Customer Reviews

My Friends the Miss Boyds

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

 

 

I happened to pick this book up at the library quite randomly and I was pleasantly surprised. The narrator is a clever, curious, observant Scottish girl, about 9 years old, who describes life on her family's WWI-era farm in odd but poetic language that I found fresh and amusing. The main plot centers around the Miss Boyds, six "old maids" who settle into the nearby village and create havoc with their loud, indiscreet ways. It's not really a book for children--it's not a Scottish "Little House on the Prairie." The plot takes a few twists that, while not extremely graphic, are a bit more young adult. This is the first in a fairly extensive series of "My Friends" books, and I think it is well worth searching out if you are interested in something a little offbeat.

For sheer literate good writing, you can't beat the "My Friends" series by Jane Duncan. Not only does she have an excellent ear for dialect and dialogue, and skill at strong characterizations, she excels at plot. Even though the plots are often small in scale, the books have great texture and complexity. These are not children's books, nor are they "nice" books about a cozy time long ago, although those elements are present. You will find independent women here well before the feminist era, and loving but complex "families, seriously troubled people who meet sad or tragic ends, all overlaid with themes that resonate very much with today's issues, despite copywright dates that are 55 to 35 years old. The series takes the female protagonist from childhood to middle-aged widowhood with wisdom, humor, and just plain good storytelling. Thank heaven there are so many in the series to enjoy!

I named my daughter Jane after my two favorite authors - Jane Austin and Jane Duncan. One of the fascinating things about Jane Austin's books is that you learn about what it was like to live in another time while getting great stories about people. This series is similar except the time period is from the 1920's through the early 1960's. Read the "My Friend" series by Jane Duncan. These are great books!