bookrblog

A Proper Marriage

Sunday, August 9th, 2009 | British Literature | No Comments

I really enjoyed this book by Doris Lessing, and I think it’s because I read Alfred and Emily earlier. This semi-autobiographical novel is about a young woman in the early years of her marriage and her slow realisation that she has to leave in order to lead an authentic life. Lessing describes life in pre-war Rhodesia in great detail, from giving birth to managing servants to the early Communist party that rose up. The characters are interesting and thoroughly believable, and while it’s definitely a story of its time, the ideas are universal, the way people enact their culture unaware and the difficulty of moving against it. Now I’ll have to find the rest of the series!

The Wild Places

Sunday, August 9th, 2009 | British Literature | No Comments

What an extraordinary book Robert MacFarlane has written , this story of the wild places of England, and of mourning a friend. One day in a tree he wonders whether there are any really wild places left in England, and goes out to discover them; mountains in Scotland, beaches, moors, forests. His friend Roger Deakin accompanies him on some of his journey, and dies after a short struggle with a brain tumour; so this book becomes an elegy to him, too. There are some utterly beautiful descriptions, some fascinating facts, and altogether a celebration of the wild places which still exist in England. A wonderful book.

Hons and Rebels

Sunday, August 9th, 2009 | American Literature | No Comments

In keeping with my latest Mitford interest, I’ve just finished this book by Jessica Mitford, which is her version of the events of her childhood, the circumstances around her escape, and her life in America with her first husband. It’s a witty and poignant portrait, with Unity portrayed far more sympathetically than Diana, and with all the girls seeming absolutely wild and more than a handful for their parents. The most interesting part for me is the portrait of her husband, Esmond Rommily, Churchill’s nephew. What an amazing life he had! Running away from school and setting up a safe-house for other boys who ran away from their public schools; starting an incredibly successful magazine which sold in its thousands and broached topics unbelievably ahead of its day; and then going to fight in Spain against the facists. He ended up dying in WW2 as a fighter pilot; what a waste, at the age of just 23.

This really is a beautiful story of a couple in love, who didn’t get to grow together with the years, and a humorous picture of a group of really brilliant girls torn apart by the politics of the era. Not accurate, perhaps, but accurate to Jessica’s feelings. A must-read.

Wings of the Falcon

Sunday, August 9th, 2009 | American Literature | No Comments

While this novel by “Barbara Michaels”, aka Elizabeth Peters, is ostensibly a mystery, it’s actually a very fascinating overview of a period in Italian history of which I know very little; the unification of the different city-states under Garibaldi. In this version, a half-English heiress is brought to an Italy she knows nothing of, due to the estrangement of her parents from her grandfather. She’s shepherded by a mysterious but resourceful Miss Perkins, and surrounded by the political divisions in her family - those who support the pope, and those who support Garibaldi. Everything points towards someone close to her being “The Falcon”, a sort of freedom fighter for the peasantry - but Francesca does make a few mistakes about his identity.

This is an enjoyable and informative read, with well-drawn characters and a good sense of suspense (Peters writes a lot of mysteries).  The unique aspect is that Francesca is not the courageous and intelligent heroine; it’s the quiet Miss Perkins who solves the mystery and acts to save the day - even if it’s Francesca who gets the hero in the end. This was  a clever and well-crafted mystery, as well as a good introduction to a particular era in Italian history.