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summermsmith 's review for:
Gaudy Night
by Dorothy L. Sayers
This was a meaty book. I honestly don’t know that I would’ve been motivated to finish it, if I hadn’t been listening to The Literary Life Podcast discuss it, and the fact that it fits in a category for a book challenge I’m doing. ☺️
This is a mystery but with two separate story lines. One is Harriet coming back to Oxford and seeing what seemingly can only be two veins for her future. The scholarly or getting married. Is there such a thing as both? How does that happen?! This is discussed through out the book by running into various old colleagues. Harriet is trying to consider or deny her love for Lord Peter and what type of life does she really want? Themes are discussed about can there be intellectual equals in a marriage? how does a marriage work? what is sacrificed? on and on. It is fascinating. Harriet has to come to terms with what she wants and what is her future.
Then there is the crime of someone trying to convince the women at Oxford that they are no good in the intellectual life, etc.
Of course Lord Peter comes to help shed some light on both veins of the story. I really appreciated the references to The Taming of the Shrew.
Also, what was brought out about the counterpart in the music. That there are two voices to the music that are separate in themselves but when they come together, they make any even better piece of music. What a metaphor!! A beautiful one for marriage. A marriage evenly-yoked. 💕
I will say all of the references that were given mostly went over my head and this has shown me yet again the lack I have in my reading and how much more growth I can have. Which is depressing somewhat but also encouraging. After a bit of time it will be fun to go back and reread this when I have finished reading all of the books in the series.
This is a mystery but with two separate story lines. One is Harriet coming back to Oxford and seeing what seemingly can only be two veins for her future. The scholarly or getting married. Is there such a thing as both? How does that happen?! This is discussed through out the book by running into various old colleagues. Harriet is trying to consider or deny her love for Lord Peter and what type of life does she really want? Themes are discussed about can there be intellectual equals in a marriage? how does a marriage work? what is sacrificed? on and on. It is fascinating. Harriet has to come to terms with what she wants and what is her future.
Then there is the crime of someone trying to convince the women at Oxford that they are no good in the intellectual life, etc.
Of course Lord Peter comes to help shed some light on both veins of the story. I really appreciated the references to The Taming of the Shrew.
Also, what was brought out about the counterpart in the music. That there are two voices to the music that are separate in themselves but when they come together, they make any even better piece of music. What a metaphor!! A beautiful one for marriage. A marriage evenly-yoked. 💕
I will say all of the references that were given mostly went over my head and this has shown me yet again the lack I have in my reading and how much more growth I can have. Which is depressing somewhat but also encouraging. After a bit of time it will be fun to go back and reread this when I have finished reading all of the books in the series.