The Transit of Venus (Virago Modern Classics)

by Shirley Hazzard
The Transit of Venus (Virago Modern Classics)  
published 1998 by Virago Press Ltd
binding Paperback
isbn 1860491812   (isbn13: 9781860491818)
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
date added
12-18-06



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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 159)



David
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
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Harry Rutherford
Harry rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
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
Anne rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
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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Sally
Sally rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
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
Bronson rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
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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leen
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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jun
jun rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
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
Bobbi rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
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 Skidmore
Kim rated it: 1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars
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
Gregory rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
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
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
Caroline rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
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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Debi
Debi rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
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
Nina rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
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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Tyler Flynn Dorholt
Tyler rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
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
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
Petrea rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
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
Cori rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
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
Maya rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
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
Lindsay rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
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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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 3.91 (159 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 3.88 (134 ratings)
number of reviews: 40






other editions

The Transit of Venus (Paperback)
The Transit of Venus (Hardcover)
The Transit of Venus (Paperback)