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A review by kathleenitpdx
Eva Trout by Elizabeth Bowen
4.0
The blurb on the edition of this book I have says "Bowen is magnificent when she writes about...ambiguity" (Margaret Drabble). Ambiguity is right! The reader has no idea what is going on in the first scene. Each passing scene becomes a bit clearer until the last scene is crystal clear. But the whole book leaves you with a thousand unanswered questions. And, yet, the questions are not as demanding as you would have guessed half way through.
A young woman (Eva Trout), who grew up motherless and was dragged around the world by her father, who has now also died, is living with a former teacher and her husband in a small English village. She will soon take control of her considerable fortune. But how does someone who has grown up without family or affection find either?
Bowen's dialog is very stilted. Philosophy professors may write letters that sound like the one in the book but I don't think that English people spoke this way in the 60's.
A young woman (Eva Trout), who grew up motherless and was dragged around the world by her father, who has now also died, is living with a former teacher and her husband in a small English village. She will soon take control of her considerable fortune. But how does someone who has grown up without family or affection find either?
Bowen's dialog is very stilted. Philosophy professors may write letters that sound like the one in the book but I don't think that English people spoke this way in the 60's.