One of my failings as a writer is that I begin a book with attention to the author's descriptive details, her dialog, her scenes from beginning to end and I brush the edge of learning but then I lose my critiquing way. I started [b:Bilgewater|1294372|Bilgewater|Jane Gardam|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1294325730s/1294372.jpg|2052616] with much admiration for all of these writerly skills and then became involved in the story such that I never took note again. Every time I put the book down, I couldn't wait to pick it up again. All of my fondness for English life in novels resurfaced and I was right there in the Master's house with Bilgie bemoaning her motherless teen age self. Usually, I don't care for coming-of-age tales, eager to get on with adulthood, but this story beguiled me. She lives with her father, a master in a boy's school in the north of England. In first person (never easy to read), we learn of his absent-minded attention, their steady, funny housekeeper, Paula, her difficult friends and stalwart uncles and her initial reading difficulties. My attention never flagged and I lived with them all for the three days it took to read the story, eschewing tv to jump into bed at night to swim laps with Bilgie on school breaks and play chess with her dad. I shouldn't be surprised since Jane Gardam has never failed me. ( )

One of her funniest - slow to start then took off like fireworks ( )

Marigold's nickname is Bilgewater and she's an adolescent living in a House at a boy's school in Yorkshire (vaguely latter half of the 20th) where her father is the Master. Paula is the Matron and runs the place efficiently. It's the basic story of the adolescent girl emerging, as it were from caterpillar to butterfly . . . only . . . hesitantly and in that unsure way that leaves the reader wondering 'what if'. Three boys at the school she has known for years suddenly seem to be interested in her and she also maybe finds a female friend (she's definitely not your average girl so finds friendship difficult). Those three boys are the three trying, as she is, for Oxbridge. (I can categorize them as #1 Kind and Safe,#2 Deceptive and Handsome, and #3 Fascinating and Brilliant). After finishing I found myself pondering the way some of us (different from the above -- category A &B not # 1,2,3) (and I know I am category B) tend to choose safety (B) over, shall we say, spontaneity (A)? This leads to intense moments of 'what if' in my own life I had defied my parents and done this or that or taken that other bus or gone ahead or stayed the night with . . . I don't think A's either look back or chicken out! (Or perhaps now and then they might have a pinch of regret?) And let me add too, Gardam makes no judgement call on A or B. Anyway that is, perhaps, the most significant underlying theme. To my surprise I flagged a bit in the middle, seeing where things were headed, but Gardam handles everything with grace and humor and so the book satisfies while also feeling fully grounded in the Way Things Are. **** ( )

A most delightful book. All I remember from reading it many years ago was that I loved it and a reread confirms that memory. Another story of an odd, eccentric, but fearfully intelligent, adolescent growing up in Yorkshire in the seventies (I've just reread "Oranges are not the only fruit" and "Bilgewater" covers similar territory). It's a story of difference, trying (and failing) to fit in and finding ones own self. It's also very funny - as well as carrying a dire warning "BEWARE OF SELF PITY". Bilgewater is the nickname of Marigold Green, who's mother died giving birth to her, growing up with her widowed father in the boys school where he's a teacher. But there's lots more to the story and I can only suggest you read it to find out... ( )

Marigold’s father is house master at a boys’ school, so to the boys Marigold is known as Bill’s Daughter, which devolves into the nickname Bilgewater. This book tells of Marigold’s awkward teenage years, of friends and frenemies and crushes and first love.

For the first half or two-thirds of this book, not much happens — and then a great many things happen all at once. It’s hard to explain or summarize, but it has a certain charm. I’d recommend this to fans of Muriel Spark. As for me, I enjoyed it, but probably won’t seek out other books by this author. ( )