I'm sad that I wasn't able to read this book, because it was too much at the same time. I guess that his book was amazing and I would love to try and read it.
Now i will have to buy one!

"A Blindefellows Chronicle" is a humorous novel with heart. In a series of vignettes set at irregular intervals over 40 years, it records the fortunes and misfortunes of an ambitious English boarding school. Lasting bonds are formed as the august institution deals with declining student numbers, unscrupulous masters, alliances and rivalries, internal politics, internationalisation, and technology.

Reading Auriel Roe's novel very soon felt like catching up with old friends, so engaging were the characters that she created and set off through her lively and frequently hilarious dialogue. The only admittedly minor check to my thorough enjoyment was the use of unnecessarily detailed descriptions, which at times curbed the flow of the narrative. Despite this, the highlights were many, among them the aptly named physics master William Japes and the school's 400th anniversary bash (I doubt those mental images will evaporate anytime soon). And oh! those last two chapters! I didn't expect to be so moved as well as entertained.

*thank you to Netgalley and Unbound for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

2 stars.

Just OK. As with all collections of short stories, it's almost guaranteed that you won't love them all. These stories were a mix of good and no so good. I think that this was just not for me as opposed to being badly written. I'd be more likely to pass it along to others than suggest they dont bother as it could easily be enjoyed by some.

Not my style, as the seemingly main characters felt like too much of a boy's club for me, but I can see how many others will enjoy this.

The Blindfellows Chronicles

This collection of stories are all centred around a particular place - The Blindefellows School for boys (and later, girls).
I found the characters amusing but personally, I was a little unsettled by them. I found Sedgwick and Japes an almost slapstick duo that I felt tried a little too hard.
If you like history then definitely give this a go. I, myself have a degree in History but I found the historical aspects that tried to be serious lacked in depth but I try not to read fiction that ties in history if I can help and that was perhaps my problem.
The plot line was interesting but it was just not the book for me.

An interesting collection of short stories. by Roe. I liked the first three stories set in the school but when the fourth story moved to forest, i lost interest with it. I would love to read the full collection of Japes and the new teacher and their hi-jinks rather than what was there.

This is wonderful?! I am genuinely surprised it hadn't crossed my path before now?!

It is a little bit of a slow burn, but once I realised that the short stories were greater than the sum of their parts and should be treated as chapters, rather than isolated chunks, it became utterly delightful. The stories are staged over a number of years which provides endearing character growth and increases emotional investment.

Like many others, my favourite story was the sheep in the library (how could it not be?!)

This book was witty and clever at some points but I did find that it was hard to focus on the characters. I thought that I would enjoy it more but alas I had trouble keeping the characters in order.
I believe that it is a good start for this debut author and wish them luck in the future!

A book of interwoven stories stretched chronologically at a small Britsh school. While there are some clever bits. overall the story was just too slow and dry for me. I just didn't feel invested in the main characters, staff at the school.