I am supposed to be reading “Wolf Hall” for my book group by the woman who is unreasonably winning every single literary prize in town at the moment – Hilary Mantel. I don’t agree with that – spread the awards out – not everyone wants to read a reality TV historical novel about Henry VIII and even worse, it’s a bloody trilogy so she’s not going anywhere in a hurry.
I have tried to read it – in my new full time working capacity I have lugged it to and from work on the train feeling like an idiot because a) it is too heavy to hold when I’m standing and b)it is hardback therefore I look a little bit of a twat. I have heard that all my other book group friends are loving it…..
SO.
Instead I have devoured every page of “The Lover” by Marguerite Duras who wrote the story of a very young French girl in Saigon in the 1930’s who shockingly met and started having an affair with a much older wealthy Chinese man. She writes beautifully and boldly about his love for her, the effect it had on her, her family, her life in general. Pared down. Succinct. Precise and wonderfully evocative. Summing up the feelings and the emotion of the day. Turns out it’s her story. That really did happen to her.
I absolutely loved it and even better, it is about a tenth or more of the size of “Wolf Hall”
Lori Hamilton
February 1, 2013I’m a new fan/follower. Love your blog. Did you read Memoirs of a Geisha? Great book.
Family Affairs
February 1, 2013Thank you and welcome – yes read that years ago – loved it too Lx
Anna
February 1, 2013Oh, The Lover…. Great book. Very honest. Very sexy. There is a good movie, too. At least the one I watched was good, there might be other ones.
With the historical drama, it’s funny. People go absolutely gaga for it. Meanwhile, I’m a huge history buff (geek, nerd), especially medieval history, but when a friend gave me a book by Kennet Follett (Pillars of the Earth) it lost me after a few hundred pages. I was falling asleep, literally.
I cautiously voiced my underwhelmed impression to the friend – he got quite offended. He thought this was the best thing ever. Desperately, I said: “Didn’t you find some of the sex scenes kind of crass? Not racy, but offensive, kind of. To a woman.” His reply: “My mother loved it!!!”
That put an end to our little book exchange.
Family Affairs
February 1, 2013Ha ha – but you will probably enjoy Wolf HAll then – my mother hasn’t read it!! Lx
Anna
February 1, 2013Thanks, I will check it out.
Family Affairs
February 3, 2013I suspect that you’re going to love it!! Lx
janelle
February 1, 2013that’s one of my most favourite books of all time…read The North Chinese Lover next…and Yann Andrea STeiner…the translations are the best i’ve ever read. i read most of Duras in French…and have also in English and not much is lost…I LOVE HER. amazing writer.
Family Affairs
February 1, 2013I think you were the one that put me on to her a long time ago – I noted you loved her….thank you for the recommendation Lx
Karin
February 1, 2013I wrote my college thesis on that book! Haven’t read it in many years – I might just pull it off the shelf.
Family Affairs
February 3, 2013Did you? Love to know what your college thesis concluded? Lx
Karin
February 4, 2013It was an exploration of women’s autobiography. I was sort of a rule breaker, as I used this novel/memoir, Doris Lessing’s The Golden Notebook, and The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein. None of these is actually an autobiography – which was my feminist point, that women tell their life stories in nontraditional ways, and that the traditional narrative form is confining/aggressive/what-have-you. It was 1990 and I loved to deconstruct stuff! – I probably missed a lot of the beauty of The Lover, to tell the truth, as I was so focused on my own narrative (oh, the irony). Must re-read!
Family Affairs
February 4, 2013Sounds so interesting – but read it again! Lx
Kath
February 1, 2013I’ll read The Lover next, that sounds more like my cup of tea!
Family Affairs
February 3, 2013Great – let me know what you think L x
ana
February 3, 2013Hi, I’m French and really wonder how are the Marguerite Duras’ books’ translations but I have to tell you that more you read her books, more you can enter deeply in her / in you – at least it is my feeling. I give you a piece of advice : read not only her novels, but also her theater, her scenarios, her interviews, try to watch some interviews (those where she answers, those where she is the interviewer), her long and short films…
Family Affairs
February 3, 2013Oh brilliant – thanks – I will dig some more stuff out. She sounded like an incredible woman – how romantic that in real life a younger man searched her out because of her writing and she ended up marrying him!! Thanks very much for your comment Lx