Rating: 
Summary: Put the kettle on
Review: Bake a batch of scones and settle down to a lovely world, a small English village school as seen through the eyes of Miss Read, a teacher. These are my run-for-cover books. When the world is too much with me, I find my copy of Village School or Village Diary, wrap up in a quilt, and fall under the spell of these gentle novels.
Rating: 
Summary: A delightful reading experience
Review: Five years have passed since Miss Read became the schoolmistress of the English village, Fairacre. A new school term is to begin and Miss Read looks forward to it with wonder, some trepidation, but mostly hopes for her pupils including three new students. Miss Read knows that she must help the somewhat frightened newcomers fit into the class as smoothly as possible. The school year brings its usual learning, fun, and skinned knees needing special tender care. Along with Miss Reed, the dedicated but somewhat old-fashioned yet quite popular "uncertificated Teacher" Miss Clare is back and the gloom and doom custodian Mrs. Pringle is ready to keep the building clean. Finally, the awe and energy of the wide-eyed children and their village relatives offer a new year of promise and hard work. The first novel in Miss Read's cherished Fairacre series, VILLAGE SCHOOL is a reprint of the 1955 tale that introduced the lovable teacher and her villagers to the world. Though written before Sputnik, the story line surprisingly retains a freshness and high energy level at a leisurely pace even as the remoteness of the village seems impossible in today's Internet world. The enjoyable offbeat cast remains fun to observe and often humorous as life in a bygone era comes fully alive in what was contemporary then but a strong historical now. This demonstrates how good a writer Miss Read is. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: A delightful reading experience
Review: Five years have passed since Miss Read became the schoolmistress of the English village, Fairacre. A new school term is to begin and Miss Read looks forward to it with wonder, some trepidation, but mostly hopes for her pupils including three new students. Miss Read knows that she must help the somewhat frightened newcomers fit into the class as smoothly as possible. The school year brings its usual learning, fun, and skinned knees needing special tender care. Along with Miss Reed, the dedicated but somewhat old-fashioned yet quite popular "uncertificated Teacher" Miss Clare is back and the gloom and doom custodian Mrs. Pringle is ready to keep the building clean. Finally, the awe and energy of the wide-eyed children and their village relatives offer a new year of promise and hard work. The first novel in Miss Read's cherished Fairacre series, VILLAGE SCHOOL is a reprint of the 1955 tale that introduced the lovable teacher and her villagers to the world. Though written before Sputnik, the story line surprisingly retains a freshness and high energy level at a leisurely pace even as the remoteness of the village seems impossible in today's Internet world. The enjoyable offbeat cast remains fun to observe and often humorous as life in a bygone era comes fully alive in what was contemporary then but a strong historical now. This demonstrates how good a writer Miss Read is. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Another home besides Mitford!
Review: I loved this book and do believe I have found another home when Mitford ends! I loved the characters and although simple, I can't wait to devour the next one!
Rating:
Summary: Before there was Jan Karon, there was Miss Read!
Review: I read in an interview with Jan Karon that she got her inspiration for At Home in Mitford from the Miss Read Series. And it is clear that she did. Miss Read is the head teacher at a village shool in England. She has the older boys and girls, while Miss Claire has the "babies, " kindergartners and first graders in American terms. This story was written in the 1950's and reflects the times perfectly. All was not perfect in that era, but it was less complicated. Discipline only needed a cuff on the fanny ( a little shocking...especially how it came about!), and academic skills are regimented with drills. But most of the children thrived and many flourished under the watchful eye of Miss Read. Miss Read is the precursor for Father Tim in Jan Karon's series;that is as clear as they come! The one room school house is divided by a partition, and lunches are eaten from pails and drinks provided by the teachers: hot chocolate from the central wood stove that heats the school. The school is host to Mrs. Pringle, a crochety old lady who cleans the school and takes "stabs" at Miss Read's run of the school. We get to visit Miss read's cozy cottage from time to time and view other village homes as well. I enjoyed these excursions into the domestic life of villagers from a not too distant time gone but not lost.....it lives on between the covers of all of Miss Read's volumes of country life in a village one comes to cherish.
Rating:
Summary: Before there was Jan Karon, there was Miss Read!
Review: I read in an interview with Jan Karon that she got her inspiration for At Home in Mitford from the Miss Read Series. And it is clear that she did. Miss Read is the head teacher at a village shool in England. She has the older boys and girls, while Miss Claire has the "babies, " kindergartners and first graders in American terms. This story was written in the 1950's and reflects the times perfectly. All was not perfect in that era, but it was less complicated. Discipline only needed a cuff on the fanny ( a little shocking...especially how it came about!), and academic skills are regimented with drills. But most of the children thrived and many flourished under the watchful eye of Miss Read. Miss Read is the precursor for Father Tim in Jan Karon's series;that is as clear as they come! The one room school house is divided by a partition, and lunches are eaten from pails and drinks provided by the teachers: hot chocolate from the central wood stove that heats the school. The school is host to Mrs. Pringle, a crochety old lady who cleans the school and takes "stabs" at Miss Read's run of the school. We get to visit Miss read's cozy cottage from time to time and view other village homes as well. I enjoyed these excursions into the domestic life of villagers from a not too distant time gone but not lost.....it lives on between the covers of all of Miss Read's volumes of country life in a village one comes to cherish.
Rating: 
Summary: Contains Racist Stereotypes
Review: Miss Read's books often contain offensive racist stereotypes and racist language. They definitely don't age well, and while the stories are interesting, I personally couldn't get past the (many) parts that offended me.
Rating:
Summary: Contains Racist Stereotypes
Review: Miss Read's books often contain offensive racist stereotypes and racist language. They definitely don't age well, and while the stories are interesting, I personally couldn't get past the (many) parts that offended me.
Rating:
Summary: Miss Read is a lesson in adaptability
Review: So often in our 21st century world, we try to live our lives in absolutes. Perhaps we live with more fatalism than did dear Miss Read, and her flock of children at Fairacre School. The story of a rural school where poverty and want lived in many families, Miss Read helped bring beauty and creativity to her pupils. What struck me about Miss Read is her adaptability in the face of sudden village emergencies; a child or a parent who suddenly became in need of attention; an elderly teacher who needed rest. Miss Read and her contemporaries in the village of Fairacre were able to serve the needs of the community at sacrifice to their own needs. Somehow, there is the unspoken view in Fairacre that everything will work out if we pull together for a little while, and everything does. That's probably why Village School and the entire Fairacre series fit readers just as a warm quilted comforter would; the book is a photograph of what life can be when we help each other. This is a book which, in the gentlest way, illustrates the big picture. Sincerely, Robin
Rating:
Summary: Miss Read is a lesson in adaptability
Review: So often in our 21st century world, we try to live our lives in absolutes. Perhaps we live with more fatalism than did dear Miss Read, and her flock of children at Fairacre School. The story of a rural school where poverty and want lived in many families, Miss Read helped bring beauty and creativity to her pupils. What struck me about Miss Read is her adaptability in the face of sudden village emergencies; a child or a parent who suddenly became in need of attention; an elderly teacher who needed rest. Miss Read and her contemporaries in the village of Fairacre were able to serve the needs of the community at sacrifice to their own needs. Somehow, there is the unspoken view in Fairacre that everything will work out if we pull together for a little while, and everything does. That's probably why Village School and the entire Fairacre series fit readers just as a warm quilted comforter would; the book is a photograph of what life can be when we help each other. This is a book which, in the gentlest way, illustrates the big picture. Sincerely, Robin
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