Yes to everything Penelope Fitzgerald! May I recommend The Beginning of Spring and the hilarious At Freddie's - who else writes child characters like this? Read all nine novels - they are exquisite, precise and witty. Hermione Lee's biography covers the notable Knox family and Fitzgerald's own fascinating and challenging life.
On early reading, I'm sorry your peers didn't see the advantages of having a wee friend who could already read. My brother, two years my senior, brought home his knowledge as a six-year-old and helped me to read at four before I attended school myself. Once at school I read aloud to the others and they mostly liked me doing it; it meant that when I got ahead with the advanced colour coded reading books they knew what was coming! Oh dear! This sounds like teacher's pet, doesn't it?
I ordered the biography right after I learned that The Bookshop was semi-autobiographical- such a fascinating read. One of the funny details that has stuck with me is the fact that she liked to cheat at cards - even when playing against her young grandchildren! I plan to collect all of her books, so thanks for the recs on where to begin :) And that’s so sweet about your brother— I don’t recall doing the same for my younger siblings, but I hope I did!
First piece of yours I’ve found, and subscribing! Women who run bookshops are some of my favourite writers here! (Katie Clapham and I can’t off the top of my head remember the name of the other lady, but she’s great!)
I vividly recall being made to stand in the corner of the classroom with my hands on head, back to the class, because I had taken two turns at reading aloud to the headteacher instead of one. Far too precocious!
Whoa! That’s a harsh punishment. No wonder it stuck with you. Is the other writer Jess Pan, by any chance? If yes, I agree, she’s great, as is Katie Clapham!
Oh, I love this, Rosalynn! It's one of my favourites of your essays yet! I so get where you are coming from here; we could literally be twins :) I, too, learned to read very early and used to read the road signs and posters on the billboards as my parents drove me around, to much amusement and surprise. I also indulged in the Sweet Valley High (ashamedly, secretly) and so studying English lit felt like an obvious choice, as reading and writing were really the only things I was ever good at (unless you count sprinting & netball, which I didn't). When I finished my studies, I found it really difficult to find books that were just fun to read anymore. It always felt like the 'popular' genres were a bit...silly. But then the literary 'Classics' felt like study. Over the years, I've also had to lean into reading a variety of books and letting go of prejudice.
Funnily enough, I have also just this past week finished reading Penelope Fitzgerald's 'The Bookshop', which I picked up at a local secondhand bookstore for £1! Have you read it? I'm thinking you probably have.
Yes to allll of this! I also didn’t have many other praiseworthy talents. Hopeless at math, even worse at athletics. On The Bookshop - my copy also came from our store, and I have read it twice since I found it, as well as a biography of Penelope Fitzgerald. Did you know the book is semi-autobiographical, even the bit with the ghost?!? I am currently untangling all my feelings about the story, and how eerily it resembles my current life, so that I can write about it. So excited to hear what you think of it!
Oh, wow! No, I didn’t know that! Penelope Fitzgerald has actually been on my to-research-and-write-about list for a while now, but I haven’t yet got round to it. I found the book funny but so sad also!
Yes, it is definitely both funny and sad. Devastating, even. And so short! I think it’s about 250 pages, but with the detail and emotional heft of 500. So of course I adore it!
Yes to everything Penelope Fitzgerald! May I recommend The Beginning of Spring and the hilarious At Freddie's - who else writes child characters like this? Read all nine novels - they are exquisite, precise and witty. Hermione Lee's biography covers the notable Knox family and Fitzgerald's own fascinating and challenging life.
On early reading, I'm sorry your peers didn't see the advantages of having a wee friend who could already read. My brother, two years my senior, brought home his knowledge as a six-year-old and helped me to read at four before I attended school myself. Once at school I read aloud to the others and they mostly liked me doing it; it meant that when I got ahead with the advanced colour coded reading books they knew what was coming! Oh dear! This sounds like teacher's pet, doesn't it?
I ordered the biography right after I learned that The Bookshop was semi-autobiographical- such a fascinating read. One of the funny details that has stuck with me is the fact that she liked to cheat at cards - even when playing against her young grandchildren! I plan to collect all of her books, so thanks for the recs on where to begin :) And that’s so sweet about your brother— I don’t recall doing the same for my younger siblings, but I hope I did!
First piece of yours I’ve found, and subscribing! Women who run bookshops are some of my favourite writers here! (Katie Clapham and I can’t off the top of my head remember the name of the other lady, but she’s great!)
I vividly recall being made to stand in the corner of the classroom with my hands on head, back to the class, because I had taken two turns at reading aloud to the headteacher instead of one. Far too precocious!
Whoa! That’s a harsh punishment. No wonder it stuck with you. Is the other writer Jess Pan, by any chance? If yes, I agree, she’s great, as is Katie Clapham!
Yes, Jess Pan, of course! I thought you would know.
And yes, a bizarre thing to punish a six-year old for, wanting to read aloud!
Oh, I love this, Rosalynn! It's one of my favourites of your essays yet! I so get where you are coming from here; we could literally be twins :) I, too, learned to read very early and used to read the road signs and posters on the billboards as my parents drove me around, to much amusement and surprise. I also indulged in the Sweet Valley High (ashamedly, secretly) and so studying English lit felt like an obvious choice, as reading and writing were really the only things I was ever good at (unless you count sprinting & netball, which I didn't). When I finished my studies, I found it really difficult to find books that were just fun to read anymore. It always felt like the 'popular' genres were a bit...silly. But then the literary 'Classics' felt like study. Over the years, I've also had to lean into reading a variety of books and letting go of prejudice.
Funnily enough, I have also just this past week finished reading Penelope Fitzgerald's 'The Bookshop', which I picked up at a local secondhand bookstore for £1! Have you read it? I'm thinking you probably have.
Yes to allll of this! I also didn’t have many other praiseworthy talents. Hopeless at math, even worse at athletics. On The Bookshop - my copy also came from our store, and I have read it twice since I found it, as well as a biography of Penelope Fitzgerald. Did you know the book is semi-autobiographical, even the bit with the ghost?!? I am currently untangling all my feelings about the story, and how eerily it resembles my current life, so that I can write about it. So excited to hear what you think of it!
I can't wait to read your piece once you get through untangling it! :)
Oh, wow! No, I didn’t know that! Penelope Fitzgerald has actually been on my to-research-and-write-about list for a while now, but I haven’t yet got round to it. I found the book funny but so sad also!
Yes, it is definitely both funny and sad. Devastating, even. And so short! I think it’s about 250 pages, but with the detail and emotional heft of 500. So of course I adore it!