A Field Full of Butterflies: Memories of a Romany Childhood
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A fascinating insight of growing up as a Romany Gypsy. Rosemary tells the story with much fondness and humour of her life within the close-knit community and extended family. Despite the hardships what shines through is the freedom and simple fun had. The characters are portrayed so lovingly that by the end it's quite a bitter pill to swallow. An enchanting story of a disappearing lifestyle. Mar 08, Sabrina Rutter rated it liked it Shelves: Rosemary's story of her childhood is at once beautiful in it's nostalgia, and heartbreaking when we have to see those we had come to love leave this world.
The kindness of strangers, and the cruel misunderstandings of others are intertwined into a beautiful tale of a Romany childhood. I did want to address something in the preface of this book written by Sarah Churchill She was explaining how the Romany life was coming to an end due to the changes in society. She asked, "where are the American Rosemary's story of her childhood is at once beautiful in it's nostalgia, and heartbreaking when we have to see those we had come to love leave this world.
She asked, "where are the American indians now? Like the Romany's many of us are of mixed blood now, and so it's not always easy to tell who has indian in them, and who doesn't. I myself often compare the gypsies, and the indians, but not asking where are they now. I obviously know where they are. I compare them because of the fact they're both forced to live in ways unatural to them. I found this, "where are they now" question to be a little silly, as if implying we have all died off or something. May 22, Maxime rated it really liked it. I really enjoyed this book a lovely memoir.
From early memories of her father bringing home oranges during the war, to the simple beauty of a field full of butterflies on a hot summer's day, Rosemary's stunningly elegant narrative captures t I really enjoyed this book a lovely memoir. From early memories of her father bringing home oranges during the war, to the simple beauty of a field full of butterflies on a hot summer's day, Rosemary's stunningly elegant narrative captures the love and losses, hopes and struggles, traditions and prejudices, that bound her to her family and helped her adapt to a changing world.
Rosemary's story is a moving testament to a forgotten world and a rapidly disappearing way of life Jul 17, Barbra rated it really liked it. This was an enchanting story of a now lost world of old Gypsy life. Full of charm and humour - a really lovely story. Rosemary Penfold was born in in a traditional Gypsy wagon and grew up in the fields of the English countryside.
From early memories of her father bringing home oranges during the war to the simple beauty of a field full of butterfli This was an enchanting story of a now lost world of old Gypsy life. From early memories of her father bringing home oranges during the war to the simple beauty of a field full of butterflies on a hot summer's day.
Rosemary's stunningly elegant narrative captures the love and losses, hopes and struggles, traditions and prejudices that bound her to her family and helped her adapt to a fast-changing world. I never really connected with any of the characters and felt it over-romanticized their lives. I gave it three stars because I did like the scenes where they went to school and were first exposed to mainstream culture.
It's worth a library read, but probably not worth purchasing. I preferred the novel Fires in the Dark. View all 7 comments. Dec 25, Haylee rated it liked it. Apr 11, Sandra rated it it was ok. The book is a glimpse into a life of a community of "travelers" who settled in the English countryside, told from the memories of a young girl.
Rosie and her cousins experienced bullies at school, while her parents, aunties and uncles got the same treatment from the "gadje," non-gypsies, in town. Apr 25, Malou rated it it was amazing. This is truly a charming memoir.
I am very interested in reading about the Romany culture and this book definitely allowed further insights ino their lives and the way they were treated by "gadjes". Rosemary made her family and her childhood memories come alive. To me it felt like I knew the people myself. She painted a perfect field of butterflies. Sep 20, Erica Fairs rated it really liked it. A beautiful, lyrical book charting the childhood of Rosie and her Romany family.
The countryside is enchantingly evoked and although the story is indeed lovely, the author does not shy away from the bigotry and hardships the Romany people suffer at the hands of others. May 11, Anji rated it liked it. Otherwise a really lovely look at a Romany gypsy childhood. Sep 27, Regina rated it liked it Shelves: Actually more of a 2.
Unbelievable what behavior they got away with, how unfeeling they were, and how badly they treated the children, how prejudiced most of them were. May 04, Tomi rated it really liked it. This was an easy read.. Wonderfulll I recommend for any one who likes to take things easy. Jul 23, LJ rated it liked it. Another book I picked up in a charity shop in Scotland. It's an autobiography of a Gypsy child who lived in England. Although it tells of some of the Gypsy traditions, it also is a more personal memoir.
I'm on page 30 now. Jun 03, Maria Argent rated it it was amazing. Felt like part of the Romany life. Apr 03, Pix rated it it was amazing. So simple and beautiful and heartwarming.
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This book made me want to travel back in time and live right along side the young Rosemary. Also very easy to read. There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
A Field Full of Butterflies: Memories of a Romany Childhood - Rosemary Penfold - Google Книги
Rosemary's story of her childhood is at once beautiful in it's nostalgia, and heartbreaking when we have to see those we had come to love leave this world. The kindness of strangers, and the cruel misunderstandings of others are intertwined into a beautiful tale of a Romany childhood. One person found this helpful 2 people found this helpful. One person found this helpful.
This reads as if written by a child.
It is definitely in need of a good edit as there was a lot of repetition, even whole sentences were repeated within a few paragraphs of each other! A lot of the detail also seemed just to be fleshing out the narrative rather than adding anything interesting. I gave up on this book as it just didn't keep my interest. It might appeal to someone carrying out research on this people group.
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Charming memoirs of a childhood in the English countryside. Not so much an expose of the Gypsy life as it is a remembrance of a life well lived with a focus on what's important. Much of the Gypsy aspects of the story are merely ancillary or background to it rather than a focus. And many of the stories don't sound all too dissimilar to stories of my own family growing up in depression-era coal country of Pennsylvania. A book NOT to be looked at as a source for a deeper understanding of Gypsy beliefs and practices as it is a look at the things that we all share in common as humans, whether Gypsy or gadje.
A Field Full of Butterflies : Memories of a Romany Childhood
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