Well, this was a longer than anticipated absence courtesy of BT and EE internet providers who between them have messed up my phone-line/ broadband order ensuring that three weeks on I have no landline signal, no broadband and no mobile phone signal and with no sign yet of there being any change of plan.  I was persuaded to buy a little EE mobile router, but guess what, with a poor phone signal it is erratic to say the least.  I have just discovered I can get two little bars of reception power if I sit on the steps in the garden- not ideal in November but I have missed blogging so much and I just had to tell you about this little gem of a book.

American short-story writer and novelist Watson has written a captivating tale about an extraordinary woman.  Set in Mississippi in the early years of the twentieth century Jane is a late child for farmer Chisholm and his wife.  She is born with a genital defect which is untreatable and will impact her life.  The local doctor Thompson is fascinated by her from birth and this is the tale of her learning to adapt and fit in with the rural society where she can only ever be an outsider.

I loved this book.  Strong characterisation and written with a calm melancholy which drives the reader forward.  In many ways the defect which runs Jane’s life is a side issue to a story of rural life and survival.  Jane’s sister Grace wants to escape the confines of the farm as soon as possible whilst Jane is more content with a simpler existence.  At times it reminded me of the 1935 Pulitzer Prize winner “Now In November” by Josephine Johnson which I recently read as a republished Apollo Classic but this was more involving.  Jane is a character who I will remember for some time and the warmth and respectful treatment that she is given by this highly-skilled writer is something to cherish.

Miss Jane was published by Picador in November 2016

I apologise if over the next couple of weeks if reviewsrevues becomes a little spasmodic.  This if for the reasons I’ve  outlined above.  Apparently my next review of whether I can have a phone line is on December 2nd and internet connection a week after that.  (I really don’t understand it- there was a phone line at the property to begin with which they disconnected). This is a further delight in a move which seems to have been stressful at every turn!!  Normal service will hopefully be resumed as soon as possible.  Thank goodness books are giving me some moments of sanity at the moment!!