A Touch of Mistletoe.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I'm looking forwatd to this one, she's such an interesting writer.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

There is a great article on the book here https://granta.com/best-book-1967-tou...

[Diana]

This novel appeals to me and I ordered it as soon as I saw that it had been chosen for this month. I’ve read and appreciated (enjoyed is not always the correct word) 3 others by Barbara Comyns so am keen to add it to my collection.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Great. She is an unusual writer; the article above likens her to Angela Carter another author I have enjoyed, but also she can be quite quirky

[Diana]

A Touch of Mistletoe was a fascinating read. I'd already read and was impressed by "Our Spoons Came from Woolworths", "The Vet's Daughter" and "Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead" by Barbara Comyns so was happy to try another of her novels. This one is similar in some respects to "Our Spoons ....". Women's lives - here from still being quite young to little more than 40), their choices, relationships, hardships and struggles. But it wasn't depressing.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I have read the first chapter, hoping to get to more today. Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead is my favourite so far. Bizarre and a bit grotesque, but just so good.

[Lisa]

oh! I've just started and I love it. Comyns writing is wonderful! just the tiniest touch of "snark". it catches you at the back end of the sentences.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

😀 What a great way to put it.

[Sandybeth]

I started this novel today. I read Our Spoons Came From Woolworths last year and this one has a similar feel. Chapter one read and I know I am going to like it. Barbara Comyns has a particular style of writing that draws you in straight away and I am already loving and hating certain characters.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Yes, I know I will too. I have ust been so busy over that last week I've had little to no time for reading.

[Lisa]

oh my goodness! (sorry, got a bit sidetracked with bloody Mary & Elizabeth - I'm back now).
started over, still love the voice - but the (first ?) section on Amsterdam with the dogs! I had to speed through it because it made me stomach/chest hurt ... now that's a good writer!

seriously, I felt physical discomfort in that section.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I settled down to read a good chunk of this tonight, and then we had a powercut. It is back on now, so I have read the Amsterdam chapter, and yes, what a time for Vicky! I was thinking the dog match was going to be a fight. I almost started to feel her pain and tiredness; I did feel her relief at meeting Mr Crump.

[Sandybeth]

I finished this last night and Barbara Comyns has done it again with a novel that takes you on a painful emotional journey of poverty and sadness. It is not until I finished it that I was able to fully understand the pain in Victoria’s life. From the description of Gene’s insulin therapy (I never knew that this was a treatment) to the controlling behaviour of E M Dadds I was on an emotional rollercoaster, praying for something good to come. I don’t think it did.