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A review by mariebrunelm
Poussière by Rosamond Lehmann
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
In the quiet English countryside, the children of two families grow side by side. On one side of the hedge is Judith, an only child longing for connection, and on the other are the Fyfe children, four boys and a girl who are often happy to invite Judith to play with them. As they grow older, the dynamics of the group keep shifting, and when feelings come into play, things are bound to get complicated.
I had this book on my radar for the longest time, as I was drawn to its supposedly elegant prose and English-countryside setting. It lived up to this part of the bargain, and added the even better perks of a Cambridge section when the main character goes to university, and queer vibes. It is indeed quite clear that the heroin is bisexual. Even with the flowery 1920s prose, there is little doubt, which made things a lot more interesting than I'd anticipated. That being said, I didn’t find the book thrilling. It is quite elegant and contemplative, yes, but it deals heavily with the main character's inner turmoils and psychology. Though I praise the book for it, it’s not a type of literature I'm particularly fond of. I loved the setting and the queerness, but of course the book remained a product of its time and there were a couple of uncomfortable paragraphs (just a couple, fortunately. But oh boy you’d better not be anything other than pretty or you’ll be the scum of society). All in all, it was a very slow book, with exquisite descriptions of atmosphere but little plot.
Bonus point for a vintage copy that smells just like the books at my grandparents’ house.
I had this book on my radar for the longest time, as I was drawn to its supposedly elegant prose and English-countryside setting. It lived up to this part of the bargain, and added the even better perks of a Cambridge section when the main character goes to university, and queer vibes. It is indeed quite clear that the heroin is bisexual. Even with the flowery 1920s prose, there is little doubt, which made things a lot more interesting than I'd anticipated. That being said, I didn’t find the book thrilling. It is quite elegant and contemplative, yes, but it deals heavily with the main character's inner turmoils and psychology. Though I praise the book for it, it’s not a type of literature I'm particularly fond of. I loved the setting and the queerness, but of course the book remained a product of its time and there were a couple of uncomfortable paragraphs (just a couple, fortunately. But oh boy you’d better not be anything other than pretty or you’ll be the scum of society). All in all, it was a very slow book, with exquisite descriptions of atmosphere but little plot.
Bonus point for a vintage copy that smells just like the books at my grandparents’ house.