Books set in May

I love reading books which are seasonally appropriate, and set in the current month. There are so many books set in May, one of the loveliest months. This month I have decided to re-read some of my old favourites, some of which I haven't read for many years.

My selection of books set in May includes L M Montgomery's The Blue Castle, Grace Allen Hogarth's As a May Morning, Miss Read's Thrush Green, Mabel Esther Allan's The May Day Mystery and J L Carr’s A Month in the Country. 

I’ve started with L M Montgomery’s novel, mainly because I have no recollection of having read it, although I’m pretty sure I have. So far, I’m loving the novel. It’s rather different from her Anne books or indeed the Emily novels. The protagonist is older, Valancy Jane 29. Old enough to be considered an old maid and beyond any hope of marriage. It’s a novel of its time, sometimes shocking  when considered in the context of today’s social norms. But it’s very gentle and the authorial voice is very strong. I’m looking forward to reading more.

This photo is my actual book. I remember exactly where I bought it in Chester, and it still has the price sticker on it: £2.95. Those were the days!

As I know Miss Read’s books inside out I will just dip into the first novel in the Thrush Green series. The book opens on May 1st with the annual visit of Mrs Curdle’s fair. 

Miss Read, or Dora Saint to give her her actual name, was an amazing observer of village life as well as the changing seasons. She was a very wise writer with a keen understanding of human nature. I have loved her books for so many years, and I so much enjoy reading them in the months when they are set. Personally, I adore her Autumn books, but this could be because it is my favourite season.

Grace Allen Hogarth's As a May Morning was one of my favourite books when I was a teenager, a real coming of age novel. I don't think there were many Peacock Books published, certainly not as many as Puffin or Penguin. I have a small number of these interesting books.

Peacock Books were aimed at "in-betweeners", I think today they would be called YA - Young Adult - novels. 

Until I got this book out to re-read, I hadn't realised that Grace Allen Hogarth had married into the Hogarth publishing dynasty, nor that she had written other books. I'm now trying to track down The Funny Guy and Lucy's League. 

Mabel Esther Allan is always a winner, so I'm sure I will enjoy The May Day Mystery. I have read J L Carr's novel A Month in the Country before, but I can remember very little about the novel. Fans of the book rave about it, so I feel I couldn't have been paying attention when I read it, so I'll try again!

Hopefully, as May progresses I'll find some more books set in this lovely month. Maybe some D E Stevenson's or Angela Thirkell's. Then it will be onto June books!