Dear Great Book Guru,  We were at Still Partners the other night with the Marcheses and the Abbenda/Hughes listening to that great band “Kingfisher” when someone mentioned that the annual Barbara Pym Society conference in Cambridge is scheduled for this coming weekend. While only a few members from Sea Cliff will be able to attend  ( it was sold out months ago), those lucky few promised to report back all the exciting comings and goings. Do you know what book will be featured since I want to be able to discuss it with the returning Pymites?   A Devoted Pymophile

Dear Devoted Pymophile,  The book chosen for this year’s conference is a favorite of mine: EXCELLENT WOMEN.  It was one of Pym’s early novels and is a perfect example of her distinctive style.  Written from the perspective of Mildred Lathbury, a thirtyish woman living alone in 1950’s London, the novel is all about- well, nothing … or perhaps I should say all those wonderful little things that we cling to so that our lives will have meaning. Sensitive and self-deprecating,   Mildred is a keen observer of others, who finds herself called upon to play many different roles in the lives of her friends whether they be the colorful Napiers- anthropologist Helena and her dashing naval officer husband Rockingham- or the ever so slightly shabby Malory siblings- cleric Julian and his devoted sister Winifred. This is not an epic novel filled with great ideas, but rather a great novel filled with small delights.  Highly recommended!