This is a book of many emotions which I really enjoyed, so much so that I finished it in one sitting. At the centre of the novel is Hetton Hall, a large stately home, and its upper class owners Tony and Brenda Last and their young son, John Andrew. The other main family is that of Mrs Beaver and her son, John - further down the social scale than the Lasts. John Beaver is initially not well esteemed in society, often being the only 'spare man' in London (in not a good way!). In a narrative that echoes Evelyn Waugh's real-life marital situation with his wife, Evelyn Gardner (that must have been confusing for their friends!), the novel follows the degrading morals of English society in the first half of the 20th century and its savagery. There is comedy, there is poignancy, there is tragedy; at times you can't believe the gall of the characters (one in particular who shall remain nameless to prevent spoilers).
The final chapters read more like a short story than a part of the preceding text; I was interested to read that Waugh actually started writing this novel backwards, starting with the ending and then working back. The imagery reminded me very much of another author's work (again I won't say which one, because it would give the storyline away).
It's so hard to extol the virtues of this book without giving away spoilers or launching into a PhD type analysis, but what I will say is that I absolutely loved it, and highly recommend anyone to read it. Some of the terminology within the novel is nowadays deemed as being 'offensive' or 'not politically correct', (especially in the final third of the book) but while uncomfortable to read, it is worth remembering that in Waugh's day, it was not seen to be such.
I was expecting to like this book, because I really enjoyed Brideshead Revisited, but this was such a pain to get through. There were some funny moments, but overall it so dull and depressing that it took me longer to read this 200-something page book than it's taken me to read books over 1000 pages long.
There were also a number of anti-semitic comments, which I wasn't too happy about. I know they're in practically every book published before WWII (not an exaggeration, I've been keeping track), but it doesn't make them any easier to read.
I had planned on reading more of Waugh's books in the future, but I don't think I'm going to be doing that now.
Let me get the difficult part out of the way and say I didn't get. Maybe it's because this is my first read through and this is an intellectual master piece requiring a second comb over. I assume the banality of it all is a commentary on high society. I'm scrutinizing the title and politely nodding my head as if this all makes sense. What does "A Handful of Dust" mean? Can it refer to our mortality? What is the symbolism of dust and the small quantity of it?
What I really want to do is find a cheatsheet online that will offer me the perfect interpretation so that I get the best reading experience. But no, I will try to scrape together some kind of meaningful substance. Is it the general apathy all of the characters adopt the point? The burdensome boredom of wealth and excess? Of arbitrary rules alluding to the absurdism life governs us?
Reading this was an exercise in slowly walking down the corridors of a contemporary art museum and attempting to make the best of the visuals. I don't mind and if would love to revisit this again when I'm better prepared. While I get an inkling that I missed a lot. From Brenda and Tony's lackluster relationship, the casual death of a child, and the ways people are interchangeable. I want to say I enjoy this book but it really feels like work reading it.
Love the pattern and the way the title molds itself into the phone. Other editions have more or less followed a certain theme. I prefer the 1977 edition as well that holds a modicum of humor to them as well.
A very well-written satirical plot line that effectively captures the juxtaposition between the rural and glorified life of the past and the more modern London lifestyle. The ending was executed brilliantly and was incredibly thought provoking! Can’t wait to read more of Waugh in the future.
A story of selfishness and cruelty, as Mrs Last begins to have an affair with a financially broke young man. She thinks of nothing of having the affair and then of funding the relationship by asking for alimony from a hoped for divorce, even if it means demanding her husband, Tony Last, to sell his beloved house to pay for it. In response, Tony decides to take an ill-fated trip to the Amazon.
After reading, I put down the book and thought, "Wow. I don't even know how to respond to this." I still don't really, beyond a general sense of enjoyment. The story unfolds in crisp straightforward prose that doesn't linger on emotional reasoning. It's never really clear why characters make the decisions they make (except maybe in the case of Tony); they just simply announce they want to do something and then do it. I wouldn't say that I liked any of the characters, but the scenes were often funny and the book was an easy read. Also, Tony Last's fate was so terrifying as to actually give me chills. It was totally unexpected and really made the book something more than just a wryly humorous story about marriage and divorce. I'm still thinking about it.
I went into it knowing it was a satire and having read a blurb. I feel it's important to know the novel was meant as a satire otherwise some scenes, characters behaviour is pure madness or circus performance or both. Yes, it's exagerrated, but on point. The ending was not satisfactory, but I cannot think of any other that would make sense to the characters. It's all just "that's a life for you!" kind of thing.
One doesn't need to know much about the era the novel is set in (I don't) to see the satire of things. I think that only speaks how universal the story is, and how despite the passage of time some social issues are still relatable and don't require lengthy lectures in order to understand them.
The satire felt too pointed for me. The characters are all silly and involved in their own worlds, but I still felt for them. The ending was just so tragic, I really couldn't stand it.
