The Comfort Book Club / Dear Mrs Bird by A. J. Pearce

Welcome to January's Comfort Book Club discussion! My Mum, Donna, and I are chatting about this month's book club choice, 'Dear Mrs Bird' by A. J. Pearce. There are spoilers in this chat, as we're assuming you have read the book if you watch. Special thanks to the readers who sent voice messages for this video, which were included in our discussion: Emma, Janet, Myriam, Laura, Ellie, Vanessa and Heather.
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[debbiew]

One of the things that stood out for me in this book was that it was easier for the women writing to the magazine to ask advice anonymously, rather than from a close friend, because of embarrassment, shame or not wanting to add to a friend’s burden, especially during the war when everyone had large troubles. It also shielded the inquirer from a negative in-person reaction to her situation, making her less vulnerable. I thought this was underlined by Bunty writing in herself near the end of the book. Emmy’s work to help other women helped bring about her own reconciliation to a dear friend. I loved this book club pick and will be reading the others in the series.

[Rooshii]

Miranda, I am SO thrilled that February's choice is The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, that I gasped so loudly that my husband panicked and thought something was wrong haha. Lost Art is SUCH a sparklingly beautiful and wonderful book, I first read it about 15 years ago and have read it at least once a year ever since. Anyone who hasn't read it before is in for such a treat in this coming month. I have been longing for it to be picked as a Comfort Read and I am SO HAPPY that it finally has! This has made my weekend!

[yolandasilverio]

Miranda/Donna, I simply love the relationship you both have, and the respect for one another. It is totally admirable. Bless you both!

[Courtney]

I really enjoyed Dear Mrs. Bird for so many reasons. One of my favorite laugh out loud moments was when the girl wrote in saying her boyfriend would look at other girls on the street and Mrs. Bird said if he doesn’t stop then to “Call the police!” 😅 Like the police have nothing better to do in wartime or at all. Not to mention there are no cellphones during the time so it would be a time later once she’s home to call the police. Mrs. Bird was a hoot. Looking forward to February’s read!

[sue]

I also loved this book! My late grandfather was a fireman in London during the war and met my late grandmother through his work as she was a volunteer for the fire brigade like Emmie - I definitely think AJ Pearce did her homework as the book really does come across in the way that my grandparents described life at the time. I also thought it was so funny that she thought she was going for a job to be a lady war correspondent. I have now read book two and am looking forward to book three! x

[maries]

Hello Miranda & Donna, this was a reread for me and it was a pleasure to return to the world of Emmy Lake and Woman’s Friend magazine. I think that the author did a great job in creating a sense of place and time, particularly in the use of language of the time. I always enjoy novels about the Home Front and I’ve since reread Yours Cheerfully and am now enjoying Mrs Porter Calling. Thank you for choosing Dear Mrs Bird as your book club choice for January.

[carolbialy]

I loved reading Dear Mrs. Bird. Pierce did a wonderful job of making this time so real and personal. I could see and feel the effects of the bombs on the children and young people just trying to make a life normal in extraordinary circumstances. I felt that this was the point of the argument Emmy had with Bill and how truly important it was to save the child’s doll. So poignant.

[royalgal]

Hi Miranda, I love your Comfort Book Club and really enjoy hearing Donna’s input, in addition to your own. 👍👍. You two make a great team!

[mariamackintosh]

Hi Miranda, I just wanted to thank you for this afternoon’s wonderful discussion. I especially enjoyed it because as a young girl on a Sunday afternoon I was usually either visiting my grandmothers or my elderly Victorian aunt. Their conversations tended to concentrate on the war years and were so well described, and I remember those happy times, yet as you were saying, tinged with sadness, loss and tragedy too. You helped me remember those times today, and how I miss those older generations. And I’m hopeful that despite everything nowadays, that somehow we can forge through and make friendships and acquaintances like the ones you mentioned. As I’m now in my fifties, it’s hard to realise I’m the age now that they were when I was a young girl, because I feel that they experienced so much, so fast and so demandingly that they were a different breed in a sense, yet hopefully we the later generations can take some if their wise ways and traditions into the future with us. Thanks again, and I hope you have a lovely week ahead. Maria

[JanHowe-llzr]

This was a lovely read especially with the humour. I have heard stories from a friend of mine who experienced the war as a young child - A J Pearce got it so right.

[reneepasich]

Even though we enter the story with the war already going on, there was an innocence that was really shaken to the core. That was the turning point from childhood to adulthood. Heartbreaking and beautiful.

[C.Aikman-yjfq]

Thank you, Miranda and Donna, for a lovely discussion. For me, the real heroine of this book was Bunty: so honest and true, and oh so brave. Thank you, too, for recommending The Village and Nella Last's War. Carol

[christinalinklater]

Thank you for a thought-provoking discussion. I am fascinated by how deeply this book is loved: I found it quite difficult to even like. I'm going to re-read it now with the Comfort Book Club readers' and hosts' words to guide me.

[marjoleint]

Dear Mrs Bird was a great book, loved it. Mrs Bird was quite a character, wasn’t she? 😁 And throughout the whole book I asked myself: does Emmy ever sleep a normal night in her bed?! She always seems on the go, day and night. Love to read more of A.J. Pearce. And looking forward to the next comfortread. So thankful to be part of your CBC 📚 Greetings from the Netherlands 🤎

[christinalinklater]

I so agree with Elly that the resourcefulness and fragility of women’s experiences are a beautiful aspect of the book. What a wonderful read. Thank you, Comfort Book Club. ❤

[pennygreenfield]

Thank you so much for having Dear Mrs Bird for the January Cosy Book Club! Loved it and so sorry when it ended, but I will definitely get the sequel. The resilience of Emmy and her friends and colleagues was so admirable and humbling. Thank you Miranda and Donna. 😊

[librarian-D]

I enjoyed the book and this book discussion! I look forward to reading the others in the series.. i did laugh out loud and cry too.. such a great book, written so well. I felt I was there. Thank you so much for this Comfort Book Club.. You and your mom, Donna, are just wonderful! This brings me such happiness. 😊 📖

[ingertsvard]

I really love “Dear Mrs Bird” and the second book. Has not read the third because when I read it is over, no more books, but now I think it is time to read the third and last book between essay correction. I will correct three essays then read a chapter three essays etc. a good way to get through all correction with a good and positive main set.
Thank you for the video Miranda and Donna, always a treat to watch.

[carolinesimmill]

Hi Miranda and Donna, thank you for your book suggestion and the discussion. I loved how well the author brought that time during the war in London to life. It was so frightening when the bombs were falling. Yet the funny passages of descriptions really make me laugh out loud. 'Mrs Bird looking determined in tweed' was one of them. A very talented writer.

[Bearcub]

Another soothing uplifting dose of book discussion 🧡❤💛 Also Love looking at the endless books lined up in the book shelves in the background! Perfect setting in my opinion xxx