Quartet in Autumn, by Barbara Pym: Review

[@romepix]

I love Barbara Pym’s novels so much! Thank you for reviewing one of my favorites by her. I am binge reading Pym during quarantine - I just finished Excellent Women tonight and hadn’t read it before... and I can’t believe I read quartet in autumn only once - when I was 20!!! It is going to be FASCINATING to re-read this at nearly 45. I loved loved loved QIA when I was a young English Major, and I only understand her work even more now (as a widow no less)... Pym’s british humour and dark and light observations on human nature and what actually feels more important in life, a series of small moments and idiosyncrasies rather than constant high melodrama, is what makes her work an anglophile’s dream. Your review is fun, subscribing now!

[@MarilynMayaMendoza]

Hi Shawn, This video came up in my field. This book was on my best of the year list last year. Maybe I loved it so much because I am old. Aloha

[@ssstaffordva6113]

I absolutely love Barbara Pym. Thank you for talking about her. I also read her in my early thirties, and have reread her books in my late sixties. All kinds of wonderful feelings.

[@melvintyers3643]

I read it decades ago and thought this is one I'll always remember. Thank you, will now read it again.

[@shawnbreathesbooks]

Awesome! If you search "shawn book maniac barbara pym" you'll find countless other videos I've made reviewing her other novels and biographies of her.

[@myreadinglife8816]

Your love for Pym just shines through in this video. I will be taking your advice on where to start with her.

[@shawnbreathesbooks]

Thank you so much.

[@josmith5992]

Although it’s sad that her publishers told her she was no longer wanted, I love that she came back sixteen years with a book that was shortlisted for the Booker, that’s some fingers up! This was such a wonderful review Shawn and your passion for Pym shines through, I have a strong feeling I’m going to enjoy her. Useless men and cringeworthy behavior often feature in Iris Murdoch who I’m a big fan of and at the very least as they were both writing novels during the same period it would be interesting to compare them. I know my library has several of her books, time to check out which ones!

[@shawnbreathesbooks]

Iris and Barbara were friends. Iris did not like Pym’s novels at all. I’m not aware of Pym‘s opinion of Murdoch’s novels but I suspect the feeling was mutual. Murdoch’s husband loved Pym’s novels. I have a theory that people who love Murdoch’s novels wouldn’t care for Pym’s and vice versa. I passionately hated and couldn’t finish The Sea, The Sea and it would take a lot of convincing to get me to ever try another Murdoch. :-)

[@josmith5992]

I'll let you know ;)

[@georgiam4576]

I'm going through your back catalogue and I came across this! I was worried at the beginning that you had not liked the book but I'm so pleased it made an impression on you! It's easily one my favourite novels of all time, I found it remarkable and extremely moving (though I agree, anyone starting with this would get the wrong idea about Pym)

[@shawnbreathesbooks]

Yes it was one of my reviews that I am most pleased with how it came out :)

[@melaniereed3494]

After reading Crampton Hodnet several weeks ago, I decided to go back to the beginning and read Pym's works in publication order (because that is what you did!). I am currently about half way thru Quartet in Autumn. I so loved reading the first 6 novels for all of the reasons you articulate so well. One of my favorite things has been to find small asides about characters from the previous novels - makes me feel like a real Pym insider. I am finding Quartet heavy going so I came back to listen to your review for some moral support. I rather like the two women characters, but the men are so absolutely colorless that I keep mixing them up - cannot keep them straight in my mind. It is dreary and bleak, and since I am 65 it hits a bit close to home. 'Pym humor infused with embalming fluid' made me laugh out loud. I feel this story is quite a bit more subtle than the previous novels and it takes a certain fortitude to keep going and also wisdom to find the small jewels Barbara Pym has left for us readers on the journey. Thanks again Shawn.

[@shawnbreathesbooks]

What a lush, lovely comment! Indeed, Quartet is heavy going -- especially when the reader is accustomed to a very different kind of story from Pym. Glad that, like me, you found your way with it and ended up connecting with it!

[@jennyjenny3531]

Subbed! Fabulous review. Not knowing a thing about Pym or her body of work, I started with Quartet in Autumn, and it took me a few days to recover from the icky feeling that lingered after I was finished reading it. But that was a year ago, and the book still came to mind from time to time. I'm glad her other work is more on the humours try and look forward to reading all of it eventually.

[@shawnbreathesbooks]

Wonderful to hear! I have reviews of a couple other of her novels AND of a biography of her also on my channel.

[@jennyjenny3531]

@@shawnbreathesbooks Thanks for letting me know! I'll be checking those out as I finish reading each book

[@jeremyjeremy5784]

Hello! I discoverd recently Barbara Pym's novels. I am reading Crampton Hordnet.......I love Barbara Pym and you make me love her way of writing more and more. If I could I invited you for a cup of tea to talk about Barbara Pym. If you want to travel in France you 're welcome !

[@shawnbreathesbooks]

Oooh another Barbara Pym fan! Happy reading and I might show up for some tea and cauliflower cheese someday! 😜

[@TheManseHen]

This was my first Pym, well, maybe I tried a chapter of one in my 20's and it didn't catch, but it's the first I can recall. I loved the humor and literally laughed out loud at least 3 times. Yes, the office is filled with dysfunctional creatures, Letty seeming the most "normal" of the 4. I lived in Scotland for 3 years and I have known my share of socially awkward Brits and many in the never-married category, several of whom are dear friends. Social awkwardness wears a bit differently in the culture there. I have friends who grew up in tiny isolated communities and it is not seen as at all strange to have binoculars "so as to see that the children made it to the play yard safely" (-: In such communities everyone knows everyone's business, something some find comforting but many find painful, especially if shy to start with. Your mentioning this "stalking of sorts" makes the scene in the video "A Day Out for Miss Pym" with the delightful Patricia Routledge where the sisters peek in at the Vicar in the midst of a proposal, make so much more sense! I'm known to have rather dark humor myself, so now I'm wondering if I'll find her other books too light! She's been compared to Jane Austen, who I appreciate but do not always adore, in part because there is too much lightness. I wonder if Miss Pym knew she had cancer whilst she wrote this volume, I expect she did but haven't looked into it. I'm halfway through Some Tame Gazelle and am also enjoying it, but not AS much as this one. Thanks for the review, I'll check out your others.

[@shawnbreathesbooks]

I enjoyed hearing your thoughts - you make me want to re-read the book! :) I'd love to receive other comments from you anytime!

[@kookiemonster9222]

Found Quartet in Autumn on my bookshelf having read it several years ago. Your review tempted me to read it again especially as I am now about the same age as the characters. However I don't think of myself as elderly but these four characters are meeting old age more than half way. The book is only bleak if the reader doesn't notice BP's humane sense of humour. BP likes people & is never cynical. I love your review. Thank you. Trisha M.

[@shawnbreathesbooks]

Thanks! I want to reread it eventually too.

[@marynarkiewicz9794]

I enjoyed your review. It gave me other perspectives. I'm a huge B. Pym fan. I'm reading "Quartet in Autumn" again right now. When you are older, as I am, this novel has a bit of realism to it..stark though it may be.

[@shawnbreathesbooks]

Hey thanks for your comments! I expect I’ll get a lot more out of Quartet the second time around. Next up for me is A Few Green Leaves.

[@jasonmetzker2290]

I read this as a book club read about a month ago. I voted for it thinking that this would be a fun read because Barbara Pym has been hailed as a modern day Jane Austen. However, most people at the book club didn't like it. I thought it was somewhat bleak and not a page turner, and I was disappointed as this was my very first Barbara Pym novel. Towards the end I started liking it, and enjoyed the irony of the ending. I had no idea that this was her last novel, and would have exercised more caution in voting for it had I known. What I did find interesting was how Edwin used the church to network and make his life meaningful, and also help Letty find a new place to live. Despite this I am not giving up on BP and am going to follow your suggestions and read one of your three favorites. However, I thoroughly enjoyed your review. Found it highly entertaining, because I had read the book, and was amused by your selection of the excerpt involving Norman at the hospital.

[@shawnbreathesbooks]

Very interesting! I do suggest if you ever are up for trying another one that you start with one of the three I mentioned at the end of the video. Good luck and happy reading!

[@jasonmetzker2290]

Shawn The Book Maniac Thank you Shawn!

[@missmaryhdream6560]

Yes that's Barbara pym she could make the mundane humdrum, bleakly humorous, but gallant in its own way. Having that relentless pursing female, hiding behind a lion turned kitten. That can't help but entertain, and has me laughing out loud. In a lovely human way, never ever stops me adoring her works. I wish I'd know her.

[@shawnbreathesbooks]

Sorry for the looong delay but gradually getting caught up on answering comments. Certainly appreciated yours! Barbara Pym fans unite! If you search on KZbin for "Shawn Book Maniac Barbara Pym" you will find many many videos I have made about her and her novels.

[@paulaakaazelialopes6694]

Pym's characters are the most despicable people I met in literature. They're not even mean, they're just cold, petty and resentful. I hated everybody in The Sweet Dove Died but here they're equally awful. If that was Pym's intention, then she's a masterful writer.

[@shawnbreathesbooks]

azelia lopes What can I say… It sounds like we read very different books when we read the same book. :-)