Maisie Dobbs

by Jacqueline Winspear | Mystery & Thrillers |
ISBN: 0719566223 Global Overview for this book
Registered by dogsapples of Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria United Kingdom on 4/24/2006
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10 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by dogsapples from Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria United Kingdom on Monday, April 24, 2006
An amazon reviewer wrote:

Maisie Dobbs is a unique character. With the intelligence for bigger and greater things, she rises from a house maid to a university student. After getting caught in the private library of her employers, the eccentric Maurice Blanche teaches Maisie his worldly philosophy. Then World War I starts and she enlists as a nurse to the injured and dying English boys in France. After the war, she becomes an investigator and her first case unearths the hidden wounds of those who have experienced loss during the war. She also must face her own demons about the war.

To be read then sending out as a ring

Journal Entry 2 by dogsapples from Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria United Kingdom on Wednesday, May 3, 2006
I have enjoyed this very much, Maisie is a character you can easily get fond of and its a bit of a fairy story ending for this girl who starts of a maid in service and goes through hell on the way. I found the WW1 background vary interesting and poignant.

The writing is gentle and its a lovely light read.

I'm just finishing the second Maisie Dobbs book, kindly loaned by cloggy and in agreement with her I am then sending them both out in a double ring. This one to be returned to me in due course.

Journal Entry 3 by dogsapples from Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria United Kingdom on Thursday, May 4, 2006
Sending this book out on a double ring with Birds of a Feather, the second Maisie Dobbs book after teaming up with cloggy to do this.

The particpants are:
LindyB28
Herrgirl
Mrsdanvers
Scotsbookie
Anglersrest
Valer1e
Rillaith
Cloggy

(This book to returned to me at the end please)

Journal Entry 4 by dogsapples from Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria United Kingdom on Thursday, May 4, 2006
on its way to lindyB28 today.

Journal Entry 5 by LindyB28 from Acocks Green, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, May 6, 2006
Arrived today: thanks dogsapples!

Journal Entry 6 by LindyB28 from Acocks Green, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, May 15, 2006
I'm hugely tempted to write a dual review for Maisie Dobbs together with Birds of a Feather, because I thought that there were problems with the first book which the author had resolved by the second. In Maisie Dobbs, it felt to me as though she didn't wear her research lightly enough: she gave in to the temptation to cram in all the knowledge she'd learnt about the Great War period into a single book, even when it wasn't particularly valuable to the plot.
The book could have benefitted also from a more alert editor: in the retreat, a man 'not yet thirty' is mentioned just a couple of pages before 'the youngest man she met must have been thirty'. Those kind of mistakes (paradoxically just like the over layering of period detail) create a barrier between reader and narrative.
However, I think that Winspear has created a wonderful character (even if she is a little 'too good to be true'). And the story she is given in the second book allows all the potential of the first book to blossom. In fact, it seems to me that Maisie's "back story" need not have been narrated. The hints to her past that one can glimpse from the second book are surely enough, and Winspear could have allowed us to gain more and more knowledge of her over a larger series of books.
And I'd hate you to think that I didn't enjoy the books. I had reservations about the first, but couldn't put the second down... leaving me excited about reading the next in the series when it comes around. I'm also going to recommend them to my mum, because I know she'll like them too. Thanks for organising the ring Dogsapples :-)

Will PM Rillaith for her address to get the books moving again.

Journal Entry 7 by LindyB28 from Acocks Green, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, May 18, 2006
will be posting to Herrgirl today

Journal Entry 8 by herrgirl from Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, May 20, 2006
Arrived this morning, together with the second book in the series, Birds of a Feather. Thanks, LindyB28, for sending them on. I've got a book on the go (of course!) and another ring book waiting, but hope to be on to these in a weeek or so.

Journal Entry 9 by herrgirl from Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Sunday, May 28, 2006
As I finished this book I thought Hmmm, not too sure about it. I felt that the style of writing is more suitable for early teenage female readers, not adults, Maisie is a little bit too good to be true, and the book is really just a scene-setting exercise for a planned series. The descriptions of London between the wars, and the horrors of a field hospital during World War I, are well-written and evocative, but I found the other characterisations, except Billy, rather flat. And I'm afraid that the way she caught the baddie made me cringe.

I will go straight on to the second book, which arrived with this one, and hope that it proves to be a more worthwhile read.

Journal Entry 10 by MrsDanvers from Aldeburgh, Suffolk United Kingdom on Monday, June 5, 2006
Arrived at the weekend , thanks herrgirl. I now have a pile of rings and rays to get through. This week promises a couple of long train journeys. Fingers crossed.

Journal Entry 11 by MrsDanvers from Aldeburgh, Suffolk United Kingdom on Friday, July 7, 2006
"Maisie Dobbs" introduces us to the central character and gives us an enormous amount of back-story( I suspect the writer has read Vera Brittain's "Testament of Youth"). However, it isn't too "clunky" to be tossed to one side.
I found this an easy pleasant read, but Maisie is a bit of a "Goody Two-Shoes" and it felt a lot like the stories in the 1950s girls annuals I've read - "young girl from poverty finds benefactress and does good works"

Released 17 yrs ago (7/7/2006 UTC) at -- Controlled Release in Ely, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sorry for the delay. I read the book a few weeks ago , when I was off work, ill. I've been rather busy since then, hence the delay in posting.

Journal Entry 13 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Arrived safely this morning.

Journal Entry 14 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Sunday, July 30, 2006
I thoroughly enjoyed this first in a new cozy series. The details given about life in a casualty station during WW1 I found especially interesting being a nurse myself & also doing my nurse training in the army. I found Maisie's description of there being no birdsong very poignant, as it is a descrition my friend gave of her time as a nurse in Bosnia.

Although a little too good to be true, as has been mentioned, I liked Maisie's character & that of Billy Beale who I hope will continue as her side-kick.

On to Birds of a Feather...& when I have finished it both will be off to AnglersRest.


Journal Entry 15 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Popped in the post to AnglersRest this morning. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 16 by AnglersRest from Teignmouth, Devon United Kingdom on Thursday, August 10, 2006
Arrived this morning, along with a bar of whole nut (thanks!) and book two of the series. These are now the 4th & 5th ring I have here. Will get them moving again as soon as I can.

Journal Entry 17 by AnglersRest from Teignmouth, Devon United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 22, 2006
I finished the first book in the Maisie Dobbs series and loved it. Written in a gentle understanding manner. The issues surrounding those who fought and survived the First World War were researched and used with care in this book. The language of the age was also researched well. There is a mention of the express "cor lummy", which is an expression that my great aunt, aged 91 still uses. As I read that expression,it bought a smile to my face.

Thanks for sharing. I'll PM Valer1e for an address and as soon as I have finished Birds of a Feather the two books will be traveling again.

Journal Entry 18 by AnglersRest from Teignmouth, Devon United Kingdom on Wednesday, August 23, 2006
I now have valer1e's address, so both books are in the post today. Enjoy! They are a great series.

Journal Entry 19 by Versavisa from Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Saturday, August 26, 2006
Received from Anglers Rest this morning - many thanks

Journal Entry 20 by Rillaith from Wokingham, Berkshire United Kingdom on Sunday, December 10, 2006
Apologies for the delay in journalling - I told my boyfriend to read it while I was away, and had passed it on before I realised I hadn't made a note already.

Fabulous book, thank you particularly to WistfulDragon for egging me on to sign up for the ring. Warm and wonderful characters that you can really get to know and like; a story that is both spellbinding and meaningful.

Sending to Cloggy tomorrow morning.

Journal Entry 21 by truemortality from Hounslow, Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, December 10, 2006
After suggesting I read it, Rillaith seemed surprised that I'd liked it. Went straight onto the second one after finishing this one.

Journal Entry 22 by cloggy from -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, December 13, 2006
The book arrived on my desk this morning. I look forward to reading the first Maisie Dobbs, before returning it back to dogsapples to close the ring

Journal Entry 23 by cloggy from -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, December 18, 2006
Enjoyed this book.

It was good to read more of Maisie's back history. Winspear did a nice job of tying Maisie's WWI experience to the case she was investigating, without making it seem contrived.

It went in the post to Dogsapples this morning.

Journal Entry 24 by dogsapples from Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria United Kingdom on Thursday, December 21, 2006
Arrived safely home today - thank you. Going into my PC now but will be available for loan if anyone else wants to read it.

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