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coops456's review
4.0
Persephone have republished several works by Dorothy Whipple, and she is their highest-selling author. This collection of short stories shows why that is the case. Her protagonists here are all women in less than ideal domestic settings, portrayed with compassion and even affection. The writing is witty and often with a twist in the tale, as seen in my favourites in the collection - The Handbag and After Tea.
wendoxford's review
4.0
Loved these short stories of 1930s/1940s..beautifully crafted stories about, largely, repressed and compliant daughters seeking a way out...Different solutions are reached. Hard to believe that this sort of family situation where daughters do as parents command, is so, relatively recent. Just love Dorothy Whipple...want to read more
juliaeditrix's review
4.0
I enjoyed all these stories but -- the one story that really moved me was "Wednesdays." This really resonated with me from personal experience. The jilted wife visiting her children (husbands always got custody in England before WW2.) Her sense of unreality and deep loss was just -- unspeakably powerful to me. Coincidentally, I have also written a poem called Wednesdays. This just rang so many bells for me. Excellent.
marionhoney's review
dark
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Fun! Made me want to read more of this writer’s work
questingnotcoasting's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
This was an impulse buy last time I visited Persephone Books and luckily it was a very good choice. It's rare that I like all the stories in a collection but I thought all of these were great. While they seem quite cosy and quiet to begin with, they all have some kind of clever, deeper layer to them, often dealing with "a woman's place" and other social issues. I know Persephone have published more of Whipple's work so I'll look out for it next time I'm there.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Infidelity, and Child abuse
booksandbabble's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
vg2's review
4.0
This is my second book of short stories by Whipple, and I hope to read some of her novels soon. There is a winning combination to her tales: witty writing that appears ‘cosy’ on the surface, yet packs a punch when addressing social issues, and scenarios that are timeless, working just as well today as in the early twentieth century. Very enjoyable.
bibliocharylodis's review
4.0
Highly recommended. Loved the stories. Sometimes I was sad a story ended as I wanted to know more, though...
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