This novel is out of print now, but apparently it was a best seller in the sixties. I found an old penguin copy (the kind with the price in shillings!) in a charity shop.

It's a real gem of a novel, about a school teacher who keeps perfect discipline in her class - everyone is in awe of 'the terrible Miss Dove.' In fact, almost everyone in the tiny village has been taught by Miss Dove at one time, and she is thus a legend in the village, who has made an impression on everyone. When she is taken ill, everyone, including herself, is shocked to see her mortality.

Well, in some sense the novel is dated, as teachers and discipline such as Miss Dove's are a thing of the past. But as a character, Miss Dove is timeless, and will stay in your mind. The novel is a touching tale of the effects a teacher has on her pupils (although it gets a bit sentimental at times!).

I am sending this out on a bookray on Monday. Here is the list of participants in shipping order (subject to change):

1. Megi53 (USA)
2. booknhand (USA)
3. Eucalia (USA)
4. GoryDetails (USA)
5. Rrrcaron (USA)
6. tabyorky (UK)
7. flowergirl68 (UK)
8. maupi (Netherlands)
9. Gaspard-Tengu (France)
10. oceanss (Iran)
11. jubby (Australia)
12. jackiea (Australia)
12. Toxic (Australia)

I've wanted to read this for a long time -- since the late 60's, really.

Nice label, MyopicMeringue!

This book was positively amazing. I expected an educational story about a good, stern teacher. Instead I got some tremendous insights into human nature, including inspiringly romantic trysts and marriages.

The only parts that seemed dated were the author's use of cliched expressions like "hair of the dog that bit him" (and she even put them in quotes!).

Miss Dove's secret rating notebook for her students, in which Bill Holloway got "satisfactory", was my absolute favorite part, followed closely by the Coleridge-like ether fantasy Miss Dove experienced on the operating table.

I can't imagine why this book is out-of-print. It should be an enduring classic, read in high schools the way *A Tale of Two Cities* is read!

Mailing to booknhand today.

Received as part of a bookray. It looks very good and I am tempted to start it now, but I am currently reading a bookring and have one more in my possession before this one.

My goal is to start this one in a couple of weeks and have it moving again near the first full week of September.

Finished this book today.

It is a story of a disciplined teacher who takes it upon herself to impart knowledge and social graces to the children of her classes.

Living in a small town shehas the opportunity to watch her students develop into adults even after they leave elementary school at the completion of the 6th grade.

The reverse is true too, her students keep tabs on her as well, especially when she takes ill and has to have surgery.

This book, although outdated in practice, shows the molding a person can do with children to lead to success as an adult. We can never underestimate the power of a disciplined approach and underlying belief in the good in everyone.

Will request the next person's address and get this book out sometime this week.

Thanks for sharing it :)

RELEASE NOTES:

This bookring/ray is finally moving again, after being trapped with me because of health issues, both my own and my families. Sorry :(

It's on its way to Eucalia. Enjoy!! :)

This book arrived in the mail today. I have a few others to read first, but I think it won't take long!

Released on Monday, November 29, 2004 at about 1:00:00 PM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at sent to bookcrosser in Mailed, Bookring Controlled Releases.

RELEASE NOTES:

I apologize for taking so long with this book. I moved 800 miles away and started a new job while reading this book!

It was lovely, though! I enjoyed it very much. It was filled with bits of great advice for life. Thanks for sharing!

I sent the book on its way to New Hampshire this morning!

Miss Dove arrived safely in today's mail; many thanks! It's at the head of my TBR list and should move along quickly.

I love this book - old-fashioned as it may be! Miss Dove is almost a stereotype of the rigid-taskmistress model of a schoolteacher, yet she recognizes individual abilities despite her insistence on classroom discipline - and can appreciate that children of the artistic temperaments that she finds less than satisfactory may still achieve success in their own spheres. Some of the reactions of the children themselves suggest that in an uncertain world, where their parents may alternately bribe them and ignore them, having one perfectly consistent place to go every day is very reassuring... [The 1955 film sticks fairly closely to the book, and is enjoyable in its own right - although I think that it sugar-coats things more than the book does.]

I was pleased to note that there's more respect for alternate choices in this book than one might think, given the period in which it is set. At one point Miss Dove recognizes the exceptional maternal gifts of a woman who was one of her less-promising students:

Maternity, Miss Dove felt, was a humbler career than teaching - a talent rather than a craft, drawing more from instinct than from intelligence. But it was abundantly clear that it was this girl's - this woman's - ordained sphere of usefulness, that she had found it and that she would give it her energies without reserve. That was success; Miss Dove respected it.

[It occurs to me that Miss Dove's view of maternity might trigger some interesting debate in a book-group discussion of this novel!]

The book is now on its way to its next stop, with BCer Rrrcaron. Hope you enjoy it!

I received this in the mail yesterday. I hope to get to it soon.
Ruth

What a delightful book this was. As children, they all feared Miss Dove, as adults, they all respected her. I almost wish there were teachers like her now! lol This book was another example of not knowing how much you value a person until they're gone. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read it. I also apologize for keeping it so long. It was getting to it that was the problem. Anyways, it's off to tabyorky in the UK today. Sending it global priority so it shouldn't take too long!
Ruth

Received in the post today. Will put in my TBR Pile and pass on to the next person as soon as possible.

Started reading this book.

I couldn't get in to this book at all so gave up trying. Will Pm the next person for their address and pass it on.

Posted book to flowergirl68 today.

Arrived this morning and I will be starting it straight away.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - really lost myself in it. I always try not to read the other journal entries until I have read the book, and now I have just discovered that Gorydetails has also picked out my favourite quote from the book, on maternity.

Sending on to Maupi today.

Back home from my short break, and this book was waiting for me on the doormat. Thank you for ringing and forwarding, I look forward to reading it.

I finished this book last week. It is the story of a small world, but actually it's about the big things, isn't? Life, people, what really matters, realisation, that sort of stuff. I enjoyed reading this book. I haven't seen the film, I'm not really tempted now, afraid it will diminish the larger issues which are so modestly presented in written form.
Thank you for raying, MyopicMeringue! I already have Gaspard-Tengu's address and will send the book on tomorrow (post office day ;-0).

I sent the book to Gaspard-Tengu and have since PM-ed him several times, alas, no response. I hope he did receive the book.