The pleasure I have had from reading through the Miss Read Thrush Green series this year has been immense. Before this year although being very familiar with the books I had never read any of them. These two are the ones I read during July and August as I continue along with the #missreadalong organised by @bookmusings and @bagfullofbooks over on Instagram. In fact I’m already beginning to worry about Thrush Green withdrawal when I get to the end of the year. Thankfully there are lots of other charming books by Miss Read to become acquainted with.
Affairs at Thrush Green
I have seen this book described as a little ‘slower’ than some of the other novels in the series. I didn’t particularly find that to be the case. The charm of Affairs at Thrush Green was the development of some of the well loved characters whilst negotiating some tricky relationships between others.
Revd Charles Henstock and his wife Dimity have moved to the neighbouring village of Lulling to take up residence in the rectory and church vacated by the popular previous incumbent. Charles faces the strong women of the church in a battle of wills. As ever his kindness wins through, and we see yet again that despite his gentle, humble ways, Charles is made of stern stuff and will stand firm for what he believes in.
“he remembered suddenly a phrase someone had shared with him – Fear nothing, thank God! The first two words covered the unknown future. The last two covered past mercies received. The rector turned over the four words in his mind, and was strengthened and comforted.”
Nellies story is developed again as she is taken ill and Albert makes the journey to go visit her in hospital. His fears are well founded when we see Nellie return to Thrush Green with a sense of purpose and determination as she sets about finding work and independence.
Love is also in the air. A stranger returns to town and catches the eye of one of the eldest residents in the form of Miss Violet and for a while the possibility of romance blooms. As it happens the strangers eye is turned in the direction of Dotty Harmer’s farm and her niece Connie. A Thrush Green style whirlwind romance occurs as Connie and the recently arrive Kit are very quickly engaged.
At Home in Thrush Green
This book is really centered around the new retirement complex in Thrush Green built on the grounds of the old rectory. Charles and his committee are faced with difficult decision on who should live there and a conflict develops between the brother in laws John and Edward over a particular feature of the buildings construction. Harmony is eventually restored but the conflict is a good reminder that life isn’t always peaceful, even in Thrush Green.
Nelly really comes into her own in this instalment as she finds the independence she craved in the previous book and begins to become a woman of means. Dottie’s character is developed beautifully as her eccentricities continue and we see her living temporarily with Vi who cares for her whilst Connie and Kit are on honeymoon. The friendship and mutual respect between these two ladies is lovely as they indulge in their shared love of American TV series.
Jenny, the faithful companion of Winnie Bailey is confined to hospital to have her tonsils removed. I loved the passages describing her experience of hospital. Miss Read captured so well the nature of hospital wards when they were sternly watched over by fierce matrons.
“She was fascinated by the variety of women about her, and full of admiration for the bustling nurses. The speed with which they raced fro bed to bed, yanking patients upright, p pummelling pillows, whisking vases, glasses, pens, spectacles, fruit, talcum powder and scent from bed side tables and putting them briskly below into cupboards which half the patients were unable to reach, fairly took Jenny’s breath away. What energy these girls had! And how tired the patients looked amidst the activity!”
But as ever, one of my favourite things about this book was the journey through the seasons, starting in June and ending in March we see beautiful summer days, a Bonfire night which was threatened with being a wash out before the book concludes on a March day of wind and sunshine.
Both of these novels provided some lovely undemanding summer reading.
