I really enjoy these books so much. This story dealt with the possibility of Fairacre school being closed. Rumor run rampant and Miss Read worries that she will lose her happy situation as Fairacre school's headmistress. Of course that's not the only thing for her to worry about. She worries about little Joseph Coggs and his two sisters, who attend Fairacre school. Their Father, Arthur Coggs, Fairacre's major trouble maker,drunkard, thief, wife beater and all around louse has finally gotten his comeuppance and will be spending two years in jail for his part in the theft of a lead roof that was on Henry Mawne's summer house. Luckily Joseph's mother and his siblings end up better off, since now the money from the government can go for food and clothing, not for beer for Arthur to guzzle at the pub. Minnie Pringle, who is Mrs. Pringle's niece, ends up damn near destroying Miss Read's home. She needs money, so Miss Read and other good hearted residents hire her to do light housework but her chronic clumsiness and nonexistent house cleaning skills are a recipe for disaster . Needless to say several of Miss Reads's beloved treasures get smashed. Minnie and her brood get stranded when her no-good husband leaves her for Mrs. Fowler ( The witchy old lady from Tyler's Row). Minnie gets herself a boyfriend, who's not much better than her husband. He moves in with her and the next thing you know, Ern, the husband is back pounding on her door, threatening to beat her up ( again). Mrs Fowler has thrown him out! Never a dull moment in this book. Great fun.
Another gentle Miss Read book -- easy to read and enjoyable -- she doesn't mince words in her "criticisms" of human nature, exemplified by the characters she writes about -- not only is Mrs Pringle described so well that one almost cringes when she is involved, you also "love" the curmudgeon because Miss Read makes you realize that Mrs Pringle (and other "characters") also have some good points. This book one has the constant worry about the closing of Fairacre school -- will it, or will it not? I think I have been giving 5 stars to each in the "series" -- if not, I should. Today, I will start "Gossip from Thrush Green." I'm sure it will be as good as each of the others.
