A review by alundeberg
A Start in Life by Anita Brookner

4.0

It's not surprising that I would be intrigued by Ruth Weiss, the protagonist in Anita Brookner's "A Start in Life". She is an introverted, bookish only child and teacher whose life has been ruined by literature. She studies French authors and goes off to Paris and has a string of lovers (she and I diverge on that part). Now at forty years old, she is taking stock of her life and its various false starts. This novella is classic Brookner: everything happens, nothing happens. We are not even sure, after Ruth has reflected on her misadventures, if she will now pursue a new start in life, and Brookner leaves us with the question of if it's even worth it. Through the various female characters and their chosen careers or paths, their roles in life ultimately hinge on being a mother, wife, or daughter and the needs and expectations other people place on them. A life of freedom also means waiting around on men. I am making this book sound like a downer, but have you been a woman?

In all honesty, this a quietly sardonic and funny read. Brookner's eye for detail skewers society's mores and the illusions we have about ourselves versus the reality. Brookner might not be for everyone, but to read her work is to delight in fine and precise writing. I recommend.