The Persephone Biannually

Unfortunately I didn’t get as well as quickly as I would have liked, so most of this week was again spent sleeping and lying on the couch. Fortunately, my copy of the The Persephone Biannually (Spring/Summer 2012) arrived, so I spent plenty of time reading through it (yes, and several magazines too – I am now a Kardashian expert!).

With my trusty free drug rep pen* in hand, I made a lot of annotations in margins – * is short hand for ‘check this out, this is a likely winner’. I’m looking forward to reading Harriet by Elizabeth Jenkins, as well as seeking out The Tortoise and the Hare. Must be good if Persephone wished they had published it!

* You can’t get these any more. Fortunately, I attended a conference just before the embargo and finished up so loaded with pens, stick-it notes etc that I needed a lift home. Note that I don’t subscribe to drug named stationery being a factor in influencing prescribing, because the majority of the pens don’t last that long and the drug name wears off if you get the odd one that works! I also paid my own way to the conference. But I digress!

After reading the Biannually, I’m in two minds about reading House-Bound by Winifred Peck. Has anyone read it? What were your thoughts?

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson

A quick rundown… 24 hours in the life of Miss Pettigrew that change her life.

Strengths: Very uplifting, restores faith in the human spirit.

Weaknesses: Too short!

Why I read it: Given to me in the 2010 Library Thing Secret Santa.

Pages: 234

Published: 1938

Publisher: Persephone Books

Setting: London

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

If you liked this, try: there is a movie of this book. Watson’s writings also have the charming feel of Enid Blyton.

Miss Pettigrew was a present from a Secret Santa who knows that I like books that are part of a series or set (examples: Morland Dynasty series by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, Popular Penguins, Vintage 21). This eagle-eyed Santa noticed that I didn’t have any of the books published by the charming Persephone Books and soon rectified this. I had heard of the movie of the same name, but didn’t realise that like most good ideas, it was originally a book. And what a charming book this is. It’s kind of like Enid Blyton for grown-ups. There’s little sketches every so often of the action and the writing is so warming and pleasing, you’d think you had stepped into a warm bath.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is 24 hours in the life of Miss Pettigrew, an out of work governess who is almost penniless and on the brink of being evicted from her lodgings. Given an address from the employment office, she makes her way to the flat of Delysia LaFosse, who is looking for a governess. When Delysia opens the door, Miss Pettigrew is thrust into a world she has only dreamed of. A world where she is loved for what she is, opinions are listened to and respected and where happiness is not an optional extra. Delysia’s life is spiralling out of control and Miss Pettigrew’s words of advice and wisdom help her to discover what she really wants. Miss Pettigrew is also responsible for reuniting an estranged couple and there is a hint of romance for her.

This book is simply told and brims over with goodness. I don’t mean it’s goody-goody; I mean that it restores your faith in the human spirit. The gaining of confidence in Miss Pettigrew is beautiful to read, from her first evening gown and hairdo to the first twinkle of interest from the opposite sex. It’s heart-warming to see and the happy ending is also just perfect. Almost a fairy tale!

Don’t think that it’s all sweetness and light though. There are some fairly heavy issues discussed, from drug use to promiscuity to alcohol. I’m sure this would have been even more daring back in 1938 when the book was first published. It’s a fairly quick read, but one that leaves you pondering long after. Thank you Secret Santa!

Persephone Secret Santa revealed

Happy Persephone Secret Santa everyone! Today was finally the day that I got to open the parcel that has been sitting patiently on my desk.

Here it is, under flash in early morning light:

Wrapped so well! I love that only one piece of ribbon was used for the bow (I can’t do that, I’m terribly uncoordinated with gift wrapping). That print on the bookmark looks familiar…

Here is the lovely grey book inside – The Priory by Dorothy Whipple. It’s lovely and weighty, perfect for a holiday read. I haven’t read Dorothy Whipple before, but I’m looking forward to it. She is the author of several books in the Persephone series, including Greenbanks.

Finally, the card, which confirmed my suspicions about my Secret Santa (I hope that I’m correct):

I believe it to be Care of Care’s Online Book Club. (Your last clue with the cryptic letters in purple helped a lot). Thank you Care! You have made my first Persephone Secret Santa a really fun event (which got my entire office involved!). I loved the clues and the postcards – happy holidays and all the best!

What did your Persephone Secret Santa bring you? Merry Christmas all!

Persephone Secret Santa deliveries!

My Persephone Secret Santa has been very busy already! I have received not one, not two but three deliveries in the last three days! What a lovely thing to return to after being out of the office!

Clue #1: A postcard from Kansas. Did you know early settlers in Kansas used limestone for posts (‘postrocks’) due to a lack of trees? Kansas looks lovely, full of open spaces.

Clue #2: A first class international envelope (that sounds so sophisticated, better than air mail) with cool stamps…

…and a Persephone themed card. Better early than late Santa!

Which book could it be from? Is this a hint?

And finally, a parcel all the way from London:

I didn’t open it Santa. I really wanted to (and my colleague begged me to!) but it’s now on my desk, waiting to be put under the Christmas tree (it’s not up yet).

Thank you Secret Santa! You are doing a fantastic job and I love all your clues!

Every Eye by Isobel English

Every Eye has the distinction of being the first Persephone book I have read. The Persephone books can be easily distinguished by their grey covers and lovely end papers, taken from the period in which the book was written. I do suggest looking at their website, but beware – you may fall in love with these beautiful books and want to collect them all!

This book was a surprising library find for me – surprising because a) I’m in Australia, a long long way from Persephone Books and b) my library is generally not known for fiction other than very popular bestsellers and romances.

Back to the book – the book contains an introduction by the author’s husband, which sets the background of the book. The book is told in both the past and the present – the present being the protagonist’s honeymoon with her younger husband and the past being a more unsuitable liaison as a younger woman. The past is triggered by Hattie learning about the death of her Aunt Cynthia as well as returning to Ibiza on her honeymoon. It can be a little difficult at first to work out if it’s in the past or present (no changes of fonts here) but the book rolls along in its beautiful, gentle prose. It conjures beautiful images in a gentle manner and the reader slowly learns more about Hattie and her history all in good time.

This is a short read but demands your attention to take in all that is going on.

Read it if: you enjoy restrained fiction that opens your eyes (think Revolutionary Road)

7 out of 10.

LibraryThing Secret Santa

I know I’m a bit late with this one, but I just wanted to share my LibraryThing Secret Santa present from the lovely kismoody with you! Despite horrific weather conditions, the present landed on my doorstep just after New Year, so a present on its own was extra special!

I was lucky enough to receive two books, including my first Persephone!

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day looks fantastic. I’ll share what the end papers look like when I’ve read the book.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt looks like it will satisfy my need for a Southern USA book after enjoying The Help and Gone With the Wind (one of my favourite books). Isn’t the cover gorgeous?

Thank you kismoody for such thoughtful choices! My best Secret Santa present ever!

Persephone books catalogue

After a truly yucky day at work (two cardiac arrests, several people told they have cancer or their cancer has spread…that’s was just the morning) I was pleasantly surprised to see an envelope from the UK in the letterbox when I finally got home. It was from Persephone Books. I had asked for a catalogue a while ago after reading rave reviews of their books, but I didn’t expect them to actually send it across the world!

This is what I received: a copy of the entire catalogue…

a beautiful bookmark from The Winds of Heaven by Monica Dickens…

and a copy of The Persephone Biannually…

Were you one of these bloggers?

Thanks to Persephone, these really made may day end well. I’m already looking and thinking about which books to purchase- does anyone have a favourite?