Ahhhh . . . another Sunday. I felt like this week went SUPER quickly, which was surprising, given that going back to work after the holidays is usually brutal.
I read one book this week, but it was a good one–Cranford, by Elizabeth Gaskell. I actually really liked it and the edition I read had very helpful endnotes and a glossary.
I have been really yearning for classics right now, so Cranford really hit the spot. I think part of the reason is because I am completely obsessed right now with collecting both Persephones and Penguin’s clothbound classics. Of the latter, I only have one. Yes, you guessed it–Cranford!
The only place where I have seen them is at Anthropologie, but they are also available on Penguin’s website. I love having nice editions of old classics, and these have embossed linen covers. I don’t know when I will be able to purchase more, but hopefully soon!
Obviously Persephone was something I learned about through other blogs. I now have four of the Persephone classics (with one on the way).
–Mariana, by Monica Dickens
–The Making of a Marchioness, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
–Little Boy Lost, by Marghanita Laski (coming soon!)
–Someone at a Distance, by Dorothy Whipple
–Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, by Winifred Watson
My mom bought all but the Laski one for me (isn’t she so nice?!). Apparently the woman who owns the knitting store she frequents is from England and she sells the Persephone classics in her shop. She told my mom the other day that she has quite a respectable collection of the regular Persephones at home, of which I have ordered four but who knows when they will make their way here from across the sea. In fact, I have absolutely no idea what I ordered, although I know there was another Dorothy Whipple in there!
So anyway, that’s enough rambling for one day. I have pretty much gotten all my household chores done, and although I have some laundry to occupy me, I am hoping to spend the rest of the night reading! I hope everyone else has had a nice Sunday so far!
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ReviewsbyLola's Blog 
I’m really looking forward to reading Ms. Gaskell for the first time this year!
It’s so nice to hear you enjoyed Cranford! Gaskell is an author I really want to try, so whenever I hear good things about her, it makes me all the excited to do so!
Also, I think it’s lovely that your mom visits a knitting shop that sells literature… Two of my favorite things combined!
I loved Cranford! Glad to see you enjoyed it too.
Ah I love collections. I love the clothbound penguin ones but I know that I wouldn’t read most of them. The only one I have is also Cranford.
Penguin’s clothbound classics are gorgeous, but Wuthering Heights is the only one I own. Will be reading Cranford sometime this year, and more Persephones, too!
Those Penguin books are pretty and of course the Persephones are just beautiful too. I am glad to hear you loved Cranford! I really want to read it.
I hope you’ll love Miss Pettigrew… such a wonderful book. I didn’t like Monica as much as I expected to so I was a bit disappointed by that but it could have been just me. Anyway, enjoy them all! 🙂
Cranford is in my To-Read list. What did you like the most? I have never read anything by E. Gaskell so, I don’t know what to expect. Thanks!
BTW Those amazing Penguin Editions can be found at a website called THE BOOK DEPOSITORY. Free shipping worldwide + great prices and quality. Check it, I’m in love with it.