Storm in the Village by Miss Read deals with both village and personal troubles. Fairacre and it’s neighbour Beech Green are battling to save a beautiful piece of farmland from the planners who are thinking of building a large housing development. This housing development would change both villages forever and village school headmistress, Miss Read is dreading the changes that this would bring about. But closer to home, Miss Read’s new assistant teacher, Hillary Jackson has developed an unwise attachment to unsuitable man, and someone needs to help nip this relationship in the bud.

The book chronicles a year of village life and the passing of the seasons along with the changes that nature brings about envelopes the reader in the timeless format of this series. We catch up with the familiar characters as they go about their day-to-day activities and follow the school year with Miss Read and her pupils.

Storm in the Village is the third book in the series and I find these books to be great comfort reads. ( )

There are plans for a large housing estate to be built between the villages of Fairacre and Beech Green for workers at an atomic station. The villagers are appalled.

I loved the background picture of life in Fairacre but couldn't join wholeheartedly in the rather NIMBY-ish attitudes displayed in the main story. Yes, I want the Fairacre way of life to be preserved, though of course from the perspective of the present I know that in 1958 huge changes must be coming whatever happens. But the atomic station workers must live somewhere. So many parallels between then and current issues of immigration, Brexit etc. ( )

The major conflict of this novel is the threatened new development that would bring great upheaval to the town. There is nothing particularly momentous in this story, though lots of beautiful scenes. ( )

Book 3 of the Fairacre Chronicles. This was my favorite Miss Read so far; the wonderful wit and humor was in clear evidence. The Village is threatened with the development of a new housing estate on their doorstep and villagers raise up against it while dealing with everyday life of their town. ( )

This one made me want to move to Fairacre and live in a little thatched cottage. Another lovely little tale of village denizens living their lives, all entangled, all fairly aligned. Mrs. Pringle stomps through, hilariously dour. She's fast becoming my favorite character, though the dear Doctor runs a close second.

These books are like a bowl of macaroni and cheese on a night full of sleet and bluster. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm. ( )