The Ladies of Missalonghi
16 journalers for this copy...
Set in the early 1900s in the tiny town of Byron in Australia's Blue Mountains, this novel tells the story of Missy Wright, a 33-year-old spinster and poor relation of the town's ruling family. Missy, her mother and aunt live in poverty, victims of their family inheritance policy that gives everything to the male heirs. Missy seems fated for a dreary future until a distant cousin arrives from Sydney.
Journal Entry 2 by Kaisi at 2014 Melbourne Convention in -- Controlled Release, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Released 10 yrs ago (4/11/2014 UTC) at 2014 Melbourne Convention in -- Controlled Release, Victoria Australia
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Available to any attendee of the Book Crossing Convention, or as a wild release.
Picked this up at the book buffet at the annual convention. Trying to pick up Australian authors and this is one I actually recognised.
Journal Entry 4 by 
earthcaroleanne
at Falkirk, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 20, 2021
earthcaroleanne at Falkirk, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 20, 2021
I loved this book. One of the few books that has made me sit down to finish it. The descriptions of genteel poverty in Australia and the social restrictions endured by these ladies are fantastic. So hurray for women who stand up for their rights.
Journal Entry 5 by earthcaroleanne at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Sunday, December 5, 2021
earthcaroleanne at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Sunday, December 5, 2021
Released 2 yrs ago (12/6/2021 UTC) at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sending this out as my favourite in the Favourite Book of 2021 Roundabout.
Journal Entry 6 by 
greenbadger
at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Monday, December 13, 2021
greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Monday, December 13, 2021
Ooh, this sounds like I'll enjoy it, thank you very much!
Journal Entry 7 by greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, December 18, 2021
greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, December 18, 2021
Missy, thin, plain, shorter than everyone in her family, and poor, lives with her mother and her aunt and seems set to become an old maid. The town is full of their wealthy relatives meaning appearances don't allow them to accept charity or to set up in business. And what seems worst of all to Missy, everything she owns is always brown, the cheapest colour that doesn't show the dirt. It's only when she's befriended by the mysterious Una at the lending library that Missy starts to find pleasure, and romance, from novels, and doesn't see why she shouldn't apply a bit of what she's reading to her own life. This is a rather charming romance as well as the story of a woman determined to change the status quo. I was especially amused by the ladies' refusal to believe that the newcomer's name is John Smith - my Dad is a John Smith, and the story goes that when my Mum first met him she didn't believe it was his real name. :)
Journal Entry 8 by greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 4, 2022
greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 4, 2022
Released 2 yrs ago (1/5/2022 UTC) at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off to grovalskii who is next in the ray.
Received! Looking forward to reading this.
If this book had been written in the period of Jane Austen, I would have been okay with it. I do enjoy reading this kind of slower book once in a while. But when I found out that it was written in 1987, I was rather shocked. The story seemed so predictable, so full of clichés. So old-fashioned. Like from a different time periode.
I still think it was a good choice for the roundabout. These different kinds of styles make up the wonderful mix of the roundabout.
Off to Finland next!
I still think it was a good choice for the roundabout. These different kinds of styles make up the wonderful mix of the roundabout.
Off to Finland next!
Journal Entry 11 by Paulanni at Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland on Friday, February 25, 2022
Paulanni at Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland on Friday, February 25, 2022
The book arrived yesterday, I think I will like it.
Journal Entry 12 by Paulanni at Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland on Saturday, April 16, 2022
Paulanni at Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland on Saturday, April 16, 2022
I liked this book a lot, but I might be partial to historical fiction, one of my favourite genres. I enjoyed the setting of the story and the development of Missy's character. And mysterious Una got me perplexed. The book reminded me of the previous roundabout book - in both we meet a meek and intelligent young woman who finds courage to fight for what they want in life.
Journal Entry 13 by Paulanni at Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland on Saturday, April 16, 2022
Paulanni at Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland on Saturday, April 16, 2022
Released 2 yrs ago (4/16/2022 UTC) at Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
The book is posted to Fifna, though I don't think it starts its travel before Easter holidays are over.
Arrived safely, thanks Paulanni!
I enjoyed this story quite a lot, but I'm in two minds about it. The first half was good, I liked the setting and the writing and it seemed like a good set up for the women taking their futures into their own hand, which is excellent. But I felt the second half was a bit rushed and only seemed to serve to bring everything to the inevitable conclusion as quickly as possible. It could have been fleshed out better. And I felt the way Missy goes about getting what she wants is rather questionable too. If we (and they) don't accept the deceitfulness of the male-dominated society they were living in, how can we accept her deceit? I wish the author had given her the moral high ground, it would have made her stronger.
But as I said, I enjoyed the book nonetheless, thanks for sharing!
But as I said, I enjoyed the book nonetheless, thanks for sharing!
Travelling to estelle1806.
Just arrived, thanks Fifna. Perfect size to read on the bus for the next few days...
It was an OK read, nothing extraordinary and unlikely memorable... If this was supposed to be a feminist book, it really failed in its purpose.
Thank for sharing all the same, earthcaroleanne.
Thank for sharing all the same, earthcaroleanne.
Journal Entry 19 by 
estelle1806
at -- Controlled Releases, by hand or mail, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Monday, May 16, 2022
estelle1806 at -- Controlled Releases, by hand or mail, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Monday, May 16, 2022
Released 1 yr ago (5/17/2022 UTC) at -- Controlled Releases, by hand or mail, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Travelling to mathgirl40.
Please let us know when you release it again...
Please let us know when you release it again...
This book is with me now.
This book was a quick and enjoyable read, but I found some of the characters' words and actions to be problematic. It would have felt more like a "happy ending" to me if Missy's relationship hadn't been based on a deception. Still, I really liked learning more about Australia in that time period.
This book is on its way to mcsar.
Thanks for the book. I will start once I finish the last one.
A quick pleasant read. I would have liked it more if not for the revelation about Una at the end. It ruined the story for me. And I too hated that Missy needed to resort to deception to gain her happy ending. Could the author not just allow her to be appreciated for who she was?
On its way to valpete.
Received! Thanks!
This felt so much like a Jane Austen novel. A quick enjoyable read!
On to the next reader.
Received 😃
I wasn't sure this was going to be my thing, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. There is a lovely humour running through the whole thing that I really enjoyed and you can't help but cheer as the women of the town turn the tables on their greedy menfolk! Well worth the read.
Journal Entry 31 by 
dark-draco
at -- By Post or by Hand--, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Thursday, August 25, 2022
dark-draco at -- By Post or by Hand--, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Thursday, August 25, 2022
Released 1 yr ago (8/25/2022 UTC) at -- By Post or by Hand--, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off to its next reader
Arrived safe and sound.
Thanks very much.
Thanks very much.
A quick and entertaining read.
This is my first time reading this author and I would like to read her again. I won't be taking her advise on how to get a husband, I'll just stay a spinster. :)
This is my first time reading this author and I would like to read her again. I won't be taking her advise on how to get a husband, I'll just stay a spinster. :)
Journal Entry 34 by Ythan at -- By Post or by Hand--, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Released 1 yr ago (10/11/2022 UTC) at -- By Post or by Hand--, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off to Cross-patch.
Journal Entry 35 by 
Cross-patch
at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Sunday, October 16, 2022
Cross-patch at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Sunday, October 16, 2022
We arrived home from a few days away to find the parcel in the porch, so you’ll be pleased to know, Ythan, that it has arrived safely.
Journal Entry 36 by Cross-patch at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Thursday, November 17, 2022
Cross-patch at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Thursday, November 17, 2022
I enjoyed this book immensely. There was a George Eliot feel with the portrayal of a claustrophobic matriarchal household, beautifully done. Not so comfortable with the rushed happy ending ; it was emotionally correct but was wanting in grace.
Journal Entry 37 by Cross-patch at -- By Post or by Hand--, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Saturday, November 26, 2022
Cross-patch at -- By Post or by Hand--, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Saturday, November 26, 2022
Released 1 yr ago (11/26/2022 UTC) at -- By Post or by Hand--, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Going to its last port of call on a worldwide venture.
Journal Entry 38 by Poodlesister at Walthamstow, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, December 5, 2022
Poodlesister at Walthamstow, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, December 5, 2022
This has arrived with greenbadger’s book. Is it wrong to be happy that it’s a small book?
Journal Entry 39 by Poodlesister at Walthamstow, Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, February 24, 2023
Poodlesister at Walthamstow, Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, February 24, 2023
I really enjoyed this. It reminded me a little of Cranford.
Journal Entry 40 by Shepparm at Buckingham, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Saturday, March 18, 2023
Received from the mixed fiction book box
Journal Entry 41 by Shepparm at Buckingham, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 31, 2023
I enjoyed the book and loved the way the Ladies got one over on the men in the story but in many ways the characters were a bit flat.
Being released in the small fiction book box.
Being released in the small fiction book box.
Taken from the short fiction bookbox for re-release.
