“What constitutes a problem in not the thing, or the environment where we find the thing, but the conjunction of the two; something unexpected in a usual place (our favorite aunt in out favourite poker parlour) or something usual in an unexpected place (our favourite poker parlour in our favorite aunt). I know my sampler was absolutely right in Elsie Norris’s front room, but absolutely wrong in Mrs Virtue’s sewing class. Mrs Virtue should either have had the imagination to commend me for me effort in context, or the far-sightedness to realise that there is a debate going on as to whether something has an absolute as well as a relative value; given that, she should have given me the benefit of the doubt.”

I didn’t think the book was funny at all, and all of the reviews on the front and the back of the book insisted that it was. It seemed too autobiographical to be considered funny.

Otherwise, there was some fantastic description, a very flowing and easy to read writing style, with absolutely quirky and delicious characters - though they were never much expanded upon, except the main voice.

I liked the parable-like stories that intermixed with the story. I wasn’t sure if they were meant to be the narrator’s writings of the time, or if she was to be adding them into the story as she recalled it later. Or if they were just the author stepping away from the narrative entirely for brief moments. Though the definitely progressed as the story neared the end.

I feel like now that I’ve read the story quickly, to know what happens, if I were to go back and read it again, I would get a much better sense of the beautiful writing.