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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
Absolutely sinister. And beautiful.
A devastating little novel that as a piece of fiction, I truly wish would have offered just a teensy bit more exposition and resolution, a little more length. This novel can and should be read in two different ways: first as a piece of short fiction only, a stunning little gothic novel that ticks most of the genre boxes. This novel is also incredibly interesting as a piece of first wave 20th century feminist theory, and can be read and analysed for what it offers the reader under that lens; to an extent that makes it all the more frightening and bleak.
I really enjoyed it, and will definitely be delving further into Carter's oeuvre in the future.
A devastating little novel that as a piece of fiction, I truly wish would have offered just a teensy bit more exposition and resolution, a little more length. This novel can and should be read in two different ways: first as a piece of short fiction only, a stunning little gothic novel that ticks most of the genre boxes. This novel is also incredibly interesting as a piece of first wave 20th century feminist theory, and can be read and analysed for what it offers the reader under that lens; to an extent that makes it all the more frightening and bleak.
I really enjoyed it, and will definitely be delving further into Carter's oeuvre in the future.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse
Moderate: Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death of parent
It takes a few pages to get started but, I really do see the hype around this book (and Carter).
Melanie is a 15 year old, hungry to grow up and engage fully within the world and we are introduced to her on summer days as she discovers her body and poses in varying art poses to see how she looks. During her explorations, we learn that her parents are away on a publicity tour for her father and that she is under the care of Mrs Rundle, along with her young 5 year old chubby sister Victoria, and her dreamy boat obsessed brother Johnathon.
She thinks of them all with some scorn and focuses in on herself with the selfishness and angst that only a teenager can muster.
Then one night she dresses in her mother's wedding dress and wanders into the garden.
A calamity of events unfolds, which leave the dress in tatters, and when the postman arrives with a telegram, she believes she is responsible for her parents death due to her misadventure.
After recovering from sedation, the children learn they are to go live with their Uncle in London. The family have had no contact with him since Melanie was 1 year old. It is a daunting prospect, but made easier by her Uncle's wife Margaret, who has been mute since the day of their wedding, but still covers the house with her love and good cooking. Along with Margaret the house is also shared with her two brothers, Francie and Finn.
There are two sets of emotions that run throughout the house. Love and warmth when Uncle Philip is away, and a tense gloom when he is present.
Philip is disgruntled with everything other than his toys, even his wife appears to provide him with little joy. Jonathon seems to be a little similar to Philip in that he also is obsessed, but while Philip's head is in a stormy cloud, Jonathon is vague and withdrawn, without any emotion. Uncle Philip's only passion is the toys and puppets he makes. And while the toys provide the family a livelihood, he doesn't make it easy for people to buy them or indeed play with them.
Carter's writing is incredible evocative, dream like and reminiscent of a fairy tale.
And like a fairy tale, the reader is led along its weaving path wondering what might give, as the stalemate of the standoff between Uncle Philip and the two families rises.
I found the story quite enchanting and I devoured it quickly, and then all of a sudden, like a door being slammed shut, the story ends in such a dramatic fashion. I felt a bit of shock, like, what just happened? and had to go back and read the ending again. And now more than 5 days after finishing the book, I am still not sure what to make of the ending.
See what I am reading now: https://yarrabookclub.wordpress.com/
She thinks of them all with some scorn and focuses in on herself with the selfishness and angst that only a teenager can muster.
Then one night she dresses in her mother's wedding dress and wanders into the garden.
"A fresh little grass-scented wind blew through the open window and stroked her neck, stirring her hair. Under the moon, the country spread out like a foreign and enchanted land, where the corn was orient and immortal wheat, neither sown nor reaped, terra incognita, untrodden by the foot of man, untouched by his hand. Virgin." p.18
A calamity of events unfolds, which leave the dress in tatters, and when the postman arrives with a telegram, she believes she is responsible for her parents death due to her misadventure.
After recovering from sedation, the children learn they are to go live with their Uncle in London. The family have had no contact with him since Melanie was 1 year old. It is a daunting prospect, but made easier by her Uncle's wife Margaret, who has been mute since the day of their wedding, but still covers the house with her love and good cooking. Along with Margaret the house is also shared with her two brothers, Francie and Finn.
There are two sets of emotions that run throughout the house. Love and warmth when Uncle Philip is away, and a tense gloom when he is present.
Philip is disgruntled with everything other than his toys, even his wife appears to provide him with little joy. Jonathon seems to be a little similar to Philip in that he also is obsessed, but while Philip's head is in a stormy cloud, Jonathon is vague and withdrawn, without any emotion. Uncle Philip's only passion is the toys and puppets he makes. And while the toys provide the family a livelihood, he doesn't make it easy for people to buy them or indeed play with them.
"Uncle Philip left no space in the doorway. He had clipped up his shirtsleeves with steel bracelets above the elbow and was swathed in a course apron which had once been white and which covered him from the knot of his tie to his ankles. He pale eyes held no kindness. He scowled. His eyebrows met like an iron bar. Melanie nervously clattered the animals back into the box." p.96
Carter's writing is incredible evocative, dream like and reminiscent of a fairy tale.
And like a fairy tale, the reader is led along its weaving path wondering what might give, as the stalemate of the standoff between Uncle Philip and the two families rises.
I found the story quite enchanting and I devoured it quickly, and then all of a sudden, like a door being slammed shut, the story ends in such a dramatic fashion. I felt a bit of shock, like, what just happened? and had to go back and read the ending again. And now more than 5 days after finishing the book, I am still not sure what to make of the ending.
See what I am reading now: https://yarrabookclub.wordpress.com/
This felt a tad unfinished and I didn't really get some of the choices *cough* incest , but there's a lot of good stuff too, and the fabulous prose that you would expect from Ms. Carter.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated