The Year at Thrush Green

Thrush Green #12

by Miss Read

In her fortieth book published by Houghton Mifflin, the inimitable Miss Read leads us through the seasons at Thrush Green, the Cotswold village already beloved by her thousands of readers. As the snows of January yield to snowdrops and then daffodils, we look in on a host of characters - whimsical, eccentric, always delightfully recognizable - and their daily affairs. Dotty Harmer serves up an herbal brew to her neighbor Albert Piggott, who has a soft spot for her behind his crusty facade. Architect Edward Young overhears a rumor that the old people's home he designed may be a bit cramped. An American stranger arrives in search of family ties. And at the Fuchsia Restaurant, Albert's wife Nellie finds herself in charge when old Mrs. Peters falls ill, and soon she receives two surprising gifts with implications for her past and her future. As summer unfolds, so do the dramas of village life. By year's end, these stories are satisfyingly interlocked, capturing a bygone era with wit and charm.

Genres: Fiction, British Literature, Historical Fiction, Novels, Audiobook, Humor, Classics

266 pages, Hardcover

First published May 28, 1996

About the author

Dora Jessie Saint MBE née Shafe (born 17 April 1913), best known by the pen name Miss Read, was an English novelist, by profession a schoolmistress. Her pseudonym was derived from her mother's maiden name. In 1940 she married her husband, Douglas, a former headmaster. The couple had a daughter, Jill. She began writing for several journals after World War II and worked as a scriptwriter for the BBC.

She wrote a series of novels from 1955 to 1996. Her work centred on two fictional English villages, Fairacre and Thrush Green. The principal character in the Fairacre books, "Miss Read", is an unmarried schoolteacher in a small village school, an acerbic and yet compassionate observer of village life. Miss Read's novels are wry regional social comedies, laced with gentle humour and subtle social commentary. Miss Read is also a keen observer of nature and the changing seasons.

Her most direct influence is from Jane Austen, although her work also bears similarities to the social comedies of manners written in the 1920s and 1930s, and in particular the work of Barbara Pym. Miss Read's work has influenced a number of writers in her own turn, including the American writer Jan Karon. The musician Enya has a track on her Watermark album named after the book Miss Clare Remembers, and one on her Shepherd Moons album named after No Holly for Miss Quinn.

In 1996 she retired. In 1998 she was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for her services to literature. She died 7 April, 2012 in Shefford Woodlands.

Reviews

[Diane Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last of the Thrush Green books books written by Miss Read. There is one more written by her editor "Christmas in Thrush Green". I have it and will read it, but I'm not sure it will be the same. This was a fitting last book of the series, leaving her characters intact and still carrying on in their little village. These books have been such a perfect escape for me from our own world's craziness. I'm sure I'll return to them.

Mt 5 star rating is for the pleasure this series has given me.

[Julie Durnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness I loved this book! My favorite character in a great cast of characters was Charles Henstock, what a quiet and wise man, giving counsel to the flurried village residents! My only problem with the book, or should say with me (!), is that I realized after starting it that it was the last of the Thrush Green series, but I read on without being too disoriented. Now my dilemma is- do I next read the first book in the series or just throw my hands up and read them backwards?!!

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another charming, calming stay in Thrush Green, stories told with such particularity that they can only be universal. Who in the world hasn't run up against a steamrolling personality, or a sensitive artist, or a person troubled by dementia? I love that the struggles of 50+ folks in a tiny, fictional English village mean something to my 20-something life in the suburbs of Chicago.

I love things that are structured by the seasons (thanks to a very early introduction to Vivaldi #homeschooled), so I adored that each chapter covered a month in the life of Thrush Green. Each chapter began with a delightfully commonplace epigraph, such as the final lines of Thomas Hood's "No!" for the appropriate month.

Aging was a strong theme of this book, with Ella facing loss of eyesight, and Dotty and Beatrice experiencing dementia. It's not dark or heavy, but seeing how these characters faced their struggles encouraged me. I'm still in "the prime of life," but I'd rather think about aging now and accept changes graciously rather than deny or scorn my age. The way we view bodies in our society today....don't get me started.

While I'm loath to end my (first) sojourn in Thrush Green, I have at least two more series lined up (Jan Karon's Mitford and Miss Read's Fairacre) to keep me company. I mean, it's been 4 years since I started Thrush Green, so this reading project will last me for a while. Having a comforting series like this to dip into provides necessary refreshment and respite in my reading life. By the time I finish the other series, I'll be primed to start the cycle over again!

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

For those familiar with the neighbors in Thrush Green, this a lovely book for revisiting each one. But if you are new to the series, it would probably come off as disjointed.

As usual there is not a lot of story line but there is friendly conversation, humble kindness, and cheerful perseverance. And lovely descriptions of life's simple pleasures.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

After recently reading several YA series fantasy books replete with court intrigues, assassins, betrayals, loss, disfigurement, etc, it was a blessed relief to reenter the comforting world of Thrush Green. Walking with my beloved friends through a "year" at Thrush Green was peace personified. Poor Ella did find out she has macular degeneration so I could sympathize. Although I object to the apparent British modifier of "senile" at the beginning of the condition! Having just finished the book in Baker on a lovely snowy day, it occurs to me that Baker is the Oregon equivalent of Thrush Green, albeit slightly bigger. I always find peace here also.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

More charm and gentle neighborliness to be found at Thrush Green. There, the sorrows of life coexist with the comedies and provide reassurance that life always has its compensations. The character I love best in these books is Winnie Bailey, the doctor's widow. She's one of the main ones that looks for those compensations even when life is a bit difficult, and she always takes things in stride, with a kindly humor and self-awareness. I feel drawn to her. Her conversation toward the end of this book about her experience of being married vs. being widowed felt very honest and balanced. However, that is not the quote that I have earmarked to share in my review. Enjoy this comic nugget...
----------------------------------------------
Before he could decide how best to cope with this strange behaviour, Dotty had recovered herself and was rattling on again about her demise.
"It's the disposal of the body which is the difficulty, as murderers always find. I should really like to be buried in the vegetable garden. All that good humus and those minerals being released slowly into the soil would do so much for the plant growth. However, there seems to be a great reluctance to let me have my way about this, and I suppose it must be cremation after all."
"They do it very nice," said Albert comfortingly.
"Well, I hope so," said Dotty doubtfully. She picked up her mug and drank deeply.
"I suppose the ashes would contribute a certain amount of nourishment," she continued more cheerfully. "I shall tell Connie to put most of it by the rhubarb."
-----------------------------------------------------------

'Dotty's Collywobbles' was a common local complaint, familiar to Dr. Lovell and his partners, and the inhabitants of Thrush Green and Lulling had soon learned that it was wiser not to broach any of Dotty's sinister brews. No one had actually died, but many had hoped to, when suffering from sampling Dotty's offerings.

[Beth Bonini · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book begins on Twelfth Night and ends with a Christmas engagement: it seems an appropriate finish to my 2018 reading year. I particularly liked the way that this book was divided into chapters corresponding to the months of the year. The weather, the changing seasons and the rituals of Thrush Green are a part of every book, but they had some extra emphasis in this one. There was a nice spread between the major characters as well and Mrs Curdle (the fair owner who came to Thrush Green every May Day) was brought back (in terms of memories and a legacy). My favourite scenes in this book were the conversations between old friends Ella and Winnie, and I think that Dotty Harker and Nelly Piggott both got a little bit of extra appreciation.

These books are so like life in the way they stir together change and sameness. It’s been a pleasure to read one instalment every month during the 2018 #MissReadalong hosted by Arpita @bagfullofbooks.

[Judy Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a relaxing experience it is for me to read any one of the Miss Read books and this one, The Year at Thrush Green, was a special treat. In this instance, as in the majority of both the Fairacre and Thrush Green books, the title is an apt description for what you will be reading. This one begins in January, goes through to December and covers the major happenings in this very small English village in the Cotswolds month-by-month. The characters are recurring from books in the past and you get to catch up with the incidents large and small which figure so prominently in the life of this community. There is a new character introduced in this story, an American, and by the end of the book he had become almost as familiar as the actual residents of the village.

The Miss Read novels don't gloss over anything unpleasant that happens in real life but they are presented in a more low key manner; there is no shouting in your face moment with one of these novels. The books tend to follow along in a more-or-less chronological order so if you pick up a book at random you are quite likely to learn what would normally be a spoiler simply because that event happened in an earlier book. If you want to try to read the books in order, there is a wonderfully informative article about Dora Jessie Saint (Miss Read) on Wikipedia as well as a list by publication date of all the books in both series.

[Linore · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable visit to Thrush Green and its residents as always, the only issue I had with this book is that the author introduces an American character who refers to his parents as ma and pa. This is set in the 70s now, or possibly later, and I can only think that the author read the Little House Books and assumed that Americans today still call mom and dad 'ma' and 'pa.' Other than this jarring and awkward recurrence, the people and events in the story are as delightful and endearing as ever. A few characters seem to have been dropped by the author, (Phillida and her husband Frank) vanishing before the last book, which is curious, but the rest are here with all that we have come to enjoy and expect from them. Thank you, Miss Read.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

So nice to spend another year in Thrush Green.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The gang's all here for this last installment of the Thrush Green series! And this also completes my 2018 Miss Read challenge! While I think there were are books in the series, this one, in typical Miss Read fashion, had a bit of intrigue, sadness, happiness, ending with a bow on top. I have faith that everyone will continue to be happy in their little Cotswold village when the last page is turned!

[Pamela Shropshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a few days break from the series, I picked back up with The Year at Thrush Green, which was as enjoyable and as soothing as always. As the title implies, the book is divided into the twelve months of the year, each chapter recounting the events of that month.

Snow arrives on Twelfth Night, and Thrush Green enjoys or complains about the winter weather, depending on the disposition of the resident. Molly Curdle receives an odd Christmas card from America, the sender purporting to be a kind of relative, but without an address. Albert Piggott digs his way to Dotty Harmer’s for a chat and finds her making notes about her own funeral arrangements. Albert, having dug many graves in his day, finds this morbid and says so. Harold Shoosmith is invigorated by some brisk shoveling of garden paths. Joan Young enjoys some indoor bulbs; likewise, most Thrush Green ladies busy themselves with domestic chores.

The snow melts in February and Charles Henstock gets out to visit his parishioners; he is a well-beloved man and is greeted by everyone he meets. He stops at Ella’s first, then goes to see Harold, who over the years has become one of Charles’s most trusted and dearest friends. Mrs. Thurgood, a Lulling busybody, is clamouring that the common room at Rectory Cottages is too small, and Charles wants to share his distress with, and be soothed by, Harold. Harold gives very short shrift to the busybody and tells Charles not to worry about it.

However, this is certainly not the last time the subject will arise, as Mrs. Thurgood is rather like a dog with a bone. Edward Young, the architect of the cottages, hears the rumors as is deeply and personally offended. In spite of efforts to reassure him, the issue nags at him for months, until the problem is solved in a very unexpected way.

Albert Piggott finds a basket on the church porch containing, of all things, a Highland terrier puppy! There is no card or any explanation. Albert promptly takes the dog to the undisputed expert, Dotty, who names him Bruce and declares her intention of keeping him. Winnie ushers in March with a luncheon party for all her elderly lady friends. Nelly has to take over running the Fuchsia Bush when her friend and partner, Mrs. Peters, falls ill. Nelly is stunned and grieved when she receives word that her former lover, Charlie, has died, and she secretly cherishes an antique necklace that he asked to be sent to her.

With April comes Easter, along with a very handsome stranger who is to become a dear friend to Thrush Green. Carl Andersen, an American, was the author of Molly’s mysterious card. Carl’s mother was from nearby Woodstock; she met his father there, who was a WW2 GI. Mrs. Curdle was his mother’s godmother; she is now elderly and ill. When Carl is required to travel to the UK for work, she charges him to find any relatives of her godmother. Of course in Thrush Green, he finds many who knew and loved Mrs. Curdle, and upon meeting Ben and Molly, the big-hearted Carl declares them to be god-cousins. Carl, an architectural engineer, becomes well acquainted Edward Young and Charles Henstock.

Mrs. Peters is seriously ill (the book never says, but the symptoms sound like cancer of the stomach), and when Bertha Lovelock reverts back to her kleptomaniac ways, Nelly nips it quickly in the bud. In spite, or perhaps because of, Nelly’s plain-speaking, the Lovelock sisters appreciate Nelly’s kindnesses to them and present her with a silver bonbon dish!

Later, when Mrs. Peters nears the end, she shocks Nelly by leaving her the Fuchsia Bush! At first quite daunted, Nelly resumes her matter-of-fact labour with spirit, carrying on as usual. With the help of an assistant to take care of the financial side, the Fuchsia Bush continues to thrive, to the great delight of the people of the Coltswolds!

Each chapter has a brief epigraph: a snippet from a famous diarist, or bit of poem. I was quite distracted - in a good way! - by these and spent a good part of an afternoon tracking down the diaries from which they were taken. I’ve added several to my TBR. A couple lines of the following poem headed the November chapter:

No sun – no moon!
No morn – no noon –
No dawn – no dusk – no proper time of day.
No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member –
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds –
November!
- Thomas Hood

Dotty Harmer’s spaniel, Flossie, is quite elderly by now, and has been growing weaker and less active. The following paragraphs brought me to tears, not so much over the death of a fictional dog, but because of my darling Lily, who is now 12 years old and nearly complete blind.

Still drowsy, she lay relishing the warmth of her bed and the familiar weight of Flossie‘s body against her legs. After time, she put out a hand to feel the familiar silky head. Flossie enjoyed having her ears caressed.

But something was wrong. Something was different. In alarm, Dotty struggled up to investigate. Flossie’s weight was heavier than usual. She seemed just as peaceful, eyes closed, limbs comfortably stretched along the eiderdown, but Dotty knew at once that she had died...’Friends must part,’ thought Dotty, searching for her handkerchief.

Here is another bit that I really loved:

As [Carl] waited for the door to be opened he gazed at the great spire of St. John’s church silhouetted against a luminous sky scattered with stars. It was very quiet and the serenity of his surroundings calmed the slight agitation which had been with him on the short journey to this destination. This would all be here when he had gone. Other men, a hundred years hence, would look up at that noble spire and those eternal stars.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is dividied into months. There's some recap of previous events. Dotty is preparing for her funeral. Albert finds a small dog in a basket.Charlie died. The owner of the Fushia Bush dies and Nelly takes over. Flossie, the dog, dies. Dotty goes missing and Bertha is up to her old ways again.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished the Thrush Green books! This one was a little all over the place, trying to cover a lot of little experiences without much of a general plot. There were some lovely parts.

I did enjoy my yearlong read of Thrush Green, and I'm glad I've read these books. At the same time, it was nice to know I'm finished. They are definitely comfort reads!

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the last in the series, and maybe the last book the author wrote which was apparent. There was a lot of rehashing and repeating, which is fine for someone who wasn’t reading in order, but tedious for those who did. On the whole I really enjoyed this domestic fiction series.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful end to the series. It began with Mrs. Curdle, and ended with her, as well. I would love to spend time at Thrush Green. I've grown very fond of the characters.

[Hannah Conner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't find this quite as engaging as some of her other books.

[Niki (nikilovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ended my year readalong of the Thrush Green series with The Year at Thrush Green. I loved how the series was wrapped up and so many of the characters were brought together at the end to celebrate a happy occasion and even ended with words about Mrs. Curdle, who also opened the series in the first book. I will miss visiting the characters each month. It was a very calm, relaxing series to read throughout the year. I'm looking forward to reading her other series.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to do a combined review for all the remaining Thrush Green books (with the exception of Christmas) because although they are all excellent, they are also all basically the same, in the way that episodes of The Archers are all the same. So, still worth reading; but hard to differentiate one book from another.

The attraction comes from seeing the seasons ebb and flow, and picking up the stories of the characters. There are changes - characters die, babies are born, houses are built, newcomers arrive, people retire, fall ill and/or become increasingly eccentric. There is no reference to events in the outside world - the importance is attached to events in the local community. And those events are rarely dramatic (this isn't Midsomer). They are real.

Anybody who is considering relocating to a village should read these books to get an idea of what they would be moving to. And anybody who thinks these books are unrealistic, or sentimental, has either never lived in a village, or didn't join in properly when they did!

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this book on CD, and it was a satisfying dose of treacle. It was almost an English version of Jan Karon's Father Tim stories set in North Carolina. Every once in a while it's nice to visit a world where everyone is kind to everyone else. A steady diet of Thrush Green fiction (and there's apparently a lot in this series) would be way too much.

[Jennie Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, the Miss Read books are fun, realxing and a great bedtime read. I just love finding a series I love that has lots of books to read!

[Harriet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book in one sitting, I think I hurried through it too quickly and lost the nuances. I need to read it again.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was lovely to finish the year with Miss Read. The series comes full circle. The first volume begins on May Day with the arrival of Mrs. Curdle's fair. This volume ends with a lovely tribute to her. In between we meet a new character from America who quickly becomes a warm and welcome friend. Fortunes change for several and it all happens with good grace and the loving support of friends and community. I especially enjoyed the episodes with the Lovelock sisters. I am sorry to leave Thrush Green. I hope to revisit there someday.

[Pam Keevil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in the 90s, it has much of the charm of earlier books and has more of a 50s vibe than the date is was written. There are some new characters and the same wonderful evocation of the different months and the passing of the year but i found the plot lines weaker and more contrived (rich American with links to the Fairground and Mrs Curdle returns and gifts a large amount of money which solves an issue over the new sheltered accommodation). It is good to find the characters are aging; Ella's weakening sight, Dotty's frailty at times.

[Tamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, sweet, sweet & made one nostalgic for a place and time that probably never existed.

I couldn't read many of the books by the author in back-to-back sittings, because they are peopled with characters who are too nice and too unbelievable. The titles in the author's many series will be a boon when the "world becomes too much with me," but I probably won't indulge often.

Perfect for the elderly who have begun again to hope for happy endings.

[Erik Tolvstad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fitting wrap up to the series. (I know there's another book, mostly ghost written, but that doesn't count).

For most old familiar characters, there's a nice gentle ride off into their sunset. For others, there's an expected final bow, and for still others, the prospect of bright futures. Just what we expect from the author, and just what we hope for and need.

I'd like to live in a Thrush Green.

[Buffy · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.5 than 4 stars. Some quite good threads (Nelly and the Fuschia Bush, Dottie and her two dogs) and some less good ones (another outside character introduced just to be betrothed by the end of the story, more drama with Edward and architecture and with Teddy the unseen paramour). There were some nice echos with the very first book and Mrs. Curdle. Overall though, it feels tired. Like she has points to hit but not a lot of new ideas.

[Merrilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading about the lives of the inhabitants of Thrush Green. Each cozy book is a quick read, but, they always leave me with a warm feeling of peaceful happiness. All the familiar neighbors are here and even a new visitor who brings news from America.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this Thrush Green edition - even though I am always a little worried that her later stories won't hold up. The pace was lovely and gentle and very pleasant before bed reading. I enjoyed reading more about Nellie's life.