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A review by anusha_reads
The Darling Buds of May by H.E. Bates
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
THE DARLING BUDS OF MAY, H.E. BATES
This novella, published in 1958 takes its title from Shakespeare’s Sonnet.
The Larkin family is often seen laughing, having fun, making merry, eating lavish meals, enjoying a variety of drinks, playing, and enjoying nature with joie de vivre. They go on drives eating crips. The fun they have berry picking while relishing them was pleasurable and funny. Pop Larkins is depicted as having a lively nature, caressing and kissing Miss Pilchester, which Ma is aware of and approves of.
“‘WELL, DID YOU KISS HER?’ ‘COURSE I DID.’
‘I THOUGHT YOU WOULD.’ MA SAT WITH THE GUINNESS BALANCED ON THE PRECIPICE OF HER ROLLING STOMACH LIKE A LITTLE BLACK DOLL, AGAIN COMPLETELY UNPERTURBED. ‘DO HER GOOD. MAKE HER SLEEP ALL THE SWEETER. WHAT WAS IT LIKE?’”
I loved the fact that the author highlighted the fact that some people get habituated to a certain phrase or word and tend to repeat it. Pop had the habit of saying ‘Perfick’ and Miss Pilchester said ‘Ghastly’
In the opening scene, the whole family -Pop, Ma, and their six children are in the car eating various flavours of ice cream and crisps. Ma is mostly seen in the kitchen dishing out lavish meals beaming with delight and full of exuberance, trivialising the onerous act of cooking elaborate meals.
QOTD: DO YOU LIKE TO COOK/BAKE? WHAT IS A FAVOURITE DISH THAT YOU LIKE TO COOK /BAKE?
Mr. Charlton drops by to check on Pop’s tax returns. Mariette, the seventeen-year-old daughter, charms him and lures him away from his mission.
Would the family have lived happily if they were not among nature and in a busy bustling town? Or if they weren't as rich? Or if Ma wasn't as merry as portrayed despite Pop's frivolous nature with other women?
A fun, light, humorous read, which means no harm, a read to get you out of your reading slump even.
MA, WHO LOVED COLOUR, COOKED IN A CANARY YELLOW PINAFORE WITH BIG SCARLET POCKETS AND AT INTERVALS SHOUTED ACROSS THE YARD, EITHER TO POP OR MARIETTE, MR CHARLTON OR THE CHILDREN, OR WHOEVER HAPPENED TO BE THERE, A DEMAND FOR INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT THE MEAL.
‘WHAT SORT OF VEGETABLES DO YOU FANCY? ASPARAGUS? I GOT GREEN PEAS AND NEW POTATOES BUT SHOUT IF YOU WANT ANYTHING DIFFERENT.’
IT TURNED OUT THAT MONTGOMERY WANTED BROWN BRAISED ONIONS, THE TWINS YORKSHIRE PUDDING, AND PRIMROSE BAKED POTATOES.
‘FAIR ENOUGH,’ MA SAID, ‘AS LONG AS WE KNOW.’
This novella, published in 1958 takes its title from Shakespeare’s Sonnet.
The Larkin family is often seen laughing, having fun, making merry, eating lavish meals, enjoying a variety of drinks, playing, and enjoying nature with joie de vivre. They go on drives eating crips. The fun they have berry picking while relishing them was pleasurable and funny. Pop Larkins is depicted as having a lively nature, caressing and kissing Miss Pilchester, which Ma is aware of and approves of.
“‘WELL, DID YOU KISS HER?’ ‘COURSE I DID.’
‘I THOUGHT YOU WOULD.’ MA SAT WITH THE GUINNESS BALANCED ON THE PRECIPICE OF HER ROLLING STOMACH LIKE A LITTLE BLACK DOLL, AGAIN COMPLETELY UNPERTURBED. ‘DO HER GOOD. MAKE HER SLEEP ALL THE SWEETER. WHAT WAS IT LIKE?’”
I loved the fact that the author highlighted the fact that some people get habituated to a certain phrase or word and tend to repeat it. Pop had the habit of saying ‘Perfick’ and Miss Pilchester said ‘Ghastly’
In the opening scene, the whole family -Pop, Ma, and their six children are in the car eating various flavours of ice cream and crisps. Ma is mostly seen in the kitchen dishing out lavish meals beaming with delight and full of exuberance, trivialising the onerous act of cooking elaborate meals.
QOTD: DO YOU LIKE TO COOK/BAKE? WHAT IS A FAVOURITE DISH THAT YOU LIKE TO COOK /BAKE?
Mr. Charlton drops by to check on Pop’s tax returns. Mariette, the seventeen-year-old daughter, charms him and lures him away from his mission.
Would the family have lived happily if they were not among nature and in a busy bustling town? Or if they weren't as rich? Or if Ma wasn't as merry as portrayed despite Pop's frivolous nature with other women?
A fun, light, humorous read, which means no harm, a read to get you out of your reading slump even.
MA, WHO LOVED COLOUR, COOKED IN A CANARY YELLOW PINAFORE WITH BIG SCARLET POCKETS AND AT INTERVALS SHOUTED ACROSS THE YARD, EITHER TO POP OR MARIETTE, MR CHARLTON OR THE CHILDREN, OR WHOEVER HAPPENED TO BE THERE, A DEMAND FOR INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT THE MEAL.
‘WHAT SORT OF VEGETABLES DO YOU FANCY? ASPARAGUS? I GOT GREEN PEAS AND NEW POTATOES BUT SHOUT IF YOU WANT ANYTHING DIFFERENT.’
IT TURNED OUT THAT MONTGOMERY WANTED BROWN BRAISED ONIONS, THE TWINS YORKSHIRE PUDDING, AND PRIMROSE BAKED POTATOES.
‘FAIR ENOUGH,’ MA SAID, ‘AS LONG AS WE KNOW.’