Mini Reviews

Flowers for Mrs Harris by Paul Gallico

This was a quick weekend read in cold weather to indulge myself when I handed up all my assignments and started mid-semester break. My review of Coronation interested a few friends, so I was happy to start another Gallico book. 

I have empathy for Mrs Ada Harris, who should surely pronounce her own name 'Ida' since she says such things as, 'I syved some money to get me passport photo tyken.' Mrs Harris is a 'British char' and I've been an Aussie cleaning lady. She regards her profession as a creative effort in which she takes pride, which is possibly the best way to take domestic cleaning over the long term. (I only did it for a few years. You do get used to it, but it's notorious for repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome and lower back trouble.)

Anyway, Mrs Harris spots two Christian Dior dresses in the wardrobe of a client and considers them breathtaking and heavenly. They totally slake her thirst for beauty and colour, so she sets a new lifetime goal on the spot. It isn't to stop putting her body under strain cleaning for other people, for Mrs Harris is a realist. It's to own a Dior dress of her own, for she's also a romanticist. Mrs Harris knows there will never be an event to which she can wear it, but the thrilling idea of storing such exquisite perfection in her own wardrobe drives her to scrimp and save until she can afford this sublime but essentially useless item. 

Next she heads across to Paris to choose her dress, where she's totally out of her depth in powerful circles of elegance. Yet this plucky heroine refuses to feel belittled by snobbery and spurs herself on with the reminder, 'Your money is as good an anyone else's.' Her arrival impacts several other people she brushes shoulders with, including Madame Colbert, the manager, who realises that her job with VIPs has blinded her to the reality of wider human needs. There is also Natasha, the most celebrated model and toast of Paris, who knows full well that she's being objectified and treated as a pretty prop to boost other people's public images. Natasha longs to quit her illustrious job and be absorbed back into bourgeois anonymity, but considers the price too high to pay, until honest little Mrs Harris walks through the door.

It's a lovely story all about the high price of being 'somebody' and the inherent dignity of being a 'nobody' and also encourages us to discover our own piece of beauty to boost our spirits in this world of toil. I find reading Paul Gallico's books is a bit like indulging in a super-sweet dessert though. Reading them back to back would be overpowering, but they're great for a quick indulgence here and there. 

And talk about the 1950s vibe! This decade was over long before I was born, yet I can almost smell the Brylcreem, not to mention the heady scent of big money. 

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Devotion by Hannah Kent

I adored this book because the characters' story is taken straight from my ancestral background on my mother's side. They are devout German and Prussian Lutherans who make the huge sacrifice of migrating to South Australia on a grueling six-month journey by sea, for the freedom of worshiping God in their own way. And they end up in the lush and fertile Adelaide Hills where they build the township of Hahndorf (which is re-named Heiligendorf in this novel, but we all know where it stands for). 

The tale starts back in the Prussian village of Kay, and focuses on two teenage girls who form an extremely close and loving bond. Hanne Nussbaum, who narrates the story, is a gauche and awkward girl who suspects she'll never live up to the expectations of her austere father and tight-lipped, stoic (but ravishingly beautiful) mother. Her new friend, Thea Auchenwald, is the daughter of a pair of broader-minded newcomers who linger on the outer circle of village life. Indeed, Thea's mother, Anna-Maria, is rumoured to be a bit witchy because of her herbal remedies, although desperate people don't mind calling on her for medical emergencies. 

During the debilitating sea passage on board the Kristi, something drastic happens to Hanne that allows her true sprightly and whimsical nature to have free rein. (Major plot spoilers seal my lips.) Suffice to say it changes her whole way of relating to her parents, her good-looking and cheeky twin brother, Matthias, and her fractious baby sister, Hermine. Not to mention Thea, who she comes to realise she loves with all her heart.

Hannah Kent is renowned for her impeccable research, and this is authentic and polished. Perhaps Hanne and Matthias may come across with the mindsets of twenty-first century youths, the way they surreptitiously smirk at their father's radical piety behind his back. If so, I feel Kent couldn't write it any other way. I love those flashes of modern solidarity from the twins. If they shared their father's same soberness and severity, as may well have been the case in real life, it wouldn't be the same book at all. I think historical novels must have their share of up-to-date attitudes to make them palatable.   

There is plenty of wonderful lyrical tribute to their new environment, full as it is with strange, mobile and noisy new flora and fauna. Hanne also contrasts the colour, light and perfume favorably against the dense, dark, forest environment they came from, lovely as it was. Since their story and the setting is my very own (for I lived a five minute drive from Hahndorf for many years) I wonder if I'm biased to appreciate this book as much as I do. It certainly makes me cherish my local environment and spare a thought for the brave and desperate settlers whose blood runs through my veins. 

I can't even give genre heads-ups for other readers, since that in itself may be spoilerish. All I can say is read it, and tell me what you think. It's historical fiction, and that's all we need to know at the start. 

The theme of the novel may be said to be spoken by Thea. 'Owe no-one anything, only love one another, for she who loveth hath fulfilled the covenant.' 

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'The Railway Children' by E. Nesbit

In this much-loved children's classic first published in 1906, the comfortable lives of three well-mannered siblings are greatly altered when, one evening, two men arrive at the house and take their father away. With the family's fortunes considerably reduced in his absence, the children and their mother are forced to live in a simple country cottage near a railway station. There the young trio—Roberta, Peter, and young Phyllis—befriend the porter and station master.

The youngsters' days are filled with adventure and excitement, including their successful attempt to avert a horrible train disaster; but the mysterious disappearance of their father continues to haunt them.

The solution to that painful puzzle and many other details and events of the children's lives come to vivid life in this perennial favorite, a story that has captivated generations of readers.

MY THOUGHTS:

This was published in 1906, so belongs to the charming kid lit of the short Edwardian era. Three young siblings live a comfy life with their parents in a London townhouse until their father, a government worker, is roughly hauled out of the house one night. The reader gets enough hints early on to surmise that he's been unjustly imprisoned, although this fact is concealed from Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis for a very long time. 

Their mother is forced to remove the family to Three Chimneys, a rough country dwelling, and drastically cuts costs while she tries to support them by writing stories. She's one of those beloved, hero-mums with the weight of the world on her shoulders, and the poems she writes for family and friends during her more leisurely moments are a great embellishment of the book.

Rather than growing miserable because of their new spartan lifestyle, the three kids channel their energy into getting familiar with the local railway and canal systems. The railway is their favourite, because it's the first interest they discover, plus the people who work and commute along it are the most friendly. There were several railway workers back in my own family line, so I really appreciate that. 

On several occasions, at least three of huge significance, the trio happens to be on hand at crucial moments to prevent serious accidents. Yes, it's very convenient plot wise, but also most entertaining to read. Other themes include being bold enough to ask for what they need, since others can't be expected to guess. Their mother and other adults are often horrified when boundaries of pride and privacy are accidentally crossed, but Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis definitely get things done, making us question whether those boundaries should even be there. 

Bobbie, or Roberta, the eldest sister, is a stand-out character to me. For those of us familiar with 21st century terms, it's clear she's an empath, our modern label for a person with a sixth sense when it comes to perceiving the mental or emotional turmoil of others. This is quite fascinating, because Nesbit would never have heard of such a term, writing as far back as 1906, but Bobbie clearly has all the typical traits, including internalising others' emotions, willingness to help out, love of nature, and a certain delicacy of holding back her intuitive knowledge when she thinks it's most tactful. 

The book explains her character as one of 'silent sympathy, which is not as dull as it sounds and not always easy.' In other words, Bobbie won't reveal to people that she's even aware of their suffering, but just makes an extra effort to be nice and lighten the load. It's a rare and excellent talent to have but since it's so internalised it tends to go unnoticed, with no accolades. Because of this, Bobbie never comes across as a goody-two-shoes who's performing to earn brownie points, but rather as the treasure that she is. 

Besides, she gets into too many heated arguments with her brother and sister to be a goody-two-shoes.

Phyllis, or Phil, is just the sort of feisty youngest sister who stands up for herself that I like. And Peter is a great lad, hanging out with his sisters because his options are so limited, while the restless machismo and testosterone drive him to get a bit dissatisfied and impatient. In one cringe-worthy scene, Dr Forrest gives him a totally old-fashioned, condescending and utterly sexist lecture. 'You know, men have to do the work of the world and not be afraid of anything, so they have to be hardy and brave. But women have to take care of their babies and cuddle them and nurse them, and be very patient and gentle... Girls have to be so much softer and weaker than we are, because if they weren't, it wouldn't be nice for the babies.' 

I had to laugh when Peter paraphrases later to Bobbie and Phyllis,' Dr Forrest has been talking scientifically with me. It all comes to you girls being poor, soft, weak frightened things like rabbits, so us men have just got to put up with them.' Haha, we've come a long way. 

Overall, it's a heartwarming blast from the past about kindness, simple pleasures, straightforward honesty and things ending well simply because a few people dare to show a bit of initiative. And I'm sure I won't forget Bobbie's delayed reaction in the wake of a sudden landslide on the tracks.  

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Trixie Belden series 19 - 21

19) The Secret of the Unseen Treasure

The Bob Whites stumble upon an arsonist preparing to set fire to the flower farm of long term family friend, Ethel Elliot. After some snooping, Trixie is convinced that somebody has been trying to sabotage this harmless widow's business. The question is, who wants her out of the way, and why? As well as trying to discover the answers, the Bob Whites aim to help this struggling pensioner make ends meet. 

* Ethel Elliot was Mrs Belden's babysitter when Helen was a little girl. Ethel married a horticulturalist named Sam who had a teenage son named Max. Now Sam is long dead and Max has grown up.

* Charles (or Charley) Hartman is a retired cop and ex-judo instructor who still has a very sharp edge. With such a combination, he's not a guy to mess around with. I admire his patience and respect for Trixie's work. Other elderly chaps in his position may well be too ageist and too sexist to take her seriously. Go, Charles!

* The cover of my oval edition is a little misleading. It gives the impression that the 'unseen treasure' of the title may lie deep at the bottom of a sea or lake. In actual fact, the Bob Whites' discovery in the Wheelers' lake is a total accident and red herring. It's a very cool and unexpected scene though, so not a bad choice for the cover. Because of the main setting and subject matter though, I might have preferred a riot of colorful cottage flowers. 

* Jim and Brian shoot off for two weeks to work at a boys' camp. Apparently they both shine like the models of young manhood they are. Jim performs a heroic rescue and then Brian delivers some crucial first aid. This is all totally off scene for a chunk of the book, just in case we forget how awesome they both are. They are still in the story though.

* Hmm, I reckon Peter Belden is a bit too chatty with his family regarding privileged information from the bank. Sure, he tells his wife and kids, 'What I say has to stay at this table and go no further,' but it happens more than once. I hope he doesn't start making a habit of these information leaks. At least he just does it in front of Trixie and Mart, and not chatty Bobby. 

* Kathryn Kenny does a brilliant job of describing a dodgy florist shop. There's just something about Manton's that's on the nose. 

* Hey, how about the outcome of the flower photograph contest? Did Mart's photo end up winning the grand prize for Mrs Elliot? Sure, it doesn't really matter anymore, yet it's still a thread that peters out and would have been nice to know. (By the way, this boy turns out to have another talent, along with music, general knowledge, research skills, furniture restoration, agricultural know-how and a super-dooper vocabulary. It turns out he can take terrific photos too.)

* Whoa, a hidden cannabis crop is a controversial discovery. Not to mention awkward when Dan, who wasn't along for the find, assumes the others have all been smoking pot! I mean, what the...? How well does he know his fellow Bob Whites? (Just in case you're wondering, this isn't the 'unseen treasure' of the title either, haha.)

* Dan is a bit sus and touchy in general in this book, because he's spotted Al Finlay, a gang leader he once knew, hanging around Sleepyside. After what happened to Dan in The Uninvited Guest when his old gang members turned up, I guess we can't blame him for being a bit paranoid. His past never seems to stop haunting him.

* I appreciate Trixie and Honey's innocence in being unable to identify the strange leaves. Even Brian, the future doctor who was credited with so much botanical knowledge in The Marshland Mystery isn't sure. Once again it takes Mart, the budding agriculturalist and general trivia buff, to figure out what the girls have stuffed in their pockets. And he ain't impressed.

* I'm not sure I'm a big fan of allowing Mrs Elliot to remain oblivious about the shenanigans going on under her own roof, and on her own property over the years. In her position I'd want to know. It might help her appreciate the true character of her stepson too. 

* But her assessment of him is still good enough to be the quote of the book. 'Max has too much of the city in him. With growing things you have to wait, to be patient.' That's a good life lesson for all of us, and no doubt includes kids, ambitions and dreams.

20) The Mystery off Old Telegraph Road

Trixie discovers that Art students at Sleepyside High are really badly funded, so she and the Bob Whites decide to host a bikeathon to raise money for art supplies. Serious opposition stuns them, especially from talented artist Nick Roberts, one of the very people they're trying to help. Why would he object? Who is behind the anonymous threats for them to stop their plans or else? And what's with the counterfeit German bank note Trixie finds blowing in the breeze? It all comes to a head when the Bob Whites are forced to consider whether persevering with their plan will jeopardize anyone's safety.   

* The notorious Ben Riker is back, staying with his aunt and uncle Maddie and Matt Wheeler. This 'poor little rich kid' was in with a bad crowd at boarding school, and his parents hope his cousins and their friends will rub off on him. Instead, he's fallen in with a new bad group at Sleepyside. Trixie finds him annoying as hell because he's monopolising Honey and Jim. She sure doesn't want to make Ben one of her personal help projects. He's where she draws the line. 

* Just for the record, Ben's uncouth friends are Mike Larson, Jerry Vanderhoef and Bill Wright. We'll know them if they pop up in the halls of Sleepyside High again. 

* Hmm, nothing much has really changed in the decades since this book was written. So often it seems to be the arts that miss out on support or funding. Sports get far more financial backing. That speaks volumes about people's general priorities, then and now. 

* Okay, times have changed dramatically in other ways though. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be considered ethical in our day and age, for an art student like Nick Roberts to sketch other people's houses and then sell them to the general public at his stall. Yet  in the seventies when this story was written, privacy and permission weren't such hot topics. Trixie and Honey are simply glad to come across his drawings of Crabapple Farm and Manor House before anyone else snaps them up. Come to think of it, does it strike you as slightly creepy to think of anyone else buying them?

* 'Kathryn Kenny' is as interesting and comprehensive as ever, when it comes to educating us readers more about the themes of the book. Nick Roberts gives the girls a good tutorial about pen and ink drawings, and later Mr Crider, the art teacher, does the same regarding silk screen printing. (It's Laura French's first look-in, I believe, who later became quite prolific in the series.)  

* Helen Belden, the one and only Moms, was in a similar position to these struggling Art students. It seems she was an Art major before she married Peter, but her life took a different turn when she had babies and could no longer afford art supplies. A lovely landscape on the wall of Crabapple Farm is her link to the past, painted back in the day. She never shows any signs of regretting the loss of that side of her life. I suppose she hasn't had time for much introspection.

* Ouch, one of Trixie's famous temper flashes puts her briefly into the bad books of her bestie Honey! And Honey goes so far as accusing Trixie of seeking attention! Yep, the same Honey who snaps at anyone else (especially Mart) who ever dares to suggest such a thing. Just for the record, it's clear that Honey was pushed just a bit too far, and was quite justified. Both girls deal well with their difference of opinion, without letting it fester too long.    

* Awww, I love it when Trixie and Mart have an honest heart-to-heart about Trixie's rift with Honey. In fact, Trixie shows up well in this book. I like her best when she's vulnerable and ponders her possible flaws and overbearing approach. 

* Trixie, in her effervescence, simply assumes that others will share her enthusiasm for the bikeathon project and agree to be 'in'. Lucky for her Mrs Vanderpoel and Mr Maypenny are both good sports when she 'volunteers' them for hospitality and food. But Nick Roberts makes it clear that she can't presume too much as far as he's concerned. 

* We get a hilarious Bobby moment, when he locks himself inside the house, then launches into full-on panic mode. Neither his mother's fruitless attempts to soothe him, nor Mart's wordy instructions to solve the problem do the slightest bit of good. It takes the future Dr Brian Belden to cut the Gordian knot. He knows the only solution is to forcibly break the door chain. And the dramatic Bobby thanks him for saving his life!  

* Whoa, Nick's a bit reckless toward the end, for a standoffish, deep thinking art student. But perhaps he was simply pushed too far. 

* Wow, good old Jimbo gets the chance to utilise some impressive strongman tactics again. What a guy! But our Jim is more than just an impressive bicep and six pack. He has a great heart too.  

* Both Ben Riker and Nick Roberts come across as angry young men throughout this book, and both eventually confess that they find the Bob Whites cliquey and feel excluded. What a flashback to Tad Webster in The Mysterious Code. On one hand, those inclusive Bob Whites haven't learned their lesson. But it's interesting because on the surface they're just a small group of out-of-town kids who bond because they feel geographically removed from other Sleepyside High students.  And they're sort of geeky, in their matching red jackets. Yet jocks like Tad and Ben and art nerds like Nick alike seem to feel and envy their mystique. 

* Overall, I wish I could have been at that bikeathon, peddling up Glen Road and through the Wheelers' game preserve, sampling Mrs Vanderpoel's famous cookies and Mr Maypenny's legendary stew. Oh well, bring on more stories instead.  

* Quote of the book. Trixie: I have a bad habit of assuming that other people know all the details of things I'm involved in, just because I spend all my time thinking about them. Mr Crider: That's a fairly common habit with us human beings, Trixie. 

21) The Mystery of the Castaway Children

The Beldens discover a tiny baby, apparently abandoned in Reddy's doghouse. It's a ready-made challenge to trace his family. Since he bears several bruises and scrapes, they must tread with caution rather than reunite him instantly with whoever caused them. Once the baby's identity unfolds, it appears his older brother is still missing and kidnappers are involved. It'll take some delicate probing to return both little boys safely to their parents, but can impulsive Trixie restrain herself? 

* I love the start of this book, with the six Beldens doing their best to cool down on a sultry summer night, culminating in that refreshing thunder storm and shock discovery in Reddy's doghouse. (I'd call it a kennel, but the story consistently says 'doghouse.' International differences.)

* Reddy is a hero. Not all dogs would simply stand back being hospitable, when an interloper has been placed in their domain. 

* It's a dramatic moment when Mart and Trixie discover the baby's bruises and wonder whether he's been battered by someone intentionally. But technically, these two aren't the first to reveal baby Dodgy's tiny torso. Their mother gives him his first bath the previous evening, and surely would have noticed the bruises then.  

* Once again, Brian and Mart have a ginormous responsibility of the running of the farm placed on their young shoulders. As their father heads off to his air-conditioned bank in the heatwave, he casually commands them to irrigate the raspberries. What a long, hot, sweaty and tedious job for two High School lads. They never once complain though. I tend to think Peter and Helen may be in for a rude awakening when their sons leave home. 

* Diana relishes the chance to help care for a three-month-old bub, and is a natural when it comes to hands-on care. Trixie tends to get a bit impatient and snappy with Di, as we've seen before.

* This story serves as a warning that little kids may have under-developed senses of humor, as poor David Dodge finds out. The conversation which young Davy takes at face value is astounding, but not at all implausible for someone his age. We must learn David's lesson and love our young relatives but never assume that they always cotton on to our jokes, haha. 

* We meet Ella Kline again; the wheelchair bound girls who does some sewing for a living and boards at the Glen Road Inn. She's the godsend who helped with Juliana's wedding clothes back in The Uninvited Guest. 

* When the Bob Whites come across Nancy the goat and her teenage owner, Brian confesses he's unable to milk a goat, even though he lives on a farm. Yet he and Mart both milked those Ozark cows in The Mystery at Bob White Cave with no hassles. Come on Brian, how different do you think it could be?

* Elmer Durham the wealthy, sorta-smarmy auctioneer, had teeth so perfect they were bound to be dentures, we're told. Haha, those days are over. Some elderly family members inform me that dentures are now made with intentional flaws to appear natural. 

* This novel is a bit of a tear jerker. I remember sobbing over the big family reunion near the end of the book in my teens. In fact baby Dodgy is a very sweet character, bringing the best out of all the Beldens and their friends. Peter and Helen could so have another one! (I'm pretty sure they'd say I have to be joking.)

* This was written in the 1970s, long before backward facing car capsules for babies were invented. 

* It's incredible that a boy Davy's age could escape attention for so long out on his own with his baby brother. You'd hope that in a similar scenario these days, that work crew would have intervened.  

* The way I see it, Trixie causes as much trouble as she solves. She, Honey and Jim make a rash visit to certain people against Sergeant Molinson's advice. Sure enough, she causes crooks to follow her. It's like stirring up a hornet's nest with a stick. Not only does she endanger the lives of her own loved-ones, but those of the small Dodge brothers too. Then Molinson shakes her hand in the aftermath. Does he not understand what just happened? If ever there was a time to rebuke her it's now. Perhaps he will when he has time to reflect.   

* For quote of the book, I've chosen a line from the narration, instead of a speech from a character. 'Sharing the work was the price each Belden paid for living a quiet, uncluttered life.' (And as I mention above, the two elder boys seem to shoulder a particularly hefty share.) 

Join me next time for Series 22 - 24  

And catch up on Series 16 - 18   

'Coronation' by Paul Gallico

MY THOUGHTS:

 This was a strong recommendation from a friend who came into the secondhand book shed where I volunteered for a while. She pulled this one off the shelf and told me it's brilliant. Well, serendipitous recommendations are too few and far between for me to miss a single one. I agree it was a highly enjoyable story and I decided to time this review with the queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, which begin this week. Now, I'm sure I wasn't the only one who got a bit confused by dates, since the queen was crowned in 1952 but her coronation didn't take place until 1953. A quick bit of research reveals her coronation was delayed for a year, as a mark of respect for her father, King George VI, who had passed away so recently.

Anyway, that big day in London is what this book is all about. It's June 2nd, 1953, and the Clagg family are off to the city to join the celebrations as the new young queen is crowned. Will Clagg, the dad, is a blue-collar steel worker who is delighted to have secured five tickets for a prime viewing spot along the procession route, that includes wonderful refreshments. Their day out will have to take the place of their annual fortnight holiday to the sea, but it's a big sacrifice they all agree on. 

Young Johnny is an imaginative boy who loves to mentally cast himself in a hero's role. He most looks forward to seeing all the fancy royal soldiers and cavalry. His little sister Gwendoline is obsessed with young Queen Elizabeth II because she seems like a fairy tale character in flesh and blood. And Prince Philip is so gallant and handsome. (I remember having similar feelings about Diana is the early eighties when I was quite young.) Granny Bonner, the critical, snappish mother-in-law, can't resist the thought of being present for a significant historical moment. And Violet, the careworn young wife, is just hanging out to try a sip of champagne. 

Well, it turns out crooks and frauds were as busy in 1953 as they've always been. The Claggs' tickets turn out to be absolutely worthless. But what strikes them as a disaster turns out to bring brilliant consolation for each family member as the day unfolds. I can't improve on how the dust jacket blurb puts it. 'Each learned how to relinquish his or her own ends and desires. Yet one and all returned home laden with gifts and riches far beyond their expectations which would remain with them for the rest of their lives.' In short, it turns out not to be a complete waste of a day. 

This story is a convicting example of how poor people may possess a short cut to happiness and contentment which rich people forfeit, because their standards of what should tick our boxes are set incredibly high. The Claggs may be no-names, but without saying so outright, Paul Gallico gives the impression that in the long run, they may well clock up many more moments of contentment and satisfaction throughout their lives than VIPs who are regarded as far more important. Especially if they keep on with the same resilient attitudes.

It's one of those novels that takes place within one single day. Whoa, the overwhelming noise and bustle of that big day in London comes through the pages loud and clear. Through the medium of TV beginning in 1981, I've watched four royal weddings and Prince Philip's funeral. And now, through the medium of this little novel, I feel I've also been at the queen's coronation, although I didn't really catch a glimpse of Liz or Phil in person. And when the Claggs finally get home, I felt my ears were ringing with the sudden silence. I think this might be a nostalgic read for anyone who really was around at the time.  

I'm glad the Claggs were satisfied with how things played out, although I'm not convinced I would have been in their place. Maybe I still have a bit to be desired in the art of letting things roll. 

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