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A review by slippy_underfoot
The Woods in Winter by Stella Gibbons
4.0
Stella Gibbons offers an evocative portrayal of solitude, nature, and unconventional bonds in The Woods in Winter. The story introduces us to Ivy Gover, a gritty, middle-aged charwoman, whose life of modest resilience is grounded in London. Ivy sustains herself on a meager pension and her charring income, quietly dreaming of the countryside of her youth.
Her life shifts unexpectedly when a letter arrives, informing her of an inheritance: a secluded cottage in the Buckinghamshire countryside. With newfound freedom, Ivy moves quickly, adopting a mistreated dog, Neb, as her fierce companion. The winter setting envelops the cottage in atmospheric details, from the sagging thatch roof to the intruding mice and cockroaches, which Ivy, with peculiar kindness, accepts as part of her new world.
Ivy’s character radiates a rare wisdom, her kinship with nature underscoring her independence and determination. Gibbons subtly draws her as a “wise woman,” someone in harmony with the land and its creatures. As Ivy navigates life in her cottage, her quiet influence begins to affect the local community. The narrative introduces a mix of characters—Angela Mordaunt, a sorrowful spinster with a domineering mother; the charming but idealistic vicar; and a pair of society sisters attempting to bring modernity to the quaint village.
The novel’s heart, however, lies in Ivy’s poignant connection with a runaway boy named Mike. Their bond is forged in unexpected ways, revealing Ivy’s inherent kindness and protective instincts, even as she faces difficult choices.
Gibbons’ writing captures the tension between tradition and change, echoing broader societal divides. Her portrayal of Ivy’s life is both tender and fierce, layered with the bittersweet nature of aging and the quiet endurance of the human spirit.
I almost wished this book were infinite, always there to be dipped into and walked around, so I could pop by to see how everyone was getting along.
A perfect winter read.
#bookstagram #books #stellagibbons #thewoodsinwinter #deanstreetpress
Her life shifts unexpectedly when a letter arrives, informing her of an inheritance: a secluded cottage in the Buckinghamshire countryside. With newfound freedom, Ivy moves quickly, adopting a mistreated dog, Neb, as her fierce companion. The winter setting envelops the cottage in atmospheric details, from the sagging thatch roof to the intruding mice and cockroaches, which Ivy, with peculiar kindness, accepts as part of her new world.
Ivy’s character radiates a rare wisdom, her kinship with nature underscoring her independence and determination. Gibbons subtly draws her as a “wise woman,” someone in harmony with the land and its creatures. As Ivy navigates life in her cottage, her quiet influence begins to affect the local community. The narrative introduces a mix of characters—Angela Mordaunt, a sorrowful spinster with a domineering mother; the charming but idealistic vicar; and a pair of society sisters attempting to bring modernity to the quaint village.
The novel’s heart, however, lies in Ivy’s poignant connection with a runaway boy named Mike. Their bond is forged in unexpected ways, revealing Ivy’s inherent kindness and protective instincts, even as she faces difficult choices.
Gibbons’ writing captures the tension between tradition and change, echoing broader societal divides. Her portrayal of Ivy’s life is both tender and fierce, layered with the bittersweet nature of aging and the quiet endurance of the human spirit.
I almost wished this book were infinite, always there to be dipped into and walked around, so I could pop by to see how everyone was getting along.
A perfect winter read.
#bookstagram #books #stellagibbons #thewoodsinwinter #deanstreetpress