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Rating: 
Summary: Delightful
Review: For someone who claims to be the "illiterate" Mitford, this charming little book is a well-crafted lark into the world of a 21st century Duchess. It is very light and entertaining, filled with anecdotes about her and her life. Also featured are stories about her family, but this is not the book to read if you are interested in a tell-all expose of the Mitfords. Most of the book concentrates on the Duchess's family, and home. Chatsworth is one of the finest home in England, and one of the first to become a self-sustaining tourist destination. Anyone who has visited Chatsworth would enjoy reading about the "other side" of that house. Fans of the Mitford family will be delighted by the stories, most of which don't appear in other Mitford books and biographies. Even if you're not familiar with the Mitford family, this book provides a fascinating picture of the worldview of someone who has lived a long and extremely interesting life. I really hope to see more from Debo.
Rating:
Summary: Misunderstood by Americans?
Review: I enjoyed this book immensely. Addressing some of the negative reviews that have appeared below, I feel that the Duchess of Devonshire would be the first to say that she doesn't expect to be placed in the pantheon of Mitford writers with Nancy and Decca. So much of Nancy's charm is period charm after all, and Decca appeals to readers because she is fearless, outspoken and a rebel. "Counting My Chickens" is great fun to read, and just because one was personally unacquainted with Harold Macmillan or any of the other people thoughtfully mentioned in footnotes is little reason to judge the book itself as 'insipid' and 'boring', adjectives that could so well describe life in a world dominated by the delights of Macdonalds and Coca Cola, and restricted by the application of just four adjectives - cool, great, nice and neat - to every possible situation. I, like another reviewer, delighted in the Duchess' use of mitfordesque descriptions of the mundane - 'a septic handbag'.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful read
Review: This book is homey and comforting. I loved her piece on being
discovered talking to yourself! There is so much that is so wise,
human and to the point. Maybe the negative reviewers are too young to appreciate the subtle joy of this book. It certainly is one volume that I will reread from time to time and keep for the guest room. Anyone who is old enough to remember civility in daily life, service in shops and neither voice mail nor cell phones impinging on your daily life will really enjoy this COUNTING MY CHICKENS.
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