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Good Evening, Mrs Craven: The Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes by Mollie Panter-Downes
kingarooski's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories set during the war in the UK. Focuses mainly on the experiences of the upper middle class and there is a lot of "stiff upper lipness" about the experience, but Mollie Panter-Downes described it brilliantly. I'd like to read more of this author's work.
krobart's review
4.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2022/01/07/review-1781-good-evening-mrs-craven-the-wartime-stories-of-mollie-panter-downes/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2022/01/07/review-1781-good-evening-mrs-craven-the-wartime-stories-of-mollie-panter-downes/
annemariep68's review
5.0
I just happened across an article about this collection of short stories by a British journalist, during WWII for the New Yorker. I ordered my copy from Persephone Books in London and was pleasantly surprised by the lovely little volume that arrived.
What serendipity! I absolutely loved this book, and will be revisiting the stories and characters often I think. Funny, sad, poignant, inspiring, embarrassing...she illuminates the very real day-to-day feelings and activities of regular Britons during the war. And on more than one occasion I felt echoes of the world today during this global pandemic. A collection for all times.
Update: I continue to come back to these stories. Especially when world events make it difficult to concentrate on a novel. These short stories remind us we are not alone and that we have been here before and that it will get better. Thank you Mollie Panter-Downes.
What serendipity! I absolutely loved this book, and will be revisiting the stories and characters often I think. Funny, sad, poignant, inspiring, embarrassing...she illuminates the very real day-to-day feelings and activities of regular Britons during the war. And on more than one occasion I felt echoes of the world today during this global pandemic. A collection for all times.
Update: I continue to come back to these stories. Especially when world events make it difficult to concentrate on a novel. These short stories remind us we are not alone and that we have been here before and that it will get better. Thank you Mollie Panter-Downes.
izzyalexander's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mcsangel2's review
2.0
I only thought about half the stories here were good; to be fair, that half were REALLY, REALLY good. Not enough for me to keep the book in case I ever want to reread them, though. I think that generally, short stories just don't do it for me.
judyward's review
4.0
Books about World War II are usually about soldiers, battles, campaigns, politics, or political leaders. These short stories by Mollie Panter-Downes focus on the war's effect on life in England viewed through the lives of ordinary British citizens--primarily women. The stories highlight the camaraderie that was forged during the air-raids which gave many lonely people a sense of community, the rationing and food shortages, and the difficulties associated with evacuations for both the host families and the evacuees. Mollie Panter-Downes was the New Yorker's London correspondent and she wrote these short stories during the war. The strength of Panter-Downes' writing is that she is able to evoke World War II--the fear, the bravery, the anxiety, and the overwhelming desire to keep life as normal as possible--without any actual descriptions of combat.
we_are_all_mad_here26's review
5.0
If you really hate short stories... you should read this anyway.
I myself am not a terrific fan of short stories - I read Flannery O'Connor's [b:The Complete Stories|284996|The Complete Stories|Flannery O'Connor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1557999886l/284996._SY75_.jpg|886814] last year and figured that would do me until 2025 or so. Then I got this surprise in the mail (a gift from my husband, chosen by the lovely people at Persephone Books based on my previous purchases), and now I want to immediately read [b:Minnie's Room: The Peacetime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes|1683769|Minnie's Room The Peacetime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes|Mollie Panter-Downes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348318119l/1683769._SX50_.jpg|1680371].
These stories were just so good. In each of them is a picture of the effects of WWII on the English who were at least a few, and in some cases, quite a few steps removed from the actual fighting. For example, the "Mrs. Craven" of the title, who is not a Mrs. at all but a mistress, and who worries that she'd never hear of it, should Mr. Craven be injured or worse, killed. As with nearly every Persephone I've read so far, I'm amazed that this book and its author are not more widely known.
This is the 8th book that Persephone published, and, coincidentally, the 8th that I've read.
I myself am not a terrific fan of short stories - I read Flannery O'Connor's [b:The Complete Stories|284996|The Complete Stories|Flannery O'Connor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1557999886l/284996._SY75_.jpg|886814] last year and figured that would do me until 2025 or so. Then I got this surprise in the mail (a gift from my husband, chosen by the lovely people at Persephone Books based on my previous purchases), and now I want to immediately read [b:Minnie's Room: The Peacetime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes|1683769|Minnie's Room The Peacetime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes|Mollie Panter-Downes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348318119l/1683769._SX50_.jpg|1680371].
These stories were just so good. In each of them is a picture of the effects of WWII on the English who were at least a few, and in some cases, quite a few steps removed from the actual fighting. For example, the "Mrs. Craven" of the title, who is not a Mrs. at all but a mistress, and who worries that she'd never hear of it, should Mr. Craven be injured or worse, killed. As with nearly every Persephone I've read so far, I'm amazed that this book and its author are not more widely known.
This is the 8th book that Persephone published, and, coincidentally, the 8th that I've read.
polly_h's review
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A series of vignettes of life during the Second World War in England. Witty observations, focused around domestic disruption where the war has caused a wrinkle breaking societal and relationships norms unveiling peoples small and large discomforts at being out of the normal pattern of things.