Miss Barbellion’s Garden: a book review of a modern classic
Posted by Fiona Nevile in Reviews | 10 comments
Having read this book I’ve had to update my fantasy dinner party list to include Miss Nancy Barbellion. In fact she would be welcome at the cottage anytime. Miss Barbellion is a lesson to anyone who equates old age with uselessness. At 71 she is circumspect, punchy and kind.
Miss Barbellion inherits her rambling family home in Bath, England and returns from a lifetime working in distant lands from China to India. She links up with old friends – that she hasn’t seen for twenty years.
Despite being an avid letter writer she has still not made the acquaintance of her youngest relation – Mina. A teenage niece who is obsessed with drawing in black pen and ink. I love the fact that the superb, detailed illustrations by Jenny Kallim are all in black pen and ink – except of course the book cover.
Great aunt and niece quickly form a strong relationship. Miss Barbellion rediscovers her huge childhood dolls house and her love for the lead toys that fascinated and absorbed her all those years ago. Mina dives in too – playing with the vintage plastic garden that Miss Barbellion has picked up ‘for a song’.
The dolls house and the construction/deconstruction of its garden is the connecting hub for most of the characters in this book. All are beautifully drawn from the rotund sausage loving Cynthia to the ghostly, pragmatic Holly.
This novel could be described as a modern fairy tale or a ghost story. It could be categorised as a cross over book – appealing equally to teenagers and adults. But I found it offered far more than that. When I read the final page I turned it over and started to read it again immediately. This is the first time in my life that I have ever done that. I stayed up all night.
I wanted to try and discover why this book gave me so much pleasure. Why it worked so well. I was intrigued. This book is apparently a simple tale but it is complex, satisfying, surreptitiously witty and intriguing.
It made me laugh out loud when I was least expecting to be tickled.
Collectors of old toys would love this book as it hones in on that particular pleasure.
Anyone who likes an inspiring read would appreciate reading this book too.
Be warned, I thought about this book for weeks after I’d finished it. A truly modern classic. I keep on wondering about what happened next… and the illustrations are superb.
Miss Barbellion’s Garden
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Hmm, sounds appealing.
I might even read it. . .
xxx
Irving
I can highly recommend it!
Hi Fiona
I kept wondering where you had got to. Was very sorry to hear your sad news, but hope you are feeling better.
I am fascinated by the sound of this book and will definitely get hold of a copy! I see that the author works in the British Museum. All very intriguing.
Hi Fiona, lovely to read your posts again, Hope you are doing ok. Still thinking of you.
Hi Jenny – I think that I’m doing OK. Thanks so much for leaving a comment.
I have a favourite book much like this, ‘The cat that came in from the cold’ by Deric longden, I can read it over and over its like an old friend who when you are down or have a cold you can call on to pass away an afternoon. I have read all his books and amaze at his wit and humour in his later projects when one considers his first novel was in connection to his wife Diana’s illness and demise in the bath ( possibly self inflicted as suggested in the tv adaptation starring Julie Waters ‘Wide eyed and leggless’) It is a wonderful feeling to own such a book and be strangely reassured even by its presence on the book shelf ( which I why I strongly refuse to own a digital book reader) I may end up a mad lonely cat lady in my house on the fens but I will always have these paper versions of worlds and friends to keep me company
Thanks Mandi – I’ve just ordered it!
can’t wait to read it Fiona after this great review!
It’s the Brittains plastic garden – I recognise it from what is shown on the cover drawing. My little collection of that is upstairs in the same miniature suitcase as the remains of my Mother’s lead version. I want to read the book now!
Will have a look out for it Fiona, however my ‘ to read’ pile is already at risk of toppling over..need to find some spare time and get a few read.