The Modern Mrs. Darcy has challenged us to share a book we love that perhaps everybody’s missing, because they’ve never heard of it! I can give you a whole opus I bet you’ve never heard of!
Miss Read, pseudonym for Dora Jessie Saint, was an English schoolmistress and novelist. She lived almost 100 years and passed away last year.
She was most well known for her 2 series set in tiny English villages, Fairacre (20 books) and Thrush Green (13 books). She also wrote an autobiography, children’s books, a cookbook, and some others not in her 2 main series.
“Saint’s novels are wry regional social comedies, laced with gentle humour and subtle social commentary. Saint was also a keen observer of nature and the changing seasons.” (Wikipedia)
Her books remind me of the novels of Jane Austen and Jan Karon. They are easy reading, sweet, books that explore characters and relationships. No tawdry sex scenes, car chases, or foul language here! Plus, if you get the right edition, they feature sweet illustrations by John Goodall.
And if you’re like me, once you find a book you like, you want to read a lot by the same author… These will last you a while!
Click here for a full bio and bibliography.
I’m pinning this as a reminder to hunt these books down. Thanks for making me aware of them!
You are so welcome! You’re going to love them!
I’m the same way…the book will sell me on the author instead of the other way around. There are several books I’ve just grabbed because that particular one looked good, then I ended up getting 2-3 more by the same author.
Nothing like a good, clean book.
I’m always so happy to find a book I like by an author that has a shelf full of books! Then I don’t have to wrack my brain trying to decide on something good!
These do sound good — I might recommend them to my mom, too, who’s always raving about the Mitford books. Thanks for sharing!
You are very welcome– if she likes Mitford, she will love Thrush Green and Fairacre!
Oh, they remind you of Jane Austen? I’m interested. :)
As fast as you read, and as light as they are, you’ll probably knock one out in one sitting!
Sent from my iPhone
I just looked them up on amazon.com and they have some of them in kindle ebook form, too! I had try them out! Thanks for the great tip!!
Yay! I know you will love them.
I have already started the first one! LOVE IT!!!!
Yay!!