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samstillreading's review against another edition
5.0
Graham Swift has a wonderful way with words, creating characters and scenarios artfully from just the minimum. Over the course of Mothering Sunday, he reveals how one day shaped the life of Jane Fairchild, gradually revealing the rest of her life in this novella.
On the exceptionally warm and sunny day in March, Jane is a servant for the Nivens, a couple who lost their sons during the Great War. Mothering Sunday is a ‘day off’ (post breakfast and before dinner) for the servants, an opportunity to visit their own mothers. For Jane, that’s not possible as she’s an orphan. Her plans are to find somewhere quiet and sunny and read one of the books from the Niven’s library (with permission of course, Mr Niven is supportive of Jane’s reading). But a phone call to the house beckons her to ride to her lover’s house, where he is alone. Paul is about to marry someone else, and Jane is not quite sad, not quite envious. She’s curious as to what Paul’s fiancé Emma is like and fairly accepting of the class differences between them. Afterwards, Paul must meet his fiancé for lunch but tells Jane to stay in the house as long as she likes. Big houses don’t really hold an allure for her, so she returns to the Nivens early, only to meet Mr Niven. A shocking thing has happened, and knocks both of them for six. In a way, this defines a turning point in Jane’s life and sets her towards becoming a writer.
Jane’s future is gradually revealed over the course of the novel, first via a sentence here and there until it takes over the last part of the novella. It’s in contrast to the slow, lazy morning of that day and its shocking conclusion. Piecing together Jane’s life over the novel was fun, as was languishing over each of Swift’s sentences. He captures the melancholy post-war as well as the change in the air as the end draws near for big houses and servants. It’s beautifully constructed, creating emotion through experience of one woman’s eyes. This is the kind of novel that makes a reader’s heart sing.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
On the exceptionally warm and sunny day in March, Jane is a servant for the Nivens, a couple who lost their sons during the Great War. Mothering Sunday is a ‘day off’ (post breakfast and before dinner) for the servants, an opportunity to visit their own mothers. For Jane, that’s not possible as she’s an orphan. Her plans are to find somewhere quiet and sunny and read one of the books from the Niven’s library (with permission of course, Mr Niven is supportive of Jane’s reading). But a phone call to the house beckons her to ride to her lover’s house, where he is alone. Paul is about to marry someone else, and Jane is not quite sad, not quite envious. She’s curious as to what Paul’s fiancé Emma is like and fairly accepting of the class differences between them. Afterwards, Paul must meet his fiancé for lunch but tells Jane to stay in the house as long as she likes. Big houses don’t really hold an allure for her, so she returns to the Nivens early, only to meet Mr Niven. A shocking thing has happened, and knocks both of them for six. In a way, this defines a turning point in Jane’s life and sets her towards becoming a writer.
Jane’s future is gradually revealed over the course of the novel, first via a sentence here and there until it takes over the last part of the novella. It’s in contrast to the slow, lazy morning of that day and its shocking conclusion. Piecing together Jane’s life over the novel was fun, as was languishing over each of Swift’s sentences. He captures the melancholy post-war as well as the change in the air as the end draws near for big houses and servants. It’s beautifully constructed, creating emotion through experience of one woman’s eyes. This is the kind of novel that makes a reader’s heart sing.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
kay_ness's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully and economically written, this deceptively simple story left me with a lot to think about about identity and truth.
lottiemorton's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
yy71's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
lory_elizabeth's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
sandysmith's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I can see that this is a beautifully written prose, thankfully short novella, but for me, there was too much about the semen on the sheets, and frankly, who cares. The book is about a Mothering Sunday 30th March 1924 where the servants are given the day off to visit their mother's and the upper classes fend for themselves. Orphaned Jane Fairchild has the day off but no mother to visit. There are 2 houses nearby, the Nivens who Jane is a maid for and has permission to use their library, and the Sheringhams. Both houses have tragedies with "children" not returning from the great war. Paul Sheringham and Jane have had a situationship for 7 years, and Paul is due to marry another of his upper class more suitable for him. However, they use the day as a final hurrah before his marriage. The language may be a bit risqué for some, but I didn't mind it as it was contextual. It was so beautifully written but not for me. It's labelled a romance, but it really isn't, it's about 2 individuals having sex, and him leaving her to let herself out. Much is made of the sheets in the book, but I simply didn't care. I didn't warm to Jane initially, but I did like her in later life reflecting back. A mixed bag for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Sexual content, and Infidelity
Moderate: Classism and Grief
saleesi's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
kingarooski's review against another edition
4.0
There's a nice rhythm to the writing and the reveal comes at the right time, after just enough foreshadowing and teasing. A good read.
ornery_librarian's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
3.0
Quick read. A woman reflects on a specific day where she meets her lover on their last day together as he is getting married. He ends up dying in a car accident that afternoon. She reflects on their day and her life after in a quick, but prose filled way.
angsgc's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0