Leaver's Post

As you may know, Mrs Jones is retiring at the end of this term, after ten years in the Kayton Library patiently helping Paulines find, read (and return!) their books.  We're all very sad to see her go - but we were delighted that she kindly agreed to answer the book blog's Leaver's Questionnaire before departing,

What were you reading when you were a teenager?

I loved Agatha Christie. My favourites were Death on the Nile and Cat among the Pigeons. 

I also loved Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle. I was given The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes which I treasured.

What are you planning to read this holiday?

I am currently reading Babel by R F Kuang which came highly recommended by Ms Cummings and I want to finish it over the holidays. 

Fantasy fiction is not normally something I would read but I am really enjoying it. It is quite fast paced and hard to put down. A good recommendation.

What/who is your all-time favourite book/writer?
I love Claire Keegan who is an Irish writer, mainly short stories (Walk the Blue Fields). Small Things Like These was my favourite.

Who’s your favourite fictional character?
It has to be Mr Fox in Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl. He is a pretty charismatic character for a fox!

Do you have a favourite word/favourite line from a book?
'It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.' The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

If you had to recommend one book that everyone should read, what would it be?
Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons. I just loved it. Here is a description from the Catalogue record:  'When sensible, sophisticated Flora Poste is orphaned at nineteen, she decides her only choice is to descend upon relatives in deepest Sussex. 

At the aptly named Cold Comfort Farm, she meets the doomed Starkadders: cousin Judith, heaving with remorse for unspoken wickedness; Amos, preaching fire and damnation; their sons, lustful Seth and despairing Reuben; child of nature Elfine; and crazed old Aunt Ada Doom, who has kept to her bedroom for the last twenty years. But Flora loves nothing better than to organise other people. Armed with common sense and a strong will, she resolves to take each of the family in hand.'

Many thanks once again to Mrs Jones for taking the time to answer the blog's questions, and for all her help and support to so many Pauline readers over the years: best wishes for a long and happy retirement! For more holiday reading recommendations, check out tomorrow's Books of the Year post.