and Jenny Wren) and this review. Young is so good on relationships. You might enjoy The End of the House of Alard by Sheila Kaye-Smith. She explores the role of the Anglican church to both individual and community through the saga one aristocratic family. In fact a character basically asks what you are asking here--what can Christianity mean to these people?
Thank you for the recommendation, Dominika. I will add that to my TBR. I enjoy these quiet books that look at a society or community when they are done well. I'm always glad to add another good author of this type.
Such a thoughtful review, Sara and beautifully expressing how I felt about these characters. It seems we are all in the same boat about remembering and series! I am always concerned that because I only read one Trollope a year it will finish my enjoyment. Maybe one day I’ll read the again in succession. I envy you that you still have My Beautiful Friend waiting for you. I admit that I read the first book twice to get my mind ready to read the second. They are fantastic!
Lovely review, Sara. I appreciate what you said about memory- I’m always glad I’m not the only one who forgets the storyline of a book. I have yet to read these books but know I will love them when I do.
Lori wrote: "Such a thoughtful review, Sara and beautifully expressing how I felt about these characters. It seems we are all in the same boat about remembering and series! I am always concerned that because I ..."I am determined to set aside the time to read My Brilliant Friend series all back-to-back, Lori. I must say Trollope is very good about not making you feel lost if you take a lot of time between books.
Antoinette wrote: "Lovely review, Sara. I appreciate what you said about memory- I’m always glad I’m not the only one who forgets the storyline of a book. I have yet to read these books but know I will love them when..."You will like these, Antoinette. I don't think I had any problem when I was young recalling details of books after a long time, but I look at book titles now and cannot remember that I even read them. Scary stuff.
This morning my husband spent 20 minutes looking for his favorite coffee mug, only to find it in the microwave where he had put it before it went missing. Scary stuff indeed!
Diane wrote: "This morning my husband spent 20 minutes looking for his favorite coffee mug, only to find it in the microwave where he had put it before it went missing. Scary stuff indeed!"Oh, I wish I had a nickel. I was looking for my glasses so my sister and I could go out. She was helping me. Seems they were on my head. I felt I could be forgiven, but she was looking right at them! I'm not really fond of this aging thing.
Sara wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "This sounds lovely, and I did like this author. I'm a bit afraid of series though, for the reasons you state. I never seem to get from one to another before forgetting them. :-("..."
Thank you for this, Sara. Comforting, both about this book and Trollope, who I need to get back to!
The phrase "to embark on wedded bliss" elicited a little chuckle. They really did not often know what they were getting themselves into those days, did they?! I hope Dahlia and Cecil worked it out :) Wonderful review, Sara.
Oh, the modern version of Cecil would have a change of heart ASAP if he tried this on a modern bride. I wonder how long I would have lasted back then!
