The Two Farms

by Mary E. Pearce

The appearance of a wandering urchin named Jim becomes yet another bone of contention in the mutual antagonism of two Gloucestershire farmers--wealthy John Sutton and struggling Morris Riddler

Genres: Fiction, British Literature, Historical Fiction, Historical

190 pages, Hardcover

First published November 13, 1986

Reviews

[loslibrosdeeri (Eri D. Ross) · Rating 4 out of 5]

¡Wuoooo! ¿Acaso este es el año en donde habrá libros qué harán cambiar todas mis expectativas? ¡Este libro se llevó mucho de mi! Ha sido una lectura totalmente hermosa.

¡AMÉ por completo a Jim! Ese hombre en serio es alguien a quien yo seguiría en todas sus metas, hay tanto por aprender de él y yo estuve dispuesta y lo hice en cada página.

Hubo frases que me derritieron y que me dejaron suspirando, llegué a pausar el libro y gritar a continuación un glorioso: “¡OH SÍ, muchacho, da todo ese esfuerzo!” Porqué a pesar de no tener una infancia feliz, logra saber que es lo que quiere lograr y no se queda sentado esperando a que su suerte llegue; ¡él va por su suerte! Tuve un flechazo y admiración con aquel hombre como no tienen una idea. En tan pocas páginas sentí toda una vida al lado de él y los personajes que lo acompañaban. Admiré el como pudo levantarse y la manera en la que dejó ir su pasado en modo curativo para sanar al fin.

Jim Lundy es un personaje que mi corazón y cerebro han escogido para que se quede como uno de mis tantos novios literarios que tengo. Tiene características tan bellas que lo hacen el escaso hombre que alguna vez quizá se pueda encontrar en esta sociedad, ¡ojalá yo pueda encontrar a un Jim Lundy!

Aquí dejaré algunas frases que me gustaron:

“—Nunca conseguirás marido si sigues así.
—Un marido es lo último que quiero”. 🌟(Okay, okay. Como mencioné antes otro de mis personajes favoritos de este libro ha sido Kirren, quien sin duda me robaba la palabras con sus pensamientos y comentarios. En cuanto la conocí supe que estaría de acuerdo con ella en muchas cosas. SPOILER: Se queda con Jim al final, y... OMG!!!! Amo la pareja).

“Puedo ser un perfecto don nadie, pero tengo derecho a manejar mi propia vida.” 🌟(YASSS LOVE, of course yassss! ¿Ya les dije que amo a este hombre? Pues lo amo).

“Los libros los escriben hombres que han experimentado las cosas por sí mismos, y hay que estar dispuestos a aprender de ellos”. 🌟(I love it).

Como siempre subrayé más but... esas me las guardo jejeje. Eri fuera 🤪.

[Jessamyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comfort reading for me, having read this several times since I was a young teenager. I still love the story, even now, and find much satisfaction in the progression of Godsakes' and Jim's successes.

[Peter McGinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Pearce writes a straightforward story. Here, and the description inside the front cover pretty much ensures there are no surprises along the way, which is just as well as there are no surprises along the way. But she paints a picture in her historical novels that seem to accurately depict an accurate, if sometimes stylized, view of olden times. This is a fairly short book, though it takes most of it for the two stubborn main characters to decide to admit how they feel about each other. So it is more of a romance than anything else. A quick and usually interesting read.

[Kirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m probably biased because I’m named after Kirren, but I really enjoy this book! I love the character I’m named for, she’s strong, independent, and hard working. I love seeing Jim’s progression and how things work out in the end. The story is lovely and I find myself wishing I lived a simple farm life on those rolling green hills.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

10/10 would recommend

[Ape · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a valley with a farm on either side and the two farmers don't get on. My god, did you ever hear such a thing? He he.

This is like farmer chick lit. It's light reading, but entertaining when you don't want to think too much.

So, this is the 1800s in Gloustershire and of the two farms, Sutton's is really successful, run by a clever farmer. The other, run by Riddler, is called Godsakes (like for godsakes!) and is heavily in debt and Riddler really is not farm manager material. His daughter is raised in poverty and is a hard worker by cynical. Suttons son Philip is raised in luxury and is indulgent, self absorbed and not trustworthy.

Jim Lundy is a half starved kid abandoned by his droving uncle and is taken in and raised by Sutton. Jim has a knack for farming and a keen mind. He takes over as the farm bailiff and raises his own sheep. But when Philip steals his sweetheart (to be honest Jane made him no promises and was a money loving, flakey girl) Jim gets angry and is looking to get back at the Suttons, especially when the father says its all a bit awkward and would he like to get out of the way and immigrate to Canada? So Jim uses his saved money to pay Riddlers debt in an agreement that sees him take half the farm, and under Jim's management they look to get the farm going again. And of course Jim and Riddlers daughter, Kirren, are a similar age and we all know where that's heading.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful little book. I didn't have to struggle to understand it or keep a dictionary by my side to look up words that I'd never heard before. I really enjoyed the author's book, Apple Tree Lean Down, and this one didn't disappoint. Just wish it had been longer!

[Mikala · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of the Adult Book Club books for the library I work at, and it was a hit! I read the entire book in two days!

[Sofia Verdin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encanta la trama, los diálogos, el romanticismo sobre el arduo trabajo del campo.

[Hemanth Chandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to experience what the 1850s look for farming in UK

[Lala · Rating 5 out of 5]

The two Gloucestershire farms, Peele and Godsakes, could not be more different. Peele is well-tended, a picture of success; Godsakes is running down, suffering from years of neglect. And so they seem set to remain, their owners stubbornly locked into a silent discord. Then fate brings Jim Lundy to the quiet valley, and Jim's fortunes, as he grows to manhood, become inextricably mingled with those of the two farms - with unexpected results.

A tale of rivalry, romance, and revenge, set during the last century and enriched by Mary Pearce's special love of country fold and appreciation of our rural heritage.

A good read indeed.

[Aurora · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well told story of two Gloucestershire farms and the families that belong to them. A story in the tradition of the great family dynasty epics like The Thornbirds.

[Elisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Gommie (Dad's Mom) and my Mom both love this author... I remember the book being a little sad, and somewhat dramatic - but good.

[Marjean]

This book confirms why I enjoy Mary E. Pearce. Engrossing story about life on a farm. I appreciated the transformation of the farm and the people. I'd rather read about farm life than live it!

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely tale of simple people and simple country life in the 19th century.

A sweet story about the love that grows from the daily contact with someone one comes to admire and respect.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Morris Riddler dreams of turning his hard scrabble farm into a show place just like a farm across the valley. He is unsuccessful until Jim Lundy arrives with his emotional baggage.

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Two Farms, Mary E. Pearce, RDC-M, V 1 1986, 6/88. Set in mid-nineteenth century Glouchestershire, the story of two farms and the people who owned them. Okay.

[Trang (In My AO3 Era) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story I like to read on a warm, spring day. I wish Pearce could have gone in deeper on the characters' relationships.