Lark Rise to Candleford Paperback – Illustrated, 15 Oct. 2008

If you've seen the TV series, then this is nothing like it. The book is more a social history but written in a very easy-to-read and engaging format with characters briefly described and anecdotes rather than the stories and main players of the series. I found it very interesting and enjoyed it. Each chapter (and they're quite short) stands alone so you can pick up the book and put it down without losing the thread of a longer story. It's a fascinating record of the changes that were taking place in rural areas in the Victorian times.

This book is a lovely gentle pastoral wander through a bygone time. I've read it several times now & it never disappoints.

I have completed the first book in the trilogy, and though I agree with another reviewer that it has the same kind of feel as the "Little House on the Prairie" and "Anne of Green Gables" series' (all of which I love), I don't think I would put this in the same age range as either. The "Little House" series was something my friends and I read starting in elementary school, and my daughters did the same. The "Anne" books were more junior high to high school, and we have enjoyed them as adults as well. Though Thompson's books have the same rural, homey feel to them, I think the lack of an ever-present storyline would make them less appealing to the average youth today who is used to instant gratification and constant entertainment (I know I am generalizing). I'm sure there are some youth that would love them, but they are much more an insightful, descriptive look at country life with stories scattered here and there and I believe they will appeal more to adults. I find them fascinating and I think the people who used these books as a basis for the PBS series have done a brilliant job of creating a consistent storyline from the threads of narrative Thompson has woven together. If you have watched the series and loved it, don't approach the books as "the script" for what you have seen. View it more as background material and enjoy a deeper look into what made the people who they are. If you have read the books and are just considering seeing the series, don't expect to see what you have read. They are both wonderful examples of their own art form. Let each stand alone and appreciate them for what they are.ETA: I have now completed the book and have seen all four seasons of the PBS series. I love them both, but would still caution people not to expect the movies to be an exact visual portrayal of the books. I admit that I am one who has been upset at times when I have seen a movie "based on" a classic book that has taken great liberties in their portrayal and completely changed characters who are critical to the storyline. However, I had not read these books before seeing the first three seasons of the PBS series, so the show was my introduction to the stories and characters. I still thoroughly enjoyed the books and thought it was fun to see what had inspired many of the stories in the TV series.

Instructive, interesting for those who like popular history and culture. Old customs and traditions gone. In our modern, sometimes inhuman world it is good to know that in a near gone century people were able to be happy and content on little. The book is most descriptive of old ways and mentality and they're teaching us how to be simplier and happier.

I bought this book, because PBS has been airing the series, and I don't always get to watch, because of when it's on - and I had never seen the first 2 seasons.It's a wonderful, gentle but realistic 'story' about rural life in the late 1880's, when so many things were changing. It doesn't gloss over the hard times, or make them seem 'ideal', but presents them as they were. It's set in England, but could easily be almost anywhere during that time of change in history.This book is not for those who want murders and mayhem, guns and swords and blood and gore in their reading material. It's more about 'real' day to day life, growing food and spinning wool, and trying to make meger wages stretch to feed their families. It reminds me of the Anne of Green Gables series, in a way, but centers around several families instead of just one.A wonderful, easy to read book before falling asleep.

I purchased this book after viewing the entire TV series (which I love) of the same name. As pointed out by other reviewers, the book does not have a plot and is basically a series of essays describing everyday life in Lark Rise, Candleford and Candleford Green. To a modern reader, the characters in the book may seem to suffer from abject poverty, which was true in some cases, but in the 19th century it was the way of life. People adapted and even flourished (according to Thompson's descriptions) in the midst of that poverty. For example, Thompson pointed out that the poor residents of Lark Rise enjoyed excellent health and strong teeth, even though their diet (lard spread on pieces of bread) would horrify today's nutritional "experts" and they cleaned their teeth with salt on a cloth. Despite the hardships, the people enjoyed their rare leisure times and appreciated the simplest things in life. It was very refreshing to reflect on a time when life was not so complicated. WARNING: to those of you who (like me) belong to a race of darker complexion people, please be advised that the "n" word is in the novel and there are two minor (seemingly derogatory) references to dark-skinned people. Please don't let these references keep you from reading this excellent book. I don't believe the references were malicious but just a part of the culture of that day. I was not offended by them.