Persephone Books discussion

Hi everyone-
Thanks for the great discussion last month!!
Who is reading Bricks and Mortar with me this month?

I read it two years ago and I don't have the book anymore, but I will be interested to see what you think.

I gave it 4 stars. Won't say anymore until you have finished :)

I am! Just getting started so nothing to say yet :)

Hello, I'm Pamela . I'm new here and just posted an introduction, so just popped in to say I will be reading this with you. I plan to start at the weekend.

Excellent, I'm glad to hear we have a bunch of us reading the book!

I might go to London on Sunday, I'll try to get to the shop and pick it or The Village up, so I may be able to join in.

Hi Gina, hope you are well ?
I will be joining in with the June read along of Gaurd Your Daughters.
Have you suggestions for Jul/Aug/sept ?

Tania, if you buy 3, you get a discount :)

And the shop is a lovely place to visit.

Thanks for the reminder, Karen - this would be a good time to add a couple more books for July, August and September! Does anyone have any suggestions for what they want to read? We can always do re-reads!

Rosemary wrote: "Tania, if you buy 3, you get a discount :)

And the shop is a lovely place to visit."

I know. If I buy 3 that's nearly half my petrol money covered. (Stupid fast car). I already want Vain Shadow and Miss Buncle's Book so will need to pick one other. Thanks for the reminder though.

I’ll be getting Bricks And Mortar next Wednesday and shall start it shortly after. Will be getting The Village too but still making my mind up for the third title :0)

Tania, Miss Buncle’s Book is totally lovely! Haven’t read Vain Shadow although I do have it.

Let me have a think on possible titles :0)

I went to the shop yesterday. I took advice and picked up The Village, so I won't be reading Bricks and Mortar this month, but will join in next month.
Veronique, I am looking forward to Miss Buncle. I have read other books by D E Stevenson and have a!ways enjoyed them.

Hope you enjoy it Tania :0)

Got the book (couldn’t resist going for 6 - good thing I can’t get to the shop often!) and shall endeavour to read it before the end of the month...

I'm sure I will. I'll wait for August to read it. :-)

Has anyone finished this yet? I've just come to the end and I found it totally charming. I loved the part that architecture played in Martin's life, and I felt I came to know the family so well.

I had a different reaction — I did enjoy reading about architecture and how styles changed over Martin’s life, and I also really liked the relationship between Martin and his daughter and the occasional bits of humor. And I loved the sections set at the country house. But I wished the book had shown more rather than summarizing so much. For example, it would have been nice to see Martin interacting with his customers or visiting his own work sites. One thing that bothers me is there were a couple references to domestic violence, and I thought those incidents were treated in a rather offhand manner.

I read this many years ago but can remember being shocked at the casual way domestic violence was treated.

I would agree that there were some offhand references to domestic violence, but given that this was written in the 1930s I was not surprised by them. The behaviour also seemed in character for Philip, who was not being portrayed as a good husband. I appreciated Martin steadfastly resisting Lady S's insistence that Stacy should be whipped too.

Yes I agree, although shocking, not surprising.

I'm almost done with the book! I agree, those domestic violence instances can be hard to read, especially through our modern lens. I have liked seeing Martin and Stacy's relationship develop over the course of the book!

Looking back, I see the other incident of violence I was thinking of involved Letty’s mother, who is rather a terror as well as a bully . “She [Letty] gave her mother a little trouble that night: the poor child was worn out by Martin’s exhausting enthusiasms, her mother’s activity, and the confusion of her own feelings: she cried and shuddered and protested that she did not want to marry anybody yet. However, these inconvenient emotions were not allowed to interfere with her mother’s plans. Lady Stapleford took her firmly in hand, gave her, unknown to Martin, such a good slapping and shaking as her eighteen years still occasionally received with meekness, and put her to bed to recover herself.” I don’t mean to imply the author approves of this; she just reports it and moves on.

Gina wrote: "I'm almost done with the book! I agree, those domestic violence instances can be hard to read, especially through our modern lens. I have liked seeing Martin and Stacy's relationship develop over t..."

I enjoyed Martín and Stacy’s relationship, too.

I just finished the book...I was NOT expecting that ending!!

Gina wrote: "I just finished the book...I was NOT expecting that ending!!"

Me, neither! Especially right after his visit to the doctor...

Just arrived from the UK.