Much Dithering (1938) by Dorothy Lambert

🔴 Much Dithering is the name of a small, tucked-away, and peaceful village in England, where nothing has ever stirred the existence of its inhabitants. The inhabitants are mostly proud and dignified people, from its landed-gentry to the working classes. Amidst them all, the young widow Jocelyn Renshawe (our heroine) is the most unlikely to have adventure, let alone romance. She had had a loveless marriage, hence does not have any inkling about love. Her existence has been dedicated in her household, the church and charity works, and in obeying her mother-in-law (the Honorable Lady Augusta Renshawe) and her aunt. As far as Jocelyn's concern, she would grow old a penniless spinster, since the inheritance would be passed on to Lady Augusta's long lost nephew.

🔴 As usual, there should be some newcomers who would stir the peaceful existence in such a quaint village. And that roles fall on these personages; Colonel Tidmarsh - a dull retired army man; the rich family (new money) of Murchison-Bellabys whose ambition was to settled down on the village as respectable family; Ermyntrude - Jocelyn's estranged mother - who is on the lookout for a rich husband to be settled down with; and, last but not least, Gervase Blythe - a young man with unknown past, but who'd charmed everyone. Lady Augusta and Jocelyn's aunt had decided that Jocelyn should marry the dull Colonel Tidmarsh, in order to secure their darling's future. The Colonel himself is attracted by Jocelyn, who, being a typical dutiful daughter, never realizes her innocent beauty and charm, and thus, appears more attractive than women who try hard to look beautiful (heavily made-up like Ermyntrude, for instance). 🔴 The Murchison-Bellaby's son Adrian, is the second man who's instantly attracted to Jocelyn. The problem is, he's also the one for whom Ermyntrude had been 'aiming'. Then, there's Gervase Blythe, whose accidental introduction to Jocelyn left a lasting memory to the young widow. So, you see, that the central comedy of this story is how Jocelyn, believed by everyone to be the dullest woman in the village, found herself wooed by, not one, not two, but three men at the same time. And the charming job of the readers is to guest who would win her heart and how she sorted herself out from these entanglements. Oh, you would easily guess the answer, as well as to 'solve' the mystery of some jewelry theft in the hitherto very peaceful village. All in all, it was the kind of a charming, delightful, lighthearted read that I always love!  

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Landscape in Sunglight (1953) by Elizabeth Fair #DeanStreetDecember25

💚 Landscape in Sunlight is my second read of Elizabeth Fair. The first one, A Winter Away (read last year for #DeanStreetDecember24), was not a favorite, and I'm glad I haven't bailed her out completely, because Landscape in Sunlight is much better and delightful to read! It's a slice-of-life type of novel, concerning residents in a small village of Little Mallin. Four families are at the center of the story. There are Edward Custance (the dreamy vicar); his wife Amy whose concern is for her daughter to marry well; and the daughter, Cassandra, who works as governess for the Templers'. The Templers consist of the eccentric Eustace Templer, a 'retired' artist who lives in Prospect House, and whose concern is to get rid Prospect Cottage (also belongs to him) of its current tenant, a Mrs. Midge, a recluse who dotted on her only son, and her 'delicate' artist son of Lukin. 

💚 Completing the Templers household are Mrs. Templer and the children: two orphaned nephews (one of which is Cassandra's pupil), and Lily, the adolescent girl who's starting to wear lipstick, and whose current preoccupation is to "rescue" the 'genius' Lukin from his mother's clutch. Then there's Colonel Ashford, or Uncle Henry Templer, to whose benefit Eustace wants the Prospect Cottage for. Last but not least there are Sir James Brigham and his son George, who live in the Hall, and who're having trouble to control their servants.

💚 When spring turns to summer, there are a lot of things happening. A holiday for Mr. and Mrs. Custance is arranged by Sir James (who feels responsible for his vicar's well being, and knows that they couldn't afford one), but is in reality funded by George. Then there are tennis parties which are Lily's and Cassandra's scheming to 'rescue' Lukin - the latter feels it's time to be independent, but don't know how to - and an eventful picnic. On the top of it all is the Church Fête, or the Day, as people call it, organized by Amy Custance. Along the preparations, a romance is burgeoning of two young people who had been separated over misunderstandings, and the budding young artist is looking towards his starting career.

💚 Amidst all that's happening among those four main-characters group, Fair did not forget to throw in some secondary but none the least colorful characters, like the two middle-aged spinsters Misses Fenn - nicknamed Fizz and Pop - who live near the toll bridge that connects Little Mallin with the bigger market town of Mallinford. Their 'strategic' location enables them to rush out of their house to 'talk' to whomever is pulling up at the toll (that's how they become up-to-date with every village rumours). All in all, this was a charming and delicious story of a quaint busy summer life in an English village. Just the kind to warm and cheer you up during the hustle-bustle of December.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Read for:

Dean Street December 2025

hosted by Liz @ Adventures in reading, running and working from home

The Stone of Chastity by Margery Sharp: A Review for #1940Club

💙 This was my first acquaintance with Margery Sharp, and I must say that I wasn't too impressed.

💙 Professor Pounce, an expert in folklore, came to an old village called Gillenham, after learning about an ancient legend of the stone of chastity. According to the legend, there was a stepping stone on the local stream, on which a chaste woman would cross safely, but an impure or unfaithful one would certainly slip into the water.

💙 Accompanying the Professor, were the meek Mrs. Pounce, his sister in law; the idle Nicholas, his nephew; and a voluptuous girl called Carmen, whose capacity nobody knew about. They all lived in Old Manor. The Professor's first campaign for his scientific study was distributing a questionnaire on general knowledge about the stone of chastity (have you heard about it, do you know where it's located, and so on) to all the villagers, enlisting Nicholas to assist him.

💙 This questionnaire immediately stirred the village. The vicar's wife was enraged, marked it as paganism. Nicholas tried to warn the Professor about it, but to no avail. He received only one response to the questionnaire, but it's enough, because he's finally found the stone!

💙 Next step is the experiment. Professor Pounce, regardless of the women's rejection, invited all women of Gillenham to participate in the experiment (by stepping into the stone). Pious Mrs. Pye organized the village women to confront the Professor over this outrageous plan.

💙 Now, as I have said in my 1st Impression on this book, this is a ridiculous, hilarious, but clever satire. Unfortunately, I didn't feel as connected to the story as I've expected. It is quite entertaining as a book, but lacks of charm. The only interesting and relatable main character here is probably Professor Pounce. Nicholas is flimsy with all his romantic pursues; Carmen doesn't feel alive - only a voluptuous figure without soul.

If you are looking for a light, silly, ridiculous book, this would be it!

Rating: 3 / 5

*I read and reviewed this book for:*