I feel such bittersweet nostalgia looking at these Shirley Hughes illustrations - her artwork was part of the background of my childhood in the 80s. Loved this piece and will be checking out The Cazalets!
Oh the Cazalets have a special place on my bookshelf. I used to read them on the tube going into work in the mid-1990s. Cazalets on the way in, Evening Standard on the way home. My sister regularly accuses me of stealing her copies 😂 Definitely washing drying on the line, and lying on a blanket under the apple tree in my teens. We lived in a hamlet miles from anywhere or any friends so I’d either spend my days on my bike cycling to see them in neighbouring villages or lying on the grass surrounded by books.
It clearly was accepted, 80+ years ago, at least among the upper classes, that some men liked little girls and astonishingly that nothing need be done about it. As well as Camomile Lawn and the Cazalets - incestuous too - you have Boy Dugdale in Love In A Cold Climate, who generates more sympathy than his victim...
I’ve downloaded the sample of each and every one, thanks! Last summer I read The Jaws Log by Carl Gottlieb, it’s a non-fiction book but fun for summer, sharing the details behind the making of Jaws and the movie-making process specifically. You’ll love it!
I love Something in Disguise Elizabeth Jane Howard
Thank you for these recommendations - some I haven’t read and some I’ll re-read. Are you enjoying reading the Alfie books to your grandson? I’m loving reading these again to my 2 small boys
My children are 14 and 10 so hopefully won’t be reading to a grandchild any time soon! Ha. I might have to steal my nephew though for a reading a session….
Rarely have I been so involved with a family that's not my own than the Cazalets as well - really do reach for them on repeat. I am getting married in September and will absolutely give seating arrangements and wedding people a go - Thank-you!!
Thankyou! Yes please I would love that! I’ve recently finished Three Days in June - Anne Tyler - good wedding lit fic but finding it harder to find other good ones that aren’t too romance-y. X
A lovely list! I do love reading your posts Natasha, here and on insta.
Have you thought of linking your recommendations to bookshop.org rather than amazon? I’m making a very conscious effort to support independents rather than making one obscenely wealthy man even richer…
I can’t tell you how grateful I am for this - in bed with a broken ankle and bored. I never realised Judy Blume wrote adult novels. I love the shell seekers but also September - Pilcher’s other big book set in a Scottish summer
Oh The Cazalets forever
QUITE, Julie. xx
In fact you have inspired me to re-read them over the summer Xx
I feel such bittersweet nostalgia looking at these Shirley Hughes illustrations - her artwork was part of the background of my childhood in the 80s. Loved this piece and will be checking out The Cazalets!
And mine! Some of them could be snapshots from my childhood. x
You can’t beat a Shirley Hughes illustration; they caught my eye and got me reading this post and now I have several more books to read!
Ah, The Greengage Summer.
One of my favourites.
Oh the Cazalets have a special place on my bookshelf. I used to read them on the tube going into work in the mid-1990s. Cazalets on the way in, Evening Standard on the way home. My sister regularly accuses me of stealing her copies 😂 Definitely washing drying on the line, and lying on a blanket under the apple tree in my teens. We lived in a hamlet miles from anywhere or any friends so I’d either spend my days on my bike cycling to see them in neighbouring villages or lying on the grass surrounded by books.
This sounds blissful and like something from a novel. Today, you would have been sending them snaps on Snapchat...
It clearly was accepted, 80+ years ago, at least among the upper classes, that some men liked little girls and astonishingly that nothing need be done about it. As well as Camomile Lawn and the Cazalets - incestuous too - you have Boy Dugdale in Love In A Cold Climate, who generates more sympathy than his victim...
Absolutely. (And I am sure this is what she was referring to, as she'd only read the first of the Cazalets, in a state of extreme disapproval.)
Summer Sisters, The Cazalets, I have so much to read. I need the summer off.
I’ve downloaded the sample of each and every one, thanks! Last summer I read The Jaws Log by Carl Gottlieb, it’s a non-fiction book but fun for summer, sharing the details behind the making of Jaws and the movie-making process specifically. You’ll love it!
I love Something in Disguise Elizabeth Jane Howard
Thank you for these recommendations - some I haven’t read and some I’ll re-read. Are you enjoying reading the Alfie books to your grandson? I’m loving reading these again to my 2 small boys
My children are 14 and 10 so hopefully won’t be reading to a grandchild any time soon! Ha. I might have to steal my nephew though for a reading a session….
Lovely rose tinted view of your childhood - thank you!
Thank YOU!
Rarely have I been so involved with a family that's not my own than the Cazalets as well - really do reach for them on repeat. I am getting married in September and will absolutely give seating arrangements and wedding people a go - Thank-you!!
Ha. So true re the Cazalets. And HUGE congratulations - how lovely. I should do a best books set at weddings for you... x
Thankyou! Yes please I would love that! I’ve recently finished Three Days in June - Anne Tyler - good wedding lit fic but finding it harder to find other good ones that aren’t too romance-y. X
A lovely list! I do love reading your posts Natasha, here and on insta.
Have you thought of linking your recommendations to bookshop.org rather than amazon? I’m making a very conscious effort to support independents rather than making one obscenely wealthy man even richer…
I always do and all of these are, aside from Seating Arrangements because (inexplicably) I couldn't find it on bookshop.org - see: https://uk.bookshop.org/contributors/maggie-shipstead
SO WEIRD.
Ah this was the one I clicked on…! Thank you 🙏
thank you, I have already decided to revisit this post in midwinter so that I can revel in these memories!
That is a lovely idea.
How wonderful to find a summer reading list - thank you! Maybe I’ll re-read Shell Seekers - a lovely classic.
ADORE
Oh this is great - the wedding people is fab as are many of your other choices - plus all the rest - I will go back to this post with more time
I can’t tell you how grateful I am for this - in bed with a broken ankle and bored. I never realised Judy Blume wrote adult novels. I love the shell seekers but also September - Pilcher’s other big book set in a Scottish summer