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cmbohn's review against another edition
4.0
Miss Miriam Quinn moves into a quiet English village, expecting to enjoy the countryside and have a little privacy. Instead, she has hardly settled in when she gets a phone call from her brother. His wife is in the hospital and Christmas is days away. Could she please come and take care of the children while their mother is in the hospital?
Miriam quickly learns that taking care of three active young children is harder than it looks. Her quiet Christmas spent redecorating her cottage is not going to happen. Instead she is stuffing a turkey, cleaning up the toddler's accidents, and visiting the hospital. Maybe this mothering thing is tough after all.
This is an old-fashioned book with an old-fashioned setting, but I really liked it. What struck me as the most old-fashioned thing about it wasn't the plot. The question of working woman versus homemaker is still a hot one. No, the most dated thing was the fact that Eileen was in the hospital for an entire week with abdominal pains! It turned out to be gall bladder trouble, but all they kept her for was to run tests and let her rest. I was in the hospital when they removed my appendix and I only spent 2 nights there!
Sweet book with sweet characters.
Miriam quickly learns that taking care of three active young children is harder than it looks. Her quiet Christmas spent redecorating her cottage is not going to happen. Instead she is stuffing a turkey, cleaning up the toddler's accidents, and visiting the hospital. Maybe this mothering thing is tough after all.
This is an old-fashioned book with an old-fashioned setting, but I really liked it. What struck me as the most old-fashioned thing about it wasn't the plot. The question of working woman versus homemaker is still a hot one. No, the most dated thing was the fact that Eileen was in the hospital for an entire week with abdominal pains! It turned out to be gall bladder trouble, but all they kept her for was to run tests and let her rest. I was in the hospital when they removed my appendix and I only spent 2 nights there!
Sweet book with sweet characters.
awellreadlady's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
kateponders's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
catebutler's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favourite Fair Acre novels thus far. #MissReadalong buddy read hosted by Arpita (@bagfullofbooks) - December 2020
kathryn08's review against another edition
3.0
A sweet Miss Read story. I can totally identify with Miriam Quinn, liking her own space and independence. However, I think she sounds more capable and energetic than I! She’s definitely more of a clean freak!
This was quick and easy - perfect for a pre-Christmas read - I read it in an evening!
This was quick and easy - perfect for a pre-Christmas read - I read it in an evening!
satyridae's review against another edition
4.0
One wonders just what was happening in Miss Read's own life as she wrote this, and the immediately preceding [b:Farther Afield|669038|Farther Afield (Miss Read (Paperback))|Miss Read|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|1668825]. Here's another story of a confirmed spinster (and also a complete loner) having to confront the realities of other sorts of lives. Miss Quinn is obliged to take over the running of her brother's household while his wife is in hospital, and she ruminates at length on the differences between her life and her sister-in-law's.
amyw2's review against another edition
4.0
It's been a long time since I've read any Miss Read. As enjoyable as ever. A good Christmas read.