All Among the Barley

There were 14 members present to review this book and it caused a very interesting discussion.

The majority of us really enjoyed the book, most of us felt her descriptions of farm life with its unremitting hard work and the nature details all contributed to a good sense of time and place. One member grew up on a farm during these years and she said it was an amazingly accurate depiction of life in those circumstances at that time, she says “the author really gets into farm life, and she gets it right!”

We felt the characters were well drawn with the naivety of Edie coming across and the manipulative Constance adapting to fit the circumstances and person in the conversation at the time.

We felt it was an easy read and most of us would read another by this author.

There were some criticisms though, some felt the first 100 pages were tedious, just endless lists of adjectives and facts, with a lack of imagery, just information to be got over to the reader. Quite a few of us disliked Connie, one said the style of the book reminded her of Thomas Hardy---No Plot!! Several did not like the end, felt it was rushed and shocking, although the member who grew up on a farm said it did happen more than might be imagined.

On the whole we would give it 4 stars.

October 2018