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finnm4's review against another edition
3.0
Muriel Spark’s depiction of life in post-war England provides an excellent backdrop to a tale of female sexuality, identity formation and class relations. Introduction to the various characters at May of Teck Club, enables different sides of what it would have been like as a woman in post-war London and the different individuals are brought to life through everyday observations as well as a plot which has twists and turns. I enjoyed the story but felt it was a bit rushed, as plot points moved very fast with little development into the characters decision making. Whilst the characters were interesting, I felt that they were quite one dimensional, and very much a product of the time in which Muriel Spark was writing. So whilst this is interesting to understand the depiction of women in mid-20th century, it contrasts to ideals which are held by many today in their writing about women’s experiences. The use of time, and flash-forwards whilst interesting makes for confusing reading as I was unsure where each character was supposed to be. I would recommend this book to anyone who has read arguably her most famous novel The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, as it discusses similar themes that individuals might enjoy. Overall, a good book to read, but not sure it is one I would go back to soon.
nichecase's review against another edition
3.0
maybe this suffered from having read [b:An Experiment in Love|101926|An Experiment in Love|Hilary Mantel|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1312023506l/101926._SY75_.jpg|98267] immediately prior, but i never felt i had a proper grasp on the book. it's not that it was too complex; it's that it was too slight. i think i get what spark's intention was here - that knowing a person is impossible - but it didn't land for me.
ellastaps's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
aegagrus's review against another edition
4.0
Describing the schemes and exploits of various residents of a women's hostel in London in 1945, Spark writes with much humor but little malice. Although the young womens' plans and self-images are all somewhat fanciful -- the male characters' intellectual and political pretensions are equally so -- Spark is not satirizing the pettiness of their concerns but observing their lives with amusement and compassion. Alongside the author, we become interested in the ambiguous lives they lead as wartime draws to a close and Britain prepares for what is to come next.
Spark's trademark time-jumping is mostly used as an elegant frame-narrative and as a way to add flavor (and some retrospective sense of proportion) to a concise central narrative. When we eventually come to this narrative's tragic conclusion, further poignancy is added to the characters being depicted. We close with a quite compelling look at a kind of sincere but businesslike mourning which feels insightfully appropriate to the specific time and the specific place being depicted (that is, England in the year 1945).
The clever biblical allegory at play is thoughtfully done, although not heavy-handed enough to force itself upon the reader.
Spark's trademark time-jumping is mostly used as an elegant frame-narrative and as a way to add flavor (and some retrospective sense of proportion) to a concise central narrative. When we eventually come to this narrative's tragic conclusion, further poignancy is added to the characters being depicted. We close with a quite compelling look at a kind of sincere but businesslike mourning which feels insightfully appropriate to the specific time and the specific place being depicted (that is, England in the year 1945).
The clever biblical allegory at play is thoughtfully done, although not heavy-handed enough to force itself upon the reader.
m_e_d_b_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bon1bon1's review against another edition
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
2.0
libellum_aphrodite's review against another edition
2.0
Like Loitering with Intent, I found this one just bla. I didn't even bother finishing it. And I can't really be bothered to say more about it right now.
lelia_t's review against another edition
4.0
This is such a slim volume and seemingly straightforward, yet repetitions, foreshadowing and disruptions in time create a lively cadence that kept me on my toes. I imagine reading this is kind of like being introduced into the May of Teck Club among all the delightful, ingenious, movingly lovely and savage girls of slender means.
I loved these girls. I loved the casual way Spark defines their “savagery” - Joanna, for example, who loves poetry “rather as it might be assumed a cat loves birds.” These girls have survived the bombings and rationing in London - they aren’t sentimental or soft as they look toward their future prospects. Their transactional approach to relationships is as matter-of-fact as their understanding - down to a fraction of an inch - of the hip size required to slip through a small window onto the roof.
I found the book full of surprises, from phrases that got my attention to unexpected violence. It is a book I will read again and again, the text is so layered, with seemingly negligible details coming to resonate more deeply as the story progresses. I know there's a spiritual theme here - getting through the eye of the needle/slipping through the narrow window - but it hasn't landed yet. Maybe future rereading will help.
I loved these girls. I loved the casual way Spark defines their “savagery” - Joanna, for example, who loves poetry “rather as it might be assumed a cat loves birds.” These girls have survived the bombings and rationing in London - they aren’t sentimental or soft as they look toward their future prospects. Their transactional approach to relationships is as matter-of-fact as their understanding - down to a fraction of an inch - of the hip size required to slip through a small window onto the roof.
I found the book full of surprises, from phrases that got my attention to unexpected violence. It is a book I will read again and again, the text is so layered, with seemingly negligible details coming to resonate more deeply as the story progresses. I know there's a spiritual theme here - getting through the eye of the needle/slipping through the narrow window - but it hasn't landed yet. Maybe future rereading will help.
rachocambo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0