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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Superb writing. A dark, thought-provoking read, with Muriel Spark's usual dry wit.
I feel somewhat compelled to like this book because it's a classic, but I just can't.
The title character is polarizing and powerful, but unlikeable. I could tolerate that, but the characters didn't inspire me with any depth. Each time the author introduces the students, she includes characteristics—labels, rather—that are both very one-dimensional and repetitive. I couldn't entrench my self in this story, but rather felt like I was relegated to watching it from far, far away.
Too many meaningless rabbit trails, and too few developed characters for my liking. For being such a short book, I had a very difficult time finishing it.
The title character is polarizing and powerful, but unlikeable. I could tolerate that, but the characters didn't inspire me with any depth. Each time the author introduces the students, she includes characteristics—labels, rather—that are both very one-dimensional and repetitive. I couldn't entrench my self in this story, but rather felt like I was relegated to watching it from far, far away.
Too many meaningless rabbit trails, and too few developed characters for my liking. For being such a short book, I had a very difficult time finishing it.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
relaxing
fast-paced
medium-paced
I fear Miss Brodie is the definition of Girlboss, Gatekeep, Gaslight, in the worst (that is to say, most interesting) way.
A book that follows a fascist, narcissistic, manipulative,grooming teacher that becomes a close mentor for a group of elementary schoolers until they reach adulthood. Enamored loyalty is followed closely by later disgust as the narrator turns from devoted disciple to a scorned Judas. We witness a slow fall from grace.
This was such a last-minute pick-up. I loved the time skips, to see the scenes repeated once the time had caught up gave me goosebumps. I was disgusted but so deeply compelled to see it through. Love a weird lil gross disgusting book.
A book that follows a fascist, narcissistic, manipulative,
This was such a last-minute pick-up. I loved the time skips, to see the scenes repeated once the time had caught up gave me goosebumps. I was disgusted but so deeply compelled to see it through. Love a weird lil gross disgusting book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Lesbophobia
“You little girls… must be on alert to recognize your prime at whatever time of your life it may occur. You must then live it to the full.”
Such is the opening pages of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, an entertaining, and slim, novel of Miss Brodie dropping knowledge on the arts and education and a lot/little bit of her own story as well.
I admittedly read this book for two reasons: I was falling behind on my book goal (already) and this book is only 140 pages; and the book made it on Time Magazine’s top 100 English-speaking novels between 1923-2005. The book for me was good, an easy read, and a good teaching/education book that also touches a good deal on childhood innocence and growing up and coming to age.
The characterization of the Brodie set, her six students, and how each of them has her own personality, distinction and view of Miss Brodie. The book also goes through great pain to go back and forth between timelines, reminding us of each of the six girls as women, and working in a beautiful, clear timeline that allows us to reflect on the course of each life and the turns each life takes.
Perhaps best done is the way Spark speaks to memory. Though Jean Brodie is first introduced as a progressive teacher, we quickly find out the delusional aspects that shape each student’s memories. The more we learn of Brodie, the less sympathy we have for her.
The double love story with both teachers is interesting, how she was forced to retire is too, but what really stuck me is how the novel humanizes Brodie by the end, taking this larger-than-life and impactful figure and making her just like everyone else, with a high tendency for judgment, arrogance and gossip. Just as we romanticize memories of our childhood, so too is Brodie romanticized, so that upon further reflection, we see more clearly into her character. The dilemma lies in the unfair push to retirement, and the somewhat relationships that Brodie has with these young students.
The book is also an interesting meditation on the teachings of Jesus and Christianity, specifically in the canonization of his word, his relationship with his disciples and the ultimate betrayal that seals his fate. Perhaps that’s taking the metaphor too far, but it’s certainly hard not to think of those terms, and how religion shapes people, though its messenger may deserve more scrutiny and criticism, than the praise so embodied in our memories and our lives that we fail to analyze it.
Such is the opening pages of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, an entertaining, and slim, novel of Miss Brodie dropping knowledge on the arts and education and a lot/little bit of her own story as well.
I admittedly read this book for two reasons: I was falling behind on my book goal (already) and this book is only 140 pages; and the book made it on Time Magazine’s top 100 English-speaking novels between 1923-2005. The book for me was good, an easy read, and a good teaching/education book that also touches a good deal on childhood innocence and growing up and coming to age.
The characterization of the Brodie set, her six students, and how each of them has her own personality, distinction and view of Miss Brodie. The book also goes through great pain to go back and forth between timelines, reminding us of each of the six girls as women, and working in a beautiful, clear timeline that allows us to reflect on the course of each life and the turns each life takes.
Perhaps best done is the way Spark speaks to memory. Though Jean Brodie is first introduced as a progressive teacher, we quickly find out the delusional aspects that shape each student’s memories. The more we learn of Brodie, the less sympathy we have for her.
The double love story with both teachers is interesting, how she was forced to retire is too, but what really stuck me is how the novel humanizes Brodie by the end, taking this larger-than-life and impactful figure and making her just like everyone else, with a high tendency for judgment, arrogance and gossip. Just as we romanticize memories of our childhood, so too is Brodie romanticized, so that upon further reflection, we see more clearly into her character. The dilemma lies in the unfair push to retirement, and the somewhat relationships that Brodie has with these young students.
The book is also an interesting meditation on the teachings of Jesus and Christianity, specifically in the canonization of his word, his relationship with his disciples and the ultimate betrayal that seals his fate. Perhaps that’s taking the metaphor too far, but it’s certainly hard not to think of those terms, and how religion shapes people, though its messenger may deserve more scrutiny and criticism, than the praise so embodied in our memories and our lives that we fail to analyze it.
This is a book as chosen by the reading group. I have read it before some 15 or 16 years ago, and remember enjoying it then and so looked forward to rereading it.
The writing is excellent, it flowed easily and the language was exquisite. It was easy to sit and be transported to 1930’s Edinburgh. Jean Brodie is an unorthodox teacher, who challenges authority., with authority trying to quash her. She has some modern views and her politics are questionable, but I think at times misguided, supporting causes which seem at odds to her lifestyle.
There are other books by Muriel Spark in my copy, I will see if I can squeeze another one in before returning the book.
The writing is excellent, it flowed easily and the language was exquisite. It was easy to sit and be transported to 1930’s Edinburgh. Jean Brodie is an unorthodox teacher, who challenges authority., with authority trying to quash her. She has some modern views and her politics are questionable, but I think at times misguided, supporting causes which seem at odds to her lifestyle.
There are other books by Muriel Spark in my copy, I will see if I can squeeze another one in before returning the book.