Customer Reviews

Christmas at Thrush Green

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was surpised to see this title for sale as in her last book Miss Read claimed she was laying down her pen with "a thankful heart". It was only after buying the book I realised it was, in fact, a joint collaboration with her long-time editor.

It seems that Miss Read developed the story-line whilst Jenny Dereham wrote the words. Unfortunately, it's the words (rather than plot) which provide the great joy of the Thrush Green and Fairacre series, and the resulting collaboration is rather flat. In particular, there is a lot of exposition and back-story (every time a character appears for the first time) which weighs down the narrative. A lot of the time, statements just don't convince. Poppy complains of "handling customers' smelly feet" at the shoe shop, as if she were providing a chiropody service rather than selling footwear, and I just didn't believe in the Guild of Teashops, which provides one story line. Also people in Thrush Green seem to have developed the strange habit of talking in complete sentences, whereas Miss Read always had the surest knack for dialog.

In short, it's as if you have gone into The Fuchsia Bush cafe and been served a shop-bought scone. It's pleasant but not quite the treat you were expecting.

What a delight to visit Thrush Green once again after more than 10 years. Miss Read's longtime editor Jenny Dereham has done an excellent job of capturing the characters and nuance of this beloved Cotswold village. For all of us who, since 1957, have lovingly followed the adventures of Winnie Bailey, Harold Shoesmith, Dimity and Ella, the Youngs and all the rest, this is a chance to have one more chat over a glass of sherry and a last stroll around the green. It's is such a pleasure to know that Miss Read, in her '90's, took such an active part in bringing this book to fruition. What could be better than one more Christmas in Thrush Green?

Christmas at Thrush Green, never measured up to what I would expect from a beloved writer whose books I have been collecting for 30 years. Evidently Miss Read had her editor write this book due to her own continuing loss of vision. I truly grieve for the losses this wonderful writer has had to endure. Did she have to endure the editor coming up with the scene of a circus carnival pageant at the church Christmas Program? I could not imagine any one of these Thrush Green characters behaving so out of character in order to insert some heavy handed comedy into the story line. Miss Read always had such a sure hand at dialogue,an ear for Cotswold nuances, and that is primarily absent from this book. Her wonderful Thrush Green characters appear as strangers in a strange land. I miss them. I miss Miss Read.

I purchased this book for a friend who is a long time lover of Miss Read's books. In fact, I think she has the entire collections of both Thrush Green and Fair Acres books. I did not read this book. My friend has read it twice since receiving it and is dismayed that it is probably Miss Read's last book. According to my friend, although the book is faithful to the characters, storyline and style of previous Thrush Green books and stories, Miss Read did not actually write this book. The 5-star rating I gave the book is because it gave my friend, an 81-year old lady, so much pleasure by a writer she enjoys so much.

Another wonderful Christmas story from Miss Read...this time in collaboration with
Jenny Dereham. The author's voice is a bit different, following the long lapse
since the previous Miss Read book, but this does not diminish the reading pleasure.
Most likely, the involvement of Jenny Dereham with the writing is the major reason
for the harmless difference in tone.

There are a couple of very noticeable editing oversights, where the narrative obviously has characters confused. The reader needs to pause for only a moment to realize the mistakes and the authors' intentions.

In entirety, I can't praise the work enough or hope strongly enough that another
Thrush Green or Fairacre volume is in production for release in 2010. An annual release of a Christmas volume would be a wonderful gift for fans of Miss Read.
Hopefully, Miss Read and Jenny Dereham have this possibility in mind.

It was with great joy that I discovered this title to be available as I thought Miss Read had retired. But when I snuggled down to read it I felt like I was in another world. The characters never seemed to stop talking and the storylines were forced. The description of the Christmas pageant wasn't anything like I had read in any other Miss Read book. This is one Miss Read book which will not join the other treasured volumes on my bookshelf.

I was so happy to find this book on the internet and at a reasonable price. The book arrived in a few days and was in great shape.
Barbara