Christmas at Thrush Green

Another wonderful Christmas story from Miss Read...this time in collaboration with Jenny Dereham. The author's voice is a bit different, following the long lapse since the previous Miss Read book, but this does not diminish the reading pleasure. Most likely, the involvement of Jenny Dereham with the writing is the major reason for the harmless difference in tone. There are a couple of very noticeable editing oversights, where the narrative obviously has characters confused. The reader needs to pause for only a moment to realize the mistakes and the authors' intentions. In entirety, I can't praise the work enough or hope strongly enough that another Thrush Green or Fairacre volume is in production for release in 2010. An annual release of a Christmas volume would be a wonderful gift for fans of Miss Read. Hopefully, Miss Read and Jenny Dereham have this possibility in mind.

What a delight to visit Thrush Green once again after more than 10 years. Miss Read's longtime editor Jenny Dereham has done an excellent job of capturing the characters and nuance of this beloved Cotswold village. For all of us who, since 1957, have lovingly followed the adventures of Winnie Bailey, Harold Shoesmith, Dimity and Ella, the Youngs and all the rest, this is a chance to have one more chat over a glass of sherry and a last stroll around the green. It's is such a pleasure to know that Miss Read, in her '90's, took such an active part in bringing this book to fruition. What could be better than one more Christmas in Thrush Green?