Book Review #22
Coral Glynn
by Peter Cameron
The book is highly readable and entertaining. And strange. Mostly because Coral is such an odd bird. She possesses almost no depth of character. She acts and reacts. There are consequences to her actions. And yet we learn almost nothing about her. Events, seemingly disjointed, are often melodramatic, if not preposterous: a violent encounter in the woods, an unusual shopping spree, a sudden sexual escapade, a failed suicide attempt, etc. Also, for the longest time I was not sure in what era the action was taking place. I knew it was after "the war" but which war? For the record it's World War II. I also could not get a handle on the tone of the novel. There are humorous and suspenseful and sensual moments. But I was never sure if Cameron was commenting on 1950's women's fiction or women's films, as director Todd Haynes has done with "Carol" and "Far from Heaven." But having said all this, Peter Cameron (and this is the third book of his I've read) kept me turning the pages. And there is something to be said for that.
by Peter Cameron
The book is highly readable and entertaining. And strange. Mostly because Coral is such an odd bird. She possesses almost no depth of character. She acts and reacts. There are consequences to her actions. And yet we learn almost nothing about her. Events, seemingly disjointed, are often melodramatic, if not preposterous: a violent encounter in the woods, an unusual shopping spree, a sudden sexual escapade, a failed suicide attempt, etc. Also, for the longest time I was not sure in what era the action was taking place. I knew it was after "the war" but which war? For the record it's World War II. I also could not get a handle on the tone of the novel. There are humorous and suspenseful and sensual moments. But I was never sure if Cameron was commenting on 1950's women's fiction or women's films, as director Todd Haynes has done with "Carol" and "Far from Heaven." But having said all this, Peter Cameron (and this is the third book of his I've read) kept me turning the pages. And there is something to be said for that.
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