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lj_crook 's review for:
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
by Muriel Spark
This is an odd but remarkable read. Spark captures the childs-eye view of the world perfectly while also treating us to a brilliantly witty narrative voice. There is something almost 'stand-up comedy'-esque about her use of repetition when describing the girls that make up the Brodie set: "Rose, who was famous for sex", "Mary MacGregor, with only two eyes, a nose and a mouth". This, combined with the smart and well-executed jumping around in time, makes the slim novel well worth a read.
I read this at University the first time around, and found myself focusing more on the political elements (Miss Brodie's views of Mussolini's Italy etc), but re-reading for an office book club brought out different elements. This time, the conversation centred much more about what teaching should be and how much a teacher's own character should shape the class. Even today there are pertinent questions about the potential abuses of power that teaching affords, yet it is also clear that teachers need the freedom (and power) to inspire children - I'm sure everyone who has at least one teacher who changed the trajectory of their life with a particular question, observation or topic. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie will bring those memories rushing to the surface.
I read this at University the first time around, and found myself focusing more on the political elements (Miss Brodie's views of Mussolini's Italy etc), but re-reading for an office book club brought out different elements. This time, the conversation centred much more about what teaching should be and how much a teacher's own character should shape the class. Even today there are pertinent questions about the potential abuses of power that teaching affords, yet it is also clear that teachers need the freedom (and power) to inspire children - I'm sure everyone who has at least one teacher who changed the trajectory of their life with a particular question, observation or topic. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie will bring those memories rushing to the surface.