Friday, January 22, 2016

Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson

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I do like reading a book about books, although the books mentioned in this one won't be found on your library's shelf.  Too bad. Disturber of the Peace and its followup The Pen Is Mightier...would be a delight to read. Both are the work of the fictional Miss Barbara Buncle. 

If you are not familiar with D.E. Stevenson's Miss Buncle's Book, the story revolves around our heroine, who due to the dwindling of her monthly dividends, decides to write a novel featuring the folks in her small English village of Silverstream. She writes under the pseudonym of John Smith and to the horror of her neighbors her fictional characters are all too recognizable. 

There are the usual village personalities: the snooty Mrs. Featherstone Hogg; the bully Mr. Bulmer; the confirmed bachelor Colonel Weatherhead; the overworked, kindly doctor; the vicar with a secret; and, the gold-digger Vivian Greensleeves.

Mr. Abbott, the London publisher of what turns out to be a bestseller, is quite taken with Miss Buncle and kindly steers her through the choppy waters of being a first-time author. 

In the meantime, the villagers led by Mrs. Featherstone Hogg are on a mission to identify and 'horsewhip' John Smith never suspecting that the timid, frumpy Barbara Buncle is the woman whose words have brought on so much trouble. 

As the residents read about themselves, or at least Miss Buncle's keen observations about them, changes start to happen. The bully becomes more considerate of his wife and children and the confirmed bachelor begins to notice the charms of his neighbor.

Even Miss Buncle begins to take on the assertive and more glamorous aspects of Elizabeth Wade, her alter ego and narrator of the books.

There is a second Miss Buncle book that I already have on reserve at the library. If you are a fan of such gems as Cranford and Lark Rise to Candleford, you will feel right at home with Miss Buncle and her neighbors. 

22 comments:

  1. I AM a fan of Lark Rise to Candleford, which I have read, and Cranford, which I haven't but plan to, as I adore the series. I need to put Miss Buncle on my list. It sounds absolutely delightful.

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    1. Penny, you will definitely get along with Miss Buncle. There is even a character with the name of Dorcas, our favorite postmistress from LRtoC!

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    2. Aha! All-the-more reason to meet Miss Buncle. I actually did check my library system, and find it D. E. Stevenson is available, though very popular right now. Thanks, Belle.

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    3. My library has all the Miss Buncle books available as ebooks. A bonus if I am snowed in!

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  2. I have wanted to read Miss Buncle for a while--it sounds like so much fun. I loved Cranford, and I happen to be reading Lark Rise to Candleford right now!

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    1. Oh, Kathy, just dive right in. It is available as an ebook from my library and I was able to check it out right away. I will admit that at first I had trouble keeping all the characters straight, but after that slight hurdle it was a terrific read. Now on to the second in the series (there are three).

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    2. I did it--my library has it only as an e-book, so I just downloaded it. I'll start reading it right away!

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  3. She was such a great heroine - so desperately broke and able to save herself through her writing.

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    1. I know. I admire her pluck. And so funny about the possibility of raising hens!

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  4. This sounds delightfully funny. Am adding it to my list! :)

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    1. Lark, it is quite amusing. Not too strenuous (except for keeping track of the characters). Miss Buncle comes into her own!

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    2. I'm excited...my library actually has a copy! And they have Miss Buncle Married, too. Have you read that one yet?

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    3. I have it on reserve at my library. I love it when a plan comes together!

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  5. I think I've read all the Buncle books. They're just the right thing when you don't want to concentrate too hard and you want to smile a bit. Cranford, however, is one of my favorites books. I laughed aloud at the old ladies!

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    1. Joan, it was your mention of Miss Buncle that inspired me to check the library and to be delighted that it carries all three in the series. I do love Cranford, both the television version and the book version.

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    2. Oh, I'm so glad it's easy for you to get the Buncle books. I love the book Cranford, but I haven't yet seen the television version. Perfect for one of these cold winter nights!

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    3. Yes, and I might just have to re-watch the ladies of Cranford soon!

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  6. I loved Miss Buncle's Book, and the sequel Miss Buncle Married was also fun! I just got the third book. I wish the BBC would make these into a series like they did for Cranford.

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    1. Oh, what a great idea about a television series! Perhaps they could cast Honeysuckle Weeks (from Foyle's War) as Miss Buncle.

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    2. A theater group here in Chicago actually did a stage version of Miss Buncle's Book last fall - didn't get a chance to see it but it got pretty good reviews.

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    3. Oh, that is great. Would love to have seen it. Such wonderful characters.

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