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A review by jamie_o
The Other Side of the Dale by Gervase Phinn
4.0
Gervase Phinn is kind of like the James Herriot of the education field. But sorry Gervase, James is my fave.
Phinn is a talented author and the book chronicles his first year as an English-Drama school inspector in North Yorkshire. He expressively and lovingly describes the beauty of the Yorkshire dales, much in the same manner as Herriot. Most amusingly, people are always misspelling, mispronouncing, and commenting on the oddness of his name:
-"I didn't imagine that you'd look as you do. Your name sort of conjures up a very different picture. I imagined you'd be sort of French looking - dark and swarthy with an accent."
-'Would you mind pronouncing it again?' I said. 'I rather like the way you say it.' 'Ggggervez,' she repeated in a most seductive voice. Then she added, 'It ees the name of a yoghurt.'
-'Is it? I was told your name was Gerald Chinn. I thought you must be some Eastern poet. I was looking all over for a Chinaman.'
Phinn's charming stories often end on a humorous note and demonstrate his keen insight. And his conversations with often blunt/honest children are just plain adorable.
I'll certainly read more books in this series.
Phinn is a talented author and the book chronicles his first year as an English-Drama school inspector in North Yorkshire. He expressively and lovingly describes the beauty of the Yorkshire dales, much in the same manner as Herriot. Most amusingly, people are always misspelling, mispronouncing, and commenting on the oddness of his name:
-"I didn't imagine that you'd look as you do. Your name sort of conjures up a very different picture. I imagined you'd be sort of French looking - dark and swarthy with an accent."
-'Would you mind pronouncing it again?' I said. 'I rather like the way you say it.' 'Ggggervez,' she repeated in a most seductive voice. Then she added, 'It ees the name of a yoghurt.'
-'Is it? I was told your name was Gerald Chinn. I thought you must be some Eastern poet. I was looking all over for a Chinaman.'
Phinn's charming stories often end on a humorous note and demonstrate his keen insight. And his conversations with often blunt/honest children are just plain adorable.
I'll certainly read more books in this series.