Like many
readers, I buy books with the best of intentions and yet often don’t act upon
them, i.e. read my own damn books. To wit, I own nine Barbara Pym but had only
read two of them. Now I’m up to three! Because I read Pym’s No Fond Return
of Love, first published in 1961, for the Back to the Classics Challenge 2018
category “Classic by a Woman Author”.
One of the
most delightful things about No Fond Return of Love was the realization
that there is a “Pymverse” of London in the late 1950’s in which many (maybe
all?) of Barbara Pym’s characters operate. For careful readers there is a tiny
Easter egg from Excellent Women in Less Than Angels and now I
found another follow up tidbit from Less than Angels in No Fond
Return of Love. I love this idea and really look forward to discovering
more of these little surprises as I read more of Pym’s works.
No Fond
Return of Love covers familiar territory found in her other books: academia,
marriage vs singledom and the Anglican Church. The main protagonist is Dulcie
Mainwaring who decides to attend a weekend conference on publishing (she works
freelance as an indexer and research) to help her get over her broken
engagement. Dulcie likes researching people as well. ‘I love finding out about people’, said Dulcie, ‘I suppose it’s a sort
of compensation for the dreariness of everyday life’. I have to imagine that Dulcie shares this curiosity
about in the lives of strangers with Barbara Pym herself.
At the
conference, Dulcie meets the rather difficult and sulky Viola Dace, a fellow indexer and
Aylwin Forbes, a handsome, married forty-something author with whom both Viola
and Dulcie maybe, sort-of fall in love. It’s all very Pymsian as their lives
intertwine, making the London suburbs seem more like a cozy village rather than
a sprawling metropole. And as usual, I laughed out loud multiple times. The
humor is so subtle and surprising. I can see where Pym’s humor would not be to
every reader’s taste, but when you get it, you really get it if you know what I
mean.
This is now
the last book that I needed to read for the Back to the Classics Challenge 2018.
Not as early as some but still happy to be crossing the finish line in good
time! My wrap up post will be forthcoming. :D
Any book that can make you laugh out loud is worth reading! I need to discover the "Pymverse." Since I frequently read positive reviews of Pym's books, I should make an effort to read them!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment jenclair! You should give Excellent Women a shot. It is probably her best book. :)
DeleteDon't you just love Barbara Pym? And I love your description of the Pymverse! What Barbara Pym novel are you going to read next?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Lark! With every book I admire her more. I think A Glass of Blessings will be my next read. :D
DeleteI haven't read that one yet. Can't wait to hear what you think of it.
DeleteI hope I will be able to use it for the 2019 Back to the Classics Challenge. I am sure I will be able to work it in somewhere.
DeleteHi Ruthiella, I know what you mean about buying books with good intentions. Stored in my kindle are so many books, wonderful books, still unread including a Barbara Pym novel who I have been meaning to read and if you and Lark are fans that's all the incentive I need. Congratulations on finishing the Back to the Classics challenge and I look forward to your wonderful reviews in 2019.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Kathy! Thank you for the congratulations as well and for your kind words. I appreciate it very much. :D
DeleteHi Ruthiella, I've had trouble commenting on your blog via my phone & ipad. Just checking to see if I can get it to work from my computer!
ReplyDeleteWell, that worked! I was trying to say that I've never read this author & I confused her with Josephine Tey's 'Miss Pym Disposes.'
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Carol. I am sorry that you had trouble connecting and thank you for continuing to try. I appreciate it!
DeleteHee hee to confusing Barbara Pym with Miss Pym of the novel! It is an usual surname! :)