Recent reading
Sep. 29th, 2020 05:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
regshoeLolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner (1927). Revisiting an old favourite, which is just as good as ever. :D This book is a difficult one to summarise, because a large part of the entire point of it hinges on a big twist that happens about two-thirds of the way through—but, without spoilers, it's a very inventive take on the early twentieth-century Problem of Single Women genre, in which a middle-aged spinster breaks free from the 'maiden aunt' role into which she's been pushed without any consideration for her feelings, and finds her own independence and happiness. I love it. I was particularly struck this time by the sort of odd, uncanny creativity of a lot of the description and narrative ideas—thoughts or connections that seem strange are introduced sideways in a very matter-of-fact way with an assumption that they'll make sense, which, in their own way, they generally do. It's one of my favourite things about both the book in general and Laura as a character. Really, really good.
Quest for a Maid by Frances Mary Hendry (1988). This is a historical children's novel set in thirteenth-century Scotland, dealing with the interesting series of events surrounding the life of Margaret, Maid of Norway: daughter of the Norwegian king and heir to the Scottish throne, she was sent to Britain at the age of seven but died on the way. Our main character, Meg, is a plucky young Scottish girl who serendipitously gets sent along on the voyage. The plot is mostly about Meg's largely fictional life, with the big historical things happening off to one side: we see her navigating difficult relationships with her sisters, going to live with the family of the boy she's betrothed to, learning to sail. There's a lovely gentle 'found family' sort of dynamic between Meg, her arranged fiance Davie, her devoted servant Peem, and Marie, as the Maid of Norway here prefers to be called; but the most interesting relationship, for me, was between Meg and her older sister Inge, who (as we learn on the first page) is a witch, and who is quite willing to use her powers for evil... but who nevertheless loves Meg truly. Things between them remain emotionally complicated right up to the end, and the mix of distrust, betrayal, anger, kindness and love in all their interactions is really good. The book also sort of retells the ballad 'Sir Patrick Spens', with Patrick appearing as a side character (Davie is his son), and the voyage to bring Marie to Scotland becoming the doomed voyage from the ballad. I didn't think it really did the ballad justice (and why deny Patrick his knighthood???), but hey, it's one of my faves, I would think that. Other than that, a very enjoyable read. (Also, points for having the most drama-free non-issue of a love triangle I think I've ever seen in a book).
Quest for a Maid by Frances Mary Hendry (1988). This is a historical children's novel set in thirteenth-century Scotland, dealing with the interesting series of events surrounding the life of Margaret, Maid of Norway: daughter of the Norwegian king and heir to the Scottish throne, she was sent to Britain at the age of seven but died on the way. Our main character, Meg, is a plucky young Scottish girl who serendipitously gets sent along on the voyage. The plot is mostly about Meg's largely fictional life, with the big historical things happening off to one side: we see her navigating difficult relationships with her sisters, going to live with the family of the boy she's betrothed to, learning to sail. There's a lovely gentle 'found family' sort of dynamic between Meg, her arranged fiance Davie, her devoted servant Peem, and Marie, as the Maid of Norway here prefers to be called; but the most interesting relationship, for me, was between Meg and her older sister Inge, who (as we learn on the first page) is a witch, and who is quite willing to use her powers for evil... but who nevertheless loves Meg truly. Things between them remain emotionally complicated right up to the end, and the mix of distrust, betrayal, anger, kindness and love in all their interactions is really good. The book also sort of retells the ballad 'Sir Patrick Spens', with Patrick appearing as a side character (Davie is his son), and the voyage to bring Marie to Scotland becoming the doomed voyage from the ballad. I didn't think it really did the ballad justice (and why deny Patrick his knighthood???), but hey, it's one of my faves, I would think that. Other than that, a very enjoyable read. (Also, points for having the most drama-free non-issue of a love triangle I think I've ever seen in a book).
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Date: Sep. 29th, 2020 09:06 pm (UTC)I know what you mean about the big twist in "Lolly Willowes"! The intro in my copy gave it away, and I was annoyed! But I don't feel as bad about it now, after several re-reads, because the story really holds up, even when you know what happens, right? So maybe the point is not the twist itself, but what it leads to, if that makes sense? It's just the nudge she needed to get her independence and her own life going. And she can decide whether to follow that path or not, which is why I love the open end--it suggests so many possibilities!! I also loved that the story is about a type of heroine that doesn't get written about enough! And that "odd, uncanny creativity" you mention is really wonderful!! Her writing has this sort of magical realism thing going, and I really like it <3 (Have you read "Mr Fortune's maggot"? It's a different sort of story, maybe not as optimistic, but it deals with some similar themes, and has a similar feel!)
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Date: Sep. 30th, 2020 04:31 am (UTC)It's just the nudge she needed to get her independence and her own life going. And she can decide whether to follow that path or not, which is why I love the open end--it suggests so many possibilities!!
Oh, yes—it's somewhere she can finally make her own choices, and understand and enjoy her own freedom. Such a satisfying ending :D
I've read a couple of her other books, but not Mr Fortune's Maggot yet—I'll bump it up the to-read list...!
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Date: Sep. 30th, 2020 04:41 am (UTC)Me too! In that sense, it works even better as a re-read :) My favourite thing is probably when she writes her book of herbs, it's lovely! I agree in that it's a truly satisfying book!
I have the ebook, if you'd like it--it's got both "Mr Fortune's maggot" and its sequel/coda.
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Date: Sep. 30th, 2020 05:11 am (UTC)Yes, that is a good bit :D
Ooh, thanks for the offer—but I should be able to get it elsewhere!
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Date: Sep. 30th, 2020 05:18 pm (UTC)I've never heard of Quest for a Maid, but it sounds like fun!
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Date: Sep. 30th, 2020 05:33 pm (UTC)I found Quest for a Maid on the Yuletide fandom promo post—I love the opportunity to discover good new obscure books at this time of year :D
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Date: Sep. 30th, 2020 06:39 pm (UTC)