The Little Village School

Gervase Phinn is one of my favorite authors whose experiences cover not only people and their characters traits, good, quaint and less desirable, but he creates a delightful story in which these are showcased against the countryside in which they are located. His descriptions of the scenery are compelling and enable one to picture these settings in all their beauty but he also gives us wonderful, funny and delightful people to enjoy. I can't recommend his writings - all of them - to any who want a very pleasant and enjoyable read.

If you have read any of the Miss Read books, you will love this book by Gervase Phinn. I just finished reading it and enjoyed every inure of it. It's rare that I find a book that I simply can't put down. The characters are so well developed,you swear you know them. I plan to get the other books he has written, but I may have to wait for a week or more. I need to get some other things done!

This book is so delightful! I can't wait to read the entire series and any other books that the author has written

Mr. Phinn's books are among the most enjoyable I've read in the last few years. Whenever they verge on being maudlin he lightens up with an absolutely perfect light touch and is frequently side-splittingly funny.

A lovely, 'gossipy' little book which reminds me very much of the Miss Read 'Fairacre' books. if you liked them, you'll like these

I had been looking for some time for an author similar to the late Dora Saint, "Miss Read". I had collected her books for 30 years and have reread them many times. Like 'Miss Read", Mr. Phinn is the type of story teller who brings you into village life, shows you the occupants with love and humor and has an eye and appreciation for the natural world. Just my cup of tea!

Gervase Phinn is certainly gifted in his ability to tell a story. I have read his 'Dales' series which I saw as a mixture of autobiography and novel and really liked those.Then he seemed to lose his way somewhat as to what he wanted to write. This, his first novel shows that he is a master novelist in this sector. I loved the story and loved the characters. When I had finished the book I wanted to write to the main character, Elisabeth Devine to say how much I admired her! Such is the strength of his characters. Compelling, could not put down.

Utterly charming.

Having read and enjoyed the Dales series, I was keen to read more of Gervase Phinn's books, and have not been disappointed with this one. It has a more serious tone than the Dales series, although he does draw on some of the same themes, character models and events. Whilst this repetition is quite obvious at times, it does really upset the stories centred around the school and its affect on the village and community. It makes a good read and I have already downloaded the next book in this series .One point, the title and cover can be misleading - it looks like it is aimed at children, but this is in fact an adult book.Like the author, I was also born and raised in Rotherham during the 1950's and it was my interest in local history that first drew me to his autobiographical work, "Out of the Woods But Not Over the Hill", reflecting on his upbringing and schooling in the town. I enjoyed this so much that I turned to his more fictional Dales series, simply for the pleasure of reading.I was a bit more apprehensive about approaching his other works. Being an engineer, I tend to mainly to read technical books and journals on science and engineering, so the author has done well to get me to read something different - perhaps it is a combination of his background in teaching and his Irish story telling ability that has got me hooked. Whatever it is, I enjoy his style of writing and the stories he tells.If you like his other books, I am sure you will find this just as good.

I read the start, and was hooked! The pictures it presented in my mind of a small, country primary school, struggling to achieve the results that were expected was just too much. I HAD to buy it! I couldn't wait for it to come out in paperback, bringing the Kindle price down.Typical of Gervase Phinn's writing, the characters are alive and vibrant. ypu can hear them speaking - you can even see them in your minds eye. This is an amazing book, drwing from his real experiences as a dreaded Schools Inspector in North YorkshoreThere is just one problem with this book, and that's to do with the price listing, not the book. I think it's very unfair to set a price comparison with an edition that isn't even published yet; and I rather wish that Amazon wouldn't state the paperback price until the book is actually available in paperback; it makes us all feel as though we are being diddled, and sets off a lot of unfair reviews.

I'm a Gervase Phinn fan, and really enjoyed all his early autobiographical books. I'm never a fiction reader so I left this series alone for a long time, However, having been enticed into, and enjoyed the Jack Sheffield books, and forayed into similar writings, I thought to give this series a whirl. Wow! What a great surprise. Fast moving and full of believable characters (and charicatures) with which one immediately assocaites and cares about, the GP writing style and wonderful descriptive passages elevated this above most others. Straight through to the third book hoping for more to follow. Superb easy reading which balance my normally favoured biographies.

Having enjoyed Gervase Phinn's autobiographical works, I turned to his fiction. As in the other books, his writing is easy to read, amusing and inspiring, though definitely not original - the characters are somewhat predictable, the events too. Some of the people and incidents in this novel are in fact very reminiscent of ones in the autobiographical books. But as an escape into rural life, and into a world where things are bound to turn out right in the end, they offer a very comforting read. I will come back to this when I am feeling under the weather and need cheering up!One detail: I really enjoy the name Phinn gives to his characters. Miss Sowerbutts, Mr Nettles, Mr Steel, Rev. Atticus, even Mrs Devine - the names are really evocative and match the personalities!

I must admit I really did enjoy reading this book.I'm in isolation at the moment,and I must admit this book made me forget what's going on in the outside world.i will be reading more of these books.That's.

I am a massive fan of Gervase Phinn, I loved his biographies so was keen to read his novels. I was not disappointed!I completely fell in love with all the characters in this book, working in a school myself, I found it very relate able, and very much made me want to move to find my own little village school to work in.I loved Mrs Devine and how she turned the school around, the grumpy caretaker, and the ever so nosey lady who ran the local shop. I liked the hatefulness and pity you felt towards the old headmistress, and how you were completely rooting for the school to thrive.I loved the story between the old man and his grandson, it was very heart warming, and made me cry when tragedy struck *SPOILER ALERT* as I have lost my grandfather recently so reading it so soon after was very raw emotionally for me when it came about. Cannot wait to read the second instalment!Overall I give it 10/10

I found this to be a slow starter and admit that I struggled a bit with the first chapter. I persevered because I'd read a few of the author's books about being a school inspector which I'd thoroughly enjoyed. And I'm glad I persevered as I enjoyed this book. I thought it was a good story, with well-drawn characters and a reasonable amount of intrigue and suspense. It's one of those warm books, perfect for reading when you are all warm and cozy indoors on a winter afternoon. Not sure what year it was set in but pre-computers and mobile phones which was refreshing.

Have only recently been introduces to the works of Gervase Phinn. This is the first I have read and will not be the last! A lovely, easy-going tale of village life that is clearly well-observed. The atmosphere of rural Yorkshire has been beautifully captured and puts me a little in mind of the James Herriot novels...although writing about schoolchildren rather than animals. Will definitely go on to read more of the authors works.

Although I'm a man, I love Gervase Phinn having read all of his previous Dales books. So I tried this and am really enjoying it. He describes people and the Yorkshire countryside brilliantly. I'll be back for the others later.

Call me soppy! I loved this book and couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting. The characters are a joy and the story is both moving, inspirational, fun and heart-warming. Yes, the tale doesn't have a complicated plot line but there are plenty of other books out there to fill those needs; sometimes you just want to curl up with a simple tale that draws you in, makes you laugh and makes you cry - and this book does it in spades! I'm getting the next one as a Xmas present and I want to rip off the wrapping already; now, I wonder where it is hidden....

Bit of a slow burner for me at the start, I normally go for spy thrillers, sci-fi, and period dramas. However, once into it I cried with laughter and sadness, could not put the book down and am already halfway through the n2nd in the deries. Wonderfull story telling, believable characters, fully rounded and I believ I have met one or two of them in my time. A wonderful surprise!

What very good tea this has been. I read this book in two days, I laughed and cried but most of all i enjoyed.

Well my grandad wanted this book for his birthday after searching high and low in all the little book stores in my town I found it on here. I never read the book but it brought a smile to my grandad face so for that it's worth 5 star for that. He said I should borrow it after him to have a read through he started giggling reading through a couple of pages. My item arrived fast as stated.

This series and the 'In the Dale series' by Gervase Phinn had me in stitches and would recommend them to anyone who wants a good read and a good laugh at the same time. Brilliant!!!

There are plenty of true facts in this fictional story about a Primary School in the Yorkshire Dales.The author has drawn on his experience as a Teacher and Inspector, to write an account of how a new Head turns around a failing school.I do wonder if there is too much fact to engage the casual reader, but as an ex teacher, I was interested in the dialogue from the point of view of some of the children.