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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
One of Mary Renault's books that isn't set in Ancient Greece.
I'm not going to lie, I really enjoyed this one. No cliches. It's a very subtle and human story about Odell, a young soldier wounded at Dunkirk recovering at a country hospital. Unbeknownst to his fellow soldiers, Odell is gay (and rather nervous about letting it slip). Renault takes us into Odell's head without making anything heavy-handed. He is conscious of how to speak in a "straight" manner, he worries about sleep-talking and covering slips of the tongue (e.g. when a boat picks him up at Dunkirk, he is half-conscious and accidentally flirts with his rescuer, then has to laugh and not correct anyone when his friends joke that he was so confused he took a bearded man for a woman...).
The resolution is a little frustrating but I can't say it disappointed. It's frustrating because that's how Odell feels in the end. He can hardly ever be himself, and when he finds one person with whom he can be honest he inevitably hides a different part of himself. With Andrew the Quaker/conscientious objector, he can have a (sort of?) platonic relationship where Andrew apparently doesn't (or won't) realize that he, too, is gay. But with an older flame, Odell can become equals with someone he once idolized. Basically this is a love triangle, but not so much between humans as between two different approaches to love: secret in the outside world, or open in an underground world. I suppose that Odell makes the best of his situation and period, even if I'm inclined to find his treatment of Andrew a little patronizing.
Recommended for anyone who wants a WWII period romance set with a protagonist navigating two worlds (while also trying to adjust to life after a severe physical injury and witnessing war).
I'm not going to lie, I really enjoyed this one. No cliches. It's a very subtle and human story about Odell, a young soldier wounded at Dunkirk recovering at a country hospital. Unbeknownst to his fellow soldiers, Odell is gay (and rather nervous about letting it slip). Renault takes us into Odell's head without making anything heavy-handed. He is conscious of how to speak in a "straight" manner, he worries about sleep-talking and covering slips of the tongue (e.g. when a boat picks him up at Dunkirk, he is half-conscious and accidentally flirts with his rescuer, then has to laugh and not correct anyone when his friends joke that he was so confused he took a bearded man for a woman...).
The resolution is a little frustrating but I can't say it disappointed. It's frustrating because that's how Odell feels in the end. He can hardly ever be himself, and when he finds one person with whom he can be honest he inevitably hides a different part of himself. With Andrew the Quaker/conscientious objector, he can have a (sort of?) platonic relationship where Andrew apparently doesn't (or won't) realize that he, too, is gay. But with an older flame, Odell can become equals with someone he once idolized. Basically this is a love triangle, but not so much between humans as between two different approaches to love: secret in the outside world, or open in an underground world.
Recommended for anyone who wants a WWII period romance set with a protagonist navigating two worlds (while also trying to adjust to life after a severe physical injury and witnessing war).
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Where do I even start? The Charioteer is delicate, emotional, nuanced and insightful. Each exchange between characters is charged with hidden meanings and sexual/romantic tension, and I feel like I've read the book twice already with how much I had to go back to read a conversation a second, third or even fourth time.
I identified so much with Laurie throughout the story. I particularly enjoyed his views on the gay community in the 40s, many of which I found applicable to the lgbt community today.With him, I slowly fell in love with Andrew and his innocence, the purity of his affection. And still, I couldn't write off Ralph, who feels inevitable from the start.
I don't want to let go of these characters. I suspect I'll carry them with me for a long time.
I identified so much with Laurie throughout the story. I particularly enjoyed his views on the gay community in the 40s, many of which I found applicable to the lgbt community today.
I don't want to let go of these characters. I suspect I'll carry them with me for a long time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Suicide
Minor: Medical content
My heart. Is it still there? Because I feel like someone tore it out and stomped on it.
I stayed up way later than I usually do, last night, to finish this, because I couldn't wait any longer. The intense and emotional turmoil inside of me started with Andrew's letter and followed through to the end.
It wasn't until I finished, and turned off the lights to go to sleep, that I realized what I had been holding in. And I cried for a few minutes: for the story, for the beautiful writing, for the characters.
The story was subtle and slow-moving; romantic and emotional. I can't stop thinking about it.
I stayed up way later than I usually do, last night, to finish this, because I couldn't wait any longer. The intense and emotional turmoil inside of me started with Andrew's letter and followed through to the end.
It wasn't until I finished, and turned off the lights to go to sleep, that I realized what I had been holding in. And I cried for a few minutes: for the story, for the beautiful writing, for the characters.
The story was subtle and slow-moving; romantic and emotional. I can't stop thinking about it.
This book was a real discovery. Written in 1953, it’s a gentle and romantic story of discovery, affection and love. Written by a lady that has developed a lot of experience in historic novels. What is very specific however is that the writer is a woman. And she described the love of a man for another man. Read with today’s eyes the story is almost too simplistic sometime. But again, the perspective of the time when it was written (as well as the time of narration, during WWII), just makes this an amazing piece to read, creating a story that is both fresh and romantic. Definitely a great discovery!
I got this book dramatically knocked out of my hands and sent flying down a tube carriage while reading it on my commute, which is the most avant-garde book criticism I've ever expected (or a guy with an over-excited laptop bag, your pick). The guy sitting next to me joked that he thought the book was over-rated after witnessing this. My dude, this book is severely underrated, and I'm glad I wasn't reading the last hundred pages on my commute because it kicked my ass.
An incredible book. Dangerous to read in public. Read it and read between the lines.
An incredible book. Dangerous to read in public. Read it and read between the lines.
From BBC Radio 4 - Book at the Bedtime:
Mary Renault's moving postwar novel. Abridged by Eileen Horne. Read by Anton Lesser
Mary Renault's moving postwar novel. Abridged by Eileen Horne. Read by Anton Lesser
this is very good but corona stole all my brain cells so i'm gonna come back to this another time
significantly excellent.
in some passages so stunningly real and identifiable i found myself experiencing things that had happened to me in nearly the same way, as if for the first time.
i feel like i already knew everyone i met in this book.
definitive. absolutely definitive.
discussion with author alexis hall: http://www.prismbookalliance.com/2014/12/tea-time-with-alexis-j-hall-and-friends-special-guests-julio-alexi-genao/
in some passages so stunningly real and identifiable i found myself experiencing things that had happened to me in nearly the same way, as if for the first time.
i feel like i already knew everyone i met in this book.
definitive. absolutely definitive.
discussion with author alexis hall: http://www.prismbookalliance.com/2014/12/tea-time-with-alexis-j-hall-and-friends-special-guests-julio-alexi-genao/