FurrowedmiddlebrowClub

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! 18h

Ruthiella I will make sure you are on the tag list for March‘s pick! 😃 15h

JenlovesJT47 @Ruthiella @LeahBergen thank you! 🤗 12h

39 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! 😆 5d

LeahBergen Haha! It was pretty silly but I ultimately enjoyed it. 😆 4d

Tamra Silly indeed! 😆 4d

CarolynM It really was over the top. I would have enjoyed it more if it had been shorter. 3d

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) 5d

LeahBergen The “book within a book” grew on me eventually. 5d

bookandbedandtea A "slightly risqué Gilbert & Sullivan operetta" is a perfect description for that book within a book ? 5d

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. 5d

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. 4d

51 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. 2w

Ruthiella It rewards perseverance, but I understand your struggle! 2w

Sace @Ruthiella good to hear! 2w

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. 2w

julieclair I‘m always behind on these. Finishing by mid-month doesn‘t usually work out for me. 2w

rubyslippersreads @Sace @julieclair I‘m behind too. Life is getting in the way of my reading these days. 😕 2w

LeahBergen What @Ruthiella said! It took me a little while to get into the flow of it, too. 2w

Sace @rubyslippersreads Life can be annoying that way. 2w

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. 2w

julieclair @Ruthiella @LeahBergen Thanks for the pep talk! 😀💙 2w

LeahBergen @Sace @julieclair 😆 1w

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! 2w

TrishB And a lovely relaxing pic. 2w

bookandbedandtea Exactly my thoughts 2w

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! 😅 2w

LeahBergen We all seem to feel pretty much the same way about this one! 2w

71 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. 3w

LeahBergen I‘ve somehow not read her before either, @Ruthiella ! 3w

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. 3w

willaful @Ruthiella I'm not actually quite finished. I was referring to the novel within the novel. 😁 3w

LeahBergen It did! 😆 3w

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) 3w

LeahBergen Haha! 👍 3w

25 likes2 comments

willaful

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

Racing and game, dicing and dancing, feasting and opera-going left him little time for sleep. His appetite was insatiable, his vitality enormous. He amazed even Casimir, accustomed to all debauches, and none of the entertainments to which he was bidden outrivalled Tarletan's in splendour. They frequently went on till after midnight.

willaful Damn, after midnight! What debauchery! #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub (edited) 3w

Faranae Midnight! Gasp! When is this supposed to be taking place? 😂 3w

willaful @Faranae I'm not sure its author even knows. 😂 (It's a story within a story, written by a 16 year old girl.) 3w

LeahBergen I laughed at that sentence when I read it! 3w

23 likes4 comments

LeahBergen

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

pick

It might just be my mood right now but I found this to be an absolutely charming and touching read. I even enjoyed the silliness of the novel-within-a-novel written by 16-year-old (recently thwarted in love) Miss Granby although, as others mentioned, it does perhaps go on a bit too long. A frothy confection as sweet and old-fashioned as a china patchbox full of lilac cachoux. 😉

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

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

Ruthiella I‘m glad you liked it! It was touching, but somehow I also felt a little sad about the unrequited love aspect of it. 4w

Tamra Terrific review! Of course as a 16 year old nothing resembling love is silly! I couldn‘t be paid any amount of money to go back. 😅 (edited) 4w

willaful @Tamra You remind me of this scene from Gaudy Night:

“Would you have your youth back if you could, Harriet?”

“Not for the world.”

“Nor I. Not for anything you could give me.

Gaudy Night

See All 21 Comments

Tamra @willaful 😂 I just stacked it - perfect! 👍🏾 4w

Cathythoughts Gorgeous review Leah ❤️ 4w

LeahBergen @Ruthiella It seemed unrequited but then it also seemed like they carried on this idealized version of youthful love purely for the nostalgia of it (and carried on with their best lives). Alicia was the one most invested in their love affair (sending S the poems to send to A each year) and I think that‘s why Adeline sent the Venus and Adonis statue to her at the old age home. You think? 4w

LeahBergen @Tamra @willaful Oh, how DEEPLY I felt my love as a 16 year old. 😆😆 4w

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 4w

Ruthiella Interesting perspective! Yes, I can see that and it makes me feel better. Thanks! 😊 4w

Tamra @LeahBergen 💔💔 4w

Tamra @LeahBergen yes, nice description! Preserving that pure adoration & devotion of a first love. Adeline cashed in on it in fact with her writing career. Yay Adeline! 😆 4w

elkeOriginal THOSE BOOKSHELVES OF YOURS ARE RIDICULOUS. le sigh 📚💕😻 4w

LeahBergen @Ruthiella It still makes me feel a little wistful, though 😆 4w

LeahBergen @Tamra I love that she cashed in on it so well! 😆 4w

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal Haha! Thank you! 😘 4w

rubyslippersreads A charming and touching read is exactly what I need right now. 4w

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Are you affected by the fires at all?? Are they close to where you live?? 😬 4w

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen My area is okay, but I have a friend staying with me because she had to evacuate. But we‘re safe, so that‘s the main thing. 4w

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads How awfully stressful! Sending you love! ❤️ 4w

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen 😘 4w

julieclair Can‘t wait to start this! 3w

81 likes2 stack adds21 comments

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