Channeling Simon of Stuck-In-A-Book, Karen at Cornflower Books posted an image that reminded her of the book she is currently reading (The fantastic novel Stoner by John Williams). She challenged the rest of us to come up with an image that reflected what we are reading. Since my current read is a Persephone collection of Dorothy Whipple short stories the first thing that came to my mind was that the image had to be of a youngish female from the 1930s or 1940s. I certainly had a general idea of what the subject of the image might look like, but more importantly I felt she had to convey a sense of quiet potential. Like many of those Whipple heroines who struggle to reconcile their own hopes and ambitions with their assigned place in society. I think this portrait of Shelia McManus by Richard Emil Miller fits the bill. What do you think?
hogglestock 
She looks quietly determined to me.
And reminds me of an actress whose name is on the tip of my tongue – will have to google and find out!
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Frances McDormand!
Sorry to be so shallow..
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Perfect, Thomas!
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Tried to get Dorothy Whipple at the local library but just couldn't.
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I think that's a perfect painting for a Dorothy Whipple character. How are you enjoying the short stories? I've only read The Closed Door so far, it was wonderful!
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Perfect! It could be a “Persephone classic” cover.
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I agree with Susan – it really could. and I love that yellow!
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What a lovely picture, and wonderfully Whipplesque! I may have to print it out to put inside my copy of Someone at a Distance.
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What a fantastic painting! And she has a book on her lap too. :)
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Mary: It was the look on her face that sold me on the painting.
Cornflower: Thanks for putting out the challenge.
Mystica: Whipples are hard to come by outside the UK.
Mrs B: I loved the short stories. The Closed Door was excellent, but there were a few others that I found even more compelling.
Susan and Hannah: I was actually worried it looked too much like a Persephone Classic. Seemed like my choice was unoriginal.
Geranium: It would make a nice bookmark image.
A good stopping point: Of course that was the second thing I noticed about it.
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From what little I know of Dorothy Whipple, this is a perfect picture for her.
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The picture is quite lovely. I am envying her the comfy place to read with the cup of tea at hand.
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I like that picture. It looks like she's thinking really hard about what she just finished reading.
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