The Transit of Venus (Virago Modern Classics)

published	1998 by Virago Press Ltd
binding	Paperback
isbn	1860491812 (isbn13: 9781860491818)
ebook
pages	352
literary awards	1980 National Book Critics Circle Award Winner
description	The Transit of Venus is considered Shirley Hazzard's most brilliant novel. It tells the story of two orphan sisters, Caroline and Grace Bell, a...more [close] The Transit of Venus is considered Shirley Hazzard's most brilliant novel. It tells the story of two orphan sisters, Caroline and Grace Bell, as they leave Australia to start a new life in post-war England. What happens to these young women--seduction and abandonment, marriage and widowhood, love and betrayal--becomes as moving and wonderful and yet as predestined as the transits of the planets themselves. Gorgeously written and intricately constructed, Hazzard's novel is a story of place: Sydney, London, New York, Stockholm; of time: from the fifties to the eighties; and above all, of women and men in their passage through the displacements and absurdities of modern life. "Engrossing, masterly. . . . Combines the satisfaction of a family saga . . . with a highly structured plot reminiscent of Greek tragedy."-- Gail Godwin, The New York Times Book Review "A wonderfully mysterious book. . . . Both plot and characters are many layered. Unforgettably rich."-- Anne Tyler, The New Republic "Luminous. . . . Almost without flaw. Aphoristic and iridescent, her language turns paragraphs into events."-- Webster Schott, The Washington Post Book World [close]
date added	12-18-06 edit book

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 159)

David rated it:

(review of isbn 0140107479)

05/07/08

bookshelves: read-in-2008

Read in May, 2008

Final review (May 7th, 2008)

Well, by the end, Hazzard won me over, as I got accustomed to her style. This story of the two orphan Bell sisters, Caroline and Grace (and their self-martyring older half-sister, Dora), spanning three decades and as many continents, starts out slowly but ultimately rewards the reader's patience. Once you persevere beyond the first 50 pages or so, the story is never less than absorbing, and builds to a stunning climax.

Hazzard is not your typical narrator, and...more Final review (May 7th, 2008)

Well, by the end, Hazzard won me over, as I got accustomed to her style. This story of the two orphan Bell sisters, Caroline and Grace (and their self-martyring older half-sister, Dora), spanning three decades and as many continents, starts out slowly but ultimately rewards the reader's patience. Once you persevere beyond the first 50 pages or so, the story is never less than absorbing, and builds to a stunning climax.

Hazzard is not your typical narrator, and makes some unusual choices in the way she tells this story. Despite having an omniscient narrator, certain key information is withheld until very near the end (the reader finds out only when Caroline does); conversely, the ultimate fate of one of the other main characters is signalled in a throwaway sentence on page 12. In general, Hazzard assumes that the reader is paying attention; the presentation of key plot information is often subtle, with the reader expected to join the dots. Personally, I far prefer an author who is willing to attribute some smarts to the reader than the type who beats you over the head, but some readers might be put off by the obliqueness of Hazzard's style.

One minor criticism: I thought Caroline, the book's main protagonist, was the least convincingly drawn among the characters - she never quite escaped the whiff of being an abstract embodiment of the qualities the author wanted her to represent. This shows up in the writing - where Caroline is concerned, the author resorts far too often to telling us what she is feeling, as opposed to showing us through what she says and does. This slight clumsiness in the way Caroline's character is presented is in marked contrast to the author's deft portrayal of such characters as Dora, or the different members of the Thrale family. Her descriptions of Christian Thrale's dalliance with his secretary, or of Dora's emotional blackmail techniques, for example, are wickedly, astonishingly, brilliant.

Four stars to Shirley Hazzard for telling a good story, and for writing that assumes the reader actually has a brain and is willing to use it.

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Original comments (May 5th, 2008)

I was puzzled by recurrent comments about Hazzard's writing style in people's reviews of this book - they seemed all over the map. Only fifteen pages into the book, I now understand. The fourth sentence in the book is a perfect example:

"Whatever there was of fresh white paint sprang out from downs or dunes, or lacerated a roadside with a streak of fencing."
Or stuff like this:
"Even his wet hair gave off an auburn smell"
"Her other discovery of consequence was also not original: that the truth had a life of its own. It was perhaps in such directions that her energies had flowed, leaving her looks to follow as they might."

Normally, I'd consider sentences like these a very bad sign indeed. But there is so much mitigating brilliance that I have to view them as the kind of lapse that's inevitable when a hugely talented writer isn't afraid to take risks.

That's what I tell myself, anyway, to justify carrying on. And I remind myself that my good friend PB raves about this book.....less

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2 comments

Harry rated it:

08/04/08

Like Marilynne Robinson's Housekeeping, I bought this on the basis of a Bryan Appleyard article where he mentioned Hazzard as one of his contenders for greatest living novelist; in fact, he entertained the possibility that The Transit of Venus was 'the most perfect novel written in the past 100 years'.

I was less taken by this one than the Robinson. Don't get me wrong, it's a seriously good novel: lots of good characters, a great sense of time and place, a rich and engaging plot...more

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Anne rated it:

04/29/08

Read in April, 2008

Brilliant, gorgeous, searing--one of my new (and rare) gold standards.

As others have noted, this is worth sticking with (I actually tried the first few chapters last year and wasn't caught by them, but had no trouble this time). And there comes a point in the latter third that's a bit of a slog. The reward of Hazzard's prose throughout, though, is worth it; her descriptions and observations are amazing, so smart and perfectly, often devastatingly, wrought. It's no mean feat to be able to ...more

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2 comments

Sally rated it:

11/30/07

Read in June, 2007

This was a reread so I was probably a little impatient with it. Parts at the beginning seemed terribly self-important, with convoluted phrasing that didn't do a thing for the story. But by the end I was once again smitten with the way Hazzard told this story. Its remote, observational style suits the ideas; about how hard it is to really connect with each other and how we blaze across the firmament for a little while before falling into obscurity again. Grace and Caro Bell are orphaned sisters w...more

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Bronson rated it:

03/07/08

Read in December, 2007

I was caught by surprise by this book. I heard about it from an interview with Ann Patchet I'd read online. I think it is one of the finest written novels I have ever read. The night I finished the book, I opened it back up and started reading it again. The second time through I was as engrossed - actually more than the first. It was tough to get started, she doesn't build the characters traditionally. You find out odd things about them that don't seem important until much later in the book....more

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1 comments

leen rated it:

(review of isbn 0140107479)

06/04/07

Read in April, 2007

i've been reading this book for a really long time. its really slow, but i just hate not finishing books, so i've read two or three others since starting it. i read somewhere that some person read this book and loved it and found it life-changing or something like that. i can't remember who that person was. i guess the life-changing thing is: don't listen to other people's opinion, trust your gut -- this book just looked boring, and it is! except every once in awhile there is something that...more

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1 comments

jun rated it:

07/19/08

bookshelves: school

Read in March, 2007

recommended to jun by: CL 100

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Bobbi rated it:

05/20/07

Read in May, 2007

This book is for writers who like to read. Like the movie critic's favorite movie there are many aspects to the writing that may be if not lost on most at least found "deliberately literary, full of unnecessary flourishes" as stated in one review.
The pros are what kept me reading, I never really bonded with any of the characters. From a technique stand point I found it wonderful but some how I was never emotionally involved.
I loved it over all but be warned it's one of tho...more

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Kim rated it:

06/15/08

Read in January, 2008

I have been trying to get through this book for several weeks now, but can't get past the first 70 pages.
I find the writer is too caught up in the technique of writing and fills the pages with very stylised, convoluted pros. Stylised phrases does not a good story make.
However, I may give it another try one day as I've noticed several readers say that it was a book they tried reading more than once before becoming hooked.
Not sure I want to spend the time tho... so many other books out there...more

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Gregory rated it:

03/19/08

Read in March, 2007

I attempted to start this three times, as it made the recommended reading list for three of my creative writing professors and received a National Book Award (which is often a nebulous accolade). The third time it was a smash. Stick with it. Once the story began to develop, I couldn't leave Hazzard's characters alone and they stayed with me long afterward. Hazzard's descriptions are sumptuous, her dialogue razor-sharp. And she continues to surprise the reader right up to the end.

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Ginnie rated it:

(review of isbn 0140107479)

05/05/08

bookshelves: fiction

For some reason this book reminds me of Thomas Hardy's novels - perhaps something in the opening pages of the book. A tinge of melancholy and fatedness. And later on, the wrong turnings taken. It is not quite easy to sum it up, as it works on many layers. It has been a favourite for many years,

Reading an exchange about this book on GR today reminded me that I had only rated it without a comment.

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Caroline rated it:

01/21/08

I agree with other reviewers - this book gets easier as you read on. Because the writing style totally changes. I missed the challenging sentences at the beginning. I also kept comparing this to Hazzard's "The Great Fire." "Transit of Venus" was not as good. It felt contrived and just didn't move me like "Fire." Not that I would tell you not to read it.

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1 comments

Debi rated it:

08/07/08

This book was well written in terms of language. It was almost like reading poetry, rich in imagery and full of wonderful allusions and fascinating word usage. The plot could have been better. There were times when I simply didn't believe the storyline nor the characters. Still, for the language, I love this one and would recommend it to anyone.

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Nina rated it:

06/24/08

Read in June, 2008

this book was really amazing. it's the story of two sisters from australia who are orphaned and how they then make their way in the world. it starts during WWII and ends in the mid-late 1970s, and takes us from sydney to london to new york city. it was funny, serious, and sad. perhaps the best book i've read all year.

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1 comments

Tyler rated it:

08/19/07

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in July, 2007

recommends it for: the world

Australia DOES have great writers and she certainly is one. I put this one down a few times, and had to rally back, because if given its course it will appropriately drain the eyes and mind and leave them on fifth and goal with a clear outlook on the endzone. Doesn't equating reading with football make sense?

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Malini rated it:

(review of isbn 0140107479)

06/15/08

My rating is not really fair. Though I did not enjoy this book at all, I recognize that it is well done. The story is for 'grown-ups'-- by which is meant, people who are more mature than me. Characters have sex, or don't, and either way it is all very meaningful.

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Petrea rated it:

04/02/08

bookshelves: petrea-s-book-shelf

Read in October, 2007

I really loved this book! It seems to start a bit slowly, but the plot is very well crafted--after things surprise you you can look back and see it coming--that's why it takes more than one reading.

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Cori rated it:

01/29/08

About half way through you feel as if the story begins to lag -- but press on! I guarantee you will go back and re-read once you finish the book in its entirety. Be watchful of nuances through out.

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Maya rated it:

06/02/08

Read in March, 2008

I'm sure I must be missing something--something in my taste is lacking--but I found this to be overwritten and annoying. I couldn't get close to the characters except in brief, rare moments.

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Lindsay rated it:

08/27/08

Read in January, 2007

Another favorite. So rich and poetic and beautiful. The language is so delicious with many different vocab words that I had to look up! Very cool book that delves deep into the characters.

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