I don't know how to begin and yet, perhaps, that is the beginning, there. My Dark Vanessa has left me a little in awe of it: Russell's writing is so sI don't know how to begin and yet, perhaps, that is the beginning, there. My Dark Vanessa has left me a little in awe of it: Russell's writing is so sharp, so clean, and so utterly fearless, that I sort of look at this book and don't know where to begin in describing it. So perhaps there, there, in the sharpness of the language and thought, the way that every inch of this is cut and crafted and so endlessly, endlessly brilliant. What I admire, I think, the most about it, is how Russell engages with power. I think I am increasingly obsessed with understanding power, the threads of it, the expressions of it, and this story is deeply bound up with it.
And maybe now I have said that, maybe now that I have begun this review, I can begin to tell you what this story is about. When she was fifteen years old, Vanessa Wye had sex with her English teacher, Jacob Strane for the very first time. It was not the last. This is one part of the book. The other part is set several years later when another former student accuses Strane of abuse and a journalist has approached Vanessa for her comments on the story. We move back and forward between the two timelines, seeing how the events of one reverberate in the other, how some things are impossible to move on from, how some things were not love, how they were never love, how they were abuse and awful, heartstopping, abuse and always, always that.
This is not an easy book to read nor is it comfortable nor is it anything that ever gives you the easy answer. What it is, however, is brilliant. The writing is next level and every inch of this is full of such clarity, such precision.
Oh I am envious of it, it is so so well done. ...more
I enjoyed this! I don't think it's the best piece of writing I've ever come across and I do think it could have done with some substantial editing becI enjoyed this! I don't think it's the best piece of writing I've ever come across and I do think it could have done with some substantial editing because certain facts are repeated and chapters do sort of suddenly go "oh look, a tree!" but it's still a fascinating look at a remarkable life. ...more
A fairly unremarkable Bessie Marchant in which things happen and then the ending sort of rushes in as if it's got to be home by midnight. The premise A fairly unremarkable Bessie Marchant in which things happen and then the ending sort of rushes in as if it's got to be home by midnight. The premise is straightforward: the setting is Australia and the adults have been distracted by news of gold being found only a few hundred miles away. They decide to go (golding? goldifying?) but leave the kids behind to fend for themselves and keep the home fires burning. The boys do manly things like running the ranch, the girls do things like looking after the babies, and Thinly Coded Messages About Gendered Responsibility Are Made!
It's not the most innovative of books (because, I suspect, it's very late in her career) but there is always some interest to be found in Marchant's fierce 'There'll always be an England' vibes irrespective of where the book is set and irrespective of the author herself never travelling outside of Britain one tiny bit. Basically wherever you are, whatever the plot, it will go something like this: the children Rise To The Occasion and if there are tears, then they are Nobly Wept in secret and then we all have tea (cooked by the girls). ...more
When I mentioned that I was reading this online, I got nothing but positive responses. And they were not wrong: Dear Mrs Bird is charming and lovely aWhen I mentioned that I was reading this online, I got nothing but positive responses. And they were not wrong: Dear Mrs Bird is charming and lovely and deeply, utterly refreshing. It's funny and heartbreaking and very, very funny. Pearce has a delightful eye for character and gives you some very human and very real people dealing with extraordinary circumstances.
In terms of plot, it's fairly straightforward. Emmy gets a job working on a magazine and, rather than being the war correspondent in training, she is to type up the replies of Mrs Bird. Mrs Bird is the magazine's agony aunt and redoubtable and very particular in the letters that she answers (she is brilliant, I love her). So Emmy suddenly decides to step into the breach. She will answer the Unpleasant Letters in the style of Mrs Bird, sign her name, and sneak them into the magazine. Things happen, as they inevitably do, and some of them will break your heart a little bit.
I've always enjoyed work set in and around this period and particular work that deals with the experience of the everyday woman. I'm also somebody who has spent many happy days in the archives combing through the letters pages of vintage magazines. I love them greatly because they tell you everything about the experience of existing at that point in time. It's not about glamour, it's about trying to live a life despite everything that life may be throwing at you at this point. Dear Mrs Bird clearly loves its source material and period very much and I really appreciated that. It's all very genuine and intensely charming stuff.
Some of these worked better than others for me but then there was Kevin, the T-Rex, and really all thoughts of anything other than him floated out theSome of these worked better than others for me but then there was Kevin, the T-Rex, and really all thoughts of anything other than him floated out the window. A perfect, perfect character and I loved his story entirely. Where's my Kevin spin-off??...more
Loading...
