The Comfort Book Club / The Country Child by Alison Uttley

Thank you for that insightful and festive discussion of 'The Country Child'. As the year draws to an end, thank you for all the book recommendations, travel vlogs, food recipes and letters - I enjoyed them all. Merry Christmas to you Miranda and Donna and to all CBC readers. Best wishes, Jason

Thank you for introducing me to Alison Uttley. This was such a lovely read and had me reminiscing about my childhood and the special connection children have to the world around them. Each member of my family had it's own "special" tree in our Long Island, NY suburban backyard and I felt like each tree indeed had a distinct personality. I still have an affinity for maple trees and think fondly of my Dad whenever I see a dogwood in bloom. I loved the passage that Donna read and it brings back the special sparkle and wonderment of Christmas I experienced so strongly as a child. This was very festive and you both looked beautiful (as did your tree, mantle and mince pies)!! A heartfelt thank you for "The Comfort Book Club". It is just what the world needs now. I would also like to thank the other viewers and all who comment. I enjoy reading all of your thoughts and have been enriched by your insights in addition to feeling part of a community during these isolated times. Seasons Greetings to all and Best Wishes for a New Year of health, happiness and good books!! 🎄🎉❤📖

You both are so nice and gentle ladies.

Oh! Here you are...I've been anticipating. Thank you for this delight. xo lesley

Hello Miranda and Donna you both look really pretty and I love the background, I’ve never read Alison Uttley before, so I got the kindle version along with the audio, I can’t escape Jilly Bond ( and don’t want too) she also narrated two of my favorite books by Rosemunde Pilcher… “The Country Child” was so relaxing too listen too( I stopped reading and just listen to the audio) … I went too sleep too it with my earbuds in my ear and my phone in my hand until it hit the floor…I would have loved to lived like Susan (even now as an adult) ❤️ 🥰🥰… Miranda and Donna and thank you so much for a beautiful year of reading, discussions, and no pun intended 😊 comfort 🥰❤️📚…Merry Christmas 🎄

Merry Christmas!! Thank you for everything!!! God Bless!!

Like many others I had only known Alison Uttley from her Little Grey Rabbit books,so this was a wonderful discovery. I read so many bits out loud to my family that my youngest daughter , who is 11, asked me for her own copy and adored it so much. I did wonder if she would struggle with it, but no, occasionally she would ask what things meant and she was horrified at the notion of walking four miles through a dark forest to get to school. She actually brought up the Little House in the big woods herself , she described it as a kinder book than the Country Child which I thought was interesting and she found the parent /child relationship hard to understand. Susan’s parents seemed really hard and distant to my modern child, used to being the centre of our world and having her safety being considered constantly. It made us both think about the freedoms that Susan had compared to modern children . Thank you so much for this recommendation- it’s been a really hot topic of discussion in our house! Merry Christmas x

Thank you, Miranda and Donna, for another wonderful book discussion. You two are the very vision of Christmas with your lovely outfits, mince pies and decorations....I'm very much wanting a mince pie now! This was the first Alison Uttley that I've read, though I'm familiar with her work. I must confess, I struggled at first with the style as I think I was expecting a children's book -- I quickly recovered my equilibrium though and was swept away by the beautiful, lyrical prose and the nostalgia of my own imaginative childhood that it awakened in me. I had no idea I wasn't the only one to see trees and inanimate objects as sentient beings! I studied children's literature years ago -- and came to understand that modern publishing has very different ideas of what's appropriate for children.....and that publishing of years ago expected child readers to be far more sophisticated in comprehension and vocabulary...which I think is not a bad thing at all. I know there are some books I read in my early years (I'm 50 years old) that I'm sure wouldn't be considered appropriate (in style and vocabulary) to what's published nowadays. I remember learning that there was even a scale of readability that publishers used and being horrified at how it sorely underestimated children and their reading skills. But that's a soapbox from which I shall quietly step down and away....;) I wish you both a magical and festive holiday season and look forward to more videos and books in the new year!!!

I’ve just come across your channel and am so happy! The Country Child is one of my most favourite books (I have the Peacock edition) and I have probably read it nearly every year since childhood! It truly is a comforting read. Like you, one of my favourite passages is when she waits outside the room for all the objects to rearrange themselves 😊 I also love the Christmas pages and the description of walking home from school through the dark woods! So excited to have come across fellow Uttley fans (I also love A Traveller in Time). Wising a merry Christmas to you both x

Thank you both. A pleasure to watch and listen to and to evoke a certain Christmas joy.

Another very interesting and insightful Book Club discussion- you are a great team! I agree that A Country Child is an underrated classic for children from 9 to 99 years old! I am fascinated that a realistic memoir of a spartan way of life can also reawaken the eternal child within us- the poet and the 'faery' spirit alive within Alison Uttley do the trick, especially in the Christmas scenes- speaking of which, I send you both all best wishes and thanks for all your work this year.

Heartwarming to see so many people appreciating this wonderful book, Miranda and Donna. I wish you both a cosy and happy Christmas up there in Yorkshire, and look forward to many more book discussions and recommendations on your channel in the new year!

This has been my favourite book since early childhood but I've never even met anyone who had heard of it before; it was so fascinating and lovely for me to hear you discussing it. I'd never thought how Uttley perhaps suffered a lack of more widespread popularity due to her gender - the comparison to Laurie Lee was SO interesting. I also love Cider with Rosie, but odd that that should be seen as an adult's book whereas The Country Child perhaps suffers from being called a children's book where it ought to be more widely read and cherished as a fascinating illustration of bygone customs and ways of life (not to mention admired for its incredible poetic prose!) It made me quite emotional to hear this book - so precious to me it feels like a part of my soul - being given the love and praise it deserves. Thank you <3 p.s. some of my subscribers pointed me in the direction of your channel as I was talking about wanting to reread The Country Child this December. I'm so grateful they did - it looks absolutely fabulous and I can't wait to explore your content further. Wishing you a very merry Christmas (not a limp, 'happy' one)! Rae 🌻

Hello Donna and Miranda! You have just inspired me into reading this title. I have just bought it! Thank you for the lovely book club and your recommendations that give me the opportunity to discover some hidden gems of English literature. All the best!

finally a book vlogger that I can relate to - I will have to go back to your previous videos. I so enjoy them and the close relationship you have with your Mum. It's like a warm hug watching you both

Thank you for introducing me to this delightful book, Miranda & Donna, and for the festive discussion which included really lovely insights from our fellow readers. My daughter and I read it together, a chapter each night. Donna, I was so interested to hear that The Country Child reminded you of the Little House in the Big Woods because we had the same thought. I must say I don't know how Susan Garland/Allison Uttley survived her childhood both emotionally and physically given the several near misses, and the child's fire and brimstone interpretation of religion. Certainly, it was a different time. Congratulations on reaching a well deserved one million views ( well, now a million plus with this video)!!! I can't wait for your 2022 content. Wishing you a very wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. "See" you in 2022.

What a joyful book discussion and a beautiful Christmassy feeling, thank you so much Miranda & Donna! Being introduced to Alison Uttley in a brand new way has been so special. I even found one of her books in a 2nd hand bookshop today. How lovely to think it's her birthday! May you have a very blessed Christmas & New Year, looking forward to seeing you then! 💗

I so adore you videos with your mum. It makes me miss my mom so much but the videos bring me comfort nonetheless 😍

Oh my! What a lovely birthday wish. I was so surprised😊😊Thank you so much Miranda and Donna for making me feel so special. My daughter and I do read your book club books and enjoy your videos and other creative projects together. We feel that mother-daughter connection with you two. We wish you both all the joys of Christmas🎄🎄♥️♥️

Happy December!! It has been such a joy to meet and follow you and Donna! Thank you for a wonderful year!!