feather_ghyll | Entries tagged with genre: comedy

Catherine, Called Birdy: Karen Cushman (Macmillan Children’s Books, 1996)

I recently saw a trailer for a film (or it could be a TV series) called ‘Catherine, Called Birdy’ written and directed by Lena Dunham, which reminded me I owned and had read this book from which it’s adapted. The trailer made me laugh and promisingly suggested that the adaptation catches the spirit and the humour of the book. I don’t know if I’ll be able to see it as it’s an Amazon production, but I could and did reread the book.

( It's the funny, sometimes poignant diary of a spirited young noble lady in medieval England )

Jane Runs Away from School: Joanna Lloyd. Blackie (inscribed 11 Oct 1947)

This book is set in the Bramber Manor/Catharine (Kate) Maitland series, focused on new girl Jane Duncan. ( Read more... )

Crossposts: https://feather-ghyll.livejournal.com/188690.html

Curtsies and Conspiracies: Gail Carriger Atom, 2013
Finishing School Book the Second

I probably write the same thing whenever I'm commenting on reading a book in a series, but it is too long since I read the previous book in this series and I hope there won’t be as long a period between this and the next, most especially because this exceeded my high expectations. I truly think it’s a step up from the introduction to the world that was Etiquette and Espionage.

( Read more... )

Crossposts: https://feather-ghyll.livejournal.com/169590.html

I managed only four and a half rereads during the month of February, and I still haven’t completed the fractional! I intended to read more, but there you go. I needed something to drive me to reach for the ‘to reread’ pile, and this ventured did that. I reread and reconsidered a couple of books.

I also treated myself by rereading ‘The Blue Castle’ by L.M. Montgomery, which I love, although that didn’t blind me to some weaknesses. ( Read more... )

So, I don’t think Rereading February was a worthless exercise, and if I don’t reread more books, I’ll probably set aside another month like that in future. It was weird, though, to continue buying new books – as if I’d walk past a charity shop or second-hand bookshop and not browse! – whilst having to admit to myself that I wouldn’t be reading the book I’d purchased forthwith. It’s rare that I do, but normally there’s the possibility I might, so there was that change in perspective.

Crossposts: https://feather-ghyll.livejournal.com/166948.html

Crimes on the Nile (New Old Friends theatre company, Ustinov studio theatre at Theatre Royal Bath, January 2019. It’s touring England and Wales throughout the spring).

Written by: Feargus Woods Dunlop
Directed by: James Farrell
New Old Friends website

Apparently ‘Crimes on the Nile’ is the fifth in a series of the unconnected adventures of brilliant Belgian detective…Artemis Arinae (mais oui, a lady detective! etc etc). Imagine a Venn diagram, this play would be in the overlapping bit between the circle of Agatha Christie and farce. It’s an affectionate send-up. ( Read more... )

Crossposts: https://feather-ghyll.livejournal.com/165630.html

The Bridesmaids: Pamela Brown. Brockhampton Press. 1966 in this edition.

Meet Polly Hamilton and Gwenda Guthrie, two terrible examples of Girl Guides! ( Read more... )

Crossposts: https://feather-ghyll.livejournal.com/162503.html

Audrey – A New Girl: Joanna Lloyd Blackie

The focus of the book is, indeed, on Audrey, who is a new girl at ( Read more... )

Crossposts: https://feather-ghyll.livejournal.com/148033.html

Give a Form a Bad Name: Nancy Breary. Newnes, 1943

This is the funniest book I’ve read all year, and I am all the more impressed because many authors of boarding school stories set out to make you laugh at their ‘madcap’ heroines, but only manage a smile. I had to put this book down to finish laughing and then have cause to laugh again as soon I picked it back up. Breary also managed to make me care about her characters (something that Frank Richards, say, never has done.)

The form in question is ( Read more... )

Crossposts: http://feather-ghyll.livejournal.com/147402.html

Abbey Turns the Tables: Eric Leyland, Nelson 1959

I bought this thinking it would be about a mixed-gender school, but, set at a boys’ boarding school, it’s solely a boys own adventure. I see I’ve never written a review of a boys own book before, but then I haven’t read many and most of those involved Billy Bunter. When I see boys own books in shops, I tend to wish they were girls own and move on.

The most striking feature of this book is ( Read more... )

Crossposts: http://feather-ghyll.livejournal.com/136383.html

Last week, I went away for a few days and these are some of the books that I read then:

The School on the Moor: Angela Brazil

( Read more... )

Reread: A Countess Below Stairs: Eva Ibbotson

(I think I will reread all my Ibbotsons as a project.)

( Read more... )

Penelope’s Prefects: Judith Carr

( Read more... )

Crossposts: http://feather-ghyll.livejournal.com/133274.html

The Runaway Princess: Hester Browne Quercus 2013.

For a good long while, this book did not go the way I expected, influenced by the title and the blurb at the back of the book.

( Read more... )

Crossposts: http://feather-ghyll.livejournal.com/127712.html

Envoy on Excursion: Caryl Brahms and S.J. Simon
Michael Joseph (this edition 1954)

Detective-Inspector Adam Quill of Scotland Yard, who has previously had to deal with the insanities of the Ballet Stroganov has a new case. It is wartime, ( Read more... )

Crossposts: http://feather-ghyll.livejournal.com/120418.html

Etiquette & Espionage: Gail Carriger. Atom 2015 (reprint).

‘This is the right finishing school for you, isn’t it?’

( Read more... )

(Lightly edited on 29/5/19.)

Current Music: the snooker
Crossposts: http://feather-ghyll.livejournal.com/112836.html

Murder Most Unladylike: Robin Stevens Corgi 2014

Before Daisy Wells and narrator Hazel Wong have had a change to get bored of their secret Detective Society at Deepdean School, ( Read more... )

Thanks to callmemadam for drawing my attention to this book!

Crossposts: http://feather-ghyll.livejournal.com/108373.html

Six Curtains for Stroganova: Caryl Brahms & S. J. Simon. Penguin 1953

This is the third in the series of books about the dreadful, wonderful Stroganov ballet company (previously discussed here. ( Read more... )

I'm also still slowly reading Blackie's Girls Annual. The last story that I read was 'The Proogle' by Alice M. Worthington, which had a great idea that it didn't exploit very well. It revolves around an object that the eldest daughter of a struggling but happy family buys as a gift at a mysterious second-hand shop. I have a weakness for mysterious second-hand shops. ( Read more... )

Crossposts: http://feather-ghyll.livejournal.com/80588.html

A Popular Schoolgirl: Angela Brazil

I had an ‘oh, Angela’ moment when ( Read more... )

Sara Gay Model Girl in New York: Janey Scott

That's New York, 1961 - fit for girls. ( Read more... )

Dance with me by Victoria Clayton

Recommended. ( Read more... )

I look forward to reading more by Clayton (I think another book of hers may have been recommended by

callmemadam.)

Finally I reread Three go to Switzerland: Mabel Esther Allan

It can’t have made much impact on me before, because I didn’t remember anything as I read it. ( Read more... )

Crossposts: http://feather-ghyll.livejournal.com/76010.html

Susan's Helping Hand: Jane Shaw. The Children's Press

I bought a second copy of this book because I wasn't sure if I already owned it, and it was available cheaply at a charity shop, so it wasn't as if it would cost me dear. As it turned out, I did already own a copy, given to me be a relative. In my defence, it must be many years since I read the book, and I once described these books as Susan Does Something Indistinguishable. Having very much enjoyed this reread, I feel rather mean about that, but the titles are indistinguishable though. However, if you haven't come across the adventures of Susan Lyle and her cousins the Carmichaels, they're well worth reading.

( Read more... )

Crossposts: http://feather-ghyll.livejournal.com/66986.html

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Page Summary

REREAD: Catherine, Named Birdy
REVIEW: Jane Runs Away from School
REVIEW: Curtsies and Conspiracies
OVERVIEW: Rereading February and The Blue Castle
REVIEW: Crimes on the Nile
REVIEW: The Bridesmaids
REVIEW: Audrey - A New Girl
REVIEW: Give a Form a Bad Name
REVIEW: Abbey Turns the Tables
OVERVIEW: 'Beach' reading
REVIEW: The Runaway Princess
REVIEW: Envoy on Excursion
REVIEW: Etiquette and Espionage
REVIEW: Murder Most Unladylike
OVERVIEW: Six Curtains for Stroganova
OVERVIEWS - Recent reading
REREAD Susan's Helping Hand

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