Ten writers for children. All with something to say.

9/28/11

Summer with Persephone

This past summer of reading was more books than I could keep track of, but the ones that stand out are the Persephone books. Last January when I was visiting my editor in sunny California, I had brought a slow, dark, depressing book that I could barely open. On my editor's shelf was a beautiful book that caught my eye, The Making of a Marchioness, and it was by one of my favorite childhood author's, Frances Hodgeson Burnett ~ ("The Secret Garden").


If you loved "Pride and Prejudice", you will love this book- it sweeps you off your feet with quirky, romantic characters. Curious about the publisher, I visited their website and became obsessed with their mission, their culture, everything about them. I am now an avid collector and reader of Persephone books. Here are some of my favorites from this summer:
The Far Cry ~ A coming of age story with a fabulous passage to India with accurate descriptions of arrival by sea to Bombay, then a harrowing train ride to a tea plantation. I could sense everything about India with this story. The writing was exquisite! Persephone books are beautifully crafted- the size of the book, the endpapers, the quality of the paper- making the reading experience like a delicious feast followed with a rich dessert.
Another favorite was Saplings ~ a very complex story of a family of children who were ushered out of London before the bombs began to fall. It is a heartrending story of how war can nearly destroy a family, not to mention a country.
For laugh out loud, slap-stick reading, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is the perfect book. The Guardian refers to it as a "flight of humor" which describes it exactly- and I just recently finished Mariana, a book filled with the details of daily life in London~ following the growing up of a young girl, whom I did not particularly like, but found myself rooting for her by the end. Interesting to read a book about a character that is not a likable heroine.
I recommend signing up for Persephone's catalogue in the mail~ their newsletter is excellent reading about the joy of books and can be enjoyed over a hot cup of tea.

10 comments:

Christy said...

Thanks, Lauren, I just signed up with Persephone. These all look great. I just want to curl up and read for hours on end.

Lauren said...

They are the best books for curling up for hours. I think of you and your rich sense of design when I look at the catalogue~ the design of the catalogue alone!

Mark said...

Very intriguing recommendations, Lauren. I just requested Miss Pettigrew from our local library. I'm always up for reading something that's laugh-out-loud funny!

Stephanie said...

I'll check it out, they sound like great reads:)

Diane Adams said...

I can't wait to get my hands on the Persephone books. They sound like good reads on interesting topics. So you sign up to get them?

Edie Hemingway said...

Okay, Lauren, I just signed up for the Persephone catalog, too. Can't wait! I am getting a reading list a mile long just from my fellow spuds.

Lauren said...

Hi Diane, you sign up for the catalogue-- a beautiful catalogue with stories, essays, and book descriptions that make you want to buy the books~ and if you should order a book- it comes wrapped beautifully in a color-matching ribbon and a book mark which matches the endpapers, which have been carefully chosen to reflect the time and era of the book.

David LaRochelle said...

I think you should get a commission, Lauren, for such a persuasive description of this publisher's books!

Diane Adams said...

Thanks Lauren.

Christy said...

Persephone catalog arrived-gorgeous!!!