Mrs. Lorimer's Quiet Summer (1953) by Molly Clavering #DeanStreetDecember25

✍🏻 Mrs. Lorimer's Quiet Summer is an autobiographical novel on Molly Clavering's friendship with D.E. Stevenson; both were women writers at that time. Lucy Lorimer, from whose point of view the story was told, was neighbor to D.E. Stevenson, the more successful of the two, though by no means the more talented. In my opinion, both were talented, though each had her own style in writing. Molly Clavering was represented in this story by Grace 'Gray' Douglas, a spinster neighbor and closest friend of Mrs. Lorimer. If their characters did truly represent both writers, I was surprised to learn that their writings were the opposite of their true characters. I thought D.E. Stevenson (in Lucy Lorimer) would have been more meek and sweet in writing, while Gray Douglas' (in Molly Clavering) would be more intense. But I found Molly Clavering's is more suitable to Lucy Lorimer's than the other way round. Very interesting!

✍🏻 Mrs. Lorimer was married to Jack Lorimer, and on that titular summer (which was a far cry from "quiet"), was expecting her offspring and their families came for holiday. They were consisted of three married couple, and Guy Lorimer - still a bachelor who had just been broken hearted over a broken engagement. One couple and Guy were staying at Miss Douglas', since the Lorimers' was fully occupied. You might imagine the chaos on these occasion - I'm very glad that I never married, because things like these would have distressed me a lot! Anyway, Lucy had bitten off more than she could chew; what with marriage problem of her daughter, a serious illness of the other, and love affair of the son. Not mentioning, the arrival of an old flame to her door. In all that time, only Gray's peaceful company and advice (and a cup of tea at the right time) that helped Lucy to stay cool and collected. I loved their picnic on the river bank, especially, where they sit "on a grassy bank with a young river talking quietly to itself at their feet and a heather-scented breeze drifting overhead."
✍🏻 If you ask me whether this is a good story, I can't answer you. Because, frankly, this isn't the usual story with plot or structure. This is just a snippet of the three main characters' lives (Mrs. and Mr. Lorimer, and Gray Douglas) during a particular summer, with all the quiet as well as the stormy times. They, and the only outsiders in this story, the Smellies, who lived in a charming house that Mrs. Lorimer had been wanting to buy herself, but was rejected by her husband. The Smellies (what a name!) consisted of a Mr. Smellie and her daughter Nesta Rowena. She hated her name, and preferred 'Rona' as the Lorimers nicknamed her. I thought Nesta Rowena is a charming name. I would have been proud to be called that, rather than Rona, which sounds childish. It would have been a nice name for a pet, though... :)

✍🏻 All in all, this is a charming and comfortable read during the hectic days which usually happen near end of the year. I loved Mrs. Lorimer's and Miss Douglas' friendship, loved the developing romance between Guy Lorimer (my favorite of the offspring) and Nesta Rowena Smellie (I loved her unique character and sensible personality). Many thanks to Dean Street Press for bringing this book up from the dead into our current literary world!
 

Read for:

Dean Street December 2025

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

Because of Sam (1954) by Molly Clavering #DeanStreetDecember

🐶 After my satisfying read of Molly Clavering's Near Neighbours, I decided to take one more of hers for my final entry of #DeanStreetDecember. Because of Sam was my choice, and what a perfect one it proved to be!

🐶 Upon his death, Millie Maitland's husband left her almost nothing besides their house, Fernieknowe, and their only daughter Amabel. So bleak their condition were, that Millie's lawyer, Mr. Ramsay, proposed Millie to marry him. She wisely rejected it, and made a living as a dog boarder, or in modern day, household dog care facility - a rare occupation, let alone of women, at that time.

🐶 She's saved by an inheritance from her husband's great aunt, though it was given to Amabel. But Millie is a kindhearted, generous woman who doesn't grudge the slight injustice, but lives peacefully on her meagre income from her dogs, and the company of the acerbic and sharp-tongued daughter Amabel.

🐶 Now, in her middle age, two middle-aged men entered her peaceful existence. One is Mr. Martin Heriot, who, besides enjoying her company and homely cooking, asked Millie to take Sam, a black Labrador belongs to his 'cousin'. Millie suspects that Martin's frequent visits to Fernieknowe aren't just to see Sam's condition - it must be that he's in love with Amabel - or is he? The other frequented is Mr. Ramsay, the lawyer. Amabel suspects he's renewing his proposal to her mother, which she witnessed years ago - but is he?

🐶 That kind of romance is good, but would be rather dull without complications, isn't it? Enter the beautiful Mrs. Noble, whose husband has been abroad, and for whom men usually lose their heads. Martin Heriot seemed to be her first 'victim', though later on she moved her course to newly married Jack Ross. The Rosses are Millie's friends, and she's fond of them. So, when things seemed out of control, she came to the rescue.

🐶 On the whole, it's a charming, comforting, heartwarming story - the quality you expect from Molly Clavering. She did it again to me, and I'm sure I'll continue reading her books, at least for #DeanStreetDesember. Molly Clavering was D.E. Stevenson's friend and neighbor. They have similar writing styles, but I find Molly's more gentle but satisfying. She's my newly found favorite author of the year!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Read this for:

Dean Street December #DeanStreetDecember

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

Near Neighbours (1956) by Molly Clavering #DeanStreetDecember

Book Beginnings on Fridays (hosted by Rose City Reader)

The elegant oval of Kirkaldy Crescent was placed on the downward slope from Queensferry Street with such consummate art that it looked ad though it had arrived there by happy chance.

🌳 Miss Dorothea Balfour of Kirkaldy Crescent No. 4 has been dominated all her life, first by her father, then, after his death, by her elder sister Belle. Now that her sister was dead, she is free finally - free to do anything she likes. Free, for example, to observe her neighbors, the Lenoxes, who occupy no. 16, from her window. Miss Dorothea is always interested in her neighbors' lives, and so very delighted when one of the Lenox girls impulsively made a visit to the poor old lady at no. 4.

Friday 56 Quote (hosted by Heads Full of Books):

She sounded so wistful that Rowan said: "I would love to call you 'Miss Dorothea' if you didn't think it cheek."

That was the beginning of the warm and affectionate relationship between the two near neighbours.

🌳 Willow, Rowan, Hazel, and Holly - that's how Mr. and Mrs. Lenox had named their girls - from trees. The only son, Murray, escaped this faith, and got a normal name. These five young ones are the center of this story, with the old ones, Miss Dorothea and her brother-in-law, who joined her at Kirkaldy Cresent soon after, as a lingering background. Their fates and lives are intertwined with the young ones, but theirs are more subdued, though not the least significant. I've had suspicions of the brother-in-law along the book, is he really what he says he is? Or will he cause trouble for the naïve Miss Dorothea? The toxic relationship Rowan had had with the dancer was quite alarming too, and I'm glad how it ended.

🌳 With less of a plot, Clavering has cleverly woven the slices of every day life into a charming story. From ex-marital problem to little romances; from awkward adolescence to work-and-love relationship - everything is plausible; sweet, but not overdone. The result is a tender, charming, a bit funny, and heartwarming, wholesome read. If you ever need a book for comfort, this one will be perfect!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Read for:

Dean Street December #DeanStreetDecember

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