Village School: Introduction and thoughts on reading.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Dora Saint, who was a school mistress in her working life, was also a prolific author under pseudonym of Miss Read. Her two most popular series are the 'Thrush Green' series, and the 'Fairacre' series, of which this is the first.

Who is planning on reading this one?

[Jess]

Count me in! What a perfect August read as some of the kids are heading back to school. Nice choice, Tania!

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I didn't realise that, Here the school holidays cover the whole of August.

I have started reading it this morning. Feels like it's going to be a very gentle read,, but not in an idealised and unrealistic sense.

[Jess]

Tania wrote: "I didn't realise that, Here the school holidays cover the whole of August.

I have started reading it this morning. Feels like it's going to be a very gentle read,, but not in an idealised and unre..."

Here it’s mixed- some schools start in the middle/end of August and others wait til September. But all the big box stores have the school supplies out and ready so I’ve been a target of marketing and it’s on my mind. Lol.

A gentle read sounds very nice.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

😀 Oh there are plenty of school items in the shops here too. I expect the Christmas stuff will be in once the kids go back. Not all that long ago, they used to wait for Halloween to be over before the Christmas stuff was in the shops.

A gentle reads sounds perfect.

[Rosemarie]

I have read all of the Miss Read books I could find, starting with Village School many years ago. I will be joining in if I can get a copy from the library.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Great stuff. It'll be good to have you on-board with your knowledge of the series.

[Sandybeth]

I must have read this about 10 times, but I am always up for another read. It really is one of my favourites. I discovered Miss Read when I was in my early 20s and have never looked back. I was lucky enough to go on a course run by Jill Saint, Dora’s daughter, a few years back.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I'm enjoying this one. It is nostalgic, but it doesn't look at life through rose tinted glasses; it's very practical about the hardships facing the villagers. Though it was written much later, it reminds me of Cider With Rosie and Lark Rise to Candleford, both of which were set in more or less the same area as this one (Cotswolds). I'd love to know which village Fairacre was based on.

[Rosemarie]

The book Mrs Griffin sends her love is a collection of shorter pieces, mostly non-fiction, so it is a good source of background info as well as being interesting.

[Philina]

I‘m in as well :)

I acquired the audiobook and will start once I‘ve finished Shirley.

[Elke]

I have to say I double-checked the pub date because I was shocked about the indoor plumbing situation (or lack thereof, I should say) but then when one of the better off villagers mentions they have an inside WC (and she too is shocked by the bucket at school 🤯), it made me realize the school is just behind the times.

It is also heartbreaking to see how important the school lunch was. And still is.

[Sandybeth]

Fairacre is a mixture of various downland villages (south east England) whereas Miss Read’s Thrush Green is based on Wood Green in Oxfordshire and Lulling is Whitney. There is a map you can buy that identifies the houses, it’s a fab day out, especially if you walk down the hill to ‘Lulling’. The hand rail isn’t there anymore though!

[Sandybeth]

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0FI0M....
Here a a few of my Thrush Green photos from my Miss Read course.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Thanks for that Sandybeth. Lovely photos. I feel I should read more of the Thrush Green books before making a trip to Wood Green, but that does look as though it would be a good day out. I had assumed that Fairacre was also near to Thrush Green.

Which series is your favourite?

[Sandybeth]

I think Fairacre will always be my favourite as it was the first series I read and I collected the hardback books towards the end of the series. I do like Thrush Green, but it took me longer to get into. My favourite book of all is Miss Clare Remembers, it is a brilliant social history book as well as a good story.

[Philina]

Started with this book today and already love it 🥰

I‘m so happy that this breaks through my recent dnf-streak.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Sandybeth wrote: "https://share.icloud.com/photos/0FI0M....
Here a a few of my Thrush Green photos from my Miss Read course."

Funnily enough Sandybeth, today I had to go to a Roman Villa near Witney, when I got to the two mini roundabouts I thought I'd keep my eye open for signs to Wood green when I realised we were driving passed the green from your photos, I hadn't realised it was so close to Witney, I thought there would be a bit of countryside separating them. Well, now I feel I must pick up some of the Thrush Green books sooner rather than later. (Lovely Villa, by the way, 'North Leigh'.

[Rosemarie]

When I read this book the first time, I had no idea that I would eventually become a teacher. I've been retired from teaching for a while, but my experiences as a teacher add depth to the book for me.
Miss Read and the teacher of the younger students were certainly resourceful people.

[Jess]

Sandybeth wrote: "https://share.icloud.com/photos/0FI0M....
Here a a few of my Thrush Green photos from my Miss Read course."

Lovely photos, Sandybeth! And thank for you the additional background info and book recommendations. I adored this novel and am wanting to read/know more about Miss Read.

[Jess]

Ladies, I loved this book. It was exactly what I needed to read this past week. I haven't had a book serendipity experience in awhile and this felt like it for me.

It's been a trying week where the world just felt heavy. Each night I would read a bit from Miss Read and I felt better. I don't know if it was the reminder of simpler times (though they really weren't!) or the sense of community (that it can still occur in the world!) or the soothing nature and season descriptions that reminded me the rhythm of life always goes on. Probably all of that. It just was such a perfect read. Thank you, Tania, for selecting this one!

[Jess]

I really enjoyed reading about the school experiences. My elementary through 8th grade experience was spent in a one room school house. The rooms were divided by grades 1-4 and 4-8 with one teacher for each room (two lady teachers too). There was a small kitchen and library. And I walked to school through the woods from my house in all the weather elements. So many of the scenes brought me back to my childhood and happy memories.

I loved reading how strong the community is and how they come together to raise money for the church roof, keep the school afloat when another local one is closing, and go on seaside outings together. I did laugh out loud when the vicar is trying to remind everyone to be on time for the bus, knowing they will be late and tomorrow is Sunday after all. And one of ladies responds "It's Sunday so nothing happens on Sunday" kind of a response! LOL! And then later on in the panic of getting the little boy to the hospital, he also forgets tomorrow is Sunday. Just fun humor.

And I was rooting for poor little Joseph the entire novel. I hope we see him again in the other books. He's got a lot to overcome in life and I want to read that he succeeds.

[Elke]

Primrose Jess wrote: "And I was rooting for poor little Joseph the entire novel. I hope we see him again in the other books. He's got a lot to overcome in life and I want to read that he succeeds...."

I agree, jess! i am rooting for little Joseph, though also worried life might just be stacked against him 😟