Persephone Books discussion

Is anyone ready to discuss this one yet? Did anything in particular jump out at you?

I thought it really impressed that all classes during WWII had been deprived of many of the luxuries of life. I am sure the upper classes had advantages, but the The Village implied they really did their part in the war effort. And that after the war, for some, their struggle was only beginning.

I enjoyed it although it seemed very different from Little Boy Lost (the only other Laski I've read). The tone was a little lighter. I've heard that all her novels are quite different from one another.

I found Wendy to be an infernal snob :)

Laura, I thought the same. I really prefer Little Boy Lost to this novel -- it seemed to be much more emotional. This novel did not seem to get inside the characters as much, but I suppose it was looking at the microcosm of the village more.

Yes, it seems that the Wendy type was not capable of change. Her husband and the other daughter followed along with her. I also thought that they lapsed into the "preferred" status after the war. Wendy must stay in bed due to her emotional strain. Her husband must not work too hard due to his lung condition. The other daughter must only do her studies. I thought this self-imposed method was the only way they could feel privileged anymore.

Sarah - I agree, it was good to see that all classes had to do with less during and after the war. Usually the focus is on the lower classes. And Laura, I felt like this was very different from Little Boy Lost!
I liked how the book started with Mrs Wilson and Mrs Trevor, then they had no reason to see each other throughout most of the book, and in the end they were linked by marriage. I agree that Wendy seemed incapable of change, but I got the sense that she and Edith would eventually become friends.

It seems that several of the young generation had become to instinctively see the class differences as something they could set aside. I can't remember the character names right now, but the young couple interestingly set out their own system so that they could see each other. They were courting properly, but without the families knowing. They had taken things into their own hands. Of course not all their age agreed, but not all of the older villagers were opposed to relaxing the class lines either. This was really an interesting look at the issue.

I read this several months ago and loved it. I remember being so shocked at the class differences and the problems it created in the 20th century. I also remember one character pointed out Americans still have the same class snobbery, but it's disguised as racism. Gave me something to think about.

Loved reading The Victorian Chaise-longue and wanting to read more by Marghanita Laski, was happy The Village was the book for May readalong (2018).
This book has some great characters and some awful ones too !
Wendy Trevor has got to be one of the most unlikeable characters i've come across in a novel , in a long time.
For me, Miss Evadne's character was the most likeable in the story.
The love story of Roy and Margaret was so sweet and i just wish the ending would of been a bit longer, perhaps them standing up for themselves and not going to Australia and setting up home in the village.
Although Laski says the characters are all made up, i'm wondering if some of these people in the story are really based on people she knew in real life.
Looking forward to reading more by this author.

I agree. I really liked Miss Evadne, she cared about Margret and Roy's happiness, and had a wise old head on her, and some sage advice.
I would have liked to see them settled in the village, they had all their plans ready, the house, and everything planned out. I can't imagine many Mothers that would rather their offspring moved to the other side of the world than have to face the neighbours gossip.
I'm also eager to read more of hers, I've only read The Victorian Chaise-Longue so far

I was shocked when Wendy and Gerald suggested it too !!
We must read another of Marghanita's books soon, maybe Little Boy Lost or To Bed with Grand Music.

I'd love to.
I went to Australia for a year, a very long time ago. My Mum found that tough, they stayed to the last minute and watched the plane take off. That was in the 90's, and only for a year, when travel would have been much easier that in the 50's.

Awww i can imagine , she must of missed you lots.

I've just finished this, I also liked Miss Evadne and thought it was really sad how everyone was picking over her stuff and criticising it when she'd died. I think my favourite character was Maureen, she was bright and feisty but warm hearted too.

I tried to sympathise with Wendy, but she was just too cruel to Margaret and I was so relieved when Margaret stood up to her. I could just see her wearing Margaret down.

Maureen was a great character, she was very protective of the people she cared about. It was a bit of a shame she didn't hit it off with Sheila as I think Maureen would have been a good influence on her, although that certainly wouldn't have been a view held by most of the characters in this book. Instead, I thought Sheila a bit of a prig.
It was Maureen who said "The trouble with you, Miss Margaret, is that you've got no sense of class" and with that, got to the point of the book.

Karma worked it's magic in the end : D Wendy noticing the buliders at the bottom of her garden, so funny !!

Ha ha. Yes, with Miss Moodie practically next door, she'll soon be living amid the hoi paloi.