Mrs. Miniver~Vintage Book Review
“…and realize that a day without a chunk or two of solitude in it is like a cocktail without ice.”~Mrs. Miniver
Not all great books are majestic, triumphant, outstandingly written, well-known, and follow a well-crafted plot. Or filled with action, adventure, thrills, or excitement. Mrs. Miniver is none of those. And yet, it is a great book. It is like a cup of tea–warm, quiet, cozy, and filled with everyday moments recounted in a telling way– without being the least bit imposing.
It’s extremely seldom I come across a fiction book of this kind. Or rather, a fiction book of this kind with this kind of caliber. Of course, there is the famous Goodbye, Mr. Chips, which is also a simple, heartwarming tale of everyday life, but even that acclaimed book doesn’t measure up to Mrs. Miniver’s insightful loveliness–in my humble opinion.
Mrs. Miniver offers a glimpse of English life during the 1940’s, and it was said by the New York Herald Tribune at the time (1940)
“All that was best in English life is in this book.”
It is certainly unassuming though. Each chapter is a short 3-4 pages. Nothing big happens. Buying a doll. Cleaning an old orchard. Purchasing a new planner for the year. An evening at dinner. A car ride. Listening to windshield wipers. Those are what the chapters are made up of. Life is quiet. The family small.
And yet, after reading it I found that it had touched me more than I first realized. I started becoming a Mrs. Miniver in my own life. For you see, the book leaves you with your eyes wide open to capture the simple pleasures that slip by everyday. Not that they are great discoveries you may have never seen before, because often you have seen them hundreds of times. But, as Holmes was always telling Watson, you can see something every single day of your life and never really observe it.
I found this book to be one of those that wakens you to observe, ponder, and really notice the everyday things and people in your life. To remember the little gestures, personalities, choices, pleasures, words, and memories you make with your family. The kind of things you will treasure and be so glad for should you ever lose a person close to you, or move away from your homeland and the familiar country and grounds. As a matter of fact, if I could journal like Mrs. Miniver I’d sit down and chronicle the treasures of all my everydays right away!
But here I am raising your expectations of the book to such heights that you will surely be disappointed and think “She got all that from those simple–plain stories!?!” For they are simple and many may find them dull. But persevere with an open mind and you may surprise yourself with the fondness you will have for Mrs. Miniver, and your appreciation for her wisdom growing by the end of the book, as happened to me.
Book Details
Title Mrs. Miniver
Author Jan Struther
Date Originally Published: 1939 (from Newspaper articles published 1937-1939)
Book in Photos: published 1940
To read the great review on Goodreads by author Elisabeth Grace Foley that made me want to read the book click here.
One more note before I leave: Mrs. Miniver the book, and Mrs. Miniver the famous WWII film that was so highly acclaimed by Winston Churchill are not similar. The film was good in it’s own right. So was the book. But there is almost no comparing them as they are only ever so faintly connected. So just enjoy each one separately and don’t worry about their differences and connections! Neither are perfect, but both are worth pursuing!
This book is a beautiful glimpse into old English life. A book that sharpens your sense of gratefulness, wonder, and joy in everyday life.
“It oughtn’t to need a war to make us talk to each other in buses, and invent our own amusements in the evenings, and live simply, and eat sparingly, and recover the use of our legs, and get up early enough to see the sun rise. However, it has needed one (WWII in England): which is about the severest criticism our civilization could have.”
― Mrs. Miniver
November 1, 2016 @ 9:15 pm
Oh it seems like just the type of dear book I would enjoy! You sure can write a good review that whets the readers appetite and gets them ready for a good read.
November 1, 2016 @ 9:51 pm
Thank you Shannon! I do think you would enjoy it–and the review was great fun to write!
November 2, 2016 @ 11:26 pm
Enjoy your reviews! I’ll get in line for reading this! Sounds delightful and refreshing. Great for autumn.
The idea of enjoying this book and the film each for its own merit sounds interesting. Are you able to do this often? I have been disappointed at times when the two are so different and one seems so lacking. It would be a pleasure for both to be worthwhile.
Thank you for the link to the other review, as it wonderful also.
November 25, 2016 @ 9:21 am
Yes, it can be hard to separate them at times, but when they are as wildly different as the Mrs. Miniver book and film it is easy.
Glad you enjoyed the review, thanks for commenting!