Scan barcode
A review by eshalliday
Delphi by Clare Pollard
2.0
Pollard’s language is astonishing; she has an almost alchemical way with words. They become slippery, her phrases so desirable that you imbibe her work like it's quenching a druth.
But this is an odd novel for me. As a Classicist: I feel so at home when the narrator is discussing Classics or putting into her own, quite Jenny-Offill-esque, words, excerpts from Classical texts; yet, I feel so uncomfortable when reading about the past two years of the still-unfolding Covid-19 pandemic.
I read contemporary fiction in order to switch off from the unpleasant parts of daily life, and take pleasure in escaping to the little universes that authors have created.
So, I chose 'Delphi', partly because of the staggeringly good cover, but primarily because I was drawn to the Classics element. However, after persevering for a good few chapters, I'm afraid I have to mark it as DNF. Maybe in who-knows-how-many-years, I would be able to revisit 'Delphi' again and enjoy Pollard's prose.
But right now, in our own pandemic misery, it's no escape or pleasure to me to read a fictional character's corresponding misery. I just can't bring myself to thole it all the way through.
Thank you to Penguin Random House UK. Regretfully, I did not finish the ARC generously provided through Netgalley.
But this is an odd novel for me. As a Classicist: I feel so at home when the narrator is discussing Classics or putting into her own, quite Jenny-Offill-esque, words, excerpts from Classical texts; yet, I feel so uncomfortable when reading about the past two years of the still-unfolding Covid-19 pandemic.
I read contemporary fiction in order to switch off from the unpleasant parts of daily life, and take pleasure in escaping to the little universes that authors have created.
So, I chose 'Delphi', partly because of the staggeringly good cover, but primarily because I was drawn to the Classics element. However, after persevering for a good few chapters, I'm afraid I have to mark it as DNF. Maybe in who-knows-how-many-years, I would be able to revisit 'Delphi' again and enjoy Pollard's prose.
But right now, in our own pandemic misery, it's no escape or pleasure to me to read a fictional character's corresponding misery. I just can't bring myself to thole it all the way through.
Thank you to Penguin Random House UK. Regretfully, I did not finish the ARC generously provided through Netgalley.