General Chat

Sylvia, it was the type of job she did that I felt was unusual.

As you will know, women were employed in various occupations and places, in the mills, the fish quays and even in the mines for example, but I had not come across another female rent collector so young and in the early part of the century - not to say that Gran was the only one of course.

I did know that it was not unusual for women to work way back in time because many of the females in my family did so.

Incidentally, one of my Liverpool great-aunts was a confectioner.

My 3 x gt grandmother was the publican of a pub in Soho Street, Liverpool in the 1800s - as was another female ancestor there.

My 2 x gt aunt, the daughter of the female publican, was a teacher during the 1800s.

I could go on but while many women in my family had occupations outside the home I have yet to come across another young female given the responsibilities of what was then seen as a male occupation, if only for the fear of attack.

That particular forerunner of what could possibly be construed as equal rights was not confined to that side of my family. I have a copy of a wonderful will from the late 1700s where my 5 x gt grandfather leaves his farm and possessions to be divided equally between all of his children including the girls; very unusual for a farmer to do so as farms were usually passed on to the eldest son.

That particular family farm was lost, of course, but I have to admit I am more than a little pleased and proud to have such an ancestor.

Joy ...............

I wonder whether it really was all that unusual. Although hers could have been a slightly more dangerous occupation!

I'm finding more and more independent women, especially in OH's family who moved away from home and went in business for themselves.

Two sisters opened a confectionery shop in Liverpool around 1890, their home was in Westmorland. Neither ever married.

Another sister ended up managing a hotel in Newcastle, eventually married a widowed sea captain with 2 small children and moved down to the London area where they ran a hotel, and had at least one more child.

Sylvia, when she was young and before she was married, my grandmother collected rents in Manchester for two old ladies who had several properties. Unusual at that time (early 1900s) for a young lady to be doing that type of job away from home (Liverpool), I think.

Luckily she was never mugged!

I've been fascinated reading through this thread!

I started to read early, was allowed to walk or take the bus to the local library on my own from the age of about 7. I'd go home with 6 or 7 books and be back again within a week ................. I've always been a fast reader. :-D

I devoured Enid Blyton, Arthur Ransome, Dennis Wheatley, John Wyndham, etc etc

Re Helen Forrester ........... I think I've read all, or almost all her books.

Have any of you read any of Maisie Mosco's books?? I enjoyed all of them

Most of them are about Jewish families. The first series starts with the book Almonds and Raisins, and is set in north Manchester around 1900 with a Jewish immigrant family just arriving in England. Another series begins in Oldham, which is my home town, and I have to admit that I didn't know there had been a Jewish community there until I read that book!!

My mother-in-law sent me Almonds and Raisins as a Christmas present because there is a bit of a family connection to it .........

.......... in one early scene a character walks past a shop or restaurant, and sees a "little Welsh woman sweeping the pavement".

M-i-l and her sister believed that that was their aunt who went to live with her daughter, the manageress of a restaurant in that area at that time. She would sweep the pavement every morning.

I'd go along with Goudge, Rose. Cannery Row is my go-to book.

quote from a book i was re-reading last night,

"In times of storm and tempest, of indecison and desolation, a book already known and loved makes better reading than something new and untried. The meeting with remembered and well loved passages is like the continual greeting of old friends; nothing is so warm and companionable." ( Elizabeth Goudge)

i never could get into 'The Pearl' Did remember re-reading 'The Grapes of Wrath' when I was supposed to be revising for an exam, which could explain my lack of achievement in life

Just thought I'd add an update.

Small great things by Jodi Picoult is a good read. I know not everyone likes the 'disjointed' perspectives but it was still good.

Re-read The Pearl in the meantime and I am now about to pick up the Cleeves book.

When I left school and became a petrol pump attendant I would buy my Beano on the way to work and then one of the apprentices would come and pick it up when he dropped off his homework for me to do.

I am not at all ashamed to admit that I loved Enid Blyton books, wouldn't equate them with Janet and John though. Also loved Arthur Ransome. I was a fast reader, My Mum used to get annoyed when she had bought me my usual Enid Blyton, probably the famous five or Secret seven series and I would have read it in a day. When I was 9/10/11 I would read anything I could get my hands on. My favourite comic was School Friend but also read 'Girl' and Eagle passed on by the boy whose bungalow was at the back of ours together with Dandy and Beano.I also had The Children's Newspaper.

It's amazing how most of the female characters in those type of comics were ahead of their time, isn't it? Not that there were many of them :-(

My sister got the Bunty, which, when she grew out of it (went onto the Jackie), my mum thought I'd like.
No, I wanted the Beano!

Maggie, I secretly identified with Beryl the Peril :-D

My first ever book from the library was 'Tabitha Kitten' (there goes my street cred lol) I read it in about half an hour and asked my mum if we could go back and get another one. 'Oh no, you can't take it back yet' :-0 :-( I'm not sure if that killed my interest in childrens fiction or saved me from girlie books :-0

I'd forgotten about the Miss Read books!

I've read all the Tom Sharpe books.
My children were about 10 and 12, when I was reading them, and as the covers were a little risque, I tended to read them when the girls weren't around, and kept them on a high shelf..

....I found out, years later, that this had been a waste of time.
Both of them had read the books immediately after me :-0

That's a thought,I have read several Steinbecks.

I do quite like autobiographies and autobiographical fiction. The Helen Forrester (I remembered!) are autobiographies.

Don't like anything too taxing so I have read all the Miss Read books I think, and Margaret Powells books (there's a blast from he past).

If you can't sleep I would recommend the autobiography of Ghandi.

So true, Island!
I taught myself to read, before I went to school, using the 'Dandy' and the 'Beano' (my elder brothers' comics.
After reading 'Minnie the Minx', it's hardly surprising I found 'Janet and John' sexist! :-D

Surely Dermot, a book is only 'good' if the reader enjoys it and takes something from it?

Our teachers used to emphasise the reading of 'good' books.

JoyLouise, I look forward to reading it! Daughter works for the NHS, so it's pertinent to her.

As a child, I couldn't stand Enid Blyton books (still can't).
I really disliked the 'Janet and John' books I had to read at some schools - 'See Janet - see John fly his kite'. You haven't got a kite, Janet, because you are a girl. :-P
Time to go home and help mummy with dinner.

Then, when I was 9, I found John Wyndham and Steinbeck. followed by Asimov and a few others - I was hooked - but would still say I wasn't a SF. fan :-S

I haven't read many books in the past 10 years or so.
My usual excuse is that University ruined my love of reading - to a degree :-D

It would be sketchbooks for me and a few art mediums as a bonus :-D

Like Sharron, I wasn't really interested in childrens fiction, rather I would spend hours in the library reading handicraft books and learning all sorts of skills.

Not narrow Sharron, just different. We live in fantasy land you live in the real world. :-)