My century of books is much healthier than it looks, and that’s cos I have been reading a whole heap of books I’ve not been writing about. And these eleven books aren’t gonna get a whole blog post out of me… so let’s see how we can fill some ACOB gaps.
The Art of I. Compton-Burnett (1972) ed. Charles Burkhart
Charles Burkhart was such an Ivy Compton-Burnett stan (samesies) and this is one of many books he wrote or edited about her – it includes various critical essays, appreciations, reviews, obituaries etc. Most valuably, it has two interviews that ICB gave – where she is at her most irrepressible. Such a glorious mix of disingenuous obtuseness and elaborate self-revelation. I love the collection for those – everything else is fun but inessential.
More Women Than Men (1933) by Ivy Compton-Burnett
Speaking of, I never mentioned that I re-read my favourite ICB novel earlier in the year. And it’s still marvellous and ingenious.
A Thousand Mornings (2012) by Mary Oliver
So many people have said they love Mary Oliver, so I thought I’d try a collection of her poetry. I’ve definitely enjoyed some of the works I’ve seen people post, particularly around the time she died, but this collection did leave me a bit cold. Maybe it’s deceptively simple and I need to reread a few times.
Much Dithering (1938) by Dorothy Lambert
I had really high hopes for this novel about quiet, young widow Jocelyn and the three men who might end up being her next husband (at least one of whom faces competition in Jocelyn’s vivacious, selfish mother). The plot is really fun and there are enjoyable details about village life, but I’m afraid I found the novel a bit bland overall. There was something in the writing that seemed to deaden the momentum for me. A pity.
Sunday (1962) by Kay Dick
This was even more of a disappointment. Kay Dick is now best known for They, reprinted to much fanfare (though I haven’t read it). Sunday is about a woman called Sunday from her daughter’s perspective, and the various men who were in love with her at different times – as well as their complex relationship. The final sections were quite good, told in the present – but most of the book is told in a ‘My mother always used to -‘ sort of way that makes it all feel very distant. There is no urgency to the novel and I found it extremely tedious. I’m assuming They is rather better.
How To Suppress Women’s Writing (1983) by Joanna Russ
Hopefully it’s obvious that this title is satirical! Russ traces the history of literary reception, and the way that women writers have been suppressed from writing, or from finding fame if they do write, or from a glowing reception if they were famous. It’s fascinating and saddening, and I hope some things have changed in the past 40 years – but I daresay not as much as you’d hope. (I found it interesting that most of the book’s argument is written out on the front cover.)
A Song for Summer (1997) by Eva Ibbotson
We had a lot of fun talking about The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson when Claire was a guest on the Tea or Books? podcast – and it definitely felt like retreading similar ground in this WW2-set novel. The heroine is very good and very spirited; the hero is diffident but noble and musical. It was entertaining enough as a novel, but clearly not her strongest. (I also listened to the audiobook, and the narrator’s choice of voice for the hero was distractingly weird and husky.)
Other Voices, Other Rooms (1948) by Truman Capote
Apparently very autobiographical, this is about a fey young boy trying to find his absent father – and meeting a fascinating and eccentric group of people in his search. I really enjoyed the writing with this one, though maybe it’s not one I should have listened to. One day I’ll probably reread as a physical book, and that would do the story justice.
At The Pines (1971) by Mollie Panter-Downes
Love Mollie P-D; felt quite ambivalent about this book. It’s about the home of Algernon Charles Swinburne (poet) and his life. It’s amazing how much he’s fallen out of favour – does anybody care about Swinburne now? I hoped this book was about Panter-Downes’ experiences and reflections, and it isn’t really. She writes well, but on a subject I had no interest in. I’d much rather she wrote about herself.
Woman on the Edge of Time (1976) by Marge Piercy
This is another where I’d misunderstood what the novel was actually about. The blurb says it’s a feminist classic about a woman who sees the future – so I thought maybe she’s see a few hours into the future, and perhaps use this skill to get beyond the bounds of misogynistic control. But she actually sees visions of 2137 and the people there, all the while sectioned in a run-down hospital. The novel opens extremely brutally, and it’s a pretty bleak book throughout. I guess it’s a sort of fantasy (it’s called science fiction, but I don’t see quite how) that doesn’t interest me very much.
The Bridesmaid (1989) by Ruth Rendell
My first Ruth Rendell and I was very impressed by her writing. It wasn’t really a murder mystery, which I had been expecting, and there wasn’t actually a bridesmaid (it’s, for some reason, the name of a statue). I don’t even want to give away what happens – except that it’s a story of how love can get out of control. Wikipedia tells me it’s a fan-favourite, and I can see why.
I have Marge Piercy in the TBR – I’m not so sure now I’ve read your summary!
If you know what you’re getting, you might like it :D it just wasn’t for me at all
Mary Oliver’s later work was pretty poor — you’d have to go back to Dream Work or American Primitive for her best stuff.
I loved the Piercy, those contrasting utopian and dystopian future scenes and the question of whether Connie is a visionary or just mentally ill. And I’m definitely not an SF reader.
Oh interesting, I’ll look back. And glad you had a better time than me with the Piercy. Maybe it was just because I was expecting something different.
Hi Simon, had to respond – Mary Oliver is comically overrated, her lover was a master of PR which is how she got so stubbornly inserted into the instagram mind. Ruth Rendell, particularly when writing as Barbara Vine, is a master. Plot, character, psychological depth, dialogue – there isn’t an element of writerly talent that she doesn’t epitomize. Still struggling to develop an affection for your beloved Ivy CB. Always enjoy your posts and am grateful for some of your recommendations, which I would have missed otherwise.
Good to know about Mary Oliver take, that’s interesting!
ICB definitely a marmite author – the good news is that, if you don’t like one of her books, there’s no need to persevere.
I have to say, I did enjoy A Thousand Mornings a lot.
Thanks for reminding me you are doing this project.
I have finally started a list, I want to see if I need to fill some holes to have also a century of books
Ah, are you looking back at ones you’ve already read, or starting a new project?
I think Ruth Rendell is a marvellous writer and it seems she has fallen out of favour of late, which is a great pity. Her novels fall into the Wexford novels and stand alone psychological thrillers. You have many treats to come!
Good to know, Deborah! Any stand alones you’d particularly recommend?
I found most of her work too dark for me, but I do remember _Anna’s Book_ leaving me going, “wow,” at the end.
Any of her writing as Barbara Vine are excellent and although a late Wexford “The Vault” had me gripped!
I’m doing this project too, but with all Australian books, which is much harder than you might think because we did not have a local publishing industry to speak of for the first decades of the C20th. I’m well away with the later years, and have almost completed 1901-1910 and 1941-1950, but have a long way to go until I get to 1970.
How are you recording yours? I made a page on the blog, not that I anyone to be interested in it, but because it’s an easy way to keep track and I like looking at the book covers.
Yes, I love your layout with the covers, beautiful! Mine are just in a list of links (over in the right-hand column), and I’m keeping a physical list in my diary so I can keep a record in pencil of the ones I’ve started but not finished or reviewed.
It sounds like many in this batch were disappointments, Simon; too bad.
I wonder sometimes whether you ever give up on a book before finishing, or whether you feel you must finish anything you start.
My sister and I just settled on our book bingo boards for the coming reading season, and we’re so excited. We don’t make our reading choices based on getting a bingo square (though I do do this more than her), but it’s fun to check for a bingo square when we finish a book. I don’t think either of us would tackle a century of books list.
Yes, the short reviews are often for the disappointments! I’m saving the ones I really liked for longer reviews. I do give up on books, but usually not if I’ve made it past 100pp – then I just plough on to the end. And A Century of Books has made me a bit more reluctant to abandon.
So efficient! I’m not surprised that the Eva Ibbotson did not impress; as per our chat, I think it’s the weakest of her adult novels, but I am endlessly amused by the perfection of Marek (all Czechs are obviously like this). I also feel like there aren’t yet any good audiobooks of her adult novels (maybe the YA and children’s ones?), which seems like a missed opportunity.
Interestingly, Song for Summer is the only Ibbotson I did not enjoy. I think Madensky Square is by far her best. I love that the protagonist there is an older (well; in her thirties!) woman who has lived and suffered more than most of her younger heroines.
How are you doing on this overall? I have been trying to do it, too, but I still have lots of holes. I find that I think I’m filling one, only to see that I already read a book for that year! I think maybe your bookshelves are so full of unread books (this is the vision I have, anyway), that you are able to find a book for each year, while I’m having to look in the library, look for used books online, or even buy new ones! Still, I doubt I will finish by the end of the year. I’ll keep going, though!
Oh gosh, Woman on the Edge of Time is very grim, well done for getting through it! A shame about Much Dithering as I’m interested in it. Hm. I still haven’t finished my century of books I started a DECADE ago. I got stuck on the 80s I think! I should make an effort with it …