What do you think?
Rate this book
Το γαλάζιο δωμάτιο
Ιστορίες λιτές, ευχάριστες, γεμάτες συναισθήματα, μυρωδιές και χρώματα. Καταστάσεις απλές, αληθινές, βγαλμένες από την καθημερινότητα. Με κατανόηση και τρυφερότητα, όπως πάντα, η Πίλτσερ καταγράφει καθοριστικές στιγμές που αλλάζουν τους ήρωές της, τους ωριμάζουν και τους βοηθάνε να προχωρήσουν στο δύσκολο δρόμο της ζωής με μεγαλύτερη αισιοδοξία και πίστη στην έμφυτη καλοσύνη που υπάρχει σε όλους τους ανθρώπους.
367 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
182 people are currently reading
1106 people want to read
About the author
Rosamunde Pilcher
176 books3,114 followersRosamunde Scott was born on 22 September 1924 in Lelant, Cornwall, England, UK, daughter of Helen and Charles Scott, a British commander. Just before her birth her father was posted in Burma, her mother remained in England. She attended St. Clare's Polwithen and Howell's School Llandaff before going on to Miss Kerr-Sanders' Secretarial College. She began writing when she was seven and published her first short story when she was 18. From 1943 through 1946, Pilcher served with the Women's Naval Service. On 7 December 1946, she married Graham Hope Pilcher, a war hero and jute industry executive who died in March 2009. They moved to Dundee, Scotland, where she remained until her death in 2019. They had two daughters and two sons, and fourteen grandchildren. Her son, Robin Pilcher, is also a novelist.
In 1949, her first book, a romance novel, was published by Mills & Boon, under the pseudonym Jane Fraser. She published a further ten novels under that name. In 1955, she also began writing under her married name Rosamunde Pilcher, by 1965 she her own name to all of her novels. In 1996, her novel Coming Home won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by Romantic Novelists' Association. She retired from writing in 2000 following publication of Winter Solstice. Two years later, she was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
In 1949, her first book, a romance novel, was published by Mills & Boon, under the pseudonym Jane Fraser. She published a further ten novels under that name. In 1955, she also began writing under her married name Rosamunde Pilcher, by 1965 she her own name to all of her novels. In 1996, her novel Coming Home won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by Romantic Novelists' Association. She retired from writing in 2000 following publication of Winter Solstice. Two years later, she was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
August 12, 2024
I enjoyed this so much! The stories are funny and heart-warming and sometimes a little sad and all written with Rosamunde Pilcher’s superb eye for detail and character. I think my favorite stories are Miss Cameron at Christmas, Tea with the Professor, The Blue Bedroom, The House on the Hill, and An Evening to Remember. I’ll definitely be happily returning to this collection in the future.
February 25, 2016
I don't generally like short stories all that much, but I love Rosamunde Pilcher's writing. This book is full of nice happy-ending tales which I listened to as bedtime stories. It worked beautifully and sent me happily off to sleep.
April 10, 2018
I decided to go ahead and buy two of Pilcher's short story collections. I thought this one was stronger. That could have been because I read this one first though. The second one was good, but it just repeated themes that I already read about in this one so I found my interest waning a bit.
Toby (5 stars)- A young boy (Toby) learns about death. I also liked that there is a side story with his sister maybe realizing that the young man she has known forever would be more suitable to be with than the guy she brought home to her family.
Home for the Day (5 stars)-I laughed loudly at this story. A married man (James) finds out what it really entails for his wife (Louisa) to keep the household running. Staying home with a cold (side-eye to James) he now knows what it means when his wife says "Nothing much" when he asks her what she has been doing all day. When James acts totally surprised that his wife isn't going to just bring him coffee and have a four course lunch laid out I cracked up. I thought this was very sweet and loved the ending.
Spanish Ladies (3 stars)-A young girl is dealing with the death of her grandfather. Her older sister is about to be married and she pushes away anyone that can give her comfort. The ending definitely made it seem like she was going to be fixed up with a young man she despised until he sought her out and talked to her about her grandfather though.
Miss Cameron at Christmas (4 stars)-This story made me sad. Miss Cameron spent most of her life taking care of her elderly parents which caused her to give up a lot. When her father finally dies, she is able to buy a home that is just for her. She ends up being drawn in by the family next door.
Tea With the Professor (3 stars)-This seems to be a theme Pilcher likes to play with in her short stories, either a widowed man/woman and their children. A widowed woman is dealing with both of her children off to boarding school. She starts to wonder about the professor next door to her who seems interested in her as well.
Amita (3 stars)-I don't know if this story was getting the point across that Pilcher wanted it to. Amita is about a French and Indian woman who ends up marrying a man from England prior to WWII. The story talks about how a young woman talking about Amita (her family was close to the young man's family) and how she realized her mother was racist.
The Blue Bedroom (4 stars)-A young girl who has felt adrift since her mother has died makes a surprising connection to her new stepmother. Also can we say that the father getting married a year later says a lot about him.
Gilbert (5 stars)-I cracked up reading this one. A man who marries a widow with two young daughters finally feels a part of things when he helps set up a possible pet funeral.
The Before-Christmas Present (3 stars)-A married woman discovers feminism.
The White Birds (2 stars)-A mother worries for her daughter who is about to give birth. During important times of her life, birds have come and signaled something wonderful happening.
The Tree (3 star)-A young family with no money to fix up their home and cut down an unsightly tree get a visit by their cheap uncle which leads to surprising results.
The House on the Hill (3 stars)-I wasn't feeling this one much either. A young boy comes to stay with his sister who is expecting her first child. He gets caught up in fantasies about a man that lives up on the hill from his sister.
An Evening to Remember (5 stars)-Pretty funny story about a woman trying her best to get her home together and cook a great meal for her husband's boss and his wife. Things go sideways when they show up a day early.
I thought the writing was very good in all of the stories though I didn't care for all of the plots. Pilcher has a great way of describing the weather, food, people, and places that makes the stories come alive.
Toby (5 stars)- A young boy (Toby) learns about death. I also liked that there is a side story with his sister maybe realizing that the young man she has known forever would be more suitable to be with than the guy she brought home to her family.
Home for the Day (5 stars)-I laughed loudly at this story. A married man (James) finds out what it really entails for his wife (Louisa) to keep the household running. Staying home with a cold (side-eye to James) he now knows what it means when his wife says "Nothing much" when he asks her what she has been doing all day. When James acts totally surprised that his wife isn't going to just bring him coffee and have a four course lunch laid out I cracked up. I thought this was very sweet and loved the ending.
Spanish Ladies (3 stars)-A young girl is dealing with the death of her grandfather. Her older sister is about to be married and she pushes away anyone that can give her comfort. The ending definitely made it seem like she was going to be fixed up with a young man she despised until he sought her out and talked to her about her grandfather though.
Miss Cameron at Christmas (4 stars)-This story made me sad. Miss Cameron spent most of her life taking care of her elderly parents which caused her to give up a lot. When her father finally dies, she is able to buy a home that is just for her. She ends up being drawn in by the family next door.
Tea With the Professor (3 stars)-This seems to be a theme Pilcher likes to play with in her short stories, either a widowed man/woman and their children. A widowed woman is dealing with both of her children off to boarding school. She starts to wonder about the professor next door to her who seems interested in her as well.
Amita (3 stars)-I don't know if this story was getting the point across that Pilcher wanted it to. Amita is about a French and Indian woman who ends up marrying a man from England prior to WWII. The story talks about how a young woman talking about Amita (her family was close to the young man's family) and how she realized her mother was racist.
The Blue Bedroom (4 stars)-A young girl who has felt adrift since her mother has died makes a surprising connection to her new stepmother. Also can we say that the father getting married a year later says a lot about him.
Gilbert (5 stars)-I cracked up reading this one. A man who marries a widow with two young daughters finally feels a part of things when he helps set up a possible pet funeral.
The Before-Christmas Present (3 stars)-A married woman discovers feminism.
The White Birds (2 stars)-A mother worries for her daughter who is about to give birth. During important times of her life, birds have come and signaled something wonderful happening.
The Tree (3 star)-A young family with no money to fix up their home and cut down an unsightly tree get a visit by their cheap uncle which leads to surprising results.
The House on the Hill (3 stars)-I wasn't feeling this one much either. A young boy comes to stay with his sister who is expecting her first child. He gets caught up in fantasies about a man that lives up on the hill from his sister.
An Evening to Remember (5 stars)-Pretty funny story about a woman trying her best to get her home together and cook a great meal for her husband's boss and his wife. Things go sideways when they show up a day early.
I thought the writing was very good in all of the stories though I didn't care for all of the plots. Pilcher has a great way of describing the weather, food, people, and places that makes the stories come alive.
February 25, 2024
This might be my favorite short story collection ever. I loved every single story and had tears in my eyes by the time I turned the last page. Life affirming, full of hope and the small joys that life gives to us. A treasure of a collection!
April 17, 2017
Rosamunde Pilcher's stories are so lovely! She writes about strong women characters facing everyday problems in Scotland or Cornwall, England. My favorite story in this collection is called "Miss Cameron at Christmas." The heroine, Miss Cameron, is an aging Scottish lady, who after taking care of her elderly parents for most of her life, is left enough money in her father's will to buy her own little home in a village outside Edinburgh. She befriends her neighbors and comes to their aid one Christmas offering to stay with their teenage daughter when a medical emergency arises. She spends the evening talking about her life with the young girl and learns some valuable lessons about herself. I have read or listened to my recorded book of this collection many times. These lovely stories are always worth a re-read.
May 8, 2014
Not everyone can write short stories well. It takes a different kind of skill, I think. You haven’t got a couple of hundred pages to write an epic story and develop brilliant characters. You only have maybe twenty pages to tell a story and introduce characters in a way that leaves an impression, then you have to leave those characters behind for a new story. It takes a different sort of reader, too, to appreciate the brilliance of the stories.
I haven’t read a lot of short stories, some Alice Munro and Truman Capote, and none of Ms. Pilcher’s though I had read her epic 1000 page novel Coming Home. Ms. Pilcher, it seems, can also write beautiful short stories, in this collection mainly about births, deaths and marriages – the big events in life that usually shape those involved in some way and change them. The characters of these stories are ordinary people living ordinary lives, they could even be people you know. Everybody has a story and Ms. Pilcher has shown us that.
The stories are all set in the English countryside, which in my mind (because I’ve never been there) is a beautiful place. There is something very homely and peaceful about her descriptions and they made me feel like I was there, like I was a part of it. It is this kind of writing that makes me want to jump in my time machine and go back about thirty years, to the heart of the English countryside – I want to go now but I worry it’s a different place these days to the one she has described (if I’m wrong, please set me straight!). I could deal with the cold.
The characters are all unique in their own way. A few of my particular favourites were Toby from the first story Toby and Miss Cameron from Miss Cameron at Christmas, but each character was enjoyable as there were no two the same. It never felt like I was reading about the same person with a different name. I wonder how hard it must have been to write each character and then let them go after such a short time.
This is a fantastic collection with beautiful storytelling that transports the reader to another place and time. I know I’ll be looking for more like this.
I haven’t read a lot of short stories, some Alice Munro and Truman Capote, and none of Ms. Pilcher’s though I had read her epic 1000 page novel Coming Home. Ms. Pilcher, it seems, can also write beautiful short stories, in this collection mainly about births, deaths and marriages – the big events in life that usually shape those involved in some way and change them. The characters of these stories are ordinary people living ordinary lives, they could even be people you know. Everybody has a story and Ms. Pilcher has shown us that.
The stories are all set in the English countryside, which in my mind (because I’ve never been there) is a beautiful place. There is something very homely and peaceful about her descriptions and they made me feel like I was there, like I was a part of it. It is this kind of writing that makes me want to jump in my time machine and go back about thirty years, to the heart of the English countryside – I want to go now but I worry it’s a different place these days to the one she has described (if I’m wrong, please set me straight!). I could deal with the cold.
The characters are all unique in their own way. A few of my particular favourites were Toby from the first story Toby and Miss Cameron from Miss Cameron at Christmas, but each character was enjoyable as there were no two the same. It never felt like I was reading about the same person with a different name. I wonder how hard it must have been to write each character and then let them go after such a short time.
This is a fantastic collection with beautiful storytelling that transports the reader to another place and time. I know I’ll be looking for more like this.
February 3, 2021
While this collection features absolutely quaint and charming short stories from Pilcher — all of which I enjoyed, highlighting some of the endearing characters she can create — they stand as such. Mere highlights.
Pilcher, like so many other novelists, requires the room of a longer work in order to properly suit her style. While much of the charm is there, the depth I know Pilcher can achieve is absent or barely ghosting through the surface. Some of the stories had some marks of humor that were completely unexpected (Gilbert) and others maintained a level of familiarity and naturalness without dipping too far into the saccharine pool (The Before-Christmas Present and An Evening to Remember). But the others felt far more like a round up of very sweet sitcom episodes, wrapping up neatly within their half-hour time slot. Actually they all had a ring of this to them, especially once they were grouped together and listened to in succession — some were just more forgivable than others.
However, all that being said — these were very comfortable and cozy, which is nice because I am not one to love short stories in the first place. Easy listening for the reader.
Audiobook, as narrated by Jilly Bond, Helen Johns, and Lucy Paterson: These three did a wonderful job. I'm particularly partial to Bond, as she has done other Pilcher audiobooks and her voice is just absolutely suited for these easy and earnest stories. I am also excited to see Johns has done the narration on a few other Pilcher novels to which I will be listening in the future.
Pilcher, like so many other novelists, requires the room of a longer work in order to properly suit her style. While much of the charm is there, the depth I know Pilcher can achieve is absent or barely ghosting through the surface. Some of the stories had some marks of humor that were completely unexpected (Gilbert) and others maintained a level of familiarity and naturalness without dipping too far into the saccharine pool (The Before-Christmas Present and An Evening to Remember). But the others felt far more like a round up of very sweet sitcom episodes, wrapping up neatly within their half-hour time slot. Actually they all had a ring of this to them, especially once they were grouped together and listened to in succession — some were just more forgivable than others.
However, all that being said — these were very comfortable and cozy, which is nice because I am not one to love short stories in the first place. Easy listening for the reader.
Audiobook, as narrated by Jilly Bond, Helen Johns, and Lucy Paterson: These three did a wonderful job. I'm particularly partial to Bond, as she has done other Pilcher audiobooks and her voice is just absolutely suited for these easy and earnest stories. I am also excited to see Johns has done the narration on a few other Pilcher novels to which I will be listening in the future.
August 11, 2014
I love all things written by Rosamunde Pilcher. Her simplicity of description and her beautiful way with words is astounding. Her stories flow effortlessly across my imagination, bringing to life her characters and making me fall in love with them every time. This particular book is full of priceless gems. I never read any book more than once but I've read The Blue Room from cover to cover many times. I still cry or laugh in all the right places. A must read for anyone who, like me, thinks of England with nostalgia or with hope of visiting again.
March 25, 2024
Although it’s been many years I think I have read these stories a dozen times. They are all so lovely. Families, farmers, the country, the sea, animals, Scotland, Cornwall, friendship, tea, Chile con Carne! So many Pilcher-ish things that I love!
It did not have that one elusive story I cannot seem to find - a young woman on the day of her wedding spends the morning with her Granny who gives her great comfort and encouragement. Does anyone know where this is?
It did not have that one elusive story I cannot seem to find - a young woman on the day of her wedding spends the morning with her Granny who gives her great comfort and encouragement. Does anyone know where this is?
January 1, 2021
I wanted to start a new year with an easy, pleasant read, so I've picked Rosamunde Pilcher's book, and it's done the trick
November 17, 2024
Five stars for level of comfort reading. This collection of stories goes down like a nice hot cup of tea - satisfying and invigorating. Each story deals with a turning point, a coming of age, a change in circumstance, and what would be stressful in real life is treated with love and kindness in the stories. There is young Toby in 'Toby' who is dealing with the death of a friend for the first time. His grief takes him to an insular place of sadness until he is able to rejoin the rhythms of daily life. James is 'Home for the Day' and learns to appreciate all that his wife does to make their life possible. Laurie is planning her sister's wedding and grieving the death of her grandfather in 'Spanish Ladie." Miss Cameron is on her own for the first time in her life, after the death of her elderly parents, and finds a way to go on in 'Miss Cameron at Christmas.' (My personal favourite story). And so it goe through thirteen stories that draw you into the lives of the characters, only to have the reader leave with a word of comfort, and maybe a little bit more steel in the backbone. These characters are everyday people, with strong survival instincts. If life's trials are too much for you, I recommend that you sit down with this book of stories, and maybe you will get up with a renewed spirt.
February 28, 2018
Una novela que empecé a leer en un fin de semana de estadía en Algarrobo en Enero.Demoré casi un mes en leerlo pero no porque fuera malo o aburrido, sino porque estos 13 cuentos, deben leerse de a poco, tomándose el tiempo para cada relato, no son para leerlos a la rápida ni a la pasada, hay tomarle el gusto a cada uno de las historias.
Una novela encantadora, cada una de las historias conlleva un drama humano, pero de alguna u otra manera vivimos con la certeza que el alma humana tiene la capacidad para salir adelante.
Como dice la sinopsis de la contraportada de la novela son "relatos de hondo perfil humano" ambientadas en la Inglaterra rural y hablan de la vida cotidiana...
Las historias son íntimas, nos habla del ser humano, de los hechos cotidianos, de la amistad, del dolor, de la nostalgia, de la esperanza contada con cierto dramatismo pero con finales esperanzadores.
Cada una de las historias me gustaron, no hay ninguna en la novela que me haya parecido mal o aburridas, al contrario quedé encantada con todas, siendo la primera novela que leo de R. Pilcher debo decir que he quedado mas que satisfecha con la lectura de estas historias.
Las historias tienen en común hablar del amor, no solo de pareja (que creo que son las menos) sino del amor fraternal entre las personas.
Probaré mas adelante a leer las historias románticas de esta autora a ver si logra nuevamente encantarme como con esta lectura. Le doy 5/5 .-
Una novela encantadora, cada una de las historias conlleva un drama humano, pero de alguna u otra manera vivimos con la certeza que el alma humana tiene la capacidad para salir adelante.
Como dice la sinopsis de la contraportada de la novela son "relatos de hondo perfil humano" ambientadas en la Inglaterra rural y hablan de la vida cotidiana...
Las historias son íntimas, nos habla del ser humano, de los hechos cotidianos, de la amistad, del dolor, de la nostalgia, de la esperanza contada con cierto dramatismo pero con finales esperanzadores.
Cada una de las historias me gustaron, no hay ninguna en la novela que me haya parecido mal o aburridas, al contrario quedé encantada con todas, siendo la primera novela que leo de R. Pilcher debo decir que he quedado mas que satisfecha con la lectura de estas historias.
Las historias tienen en común hablar del amor, no solo de pareja (que creo que son las menos) sino del amor fraternal entre las personas.
Probaré mas adelante a leer las historias románticas de esta autora a ver si logra nuevamente encantarme como con esta lectura. Le doy 5/5 .-
February 14, 2023
I love Rosamunde Pilcher. Every time I think she is finished writing, I feel a sense of loss. She is truly a remarkable writer. It has been quite a long time since I read her short stories, which made my time reading them this weekend in front of the fire an even bigger treat. I love Rosamunde Pilcher. Love her!
5/10/21
Audible has these now. YAY!!
5/10/21
Audible has these now. YAY!!
October 5, 2023
13 short happy ending stories. Made a change from reading a whole book.
September 17, 2025
Η Ρόζαμουντ Πίλτσερ σταθερή αξία όταν θές / χρειάζεσαι comfort reading. Ευρισκόμενη σε μια περίοδο με λίγη υπολειπόμενη προσοχή για διάβασμα, επέλεξα ένα βιβλίο με διηγήματα που με έκανε να νιώσω όμορφα και να ξεφύγω. Αγαπώ την Πίλτσερ και πιάνω κάτι δικό της για να ηρεμήσω και να μου φτιοάξει η διάθεση μέσα από τις διηγήσεις της από την αγγλική εξοχή και τηνα γγλική νοοτροπία.
April 3, 2024
She has done it again, To take incidents which happens in all our lives, spice it up with her ability to describe people , and places, and bring out stories, amazing,
September 15, 2023
I’m going through a bit of a Rosamunde Pilcher binge. It started by reading Snow in April. I enjoyed that book so much that I moved on to a collection of short stories, A Place Like Home: Short Stories. Even though I typically find short stories, and especially short story collections to be a bit of a slog, I finished that collection and moved on to this one.
Although I loved A Place Like Home: Short Stories, I had an even better time with this collection. The main reason is that the stories cover a range of topics. The focus isn’t always romantic love in these stories. Although, romance often plays a supporting role.
The first story, “Toby” is about an eight-year-old boy whose good friend, a sixty-two year old neighbour, dies. Over the course of the story Toby helps out with a difficult lambing, witnesses his sister mend a friendship, which may become more than friendship, and he also learns about death.
I have to share this passage, a great example of Rosamunde Pilcher’s insight: “And as for death … Death is a part of life, his mother had told him. And Willie had said that death was a secret between God and himself. But Granny believed that death was the glittering, shining peak of each person’s private mountain, and that perhaps was the best, the most comforting of all.”
The second story, “Home for the Day” is about a man who has a cold and is told to stay home from work by his boss. Over the course of the day, we discover that the man really has no idea how his wife spends her days. It’s a charming story.
One of my favourite stories among these is “Miss Cameron at Christmas”. I first encountered this short story in the book Christmas With Rosamunde Pilcher and was absolutely taken with it.
Miss Cameron is fifty-eight and her entire life has been spent looking after her two aged parents. When her father dies she is shocked to find that her father, who she has assumed is reasonably poor, has left her wealthy enough that she will never have to worry about money again. She moves into a new house, in a location she remembers visiting as a child. Then one Christmas her next door neighbour goes into premature labour. The woman’s husband asks Miss Cameron if she would look after their twelve-year-old daughter.
What happens is heartwarming and beautiful. Rosamunde Pilcher really excels at found family stories.
Other stories among this collection that I especially enjoyed: “The Blue Bedroom”, “Gilbert”, “The Before-Christmas Present”, and “The Tree”.
Although I loved A Place Like Home: Short Stories, I had an even better time with this collection. The main reason is that the stories cover a range of topics. The focus isn’t always romantic love in these stories. Although, romance often plays a supporting role.
The first story, “Toby” is about an eight-year-old boy whose good friend, a sixty-two year old neighbour, dies. Over the course of the story Toby helps out with a difficult lambing, witnesses his sister mend a friendship, which may become more than friendship, and he also learns about death.
I have to share this passage, a great example of Rosamunde Pilcher’s insight: “And as for death … Death is a part of life, his mother had told him. And Willie had said that death was a secret between God and himself. But Granny believed that death was the glittering, shining peak of each person’s private mountain, and that perhaps was the best, the most comforting of all.”
The second story, “Home for the Day” is about a man who has a cold and is told to stay home from work by his boss. Over the course of the day, we discover that the man really has no idea how his wife spends her days. It’s a charming story.
One of my favourite stories among these is “Miss Cameron at Christmas”. I first encountered this short story in the book Christmas With Rosamunde Pilcher and was absolutely taken with it.
Miss Cameron is fifty-eight and her entire life has been spent looking after her two aged parents. When her father dies she is shocked to find that her father, who she has assumed is reasonably poor, has left her wealthy enough that she will never have to worry about money again. She moves into a new house, in a location she remembers visiting as a child. Then one Christmas her next door neighbour goes into premature labour. The woman’s husband asks Miss Cameron if she would look after their twelve-year-old daughter.
What happens is heartwarming and beautiful. Rosamunde Pilcher really excels at found family stories.
Other stories among this collection that I especially enjoyed: “The Blue Bedroom”, “Gilbert”, “The Before-Christmas Present”, and “The Tree”.
September 16, 2020
A wonderful collection of short stories that reveal all the beauty of Rosamunde Pilcher's art. Stories that do not escape from everyday life that we can easily meet next to us or even in our own lives. Stories of deaths, difficult or easy births, ordinary moments of married life, problems but also solutions provided by human kindness, stories of daily pleasures and more unusual situations that make life worthwhile, stories in beautiful environments, with many beautiful images that the author felt the need to put on paper, maybe to tell us something about these stories, maybe just to make us feel nice, and of course above all stories about really positive people who want to make their lives beautiful but also the lives of their closed ones. In other words, a collection of short stories that fans of the author like me can especially appreciate.
Μία υπέροχη συλλογή διηγημάτων που φανερώνουν όλη την ομορφιά της τέχνης της Rosamunde Pilcher. Πρόκειται για ιστορίες που δεν ξεφεύγουν από την καθημερινότητα που μπορούμε άνετα να συναντήσουμε δίπλα μας ή ακόμα και στις δικές μας τις ζωές. Ιστορίες για θανάτους, δύσκολες ή εύκολες γεννήσεις, συνηθισμένες στιγμές του έγγαμου βίου, προβλήματα αλλά και λύσεις που δίνει η ανθρώπινη καλοσύνη, ιστορίες για καθημερινές απολαύσεις και περισσότερο ασυνήθιστες καταστάσεις που κάνουν τη ζωή να αξίζει τον κόπο, ιστορίες μέσα σε όμορφα περιβάλλοντα, με πλήθος από όμορφες εικόνες που η συγγραφέας ένιωσε την ανάγκη να τις βάλει στο χαρτί, ίσως για να μας πει κάτι για τις ιστορίες αυτές, ίσως απλά για να νιώσουμε εμείς όμορφα, και φυσικά πάνω από όλα ιστορίες για πραγματικά θετικούς ανθρώπους που επιθυμούν να κάνουν όμορφη τη ζωή τους αλλά και τις ζωές των διπλανών τους. Με άλλα λόγια μία συλλογή διηγημάτων που οι θαυμαστές της συγγραφέως όπως εγώ μπορούν να εκτιμήσουν ιδιαίτερα.
Μία υπέροχη συλλογή διηγημάτων που φανερώνουν όλη την ομορφιά της τέχνης της Rosamunde Pilcher. Πρόκειται για ιστορίες που δεν ξεφεύγουν από την καθημερινότητα που μπορούμε άνετα να συναντήσουμε δίπλα μας ή ακόμα και στις δικές μας τις ζωές. Ιστορίες για θανάτους, δύσκολες ή εύκολες γεννήσεις, συνηθισμένες στιγμές του έγγαμου βίου, προβλήματα αλλά και λύσεις που δίνει η ανθρώπινη καλοσύνη, ιστορίες για καθημερινές απολαύσεις και περισσότερο ασυνήθιστες καταστάσεις που κάνουν τη ζωή να αξίζει τον κόπο, ιστορίες μέσα σε όμορφα περιβάλλοντα, με πλήθος από όμορφες εικόνες που η συγγραφέας ένιωσε την ανάγκη να τις βάλει στο χαρτί, ίσως για να μας πει κάτι για τις ιστορίες αυτές, ίσως απλά για να νιώσουμε εμείς όμορφα, και φυσικά πάνω από όλα ιστορίες για πραγματικά θετικούς ανθρώπους που επιθυμούν να κάνουν όμορφη τη ζωή τους αλλά και τις ζωές των διπλανών τους. Με άλλα λόγια μία συλλογή διηγημάτων που οι θαυμαστές της συγγραφέως όπως εγώ μπορούν να εκτιμήσουν ιδιαίτερα.
July 1, 2023
4.5🌟 One of my new favorite Rosamunde Pilcher books! Although her four family sagas will always be in the top 4, this novel is now firmly in the 5th spot.
I truly enjoy short stories and I believe that RP does a wonderful job in this department. You can still hear her cozy, sparkling and down-to-earth voice, even though the stories are shorter and more succinct.
It's so hard to choose a favorite from this collection, but The Blue Bedroom is definitely up there, if not the best of the bunch. I have a feeling that I read this book when I was younger because some of the situations sounded familiar to me but, if I did, I never entered it into Goodreads.
What a joy (but not a surprise) to find another charming and thoughtful book that I love by one of my all-time favorite authors. This one will definitely be in my re-read pile! Highly recommended!
P.S. For any Agatha Christie fans - I found this collection of short stories somehow similar to The Listerdale Mystery and Eleven Other stories. I can't tell you why I say that, but they have something in common somehow. The Listerdale Mystery is a fantastic short story by Agatha Christie and also my favorite. It would be interesting to know if anyone agrees with me about this! Comment below if you do :)
I truly enjoy short stories and I believe that RP does a wonderful job in this department. You can still hear her cozy, sparkling and down-to-earth voice, even though the stories are shorter and more succinct.
It's so hard to choose a favorite from this collection, but The Blue Bedroom is definitely up there, if not the best of the bunch. I have a feeling that I read this book when I was younger because some of the situations sounded familiar to me but, if I did, I never entered it into Goodreads.
What a joy (but not a surprise) to find another charming and thoughtful book that I love by one of my all-time favorite authors. This one will definitely be in my re-read pile! Highly recommended!
P.S. For any Agatha Christie fans - I found this collection of short stories somehow similar to The Listerdale Mystery and Eleven Other stories. I can't tell you why I say that, but they have something in common somehow. The Listerdale Mystery is a fantastic short story by Agatha Christie and also my favorite. It would be interesting to know if anyone agrees with me about this! Comment below if you do :)
March 13, 2008
I was very sad when this book of short stories ended. There are not enough Rosamunde Pilcher novels for my tastes right now. I may have to break out The Shell Seekers and Coming Home. I may also have to haunt some used bookstores to try and find some of her shorter and older books. Perhaps even a trip to the UK is in order. ;-)
One of the stories that I particularly liked was one about a man who stays home from work one day with a cold and is surprised to find what his stay at home wife really does all day.
One of the stories that I particularly liked was one about a man who stays home from work one day with a cold and is surprised to find what his stay at home wife really does all day.
July 11, 2018
Read on breaks at work. It was like lovely little trips to the U.K. through these short stories. Every character felt so real, like they actually lived and had these little ordinary events in their lives. I am going to seek out more books by Pilcher, as this was the first one I'd read. My only complaint was that three of the stories (maybe even four, can't remember) had a plot that revolved around a pregnant woman about to go into labor. It just felt repetitious and unnecessary.
January 17, 2020
Oh for more storytellers like Rosamunde Pilcher. Like much of the world, I first encountered her writing through The Shell Seekers and was totally enamored. Her strength is in her characters, and if you do not recognize some aspect of yourself, then for sure you pick up on a trait that is just like someone you have known which is to say her people are real. This book of 13 stories does not disappoint.
December 26, 2013
Here is my bookcrossing review from 2004:
"I remember these as delightful stories. Deftly written too with the way each character's life is quickly sketched and captured by small but insightful details."
Re-reading the collection more than ten years later my opinion hasn't changed. I released the book at the Embassy Cafe in Newcastle in November 2004. I wonder who picked the book up?
"I remember these as delightful stories. Deftly written too with the way each character's life is quickly sketched and captured by small but insightful details."
Re-reading the collection more than ten years later my opinion hasn't changed. I released the book at the Embassy Cafe in Newcastle in November 2004. I wonder who picked the book up?
March 10, 2009
Wonderfully written emotional stories, small subjects, long memories.
June 17, 2010
Refreshing to have a good book without sex, murder, child abuse, or political corruption...
Wonderful for a peaceful sleep, Val.
Will save it for you
Wonderful for a peaceful sleep, Val.
Will save it for you
October 25, 2010
Just picking up this book makes me smile. A collection of short stories that cover a full range of emotions. Great for a day on the beach.
March 16, 2014
Lovely! The perfect cozy, drifting-off-to-sleep stories. How did I not know about this sooner?
August 29, 2023
Αγαπώ πολύ αυτή τη συλλογή διηγημάτων. Είναι η τρίτη φορά που τη διαβάζω και πάντα με γεμίζει ζεστασιά, αισιοδοξία και μια μεγάλη επιθυμία για επίσκεψη σε χωριουδάκια της Αγγλίας.
January 13, 2019
Ρόζαμουντ Πίλτσερ - Το γαλάζιο δωμάτιο (5/5)
Μια συλλογή διηγημάτων από τη συγγραφέα με την ανθρώπινη ματιά στην απλή καθημερινότητα των ανθρώπων. Η ιδιαιτερότητά της φαντάζει πιο ξεκάθαρη εδώ, στην μικρή έκταση των δραμάτων που παρουσιάζει: έχει απλή και φαινομενικά προβλέψιμη συνταγή για κάθε ιστορία της, συμπαθητικοί χαρακτήρες, κάποια υπαρκτά προβλήματα που τους ταλανίζουν, ένα απροσδόκητο συμβάν και η χρυσή τομή της λύσης που ταιριάζει στο καθετί. Κι ωστόσο, η ικανότητά της μπορεί να συγκριθεί μόνο με κάποιους ταλαντούχους ζωγράφους που με δυο τρεις πρόχειρες πινελιές ήταν ικανοί να συνθέσουν ένα τοπίο, ένα πρόσωπο ή το απόσπασμα μιας σκηνής γεννώντας στον καθένα μας έναν μεγάλο πλούτο συναισθημάτων, δυσανάλογων με την φαινομενική απλότητα του έργου τους.
Ήδη με τις πρώτες γραμμές η συγγραφέας διαμορφώνει χαρακτήρες που θέλεις να ταυτιστείς, οι οποίοι ξεχωρίζουν με άνεση μεταξύ τους, ανασυστήνει καταστάσεις που θα μπορούσε ο καθένας μας να βιώσει και καταλήγει με έναν καθόλα ικανοποιητικό τρόπο που αφήνει μια όμορφη αίσθηση. Το ομώνυμο διήγημα του τίτλου ίσως δεν είναι αυτό που αξίζει περισσότερο τις δάφνες, αλλά έχει ίσως μια αξιοπρόσεκτη εικόνα.
Προσωπικά απόλαυσα το διήγημα με τίτλο Μια Αξέχαστη Νύχτα, όπου εμφανίζεται ένα απολαυστικό υποδόριο περιβάλλον κωμωδίας σε μια καθολικά αγχωτική κατάσταση: φανταστείτε ότι ο προϊστάμενος του/της συζύγου προσκαλείται στο σπίτι σας για γεύμα με την προοπτική να αξιολογήσει την προαγωγή του/της. Ήταν σαν να ζούσα στο ίδιο δωμάτιο με τους χαρακτήρες που ζούσαν τον τρόμο της ζωής τους προσπαθώντας να ξεφύγουν από μια καταστροφή που δεν την είδαν να έρχεται. Και η συνέχεια είναι πραγματικά απίθανη!
Τα συνήθως πολυσέλιδα μυθιστορήματά της, δεν αφήνουν να διαφανεί αυτή η ικανότητα της κ. Πίλτσερ να δημιουργεί με μονοκοντυλιες υπέροχα σύμπαντα. Φυσικά και θα αναζητήσω όποιον άλλον τόμο διηγημάτων της θα μπορέσει να μου το προσφέρει αυτό.
A collection of short stories from the author with the humane angle of the people's simple daily life. Her peculiarity seems clearer here, into this small extent of the situations she presents: She has a simple and seemingly predictable recipe for every story, nice characters, some real problems that afflict them, an unfortunate event and the golden ratio of the solution that suits everyone. However, her ability can only be compared with some outstanding artists' ability who with two three short brush strokes they could create a landscape, a person or the excerpt of a scene, giving to all of us a wide range of feelings, disproportionate to the apparent simplicity of their artwork.
Even in the first lines of her short stories, the author shapes the characters so that you want to empathise them, which stands out easily, she creates situations that every one of us could possibly live in and she finishes them in a satisfying way that leaves a beautiful feeling. The short story with the same title of the collection (the blue room) may not be the one that is the better than the others, but perhaps it has a remarkable image. Personally, I enjoyed the short story titled An Evening to Remember, where a delightful subcutaneous comedy scene appears in a generally stressful situation: Imagine that your spouse's boss is invited to your house to eat with the prospect of evaluating his / her promotion. It was just as I was in the same room as the characters who lived the horror of their lives, trying to escape a disaster that they did not see coming. And the sequel is really fantastic!
Here often multi-page novels don't let Mrs. Pilcher's ability to make wonderful universes with simple strokes. Of course, and I will look for her next collection of short stories where she can offer me this enjoyment.
Μια συλλογή διηγημάτων από τη συγγραφέα με την ανθρώπινη ματιά στην απλή καθημερινότητα των ανθρώπων. Η ιδιαιτερότητά της φαντάζει πιο ξεκάθαρη εδώ, στην μικρή έκταση των δραμάτων που παρουσιάζει: έχει απλή και φαινομενικά προβλέψιμη συνταγή για κάθε ιστορία της, συμπαθητικοί χαρακτήρες, κάποια υπαρκτά προβλήματα που τους ταλανίζουν, ένα απροσδόκητο συμβάν και η χρυσή τομή της λύσης που ταιριάζει στο καθετί. Κι ωστόσο, η ικανότητά της μπορεί να συγκριθεί μόνο με κάποιους ταλαντούχους ζωγράφους που με δυο τρεις πρόχειρες πινελιές ήταν ικανοί να συνθέσουν ένα τοπίο, ένα πρόσωπο ή το απόσπασμα μιας σκηνής γεννώντας στον καθένα μας έναν μεγάλο πλούτο συναισθημάτων, δυσανάλογων με την φαινομενική απλότητα του έργου τους.
Ήδη με τις πρώτες γραμμές η συγγραφέας διαμορφώνει χαρακτήρες που θέλεις να ταυτιστείς, οι οποίοι ξεχωρίζουν με άνεση μεταξύ τους, ανασυστήνει καταστάσεις που θα μπορούσε ο καθένας μας να βιώσει και καταλήγει με έναν καθόλα ικανοποιητικό τρόπο που αφήνει μια όμορφη αίσθηση. Το ομώνυμο διήγημα του τίτλου ίσως δεν είναι αυτό που αξίζει περισσότερο τις δάφνες, αλλά έχει ίσως μια αξιοπρόσεκτη εικόνα.
Προσωπικά απόλαυσα το διήγημα με τίτλο Μια Αξέχαστη Νύχτα, όπου εμφανίζεται ένα απολαυστικό υποδόριο περιβάλλον κωμωδίας σε μια καθολικά αγχωτική κατάσταση: φανταστείτε ότι ο προϊστάμενος του/της συζύγου προσκαλείται στο σπίτι σας για γεύμα με την προοπτική να αξιολογήσει την προαγωγή του/της. Ήταν σαν να ζούσα στο ίδιο δωμάτιο με τους χαρακτήρες που ζούσαν τον τρόμο της ζωής τους προσπαθώντας να ξεφύγουν από μια καταστροφή που δεν την είδαν να έρχεται. Και η συνέχεια είναι πραγματικά απίθανη!
Τα συνήθως πολυσέλιδα μυθιστορήματά της, δεν αφήνουν να διαφανεί αυτή η ικανότητα της κ. Πίλτσερ να δημιουργεί με μονοκοντυλιες υπέροχα σύμπαντα. Φυσικά και θα αναζητήσω όποιον άλλον τόμο διηγημάτων της θα μπορέσει να μου το προσφέρει αυτό.
A collection of short stories from the author with the humane angle of the people's simple daily life. Her peculiarity seems clearer here, into this small extent of the situations she presents: She has a simple and seemingly predictable recipe for every story, nice characters, some real problems that afflict them, an unfortunate event and the golden ratio of the solution that suits everyone. However, her ability can only be compared with some outstanding artists' ability who with two three short brush strokes they could create a landscape, a person or the excerpt of a scene, giving to all of us a wide range of feelings, disproportionate to the apparent simplicity of their artwork.
Even in the first lines of her short stories, the author shapes the characters so that you want to empathise them, which stands out easily, she creates situations that every one of us could possibly live in and she finishes them in a satisfying way that leaves a beautiful feeling. The short story with the same title of the collection (the blue room) may not be the one that is the better than the others, but perhaps it has a remarkable image. Personally, I enjoyed the short story titled An Evening to Remember, where a delightful subcutaneous comedy scene appears in a generally stressful situation: Imagine that your spouse's boss is invited to your house to eat with the prospect of evaluating his / her promotion. It was just as I was in the same room as the characters who lived the horror of their lives, trying to escape a disaster that they did not see coming. And the sequel is really fantastic!
Here often multi-page novels don't let Mrs. Pilcher's ability to make wonderful universes with simple strokes. Of course, and I will look for her next collection of short stories where she can offer me this enjoyment.
December 12, 2023
This isn't exactly my go to genre, but I was looking for something short and sweet to read, and this definitely fulfilled the brief. All the stories are 'nice' - even if something slightly bad happens, each has a lovely ending - just the sort of thing to warm your heart on the lead up to Christmas. The writing was beautiful and, despite preferring a bit more action, horror or fantasy in my reads, I found myself looking forward to picking this up again. Well worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews