Noel Streatfeild
Vintage reading for a cozy winter season
Last weekend, I watched You’ve Got Mail. I’ve watched it many times but needed something comforting to watch on a chilly, fall day, plus I’m working on a cozy romance novel as my NaNoWriMo project and wanted to watch it for research. (I sat there and noted how the plot moved along, taking special interest in seeing where the queen of rom com, Nora Ephron, placed the “beats” of the romantic storyline.)
While I was carefully watching the movie, a scene towards the end inspired me to write to you about Noel Streatfeild today.
In the movie, Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) is sitting in Fox Books, after losing her beloved bookstore. She hears a customer ask one of the Fox Books employees for help finding the “shoes books”. The employee doesn’t know what she’s asking for, but Kathleen turns around and says they are Noel Streatfeild’s books, Ballet Shoes, Theater Shoes, Skating Shoes..
I read most of the Streatfeild’s “shoe books” during a summer when my daughter was young and I was determined to read as many classic children’s books as I could get my hands on. They were excellent and I highly recommend them for gift giving to any young girl on your holiday gift list. Or maybe you can just read them yourself over the holiday season if you need something light and sweet to read while you are in your bedroom, hiding from your in-laws.
But I can do Kathleen Kelly one better and take her recommendation even further. While Noel Streatfeild is most famous for her children’s books, I spent a very lovely winter afternoon last year, reading one of her books written for adults. The Winter is Past.
Written in 1940, it takes place during World War II, in an English estate in the countryside. The owners host a family from London who have been evacuated to the countryside. There are subtle messages about the war and classes clashing as they are all thrown together by the tragedies of war. It is a woman’s novel, as the men are off fighting, and the depictions of female strength during times of adversity and the softness of a domestic novel collide to make a very enjoyable read. If you loved watching Downton Abbey, you will surely enjoy The Winter is Past.
Have you read any of the “shoe books”? Which is your favorite?
At the checkout desk…..
It’s almost Thanksgiving! My daughter will be home from college for the first time since she left and I am beyond excited. I am missing her, especially during this holiday season. The other day, our vintage movie theater announced their holiday movie, Meet Me in St. Louis. Every year the old theater and the nearby antique store join forces. The theater shows a classic holiday film, then everyone goes to the antique store to shop, eat snacks, and take part in a scavenger hunt in the store. It’s been a tradition for my daughter and I to go every year. Unfortunately, she won’t be home from college in time to go with me this year. I need to find someone else who loves old movies as much as I do!
It is times like these that I miss her the most. I am so glad she is off to a new and exciting chapter in her life but it it an adjustment to realize the days of having a child at home during the lead-up to the holidays are gone. My husband and I are determined to find new ways to celebrate these festive days. Do you have any grown-up traditions you do? Please share!
Happy Thanksgiving,
P.S. Time is running out! It’s my birthday this month and to celebrate, I’m offering a 20% an annual subscription. Paid subscribers get access to my original short stories, posts about the writing life, and the joy of knowing they are helping me meet my goals as a writer. Click here to take advantage of the offer. Offer expires November 30, 2023.
Love that photo of your birthday! Is that your dad with the mustache? Awesome.
You've Got Mail is one of my favorite movies. (Maybe you need to do a post about favorite comforting movies). I've never read Noel Streatfield's books, but they do sound good. I recently finished reading The Bookshop on the Corner (upon your recommendation!). In the same pile of books was Jenny Colgan's Little Beach Street Bakery (recommended by another friend). I hadn't realized they were both by the same author until I got them home from the library. Such cozy reads!
Have a lovely birthday and although I know you don't like Thanksgiving, I hope it's lovely, too. And enjoy the time with your daughter!
Oooh that book DOES sound cozy and lovely. I do love Downton Abbey, and that just gave me so many warm feelings - the guys and I watched all six seasons together, plus the movie, and it was just so lovely to share that with them. They were pretty young but SO into it. I think the WWI scenes were what really hooked them, but they still talk about watching it with me.
Happy Thanksgiving and happy early birthday!