Miss Granby's Secret by Eleanor Farjeon

Hello again, friends! It's been so long since I posted anything. I've been busy reading, finding and collecting vintage books (too many, as usual...lol!) and feeling overwhelmed by life. Does this happen to you, too?

The roller coaster weather here in New Hampshire (one day so hot and humid and the next day brisk and chilly...or both in one day!) has been getting me down and I hope that the steady beauty of autumn (my favorite season!) will be here soon. I'm looking forward to it so much! How about you?

Anyway, down to business—and, by that, I mean NEW book review! Woo!

I was recently sent a review copy of Miss Granby's Secret (or the Bastard of Pinsk) by Eleanor Farjeon by the wonderful and amazing Dean Street Press Ltd. team (Victoria, you're the best! 😍) 

I so, so incredibly happy that Dean Street Press is going to continue publishing books for the Furrowed Middlebrow series. Isn't that the best news you've heard in a long time?? It was for me! 

[Side note: If I had to choose one future career dream, it would be to work on the Dean Street Press team. Since my degree is in Mathematics and my amazing current job have nothing at all to do with the book publishing world, I guess I will have to live this lovely thought only in my mind. But, if for some reason anyone on the team is reading this and you need someone in the U.S. to help with any step of the process, please keep me in mind! 😁💓📕]

Sorry for going on a crazy tangent...back to the book review!

Rating: 4🌟

A crazy and compelling ride!

This was my first experience reading Eleanor Farjeon's writing and I have to say that, at first, I was a little doubtful that I'd like it. I thought the pace of the story fluctuated between slightly frantic to pretty slow, with some confusion in between.

I wish I'd had a hard copy version of Miss Granby's Secret because there were some sections I wanted to go back and refer to a few times, such as Adelaide's own definition of terms. (I'll be buying a hard copy very soon to add to my collection)

But, in spite of my slightly rocky transition at the beginning of the book (in which I was adjusting my mind to the way it was written), there came a point where the story completely caught hold of me and I was all in!

Both the main story with Miss Granby's niece, Pamela, and the story-within-the-story of The Bastard of Pinsk became entirely addictive. At one point, near the end, I forgot that this book wasn't entirely The Bastard of Pinsk by Miss Granby! 😂😂 It was so amusing and I was dying to know what would happen for the finale.

The very end of the story became confusing again and I'm not sure if I really liked the way the author brought the novel to a close. I was a little disappointed at the end, but this could be due to my not being used to Eleanor Farjeon's writing style. I think that means I need to read more of her books!

Overall, I enjoyed the book so much more than I imagined I would! I highly recommend you give it a try!

Make sure to check in tomorrow (or, better yet, SUBSCRIBE to my blog by typing your email into the blue box at the top right and pressing the pink button! If you do, you'll make my day, sweet friend!) for another #furrowedmiddlebrowfriday (a hashtag I created on 8/16/24) post here and on Instagram!

Note: I own a pretty little book of Ms. Farjeon's poetry for children (pictured above), so I'm excited to dip into that book very soon and see if I like it. The illustrations look very sweet!

Please check out my dear friend, Caro's review of this book on her new website! Her reviews are incredibly thoughtful, intelligent, amusing and filled with gorgeous photos. You'll love them 🤩 Make sure to follow her on Instagram @carosbookcase!

Much love and many hugs!!! Would love to hear from you in the comments below! 💕🌸🤗🌸💕