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Doney
Nov 26, 2011 21:32:20 GMT 1
Post by fizz on Nov 26, 2011 21:32:20 GMT 1
I'm still reading the scan Claire. Maybe I will get it finished as I on strike on Wednesday, so hopefully will be able to review & vote for it soon.
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Doney
Nov 27, 2011 12:58:08 GMT 1
Post by Claire on Nov 27, 2011 12:58:08 GMT 1
Glad you got the files OK fizz. Yes, let us know what you think about it. We've had quite a mixed reception to this one.
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Doney
Nov 27, 2011 19:43:59 GMT 1
Post by fizz on Nov 27, 2011 19:43:59 GMT 1
Thought I let you know I got them all. Sorry if I didn't, really glad you could send them. Read another couple of chapters this morning. I want to read it all as I am enjoying all the rural bits & the animals' conversations.
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Doney
Nov 28, 2011 18:14:33 GMT 1
Post by fizz on Nov 28, 2011 18:14:33 GMT 1
This is a lovely book, I think I read Four Rode Home when I was about 11 but I remember I wasn't that impressed & I haven't read any thing else by Primrose Cummimg. Yes it is rather dated, but reading it today I would say that that is part of it's charm. It is sad to read about the countryside before all the huge agricultural changes of the mid 20thc took place, knowing that it will never be like this again. The different local breeds of sheep & cattle so well described, the barges with their sails, the hop fields & the hand picking of the hops & all the local fairs. Now we might think there is an under lying sense of racism & class: "....it must be horrible to have all those slum people spread over this jolly county" say's Sylvia. Though to Cumming's defence she does have Janet respond by saying how jolly & friendly they are, though it could be seen as a touch patronising. Jews get a raw deal too in unpleasant stereotypical descriptions of trader at the fair. I have to say that I just loved the description of the countryside; I felt I was there in the hop gardens & on the moonlit ride to the church. The animals conversations are so funny I loved some of the dialogue between the horses...."Just pulling your fetlocks" & "Great milking stools" from Spot the gossiping cow. A book that perhaps was designed to be read, chapter by chapter, at bedtime for children & one that must have made a generation aware of country & farming lore. Is there an equivalent nowadays? We could do with one. Does anyone know if "The Stage" is still there?
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Doney
Nov 28, 2011 20:02:41 GMT 1
Post by Claire on Nov 28, 2011 20:02:41 GMT 1
Does anyone know if "The Stage" is still there? Must google that. I was fascinated by it, I must admit! Interesting what you say about reading the book chapter by chapter at bedtime fizz, thats just about how I read it (tho not at bedtime ) and I felt it was the best way to get the most out of it. Didnt feel it was a book that you couldn't put down cos you wanted to find out what happened next but little snippets here and there were nice to read. I don't think there are any modern equivalents to those sort of books, I don't think they would have a chance of being published now! But if you enjoyed this one you may also enjoy Ben and The Great Horses by the author which are fairly similar and have a lot of detail about the old agricultural way of life. As Rosie and I noted earlier, Eleanor Helme's books are also similar, as are Allen Seaby's (tho not as well written).
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Doney
Nov 28, 2011 22:11:20 GMT 1
Post by darkhorse on Nov 28, 2011 22:11:20 GMT 1
The animals conversations are so funny I loved some of the dialogue between the horses That was my favourite parts of the book too
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Doney
Nov 29, 2011 8:41:31 GMT 1
Post by fizz on Nov 29, 2011 8:41:31 GMT 1
I've tried gooogling it, but I can't find anything about the "Stage". Have we anyone from East Sussex on this board?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Doney
Nov 29, 2011 18:08:48 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2011 18:08:48 GMT 1
I know someone from Sussex so I'll ask them about it, see if they can shed any light!
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