Up and Down in the Dales by Gervase Phinn

Up and Down in the Dales Reviews

• 
  Prabodh Katti

  There comes a book in everyone's life which is totally different from all the books s/he has ever read. And there comes a book which brings out a beautiful smile and at the same time a pang of nostalgia and memories of a time when all was so peachy, innocent, silly and yet beautiful. For me, this book was that.
  
  There is no complex plot. There are no edge-of-the-seat dramatic moments. No tragic romantic moments, in fact nothing called a conventional plot. It is a fictional memoir of a school inspector (author himself) in rural countryside of Yorkshire.
  
  What works for this book is the witty situations, the humorous one liners and most importantly, the belief it reinforces that every child should have a beautiful, innocent and happy childhood filled with love and laughter. The characters are pretty lovable, be it the old school Mr. Frobisher, the old school teacher who had to retire due to the author's scathing report, but eventually makes peace with him in a surprising way, or the kid who writes, amusingly, about his holiday trip when asked to write about the importance of prayer, or a nosy neighbor who gives author a big scare, or a snooty official aptly named Brenda Savage. The book is interspersed with brilliantly funny scenes, like the one where Savage is mistaken for a nude model, or the one with children screwing up Jesus in the manger.
  
  The kids, though, steal the show. Utterly lovable, cute and different from each other, they will bring up the memories of the beautiful phase that was the childhood. And yes, you will fall in love with children.
  
  There are some great insights on education and parenting and teaching, explored through a wide variety of them. You will find yourself nodding in agreement with the author throughout.
  
  So ahead, and pick up this book for a change, be amused and enriched. Or gift it to a teacher as a big thank you for the impact s/he made on your life.
• 
  Shiloah

  Another gem by Gervase Phinn! E.L. and I have been reading his works for the past year. When we finish I’m going to have a huge gaping hole. I may have to reread them soon after.
• 
  Amanda

  For some reason, I found this book in the Dales series a little tougher-going than the previous three. It was still light-hearted, but seemed a lot more wrapped up in Phinn's personal life rather than tales of the schools he inspects, which is always the most joyful part of the books.
  
  In this book, his wife gets up in arms about a school closure, Sidney Clamp plays a rather amusing joke concerning a Quaker meeting house, and Phinn welcomes his first child into the world.
• 
  Fiona

  Little gem of a book covering Gervaise's 4 th year as a school inspector . His wife is expecting their baby, he has just tore down a listed historical building in his garden , and the usual anecdotes from the kids make this as always a cracking read !
• 
  Elizabeth

  Delightful and heartwarming!
• 
  Dawn Doyle

  In this autobiography, we see the same Phinn humor that is prevalent in his three former novels of school and village life in the Dales, along with some of the characters and occurrences upon which his novels are based, delightful reads all.
• 
  Manasi Shiledar

  Loved the subtle comedy...
• 
  Erin

  Recommended to me by my Grandpa Ken (through marriage) who is British and a delight in and of himself. This book was warm and funny and poignant. I struggled a little with the language barrier but understood most of what was going on. Many laugh out loud moments. The best parts are the comments by the children in the schools he visits. Phinn did delve into his personal life a bit but it made him endearing. Will look at reading his other books as well.
• 
  Karen

  I read this book a very long time back but I still remember it well. I loved the subtle comedy style of this book and it made me laugh throughout. The situations he faces as a school inspector are hilarious!
  
  I plan on reading more books by Gervase Phinn
• 
  James

  Another great book in Phinn's excellent series. This book talks more about Gervase's personal life. This is good as it is interesting reading. The saga of the ramshackle shed in his garden is very funny!
• 
  Ashlin

  Simple and beautiful. I had read this book a few years ago but some scenes of the book will always remain with me as good memories and will always make me smile. If you are looking for a light, heartwarming read, this is your book.
• 
  Colleen

  These books are like James Herriot books. Feel good happy books where nothing too bad ever happens. Funny laugh out loud descriptions of real kids and the unexpected things they say. I also died laughing reading his descriptions of some of the 'difficult' people in his office.
• 
  soumyadeep naskar

  Really nice book. Varied experiences of a school inspector in Yorkshire is presented in the book. Most of them I assume are anecdotes from the author's own life as the protagonist is author himself. Funny, refreshing and heartwarming.
• 
  Rose

  Enjoyable but some of the anecdotes dragged on far too long. Shorter and snappier would have been more entertaining!
• 
  Brooke

  very good & funny
  
• 
  Sarah Goode

  Just finished reading this at Download festival. how very rock and roll of me :)
  
  Gervaise Phinn. Fun as always.
• 
  Kay Wells

  Continuation of the roles of a school inspector in yorkshire infant and junior schools. This is Gervase Phinn's 4th book still find them amusing.
• 
  Stephen Dawson

  More hilarious fun from the children and adults of the Dales schools.
• 
  Aimee

  Gervase Phinn's series are just MUST READS I loved them!
• 
  Jenny Carr

  Again, up to his usual humorous style of writing, but without being full of double entendres.
  I did laugh a lot. Only Gervase could manage to arrive at his son's birth in full Nazi regale.
• 
  Emma Rose

  A delight. Am enjoying those immensely.