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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I find Muriel Spark a fascinating writer.
The first reason is that her books always seem somewhat at the edge of being ‘proper’ books. She seems most comfortable introducing a group of characters and then have the reader observe them for a period of time. It’s not to say that things don’t happen but these things tend not to be a plot as such, merely a few events designed to get the characters moving about, like a kid poking a stick in an ant’s nest.
The books of hers I have most enjoyed were tighter and had distinctive main characters, the more ensemble pieces like The Bachelors I found less engaging. Memento Mori is another ensemble piece but, I think, motivated by some stronger ideas than The Bachelors.
The book is about old age and death. Each of the characters are a long way past their prime and each begins to find themselves being called by a mysterious voice who reminds them that they were die. Each character hears the voice differently; some hear a male, others female, some hear an old person and others young. They also react differently, from fear to indifference. And that’s about it.
One of the things that I like about Muriel Spark is that she is never sentimental (which is not to say I dislike sentimentality, but not having it works for Spark). There are no ‘good’ characters here. They may be old but they are still venial, lusty, selfish and jealous. Miss Pettigrew the maid is still scheming after fortunes, husbands and wives still keep secrets and jealousies, the fights that defined their lives so far are not over. One of the nastiest (and funniest) things about the book is how the characters all pay strict attention to each other’s health. It’s like health is the final currency that all the characters deal in and they take great delight when someone becomes more decrepit than them.
This is not a cosy book, nor is it easy to digest. There’s not really anyone to root for, nor is there anything really to root about - it’s just a group of people falling apart slowly in front of each other, keeping scores over who’s going first. The last page of the book is like the scoresheet, declaring who died and how.
The first reason is that her books always seem somewhat at the edge of being ‘proper’ books. She seems most comfortable introducing a group of characters and then have the reader observe them for a period of time. It’s not to say that things don’t happen but these things tend not to be a plot as such, merely a few events designed to get the characters moving about, like a kid poking a stick in an ant’s nest.
The books of hers I have most enjoyed were tighter and had distinctive main characters, the more ensemble pieces like The Bachelors I found less engaging. Memento Mori is another ensemble piece but, I think, motivated by some stronger ideas than The Bachelors.
The book is about old age and death. Each of the characters are a long way past their prime and each begins to find themselves being called by a mysterious voice who reminds them that they were die. Each character hears the voice differently; some hear a male, others female, some hear an old person and others young. They also react differently, from fear to indifference. And that’s about it.
One of the things that I like about Muriel Spark is that she is never sentimental (which is not to say I dislike sentimentality, but not having it works for Spark). There are no ‘good’ characters here. They may be old but they are still venial, lusty, selfish and jealous. Miss Pettigrew the maid is still scheming after fortunes, husbands and wives still keep secrets and jealousies, the fights that defined their lives so far are not over. One of the nastiest (and funniest) things about the book is how the characters all pay strict attention to each other’s health. It’s like health is the final currency that all the characters deal in and they take great delight when someone becomes more decrepit than them.
This is not a cosy book, nor is it easy to digest. There’s not really anyone to root for, nor is there anything really to root about - it’s just a group of people falling apart slowly in front of each other, keeping scores over who’s going first. The last page of the book is like the scoresheet, declaring who died and how.
funny
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
That ending was too clean for me personally, and I wish it was a little more fantastical, but I'm here for this book. It had a diverse and interesting cast of characters, and a clear message that I feel is potent no matter what age you are. A fun, quick read that was good to have as homework.
I hate how useless Olive was by the end of the novel. I wanted to learn more about her.
I hate how useless Olive was by the end of the novel. I wanted to learn more about her.
dark
mysterious
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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
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:
Yes
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced