pickA farcical story about a middle age man Douglas who tells his wife he is going to Scotland fishing but sets of on an artistic groups visit to Moscow with his lover the flamboyant actress Nina, who then appears to be permanently avoiding him. His journey around 1980s Russia with the other members and the authoritive olga makes for a strange tale of misadventures. Enjoyable, strange ending, as ever Bainbridge is a great storyteller but not my fave
pickThis was published in 2002 when Fay Weldon was 70. And its like sitting down with an older lady who has lived quite a life and having her describe that life to you over tea and cake. Its written in an easy style but Fay never kept diaries so its not always detailed - although her childhood in NZ is very well remembered. Her mother was a solo mum in the 30s and Fay was a solo mum in the late 50‘s ⬇️
💚Some news from Virago. I adore the original green spines though. My heart goes pitter pat when I spot a green spine at a used bookstore. They are becoming fewer and fewer though for me in the wild!
Ah yes. 1923 NYC. Talking about Jews as foreign and overly sexual.
On the next page the author refers to the same character as “oriental.”
Classic racism.
There is nothing new in the world.
“Even downtown we got differences. Let me and the landlords wife go to the butcher store for meat. For who will the butcher pick out the fattest piece of meat? For me, who bargains herself every penny, or the landlords wife that pays him over any price he asks?”
Unintended bias is everywhere. Even in 1923.
Honestly, what were the freaking odds of finding this book.
It has no reviews on Litsy. It isn‘t mentioned in any of the other “also by this author.”
But there it was on a to be shelved used books trolley.
I‘m so excited. Talk about beshert!
pickA twisty little tale of avarice. 🖤
This was “fun”, but didn‘t have the humor of Fremlin. Fremlin can be downright funny & sharp witted. I need more Fremlin in my life!
Just finished Iphigenia, & I'm a tiny bit upset, due to spoilery reasons 😂 All I can say is my inner romantic is unhappy, but the ending makes sense & I would have rolled my eyes had it been any different.
There is a definite 1920s/30s flavour to the novel (think Mitford, Cold Comfort Farm, etc.)
Warning for offhand racist, classist, colorist and antisemitic remarks, mainly from the mouths of foolish characters
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Happy #WorldBookDay (or 1 of them) / #SantJordi / #DayofBooksandRoses / #SaintGeorgesDay everyone! It is celebrated on this day because it is the anniversary of the death of Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, but as it happens, the author I am reading right now - Teresa de la Parra - also died on April, 23rd.
I find Maria Eugenia (the Iphigenia of the title) deeply irritating but also lovable. I can't think of many early 20th-c. novels that show the mind of a teenage girl in such detail. She is bright but naive, superficial but thoughtful, bold but shy. And v. volatile. It's clear she is/will be used as a pawn by her family, at the v. least to maintain their status, but v. probably for money too. Impending doom 😬
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