The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (1962) by Joan Aiken #WitchWeek2024

🐺 Willoughby Chase is home to Sir Willoughby, Lady Green, and their only daughter Bonnie. Due to Lady Green's illness, Sir Willoughby is taking her to the Mediterranean by ship. They arranged for a distant cousin to take over Bonnie and the estate into her care - Miss Slighcarp's care. Bonnie won't be lonely because her orphan cousin, Sylvia is arriving from London, where she's been living with her poor but proud aunt Jane.

🐺 Sylvia's train journey through snowy countryside to Willoughby Chase is far from uneventful. She was terrified by a pack of wolves that are menacing the train, one even tried to attack Sylvia's compartment when the train's stopped middle way. Fortunately Sylvia's fellow passenger, a man called Mr. Grimshaw, courageously averted the danger. Sylvia had no idea that a more terrifying pack of "wolves" is awaiting her at Willoughby Chase; more terrifying because these are wolves in sheeps' clothing.

🐺 Bonnie and Sylvia, despite of differences in personality and upbringing, soon find themselves best friend to each other. But Miss Slighcarp has her wicked intention. With Mr. Grimshaw's help she planned to take over Willoughby Chase. She dismissed the loyal servants, tampered Sir Willoughby's will, and things like that. When Bonnie and Sylvia hampered her, she sent them to a horrid orphanage owned by equally wicked woman if Miss Slighcarp's friend.

🐺 When things get most nasty for the girls, they plan to run away. Luckily for them, few of the loyal servants don't desert them. The goose boy Simon also proved to be a valuable friend to them. However, what can they do to thwart the enemies plans, if Bonnie's parents were really dead inside the drowned ship?

🐺 I happened to read two books about horrid orphanages almost in a row. However, the one in Thursday's Child felt almost like adventure compared to this one, where Bonnie and Sylvia were most unfortunately put into. I was glad that Bonnie and Sylvia had each other's company to bear their misery. And if there's one blessing in disguise from this hardship, it's the resilient and experiences the two girls now possess as the result. That short experience strengthened them to be wonderful women in future.

🐺 This is my first Joan Aiken, and I'm grateful to have found this wonderful author. It certainly won't be my last read of her.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Read this book for:

Witch Week 2024 #WitchWeek2024

hosted by Chris @ Calmgrove and Lizzie @ Lizzie Ross

The Weather at Tregulla (1962) by Stella Gibbons #1962Club

💙 First published in 1962, The Weather at Tregulla is a charming book penned by Stella Gibbons, telling the story of Tregulla, a quiet little seaside town in Cornwall, and how the place influences its inhabitants' fate.

💙 Una Beaumont has lived in Tregulla since she was born nineteen years ago. She desperately wanted to leave the dull, stagnant town, and pursue her dream to be actress in London. But, alas, when the time of departure is approaching, her mother died; and with her, the inheritance money her parents had allocated for her, vanished. Una's hope is dashed, and now she might never leave Tregulla and its unchanged people, whom she had known since she was born.

💙 Enter Terrence and Emmeline Willows, who rent a cottage owned by the Trewyns, Barnabas and Hugo - Una's childhood friends - and their mother. The Willowses are brother and sister who live in Bohemian style. Terrence is a selfish moody painter, while Emmeline, an eccentric girl. Una is immediately infatuated with Terrence; more, I think, because she saw her chance of leaving her dull life in him, than actually attracted to him.

💙 As the story progressed, I could see what kind of person Terrence is - his carefree way of life, his dubious friends, his selfishness. Like most talented artists, he cares only about his paintings. Nothing is more precious than that. I was worried all along about Una. She isn't the kind of girl I would have befriended - she is a bit into herself. All she cares about is her needs; she doesn't even care about her grieving father. Still, Una doesn't deserve a man like Terrence. He will make her unhappy.

💙 Hugo Trewyn, the brooding younger brother, is also in love with Una. He never shows his feelings; I think he feels insecure about his deformity; that he's incapable of making the high-spirited Una happy. Una, of course, never treats him other than a childhood friend. If only her father isn't that apathetic concerning his daughter. I understand Mr. Beaumont's grief, but if he loves his daughter, he must have tried harder to step up from his cocoon and provide her more guidance.

💙 The other Willows, Emmeline, is falling in love with Barnabas Trewyn, which he reciprocates. However, unlike Una, he notices Emmeline’s eccentricities, her bohemian way of life, and her circle of friends. Emmeline herself is trying to break free from her brother, and to get more respectable life as young Mrs. Trewyns. But she's just a woman. Everything depends on Barnabas. If he proposes to her, her dream will come true. Her only chance is Barnabas. And Barnabas has doubts.

💙 This book might seem like an ordinary romance story, but it's much more than that. First and foremost, there's the helplessness of our female characters to pursue their dreams. As women, both Emmeline and Una, are depended on their relatives. Other people direct their fates, their lives. They can't choose for themselves. The only way to freedom is by marriage. But apparently, love, hardwork, and talent only aren't enough to secure a woman's happiness. Dozens external influences play the biggest part. And in this sense, 1960s wasn't much different than in the 19th century.

💙 What I loved most about this book is Tregulla itself. I am no fan of seaside town, but Gibbons portrayed Tregulla vividly and charmingly, that I really wanted to, at least, visit it. The numerous different events that lead to our heroines' fates are intricately woven amidst the changing landscape or weather of Tregulla. Una might feel Tregulla lifeless, but I think it's just because she has never experience living outside it, and so, cannot fully appreciate its beauty.

💙 All in all, it's a wonderful book, beautifully written by Stella Gibbons. Another satisfying read, made available again, thanks to Dean Street Press. And who wouldn't want to read the inside of that gorgeous cover?!

Rating: 4,5 / 5

This book counts for:

The 1962 Club

The Holiday at the Dew Drop Inn (1962) by Eve Garnett #1962Club

💐 Holiday at the Dew Drop Inn is actually the third and last book of the One End Street series by Eve Garnett. I found it accidentally while searching for books to read for the #1962Club. It contains some references of the adventures in the first two books, but it doesn't hinder us to enjoy this book as a standalone.

💐 The story is about Kate Ruggles, the second of seven children of Mr and Mrs. Ruggles. The Ruggleses is a working class family who live in No. 1 One End Street in Kent. Mrs. Ruggles is a washerwoman, while Mr. Ruggles, a dustman. Despite living in poverty, they are comparatively a happy, kind, and loving family.

💐 The story opens with an invitation for Kate to spend another summer holiday at the Dew Drop Inn, in the fictional country village of Upper Cassington. She had gone there the year before with her twin younger brothers, but now she's going alone. Preparations are made for the journey, including a brand new macintosh and a pair of boots, presents from Mrs. Beasley - a customer of Mrs. Ruggles. Kate never owns a shiny mackintosh before - being poor, her things are usually leftover from her older sister - and she, therefore, is very proud of these presents.

💐 Upper Cassington is a quintessential country village, and it's people are mostly simple and kind. The Dew Drop Inn is owned by Mr and Mrs. Wildgoose, who adores Kate. Kate arrives at the right moment too, only ten days before the Flower Show - an annual competition held for Lower and Upper Cassington, the Concert, and the Fair, begin. She is tasked by Mr. Wildgoose to enter all categories in competition for children, and also to participate in the Concert by reciting something. This naturally alarms Kate very much, but Mr. Wildgoose ensures her that they will work some of the competitions out together, while she can count on her old friend Mr. Shakespeare to help her in the flower growing category.

💐 And so, Kate's days are full of excitement from working, learning, and training. But it's not all hardworking, she's having fun too in learning new things. Few adventures during the preparation also add charm to this visit. But the best part of this holiday are, first, the fair and concert, then, her father and the twin's arrival to spend the holiday with her! Though the end of summer comes too soon, she leaves Dew Drop Inn with a swelling heart - full of happy reminiscences to enlighten the next dreary months to come.

💐 I love everything about this book, the flowers, the baking stuffs, every entry of the competition, and the fair, which cheer everybody up! But most of all, I loved the people - none of them are condescending towards a poor girl like Kate. Not even the handsome Lord Glenheather, he's so sweet and gentlemanly towards Kate - he never treats her like a child. Mr and Mrs. Wildgoose are a kind couple. I loved the way Mr. Wildgoose treated Mr. Ruggles like a pal, despite their different background.

💐 Some readers might think Kate is too good to be true as a character, and perhaps this story seems unrealistic, because there are too much good things, and all. But I still love it. In the world where we are confronted with ugly things every day, this kind of story is a perfect counterbalance to make us feel warm and contented, even for just a few days. Needless to say, I would often revisit this story in future.

Rating: 4,5 / 5

This book counts for:

The 1962 Club

Cover Her Face (1962) by P.D. James #1962Club

🔸️ First published in 1962, Cover Her Face was P.D. James' debut crime novel, introducing Inspector Adam Dalgleish, who would appear in 13 of other novels in the series. In this first case, he investigates the murder of Sally Jupp, a house maid at Martingale, who was strangled in her bed.

🔸️ Sally Jupp was recommended by the local St. Mary's refuge, an institution for unmarried mothers, to stay, with her infant son Jimmy, and work at Martingale, the manor house of the Maxies. The family consists of Eleanor Maxie, the matron, with severely ill husband Simon; the son, Dr. Stephen Maxie; and his sister Deborah Riscoe. Martha, a devoted servant, is another member of the household. On that fatal day, two guests are also staying: Catherine Bowers who dreams of marrying Stephen, and Felix Hearn, former lover of Deborah.

🔸️ Sally is ambitious, secretive, and insolent woman. With those qualities, she like to take power over others. At a fête, held at Martingale, Sally deliberately copied Deborah's outfit, and later at night she took Deborah's mug to drink her cocoa. But what astonished the family most was when, at dinner, she amusedly announced that Stephen has proposed to her – which was true.

🔸️ That night someone put sleeping pills into her cocoa, and strangled her to death. Who killed her? Are they from the family, or was it an outsider's job? What's the motive? Jealousy? Blackmail? Or it has something to do with her past?

🔸️ As a debut novel, this is not bad, but I wasn't overly impressed either. There are too many characters involved for my taste, which only made this quite simple a case became more complicated. The solution was clever and believable, though I still didn't understand why the fake incident should have staged at all. I could make assumptions, but it seemed foolish, and I think didn't fit the perpetrator's personality. Dalgleish's investigation and deduction wasn't highlighted enough, we didn't know what's going on most of the time, and he only revealed everything in the end. And I didn't know what's the use of including a subordinate who didn't add anything to the story. Like I said before: too many useless characters.

🔸️ All considered, I don't think I would continue the series. Perhaps I am just more comfortable with the earlier Golden Age writers, or the modern ones, not the in-betweens. Not a satisfying read, but quite enjoyable. I enjoyed this story by listening to the audiobook, narrated wonderfully by Daniel Weyman. I liked his deep voice and distinct articulation.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

This book counts for:

The 1962 Club

British Crime Classics Challenge 2023

For Bingo Card: Death by Strangulation