Larks Rise to Candleford

[madpants]

I read the book years ago but cannot remember anything about it but I LOVE the programme it's fab, the only thing I hate is that hat....that straw thing that perches on top of Laura's head like an inverted she-wee, I just want to rip it off and jump up and down on it because it looks so ridiculous 

[bevbee]

I didn't know the book at all and really enjoyed the first episode, but already, by episode 3, I'm losing interest.

The cast are fine- I especially like Brendan Coyle, who was also excellent in "North and South," but it's all very false somehow; -  I feel it's been sanitised for gentle Sunday night viewing, but I want a lot more realism.

Am I alone in beginning to find Dorcas/Julia Sawalha rather sickening? Just too good to be true?

 

No, you're not alone - I feel she is under strain keeping up the genteel accent!

 

[kerryb]

Loved the book, enjoying the TV series in that it is undemanding typical Sunday night viewing.

However my complaint is that I loved the first book which was all about Laura's childhood in the hamlet as a small child but could you imagine how that 'boring' that would be seen as Sunday night viewing - poor people in a small isolated hamlet, ecking a living etc, realistic yes but TV bosses don't live in a realistic world - obviously 

It's not Laura's straw hat that annoys me it is the one her mother wears, tiny box perched on her head.  However if you read the books, if I remember rightly there was a bit about the girls in the hamlet seeing the latest fashions and trying to copy them with their very very limited budgets. 

Kerry

[silvery]

I often wonder why they use a book, and then re-write the whole thing so that it bears no resemblance to anything from the book.

Too boring to think up a good title of their own I expect.

I watched the first week, and it was a bit twee, I thought.  And they were all very clean (especially the kids supposed to be poor) and yes, the sun is always shining.  TV doesn't really care about the factual details of no running water, and what there was from the pump was cold, washing clothes was a major operation, and so was cooking. 

What do we prefer?  A bit of authenticity, or fairytales?

[ludovica]

I read the book years ago but cannot remember anything about it but I LOVE the programme it's fab, the only thing I hate is that hat....that straw thing that perches on top of Laura's head like an inverted she-wee, I just want to rip it off and jump up and down on it because it looks so ridiculous 

[Lydart]

Sit back; enjoy it for a bit of Sunday evening light entertainment is my advice.

If you've read the book ... forget it; this is something else !



Have you read the Pop Larkin books ?   The sun always shone on the TV version of those stories too ... but very enjoyable, nevertheless !

[kerryb]

I have to agree Lydart, it is enjoyable Sunday night viewing - just the way I like it.

I had to laugh last night though, the scene at the pageant at the end when Queenie forgot the words and they joined in with the melodian reminded me of my childhood, Sunday morning services at the old Brethren chapel my grandparents were at, old fashioned organ and the singing much the same except a lot slower!!! 

BTW for anyone interested I have just looked up in the book, according to the Timeline Laura went to Candleford in 1891 aged 14 to work at the Post Office, so early 1890s.

Kerry

[marihelen]

     As I am researching my and my husband's ancestry, I would like these historical series with a bit more of real life situations.    It would give a better insight into how they lived, dressed etc. especially the clothes.     After a day in the fields, most would come home with very grubby clothes.    In the book, only 3 out of the 30 homes had running water, all the rest had to fetch their water from a well half a mile away, and they also all had water butts on the side of the houses and used that water too, but they were hardy folk and managed.     We all have different tastes and some will like the series to resemble the book as closely as possible (that's me) and other's won't mind if it only resembles the book vaguely.   I am going before I am lynched    Marihelen

[meles]

"There are seven more episodes to Lark Rise to Candleford. Can there be many more non-events to cram into this dainty soap opera? ... It's lacking in incident." That comes from the Radio Times!

I really enjoy the slow pace and gentle charm. But it shows what the BBC really wants to broadcast, more fast paced rubbish full of unbelievable events! Lark Rise is a highlight of the week.

meles