FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Miss Granby's Secret: Or, The Bastard of Pinsk | Eleanor Farjeon

so-so

2.75/5⭐️

My engagement with this selection for the #furrowedmiddlebrowclub was up and down. I struggled to get into it. I was delighted with the book with a book. I often fell asleep while reading after that point. Then it picked up again with young Addie‘s diary. It was indeed too long and I think it could have been executed better or at least could have gotten some editing. The structure was weird to me.

Ruthiella I think it would have worked better for me if the Bastard of Pinsk had been shorter or broken up throughout the narrative. But here‘s to the next title; may it be more enjoyable for us! 🤞 6d

LeahBergen @Ruthiella I was wishing that the novel had been interspersed throughout the narrative, too! 6d

51 likes2 comments

quietjenn

Miss Granby's Secret: Or, The Bastard of Pinsk | Eleanor Farjeon

pick

Finally finished our #furrowedmiddlebrowclub book from last month, and my thoughts echo what others have said. It wasn't my favorite, although I found bits of it amusing in its Over the Top-ness. Addie reminded me a bit of Elizabeth Taylor's Angel, in a kinder and more comic way. But rather melancholy and like I agree that it went in a bit too long. Not sorry I read it, just wish I'd liked it more. A low pick.

LeahBergen We all seem to be feeling very similarly towards this read! 1w

Ruthiella That‘s a good way to put it. I also wish I had liked it more. 1w

52 likes2 comments

JenlovesJT47

Miss Granby's Secret: Or, The Bastard of Pinsk | Eleanor Farjeon

so-so

Finally finished this for the #FurrowedMiddleBrowClub - it had its funny moments for sure. The book within a book was hysterically bad but actually did hold my interest, but the last 100 pages of the book dragged on a bit. But I enjoyed my first foray into the FMBC and look forward to reading more. 3.5⭐️

LeahBergen You seem to have felt the same as many others in the group. 😆 I‘m glad that you‘ll continue reading along with us! 2w

Ruthiella I will make sure you are on the tag list for March‘s pick! 😃 2w

JenlovesJT47 @Ruthiella @LeahBergen thank you! 🤗 2w

47 likes3 comments

julieclair

Miss Granby's Secret: Or, The Bastard of Pinsk | Eleanor Farjeon

so-so

This entire book felt like an old-time slapstick comedy movie. It did make me laugh out loud several times, but ultimately, it was just too silly. I kept waiting for it to be over.

#furrowedmiddlebrowclub

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, Lizpixie, elkeOriginal, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, bookandbedandtea, Teresereading, Sace, kwmg40, Cathythoughts, Ruthiella, MrsK

Ruthiella Your last sentence made me laugh! 😆 2w

LeahBergen Haha! It was pretty silly but I ultimately enjoyed it. 😆 2w

Tamra Silly indeed! 😆 2w

CarolynM It really was over the top. I would have enjoyed it more if it had been shorter. 2w

52 likes4 comments

rubyslippersreads

Miss Granby's Secret: Or, The Bastard of Pinsk | Eleanor Farjeon

When I first started this (especially the “book within a book”), I wasn‘t sure I would make it to the end. However, “The Bastard of Pinsk” got more interesting as it suddenly galloped towards its conclusion, reminding me of a slightly risque Gilbert & Sullivan operetta. The story of the real, rather mundane romance behind it all was sweet.

#furrowedmiddlebrowclub

rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @Jess_Read_This @Kimzey @erzascarletbookgasm @catebutler @CarolynM @LeahBergen @Lizpixie @elkeOriginal @Aimeesue @batsy @Tamra @bookandbedandtea
@Teresereading @kwmg40 @Cathythoughts @Ruthiella @julieclair @MrsK @sace (edited) 3w

LeahBergen The “book within a book” grew on me eventually. 3w

bookandbedandtea A "slightly risqué Gilbert & Sullivan operetta" is a perfect description for that book within a book ? 3w

Sace While I‘ve only read about 30% of it, it‘s finally growing on me. I‘m actually liking the ridiculous book within the book. 3w

Ruthiella I can imagine a young woman in the mid 19th century pouring over Heath‘s Book of Beauty the way I did glossy fashion magazines in the 1980s and‘90s. 2w

54 likes5 comments

Sace

Miss Granby's Secret: Or, The Bastard of Pinsk | Eleanor Farjeon

17% and I‘m trying to get into it. I hope is picks up.

#furrowedmiddlebrowclub

@rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @Jess_Read_This @Kimzey @erzascarletbookgasm @catebutler @CarolynM @LeahBergen @Lizpixie @elkeOriginal @Aimeesue @batsy @Tamra @bookandbedandtea @Teresereading @kwmg40 @Cathythoughts @Ruthiella @julieclair @MrsK

julieclair I hope to start this one today. 4w

Ruthiella It rewards perseverance, but I understand your struggle! 4w

Sace @Ruthiella good to hear! 4w

See All 11 Comments

Sace @julieclair I can‘t wait to hear your thoughts. I feel a little behind as there are several who have finished the book. 4w

julieclair I‘m always behind on these. Finishing by mid-month doesn‘t usually work out for me. 4w

rubyslippersreads @Sace @julieclair I‘m behind too. Life is getting in the way of my reading these days. 😕 4w

LeahBergen What @Ruthiella said! It took me a little while to get into the flow of it, too. 4w

Sace @rubyslippersreads Life can be annoying that way. 4w

Sace @LeahBergen I think I‘ve not been giving it the time it needs. I‘ve just been reading in short sessions and what I need to do is hunker down and concentrate on it. 4w

julieclair @Ruthiella @LeahBergen Thanks for the pep talk! 😀💙 3w

LeahBergen @Sace @julieclair 😆 3w

54 likes11 comments

CarolynM

Miss Granby's Secret: Or, The Bastard of Pinsk | Eleanor Farjeon

pick

A soft pick for me too. The Bastard of Pinsk certainly had its moments - I enjoyed the way she threw just about every Victorian romantic cliche in existence into it & all the misunderstanding of language, not to mention the “facts of life” - but it I thought its length meant the comedy became laboured. But overall it was quit a fun take on period romance.
#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, elkeOriginal, Aimeesue, Tamra, bookandbedandtea, Teresereading, Cathythoughts, Ruthiella, julieclair, willaful, MrsK

Tamra Spot on review! 4w

TrishB And a lovely relaxing pic. 4w

bookandbedandtea Exactly my thoughts 4w

Ruthiella Yes, it did feel a little laborious! But once we get the “real” story, it all fell into place which made up for it more or less! 😅 4w

LeahBergen We all seem to feel pretty much the same way about this one! 4w

72 likes5 comments

willaful

Miss Granby's Secret: Or, The Bastard of Pinsk | Eleanor Farjeon

As a teen I adored the romance in Farjeon's Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard, but also appreciated the book‘s distinction between romanticism and love, so it was interesting to see her exploring similar themes here. The question is left more open-ended, but I ultimately found the book pretty sad, despite its humor.

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Ruthiella Interesting that you have read this author before. I gather she is pretty well known as a children‘s author. 1mo

LeahBergen I‘ve somehow not read her before either, @Ruthiella ! 1mo

34 likes2 comments

willaful

Miss Granby's Secret: Or, The Bastard of Pinsk | Eleanor Farjeon

“You name will be branded in society. Women will draw their skirts aside as you pass. Men will refuse your hand at baccarat. You will be ruined, financially and socially. You will be dis-Almacked!“

Oh my, the end of “The Bastard...“ makes all the rest worthwhile!

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Ruthiella Glad you liked it! 😃 It was certainly different from other DSP novels we‘ve read together. 1mo

willaful @Ruthiella I'm not actually quite finished. I was referring to the novel within the novel. 😁 1mo

LeahBergen It did! 😆 1mo

31 likes1 stack add3 comments

willaful

Miss Granby's Secret: Or, The Bastard of Pinsk | Eleanor Farjeon

So the current situation, if I have it correctly, is three men in love with one woman, and one man in love with three women. 😂

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Ruthiella You got it! 😂 (edited) 1mo

LeahBergen Haha! 👍 1mo

25 likes2 comments

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