2023: Two English Authors: Goudge & Pym

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

This month we will be delving into two English Authors that were inspired to write fiction.

Barbara Pym's themes link her works in the canon, which are more notable for their style and characterisation than for their plots. A reading gives the impression that they are sketches of village or suburban life, and comedies of manners, studying the social activities connected with the Anglican church, Anglo-Catholic parishes in particular.

Pym had a job on the awards committee of the Romantic Novelists' Association.

I love and admire Miss Pym's pussycat wit and profoundly unsoppy kindliness, and we may leave the deeply peculiar, face-saving, gently tormented English middle classes safely in her hands. - review from Tatler

Barbara;s Novels:
Some Tame Gazelle (1950)
Excellent Women (1952)
Jane and Prudence (1953)
Less than Angels (1955)
A Glass of Blessings (1958)
No Fond Return of Love (1961)
Quartet in Autumn (1977)
The Sweet Dove Died (1978)
A Few Green Leaves (1980)
An Unsuitable Attachment (written 1963; published posthumously, 1982)
Crampton Hodnet (completed circa 1940, published posthumously, 1985)
An Academic Question (written 1970–72; published posthumously, 1986)
Civil to Strangers (written 1936; published posthumously, 1987)

So lets get started! Which read are we starting with?

[Kathy]

I'll be reading Some Tame Gazelle. I read it years ago (probably 30 years at least) and don't remember it. Pym is one of my favorite authors.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

I'm reading Jane and Prudence.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Welcome to the Pym reads Kathy and Piyangie!

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

Jane and Prudence didn't work for me. I'm now listening to A Glass of Blessings, and liking it better.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Oh dear Piyangie that is one I purchased. Havent decided which one I am reading, thinking about No Fond Return of Love

[Kathy]

I love most of Barbara Pym's books, but I know some people find them boring (so I've been told). To me, the way she writes her sentences and the situations of her characters make me laugh out loud at times.

I'm reading Pym's first book, Some Tame Gazelle for the second time. I can see all the hallmarks that have made her books funny to me, but she's not completely at her best. I've only smiled a few times.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

If you are reading it and not listening like I did, perhaps you might enjoy it better, Lesle. The audio narration ruined it for me. A word of advice if I may. Forget the Austen comparison!

However, after reading Kathy's comment, I get the feeling that Pym improved in her style as the time went by. Jane and Prudence was an earlier work than A Glass of Blessings, and I find the latter, better written.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

That is good to hear from you and Kathy. I was home yesterday with a stomach bug that is somewhat carrying over today. Maybe instead of sleeping all day I can start on one.

I am not sure I could do an audio without following along in a book. My attention span is nel, my mind starts wondering around thinking about the stuff I need to get done! Plus I re-read a section alot, I have even gone back pages to read something I missed or just even thought I missed.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

I just finished A Glass of Blessings. It was an enjoyable read. The story was not much but the characters were interesting.

[Kathy]

That's a good description of Pym's books, Piyangie. The stories are about the small events in people's day to day lives. I enjoy the personalities.

[Kathy]

I ended up really enjoying Some Tame Gazelle by Pym. The first half didn't grab me but the second half really picked up with the humorous situations that Pym excells at.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

I'm hoping to read Excellent Women towards the end of the month. Just taking a break to accommodate other readings.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

I started reading No Fond Return of Love her novel from 1961.

Violet (self named Viola) and Dulcie attend a conference for researchers and indexers (which I had to look up), they proofread, fact check and minor research for an author. Single women abound in the read so far.

Just made it through the first chapter. Seems to be less character building than used to.

[Brian E]

I finished Crampton Hodnet, an early work that Pym put aside and then chose to work on Some Tame Gazelle which she though had a better chance of getting published. Crampton Hodnet was eventually published posthumously, as were several other Pym novels.

I thought it was delightful; an early look at the university setting, clerical characters and excellent women than would populate subsequent Pym novels. I enjoyed it much more than the other two Pyms I had read. I found it very funny, much more so than Excellent Women.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Dulcie and Viola are frankly crazy and a lot of fun, reading about their stalking of another!

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

April is gone. But I started reading Excellent Women. Since I bought it I want to read it now.

[Kathy]

Excellent Women is often mentioned as Pym's best book.

[Brian E]

After I read Some Tame Gazelle next month, my next Pym will likely be my recently ordered copy of An Unsuitable Attachment, which has the 2nd highest GR rating of Pym's novels. Crampton Hodnet has the highest. Like Crampton, An Unsuitable Attachment was published posthumously and is one of Pym's lesser read novels.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

Kathy wrote: "Excellent Women is often mentioned as Pym's best book."

I can see why it is, Kathy. I'm enjoying it more than the two other works of Pym I've read.

[Brian E]

I am reading Some Tame Gazelle today, to celebrate Barbara Pym's birthday, one she shares with Thomas Hardy. I've read everything I want to by Hardy and am now on re-reads of him so Pym is the choice for me right now.
looks good for a 110 year old, which she would have been if she hadn't died in 1980.
would have been 183 if believed and I can't even imagine what a human would look like at that age. Hardy died at the late age 87 in 1928, when Pym was 14 years old. There is no record of them ever meeting at a shared birthday party or any other occasion.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

I started reading Crampton Hodnet. It's hilarious. I hope the humour will continue.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

I have a couple of Pym's books that I would like to read still.

[Kathy]

Glad you're enjoying Crampton Hodnet, Piyangie. Hearing about it makes me want to read a Pym novel. Which one...hmm?

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

I finished Crampton Hodnet. It's the best Pym novel I've read so far.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Happy that you really enjoyed this one.
Will add that to my wish list of books to purchase!!

[Melanie]

I wondered why Crampton Hodnet was published in 1985, while she died in 1980. I found this on the Barbara Pym Society website:

"Barbara Pym began working on what she called her ‘North Oxford novel’ in 1939. After the Second World War, she read it again and revised it but decided it was dated, so she put it to one side and completed Some Tame Gazelle instead. Crampton Hodnet remained unpublished at Pym’s death in 1980, and appeared posthumously in 1985, by which time it had acquired a period charm."

I'm glad she had finished and revised the book before setting aside. Goodreads says that mystery author Hazel Holt was her friend and biographer, and had a hand in getting it published.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Very interesting Melanie. Did not realize that. Thank you!