Got close to 10% but DNF

So many characters, so much rewinding trying to find a foothold in the story, that I paused it and spaced out instead of continuing. Now, upon further research, I'm going to let it go.

Wow, oh, my, just read the GR reviews. How could this not be one of my 6 selections for HEIOTL (Howard's End Is On the Landing about reading books you own)?

Sometimes, gobbling the latest modern novel, you forget how good good writing can be. Sylvia Townsend Warner is a fine writer who spins a compelling tale with unique and varied characters. Lolly Willowes is a maiden aunt living with her brother and his family in London after growing up happily in the country."She spent her life being useful to those who didn't want her." She realizes her true calling is to become a witch. "When I think of witches, I seem to see all over England, all over Europe, women living and growing old, as common as blackberries, and as unregarded. I see them, wives and sisters of respectable men, chapel members, and blacksmiths and small farmers, and Puritans. In places like Bedfordshire, the sort of country one sees from the train. You know. Well, there they were, there they are, child-rearing, housekeeping, hanging washed dishcloths on currant bushes and for diversion each other's silly conversation, and listening to men talking together in the way that men talk and women listen." It is a short novel and the best I've read all year. Next up is her story of a lonely, despairing missionary on a tropical island where he's only made one convert, [b:Mr. Fortune's Maggot|264840|Mr. Fortune's Maggot; and, The Salutation|Sylvia Townsend Warner|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320564563s/264840.jpg|256747]and the next story is [b:Summer Will Show|958670|Summer Will Show|Sylvia Townsend Warner|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1228918840s/958670.jpg|943580]about an "early Victorian lady of means with a secret passion for pugilism." The last book in my collection is [b:The Corner That Held Them|958668|The Corner That Held Them|Sylvia Townsend Warner|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348920339s/958668.jpg|943578] which describes the daily life of a group of medieval nuns over 30 years. Having [b:Four in Hand: A Quarter of Novels|126693|Four in Hand A Quarter of Novels|Sylvia Townsend Warner|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1364477643s/126693.jpg|122005] is having riches in my reading bank. ( )

An odd story, but beautifully written. Laura Willowes, a spinster, who, through childish mispronunciation, became known as Lolly. Set in the 1920s, Lolly rejected the safe, respectable, boring life with her brother and sister-in-law to live in an out of the way village named Great Mop. When she discovers her identity as a witch the story becomes much more interesting. ( )

Sentence after sentence that makes you smile with delight. Very British, very witty, and a countryside I would not mind losing myself in. Besides this, this is a book about suffocating social conventions, women who are not allowed to have lives of their own, space of their own - and about how to win your life and space. I think this is the kind of book it is going to be a pleasure to re-read at some point. ( )

the dominant character in this book is the countryside. it's a very pastoral novel and although the plot and character writing is good to me it felt of secondary importance. weirdly it reminds me of the kinks village green preservation society album. it feels like a paean to the traditional village which never changes - a certain character even says something like once a wood always a wood. weirdly the main character goes through all this effort just to stay still. I loved all the descriptions of the village and the countryside and "traditional living" and it made me want to live it pretty bad. the main story about a woman escaping her forced role etc is also good although I couldn't help thinking "well you're from a rich family and have an income so that's good" but also genuinely I feel like it's not emphasised so much and it only appears really explicitly near the end. idk it's good ( )