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eheslosz's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5
Once I got into this, it was delicious and so juicy and emotional and vivid but not in a cheap trashy way but genuinely good! Much more readable than 'The Weather in the Streets', where I could tell Lehmann was trying to be more "literary". But this still does have some interesting and experimental "literary" elements, like the fragmented timeline and the shifting intimacy of the narrative voice, with the occasional and disarming second person narration.
Could have done with less of the hetero romance; did she really have to go through every single one of the Fyfe brothers?? In fact I didn't really care about the Fyfe family even though they're supposed to be the most important part of the book. I think it should have just stuck to the thing with Roddy.
I first heard about 'Dusty Answer' as an early (1927?) subtextually lesbian book. It is quite explicit (though not physically) but I can see why it was so shocking (and popular!) at the time. Overall the relationship between Judith and Jennifer is shown to be deep and emotionally impactful and traumatic and definitely not just a friendship. Interestingly the plot treats Jennifer similarly to how it treats Judith's other failed lovers who are men. Throughout the novel many little and big things are poignantly left unfinished and yet coldly closed off at the same time.
Cambridge in this book (specifically Girton, the first women's college) is hilarious to me! It's a sort of boarding school of gossiping girls completely cut off from the men (in whose case the homoeroticism is even more explicit) and academia doesn't dominate. I'm pretty sure Lehmann actually went to Girton at this time, and Oxford is similar in Evelyn Waugh's novels, so this portrait could be quite accurate.
I can't wait to read more Lehmann books. I have my eye on Invitation to the Waltz and The Echoing Grove...
Once I got into this, it was delicious and so juicy and emotional and vivid but not in a cheap trashy way but genuinely good! Much more readable than 'The Weather in the Streets', where I could tell Lehmann was trying to be more "literary". But this still does have some interesting and experimental "literary" elements, like the fragmented timeline and the shifting intimacy of the narrative voice, with the occasional and disarming second person narration.
Could have done with less of the hetero romance; did she really have to go through every single one of the Fyfe brothers?? In fact I didn't really care about the Fyfe family even though they're supposed to be the most important part of the book. I think it should have just stuck to the thing with Roddy.
I first heard about 'Dusty Answer' as an early (1927?) subtextually lesbian book. It is quite explicit (though not physically) but I can see why it was so shocking (and popular!) at the time. Overall the relationship between Judith and Jennifer is shown to be deep and emotionally impactful and traumatic and definitely not just a friendship. Interestingly the plot treats Jennifer similarly to how it treats Judith's other failed lovers who are men. Throughout the novel many little and big things are poignantly left unfinished and yet coldly closed off at the same time.
Cambridge in this book (specifically Girton, the first women's college) is hilarious to me! It's a sort of boarding school of gossiping girls completely cut off from the men (in whose case the homoeroticism is even more explicit) and academia doesn't dominate. I'm pretty sure Lehmann actually went to Girton at this time, and Oxford is similar in Evelyn Waugh's novels, so this portrait could be quite accurate.
I can't wait to read more Lehmann books. I have my eye on Invitation to the Waltz and The Echoing Grove...
worstwitch's review against another edition
3.0
Bits reminded me of my loves Brideshead Revisited & The Great Gatsby & The Secret History but the narrator is more level with her longed for objects of desire: her family is well of, she's clever & pretty & has smart clothes & when she is heartbroken she gets to escape to France & have a love affair yet it isn't good enough for her still.
This book is muddled because everyone longs for someone who isn't around & they lead people on who love them. No one is ever good enough. Everyone is rotten in this book.
The prose is beautiful though & parts I adored. Reading more Lehmann soon.
This book is muddled because everyone longs for someone who isn't around & they lead people on who love them. No one is ever good enough. Everyone is rotten in this book.
The prose is beautiful though & parts I adored. Reading more Lehmann soon.
bethtreasure's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Blah
enora_rcd's review against another edition
5.0
Un excellent roman d’apprentissage/psychologique. J’appréhendais l’écriture et la langue à cause de l’époque mais il s’avère être un roman qui ne vieillit pas, l’anglais est remarquable. En plein dans le romantisme, on ne quitte jamais les sentiments et les pensées de Judith, sa grande dépendance affective et les doutes apportés par les différentes périodes de sa vie.
blankgarden's review against another edition
3.0
3,5 stars. My review: https://theblankgarden.com/2014/01/28/she-was-sad-to-the-verge-of-tears-and-yet-the-sorrow-was-rich-a-suffocating-joy/
yeahdeadslow's review against another edition
4.0
I could stare it this cover for hours, I really could.
...Oh, and the book itself was good too. ;) I'm glad I took a chance on it and bought it before reading, which was my only option since Rosamond Lehmann's books are so hard to come by now. I absolutely must get my hands on more of her work!
...Oh, and the book itself was good too. ;) I'm glad I took a chance on it and bought it before reading, which was my only option since Rosamond Lehmann's books are so hard to come by now. I absolutely must get my hands on more of her work!
camaradelynch's review against another edition
3.0
nearly not gay enough. imagine how much better it would have been if judith wasn't so oblivious. we could have had judith & jennifer and roddy & tony all be each other's beards and living in a country house but No. although i admire judith for making out with roddy, julian AND martin and asking all three of them to marry her. shes a busy girl we love her for that
livspec's review
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
blankgarden's review against another edition
3.0
3,5 stars. My review: https://theblankgarden.com/2014/01/28/she-was-sad-to-the-verge-of-tears-and-yet-the-sorrow-was-rich-a-suffocating-joy/