LemonSky reviewed Miss Buncle's book by D. E. Stevenson
Review of "Miss Buncle's book" on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
A very, enjoyable book that really made me laugh. I received "Miss Buncle's Book" for Christmas in 2013. I'm not sure why I waited this long to read it, but I'm glad I finally did.
It is the middle of the Depression, and Barbara Buncle's finances have taken quite a hit. She has been receiving dividends for years now and living comfortably, though not lavishly. However, the money has dried up and her situation has become dire. Interestingly, it never occurs to Barbara to go out and get a job - not that she's really skilled at anything anyway. Finally, Barbara decides to write a book. She's never written anything before and is not sure how to go about it at first. She then decides to do what all good writers do - write about what she knows. And what does Barbara really know? She's never been anywhere or done …
A very, enjoyable book that really made me laugh. I received "Miss Buncle's Book" for Christmas in 2013. I'm not sure why I waited this long to read it, but I'm glad I finally did.
It is the middle of the Depression, and Barbara Buncle's finances have taken quite a hit. She has been receiving dividends for years now and living comfortably, though not lavishly. However, the money has dried up and her situation has become dire. Interestingly, it never occurs to Barbara to go out and get a job - not that she's really skilled at anything anyway. Finally, Barbara decides to write a book. She's never written anything before and is not sure how to go about it at first. She then decides to do what all good writers do - write about what she knows. And what does Barbara really know? She's never been anywhere or done anything - except live a quiet life in the quiet, small town of Silvermead. Barbara is on the cusp of things in this village. She is not really part of the social life, but she's not an outcast either. Living on the edge like she has, she has done a great deal of observation, and she knows village life extremely well. Barbara sends her book, "Chronicles of an English Village," to a publisher, Abbott & Spicer, which immediately accepts it for publication. The author is listed as "John Smith" (for obvious reasons) and is retitled "Disturber of the Peace," which is very appropriate. Barbara has no idea wild things are about to become for her and Silvermead.
Barbara's book is NOT [b:Peyton Place|526869|Peyton Place|Grace Metalious|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348089469s/526869.jpg|37258]. It is a simple, unflinchingly honest, unintentionally hilarious account of life in Silvermead. The people of the town are not caricatures. They are portrayed exactly like they are in real life. Understandably, this does not go over well with them at ll. People have their illusions after all. The obnoxious, overbearing, hypocritical Mrs Featherstone Hogg likes to think of herself as a high-toned socialite, when she is really nothing but a former chorus girl with absurd pretensions. Mrs Greensleeves believes she is a lovely lady of style and glamor, but she's nothing but a golddigger. To make matters worse, not only does Barbara hold up a scathing mirror to the people of Silvermead, but she also has fun with them later in the novel when she has a mysterious boy walk through town playing a reed pipe and "his music roused the villagers to strange doings."
Things come to a head and several villagers actually seek legal action, which of course goes nowhere for obvious reasons, as Mrs Featherstone Hogg learns when she tries to convince a lawyer, Mr Spark, to do something:
"She explained, somewhat incoherently, that the character of Mrs Horsley Deans was a horrible character and not in the least like her, but that it was obviously intended for her, because it was exactly like her, and that therefore it was a libel and as such ought to be punished to the utmost rigor of the law...Her language became more picturesque and less polite every moment. Mr Spark began to wonder whether she really had been in the chorus when Mr Featherstone Hogg had been so misled as to marry her and elevate her to a higher sphere of life."
Barbara begins to feel very besieged because the animosity against the mysterious John Smith has risen to such a pitch, but she's afraid to say anything.Life for Barbara and Silvermead will never be the same again.
I can't remember the last time a book made me laugh this much. There is no malice at all in Barbara's actions. She isn't trying to insult anyone or cause trouble, and she's amazed when her actions are interpreted that way. There are happy endings (and beginnings) for several characters, while others like Mrs Featherstone Hogg and Stephen Bulmer get their comeuppance. This is the first book I've read by D. E. Stevenson and I intend to read more.
Very recommended.
