Seni Glaister

Mr Doubler Begins Again is one of those delightfully quirky stories, one that made me smile a lot.
Doubler, of the title, is a potato farmer and proud of it. Living at Mirth Farm, the land around him is being bought up by another potato farmer, Peele, and he wants Doubler’s land. But Doubler is happy in his solitude and his museum piece home. Ok, he doesn’t leave the place, not ever, and his only companion is Mrs Millwood, his cleaner, but he’s happy enough.

One of the greatest pleasures in this book are the conversations and ruminations between Doubler and Mrs Millwood. Whilst he looks down on her inferior lunch, he tries to educate her as to why her apple is the wrong variety, why her sandwich isn’t right. But don’t start thinking Doubler is one of those irritating people who just like to be superior, he genuinely believes he is correct and simply wants to pass on that knowledge to others to make them appreciate their food (or gin, or whatever else it might be) more. He knows his limitations and only holds forth on those subjects he knows about. You can’t really say fairer than that, can you?

The characters in this book are what make it special for me. I loved Doubler, a kinder and fairer man you couldn’t find. Mrs Millwood and her daughter are just fabulous and the other people that Doubler meets as he begins again are quite the cast of characters. For Mrs Millwood falls ill and is unable to make the trip to the farm and for the first time in many years Doubler has to venture out, talk to others, realise that there is a world beyond his farm.
Just as I loved these characters, I loathed his son, Julian, and didn’t care much for his daughter, Camilla. As with most families, there’s background but they’re blinkered as to Doubler’s abilities as a father.

Plot-wise it really is all about Doubler’s second chance in life. I found myself thinking of Harold Fry when I was reading this book and the whole idea of getting to that point in your life where you look back and wonder if this was really how you wanted it to turn out. In changing his own life he also brings changes to others and that was really so heartwarming to read.
Seni Glaister’s writing is beautiful, so lyrical, so thoughtful and so deep sometimes. I could highlight any number of passages ranging from the ripeness of bananas to the likening of marriage to a hand-knitted blanket. I feel like every single word matters in this book.

I thought Mr Doubler Begins Again was an absolutely lovely story of friendship, of new beginnings and potatoes!… (meer)

Lost in the midst of the Carpathian Mountains is the state of Vallerosa. Founded by a group of Cathars escaping persecution hundreds of years ago, Vallerosa is small and unknown with no international profile. Governed by a benevolent elected dictatorship in the form of the President Sergio and his team of officials who all inherit their positions, the people of Vallerosa live simple lives unaffected by the world. However a mistake in interpreting a letter means that well-meaning student Lizzie is mistaken for royalty and her trip to discover Vallerosa is treated as an official visit. What Lizzie finds in Vallerosa is country in need of guidance and not that of the circling corporate Americans.

This is an original premise and, after a slow start, engaging story. The idea of a country living without interference from abroad is unlikely but the cast of characters is interesting. What works well are the little set pieces including the museum of things left behind, a place to exhibit the detritus of other people's lives, and the competition between the bar owners. OK it is more of an allegory than a piece of serious literature but it is whimsical and completely beguiling.… (meer)

Extremely surprised by the 1* review here, which I find inaccurate as well as unjust. I found this an utterly delightful read and would highly recommend it.

Somewhere on the border between Italy and Austria, in a deep gorge shielded from its neighbours’ eyes, lies the pretty little city-state of Vallerosa. Life in this sleepy country continues much as it has for decades: every evening the men gather at the two bars in the main square – the clientele of each dictated by long tradition; the women work hard out of sight; and Vallerosa’s chief glory remains the plantations where they grow their famous tea. And yet the President, Sergio Scorpioni, is troubled.

For the rest of the view, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2016/09/10/the-museum-of-things-left-behind-seni-glaist...… (meer)