I like how she uses deep breathing and meditation to center and ground herself. She strives to feel emotions as well as learn facts when she is working on a case. She is an emancipated woman for her time--running a busines (a detective business, at that), driving a convertible, choosing her own life. While she works hard, she is somewhat in limbo in her personal life. She is trying to find her niche. I think she is lonely and a bit afraid of love, as the man she loved during the war was injured and doesn't even know or recognize her anymore. It is admirable that she continues to visit him at the nursing home where he resides. She is both assertive and compassionate in her interactions with people. She notices things about people and about situations. I would like to have her for my friend. This is a great series if you enjoy period fiction that is uplifting, with a female protagonist who is charming. I believe there are 9 novels in the series. I am excited to see what develops next in the life of Maisie Dobbs.
I recently read the second Maisie Dobbs novel, Birds of a Feather, by Jacqueline Winspear. I really want to thank Jan for telling me about these books. I like Maisie Dobbs. She is part psychologist, part sleuth. I feel like she is someone I know. I love how she treats her assistant, Billy Beale. He was injured in the war and has a young family. He has a spunky personality and is very protective of Maisie. She has close relationships with both her mentor, Maurice, and her benefactress, Lady Compton. Her relationship with her father is loving and respectful, but they are working through some of the feelings and issues she has from her childhood. Her mother passed away when she was young and her father, hoping to help her have a better life, sent her away from home to work for Lady Compton when she was a teenager.
I like how she uses deep breathing and meditation to center and ground herself. She strives to feel emotions as well as learn facts when she is working on a case. She is an emancipated woman for her time--running a busines (a detective business, at that), driving a convertible, choosing her own life. While she works hard, she is somewhat in limbo in her personal life. She is trying to find her niche. I think she is lonely and a bit afraid of love, as the man she loved during the war was injured and doesn't even know or recognize her anymore. It is admirable that she continues to visit him at the nursing home where he resides. She is both assertive and compassionate in her interactions with people. She notices things about people and about situations. I would like to have her for my friend. This is a great series if you enjoy period fiction that is uplifting, with a female protagonist who is charming. I believe there are 9 novels in the series. I am excited to see what develops next in the life of Maisie Dobbs.
1 Comment
Jan Flower
11/5/2012 03:11:26 pm
I have read each of the Maisie Dobbs books and loved them. Elizabeth is correct as she describes this spunky young woman and what life was like when "classes" and aristocracy were so very important in England. Her detective skills keep you interested as she unwinds each case and worry that she might be in over her head. The last book didn't have all the loose ends neat and tidy so I'm looking forward to another adventure with her. I highly recommend this series.
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AuthorMy name is Elizabeth. I love to read. In college I took speed reading and kept a list of everything I read (I wish I could find that list!). As a teen I would read under the blankets half the night. As a child I first patronized the book mobile and later read entire sections of books from the school library. Now, with dozens of books on my "want to read" list, I tend to doze off if I read at night and I am usually in the middle of several books at one time. Archives
September 2015
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