tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704237975096102484.post6985295228837247015..comments2024-03-17T06:47:15.292+00:00Comments on The Brooknerian: Something in Their Lives: Quartet in Autumn by Barbara PymThe Brooknerianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396427983022927448noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704237975096102484.post-15719085806394081692018-01-03T06:19:59.755+00:002018-01-03T06:19:59.755+00:00Me too. But Hazel Holt's original biog is stil...Me too. But Hazel Holt's original biog is still v. good., and one feels one knows her, since her appearance as herself in that early 90s BBC film, available on YouTube.The Brooknerianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15396427983022927448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704237975096102484.post-10872029225630056962018-01-02T20:22:38.167+00:002018-01-02T20:22:38.167+00:00Only just catching up with this after the 'hol...Only just catching up with this after the 'holidays'. I'm so glad you have fond memories of those two - especially Some Tame Gazelle, another of my great favourites. I think anew biography came out quite recently, I must look it up. Rosemary Kayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17284340669326721343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704237975096102484.post-14564815103441973092017-12-11T06:00:22.039+00:002017-12-11T06:00:22.039+00:00Thanks for commenting, Rosemary. I like the Fiftie...Thanks for commenting, Rosemary. I like the Fifties Pyms too, but I find I have a bit of a prejudice in favour of authors' later works. But I've got fond memories of reading Crampton Hodnet and Some Tame Gazelle!The Brooknerianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15396427983022927448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704237975096102484.post-92189928783593130122017-12-10T21:17:42.569+00:002017-12-10T21:17:42.569+00:00I adore Barbara Pym but I must admit I find 'Q...I adore Barbara Pym but I must admit I find 'Quartet' hard to enjoy. It is if course beautifully written, full of Pym's trademark observations of the little, telling, things that make up our lives. It's just so sad. <br /><br />My favourite Pym remains 'Excellent Women', which has the same sharp observation of life on the margins - Mildred's round of jumble sales, church services, being used by people like Rocky & Helena, and going home with half a loaf and a library book in a string bag - but ends with more optimism, and is very funny at times. <br /><br />I still haven't quite forgiven Persephone Press for refusing to re-publish Pym (their argument is that 'no-one changes' in her books, which I find wholly untrue). Luckily Virago has stepped in and produced a beautiful edition of EW - though I still have all my paperbacks too, and reread them often. <br /><br />Have a good break. Rosemary Kayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17284340669326721343noreply@blogger.com