Barbara Comyns

For the past two years, I've been trying to read all the novels of Barbara Comyns. She is one of my favorite authors (or maybe my all-time favorite). There are only two books by her that I haven't read because I can't find copies anywhere. I don't come across many people who read her and I was wondering if anyone in this group is a fan and, if you are a fan, which book is your favorite. I have a few favorites...The Juniper Tree, The Vet's Daughter, and Sisters by a River. I just finished reading A Touch of Mistletoe and The Skin Chairs, both of which were excellent. Any thoughts?

Dear DameMuriel, although I haven't read Barbara Comyns, I do have several of her books in Virago editions in my library. Why don't you come over the Virago group and post this in our 'Drawing Room'. I'm sure everyone would love to 'see' you there, and I know you'll get a response!

I've only read Our spoons came from Woolworths which I thought was quite good. I'm requesting Out of the red, into the blue from the library. Have you read it?

I have only read the Skin Chairs and I loved it. I may have read another, possibly The Vet's daughter, but I'm not sure, It must have been 30 years ago or more, when I was collecting Viragos.

I check in on the Virago group whenever I can but, with my new job, I'm starting to get a bit overwhelmed. I used to have lots of time at work for reading and posting to various groups. Maybe on my next break I can catch up with the Virago group and post about Barbara Comyns. I'm really interested to hear from people who read her because I don't hear much about her.

I remember not being able to put Our Spoons came from Woolworths down. It was a very sad book at times but the style in which it was written made it such a fun read. It's one of several of her books that has a sort of fairy tale quality to it...the young, (relatively) innocent girl who goes through many hardships and then has a happy ending. Mr. Fox and The Juniper Tree (both based on the fairy tales of the same names) are the darkest and saddest of her books, in my opinion.
I haven't read Out of the Red, Into the Blue. I can't find it to buy (for a decent price) or at any of the libraries near me. I also haven't been able to find Birds in Tiny Cages. These are the only two I haven't read. Let me know what you think of Out of the red...

Yes, I recently discovered this wonderful author. The three I've read are your three favorites, DameMuriel. I gather the others are harder to come by (I haven't yet tried too hard). I am struck by how ahead of her time she seems, to me. The Juniper Tree and The Vet's Daughter seem almost in the realm of mystical realism.

The hardest ones to find for me were The Skin Chairs and A Touch of Mistletoe. I've read Mr. Fox (a library copy) but finding a copy to buy has been difficult.
I definitely saw some elements of Magical Realism in The Juniper Tree and The Vet's Daughter but, even though this is a genre that's been written about often, especially in the last few years, I don't see many mentions of Comyns in connection with it. So many of her books are out of print that she just probably isn't read by that many people. I think most people only come into contact with her while persuing their Virago obsession (that's how I found out about her).

Yes, I found The Vet's Daughter, my first, in a thrift store, and I bought it because it was a Virago Classic, not because I had heard of the author. The back of the book mentions a musical based on the book called "The Clapham Wonder", from 1978; I'd love to see that!

I'd love to see "The Clapham Wonder" as well. I can't find out much about it. I wish they had filmed it. "The Vet's Daughter" was so depressing to me that it's hard to imagine it being turned into a musical, which makes me extra curious about it.

Hi
I would love to read "Out of Red, in to the blue", has anyone know where I can get a copy.
thanks

Hi - I also am a huge Barbara Comyns fan and think that she ought to be read more widely - I just can't understand why books which are as good as these have slipped out of public consciousness. I think that she was a sort of pre runner to magical realism and her books are dreamlike and yet very touching and "real" on a personal level - there is a wonderful sense of place and although several of them are written in the first person - they are not shallow or lacking in depth. Just to say to those of you who are trying to get hold of them - you can buy all except two reasonably easily on amazn - there are plenty of second hand sellers and that is where I got mine from. they two that are a bit tricky are "Birds in tiny cages" and "Out of the red into the blue". As far as I can see these cannot be purchased except for extraordinary prices - so I recommend reading in a copyright library such as the British Library - that is where I read them. My favourite Barbara Comyns novel is Who was changed and who was dead - I would totally recomend that one.