Currently reading
A London Family, 1870-1900: A Trilogy
The Cellist of Sarajevo
Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher
All the Names
A History of the World in 100 Objects
Down the Garden Path
Virtue Betray'd, Or, Anna Bullen
Year of Wonders
Swallows and Amazons
Illusion in java
The War Workers (1918)
I like E.M. Delafield. She wrote all the "Provincial Lady" books, which were largely auto-biographical accounts of her life as a wife and mother in a provincial village. I heard about this book, but couldn't find it at the library or in any used book store. I ended up buying a copy on ebay from Germany, a second edition signed by the author! I was excited. This story takes place during WWI, at a supply depot, where women young and old are doing their best to help out with the "war effort," under the command of a domineering, self-absorbed young bossy-pants who loves the vision of herself putting England first and everything else last. I wasn't sure I was going to like it at first, but as I got to know the many characters, I was charmed by the relationships and the way they talked, what they found shocking and how they teased one another. I was rooting for Bossy Pants to get her comeuppance and ultimately found the book satisfying. I am glad now that I have my own copy.