In the last few years, I have fallen in love with the Fairacre series, by Miss Read (the pseudonym for English author, Dora Saint). Fairacre is an imagined English village, and the stories about the life and people in this village as told by the village school teacher are absolutely delightful. Not everything is idyllic in the village, but nonetheless, I would love to live there, and I thoroughly enjoy my time spent there when I’m reading one of the books in the series. When I finish reading the Fairacre series, I will most happily move on to her Thrush Green series. Thrush Green is another village full of more delightful stories.
This is an ongoing personal reading challenge…one of my “Reading Journeys.” I haven’t been reviewing each of the books I’ve read in the series, but this post is where I will keep track of the ones I read and link to the ones I review.
blue = I’ve read but not reviewed
red = click to read my review
The Fairacre series:
- Village School – 1955
- Village Diary – 1957
- Storm in the Village – 1958
- Miss Clare Remembers – 1962
- Over the Gate – 1964
- Village Christmas – 1966
- Fairacre Festival – 1968
- Emily Davis – 1971
- Tyler’s Row – 1972
- Christmas Mouse – 1973
- Farther Afield – 1974
- No Holly for Miss Quinn – 1976
- Village Affairs – 1977
- The White Robin – 1979
- Village Centenary – 1980
- Summer at Fairacre – 1984
- Mrs. Pringle – 1989
- Changes at Fairacre – 1991
- Farewell to Fairacre – 1993
- A Peaceful Retirement – 1996
The Thrush Green series:
- Thrush Green – 1959
- Winter in Thrush Green – 1961
- News from Thrush Green – 1970
- Battles at Thrush Green – 1975
- Return to Thrush Green – 1978
- Gossip from Thrush Green – 1981
- Affairs at Thrush Green – 1983
- At Home in Thrush Green – 1985
- School at Thrush Green – 1987
- Friends at Thrush Green – 1990
- Celebrations at Thrush Green – 1992
- Year at Thrush Green – 1995
The Caxley Chronicles:
- The Caxley Chronicles Omnibus: The Market Square and The Howards of Caxley
Other Works by Miss Read:
Tiggy– 1971- Fresh from the Country – 1955
- Mrs. Griffin Sends Her Love
You know how much I love her! Sometimes I think I discovered her when my kids were younger and I volunteered at the library, but honestly it feels like I’ve “known” her all my life. Her work is in my head when I’m not reading it. I almost think I like Thrush Green even more, but really, how can I say?!
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Nan, I do know how much you love her, and I’m quite sure I learned about her from you! Thank you for that!
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In 2004, I experienced a severe depression. Reading ‘gentle’ books helped me, and somehow I’d come across one of Miss Read’s novels (probably a yard-sale or thrift-store purchase)… I went on to find (via eBay and other sources) every single one of Miss Read’s books, and in the long months of recuperation, read them in the order in which they’d been written. One of the richest reading experiences I’ve ever had.
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Jacqueline, they are very healing books. Miss Read was the first author I returned to after losing my husband. I found solace in the decency of the characters and the gentle humor.
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