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A review by kbkittyb
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
3.0
I'm embarrassed to say this short book took me a while to read. But I can't quite put my finger on why. A good book, it just didn't seem to thoroughly engage my interest.
But in essence the story is a good one. None of the characters are particularly likeable, in fact, there are a few that I openly despise. And in all honesty, the book doesn't really end 'happily' for any of them. Despite Miss Brodie's unconventional influence over them, most of the 'Brodie set' live out very traditional lives for the time. Namely, marriage. Largely unhappily so.
And throughout, the reader's initial love for the eccentric Miss Brodie is slowly stripped away in the same way as it does for many of the girls she influenced. There is a massive sense of disappointment by the end of the book, for many reasons.
Unlike others, I do not view this book as a comedy. If anything it is satire. Miss Brodie's unhealthy control over her students creates a general sense on unease, particularly towards the end of the book.
This book of unhealthy juvenile loyalty has left me a little sad and jaded. And more than a little confused - the arrangement between Miss Brodie, Teddy Lloyd and the Brodie set is one that I will never be able to get my head around.
Overall, a good, easy read with some interesting characters.
But in essence the story is a good one. None of the characters are particularly likeable, in fact, there are a few that I openly despise. And in all honesty, the book doesn't really end 'happily' for any of them. Despite Miss Brodie's unconventional influence over them, most of the 'Brodie set' live out very traditional lives for the time. Namely, marriage. Largely unhappily so.
And throughout, the reader's initial love for the eccentric Miss Brodie is slowly stripped away in the same way as it does for many of the girls she influenced. There is a massive sense of disappointment by the end of the book, for many reasons.
Unlike others, I do not view this book as a comedy. If anything it is satire. Miss Brodie's unhealthy control over her students creates a general sense on unease, particularly towards the end of the book.
This book of unhealthy juvenile loyalty has left me a little sad and jaded. And more than a little confused - the arrangement between Miss Brodie, Teddy Lloyd and the Brodie set is one that I will never be able to get my head around.
Overall, a good, easy read with some interesting characters.