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A review by ellingtonfeint
Lady Helen Finds Her Song by Jennifer Moore
5.0
This is a really special book, despite its size. Lady Helen's sweetness is impressive, and I like the way that although she feels like her kindness and naive wonder is a weakness, she actually has great strength. She often thinks what she says is foolish, but often it's exactly right.
And Captain Michael Rhodes is the embodiment of kindness and intelligence. As Helen feels completely at ease with him, so will readers. His is the view of India the this book portrays.
I think this book is similar to the BBC version of Wives and Daughters. Imagine if sweet Molly and boyish Roger had met in India and he had served several years there already and I think you might almost have this book.
It is very interesting to read a book like this, it is wholly English in perspective, and one of the main Indian characters is a prince who is too big for his boots and is shown to be weak yet bad tempered. Yet the book is completely in sympathy and awe of India itself. It is a conundrum I face myself, born in a beautiful land which I have no true ancestral ties to, which has been torn away by Europeans from Indigenous people, it is hard to know what is appreciation of an unfairly treated culture, and what is condescension and a tinted view.
But while unsettling to read a book that paints a beautiful portrait of India and its wonders with no Indian perspectives, it is nevertheless a glimpse into both English culture in India, as they strive to keep their rolling green hills and tasteless foods wherever they are, and Indian culture and the beauty of the country itself.
And Captain Michael Rhodes is the embodiment of kindness and intelligence. As Helen feels completely at ease with him, so will readers. His is the view of India the this book portrays.
I think this book is similar to the BBC version of Wives and Daughters. Imagine if sweet Molly and boyish Roger had met in India and he had served several years there already and I think you might almost have this book.
It is very interesting to read a book like this, it is wholly English in perspective, and one of the main Indian characters is a prince who is too big for his boots and is shown to be weak yet bad tempered. Yet the book is completely in sympathy and awe of India itself. It is a conundrum I face myself, born in a beautiful land which I have no true ancestral ties to, which has been torn away by Europeans from Indigenous people, it is hard to know what is appreciation of an unfairly treated culture, and what is condescension and a tinted view.
But while unsettling to read a book that paints a beautiful portrait of India and its wonders with no Indian perspectives, it is nevertheless a glimpse into both English culture in India, as they strive to keep their rolling green hills and tasteless foods wherever they are, and Indian culture and the beauty of the country itself.