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A review by jessreadthis
The Victorian Chaise-Longue by Marghanita Laski
4.0
Will you give me your word of honour, " said Melanie, "that I am not going to die"
As first lines go, I found this one to be utterly intriguing. The rest of the novel continued to intrigue to the point of filling up 4-5 pages and notes for bookclub discussion. I loved Laski's writing and how little tidbits in part two were nods to part one. Her first line sets a tone of ominous foreboding. She wove the entire story together in a tapestry filled with prose, anxiety, religious musings, and the utter despair of waking up entrapped in another's body with your mind actively knowing who you are. And yet, there is no escape. The novel really read like a slow burn for me. The reader is slowly learning who Milly is right along with Melanie, as we are privy to Mellie's thoughts and emotions the entire time in Part Two. Laski slowly unravels the plot, the helplessness, the despair in turning to religion for saving and being let down, and ultimately the need for one to save oneself. But has it been too late? Just incredibly beautifully written and I have a bit of research to do in numerology as I have a hunch this is a layered novel with more meanings to it than what meet the eye.
Quotes I loved: and warning they are spoilery. Writing them here so I can remember them.
"And as she lay there, so nearly, so nearly asleep, she was unthinkingly aware of the sky, and the flowers, and the music, of sun-warmed air on her body that was at last sure of the happiness to come. Time died away, the solitary burden of human life was transformed into glory, and Melanie, withdrawn into ecstasy fell asleep. "
"and at last, there was nothing but darkness, and in the darkness the ecstasy, and after the ecstasy, death and life"
As first lines go, I found this one to be utterly intriguing. The rest of the novel continued to intrigue to the point of filling up 4-5 pages and notes for bookclub discussion. I loved Laski's writing and how little tidbits in part two were nods to part one. Her first line sets a tone of ominous foreboding. She wove the entire story together in a tapestry filled with prose, anxiety, religious musings, and the utter despair of waking up entrapped in another's body with your mind actively knowing who you are. And yet, there is no escape. The novel really read like a slow burn for me. The reader is slowly learning who Milly is right along with Melanie, as we are privy to Mellie's thoughts and emotions the entire time in Part Two. Laski slowly unravels the plot, the helplessness, the despair in turning to religion for saving and being let down, and ultimately the need for one to save oneself. But has it been too late? Just incredibly beautifully written and I have a bit of research to do in numerology as I have a hunch this is a layered novel with more meanings to it than what meet the eye.
Quotes I loved: and warning they are spoilery. Writing them here so I can remember them.
"And as she lay there, so nearly, so nearly asleep, she was unthinkingly aware of the sky, and the flowers, and the music, of sun-warmed air on her body that was at last sure of the happiness to come. Time died away, the solitary burden of human life was transformed into glory, and Melanie, withdrawn into ecstasy fell asleep. "
"and at last, there was nothing but darkness, and in the darkness the ecstasy, and after the ecstasy, death and life"