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Writer's pictureJoAnne Saldanha

Singing for Mrs.Pettigrew - A Gem of a Read

Every once in a while there comes along a book with writing that touches me in a manner so sublime that I just want to hug and hold it close, yet share it with the whole wide world. 

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So take this post as me handing you this absolute gem of a book as a gift…a precious one. 



‘Singing for Mrs. Pettigrew - A Story Maker’s Journey’ by Micheal Morpurgo is a book I’ve been savouring slowly, over the last 10 days. I didn’t want to rush it, instead I soaked in and absorbed the extracts and essays through which Micheal Morpugo shares his journey as a writer. 

I love how deeply places, people, authors he read, and nature have influenced his writing. He shares extracts from his books, many of which I had read before, interspersing them with essays in which he shares all that influenced and inspired his craft of writing. It is essentially a book of stories about stories…the best kind of book to read!!  


I have long been a Morpugo fan…to me he is the ultimate storyteller. His writing wraps you up and cocoons you with depth and pure soul. 

His books have made me smile, drawn out tears, indignation, fear…what he does is to make the reader ‘feel’.


However,  I must admit that his books are not the easiest for today’s children to read. His writing is exquisite and if the reader is used to shorter sentences, casual language, and action pact plots they will take a while to sink into one of his. 

It’s a case of instant attraction versus a slow-burn romance…the latter grows on you, is deep and ever so meaningful, staying with you forever. 


Sometimes it even takes me a while to get into his books. 

However, some of his reflections echoed with me and I found that reading Singing for Mrs Pettigrew has made me appreciate his craft as a writer even more. 


He creates pictures with his words in a manner that is honest, deceptively simple, and ever so profound. 

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Go on, read it. Thank me later. 




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