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The Judge
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The Judge by Rebecca West
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Lauren
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Feb 10, 2013 08:23AM
The discussion of The Judge by Rebecca West will begin on February 11th.
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By the time Rebecca West had written The Judge she had already published one novel (The Return of the Soldier) and a full-length study of the author Henry James. She was in a much-publicized relationship with H.G. Wells and had borne him a son, Anthony, who was then about 7 years old and who had only just become aware of who his parents were. The Judge was an extremely vivid evocation of her childhood in Edinburgh and her relationship with the her mother. In Ellen, West recreates the kind of teenage girl she was, as well as portraying aspects of the mother of an illegitimate child in the character of Marion Yaverland.
I know people are still reading this (I am too) so will wait for others to chime in, but it is this tension between the two characters - both aspects of West's life - that I find so interesting.
I had no idea so much of this is autobiographical.
I am having a great deal of trouble getting into this book. It doesn't flow for me and entry points are few.
I have had my ins and outs with it. Certain parts flow for me quite nicely but I'm in a section now that I'm finding slow going.
I'm into Book 2 at last and have hope to make good headway tonight and tomorrow -- at least enough to be able to participate in a discussion. It is very slow going -- and yet the language is beautiful, funny, unique. I'm pressing on!
OK, so is anyone else sort of tired of all the endless descriptions of every visible clump of dirt and cloud and how this can't adequately be described with one, simple adjective but must create a meandering stroll down memory lane that exits in a sentence that is half a page long and so thick I have to start over at the beginning to figure out what she was talking about in in the first place. Other than that, there's alot about this I love.
No, that's one of the things I really like about it!
I did at first, Lauren. And there's no denying that she writes beautiful prose. But once Book II started up -- I was ready for a little more plot or something. Still -- there are so many moments that really grab me. I've highlighted all over it so far.
Yes, her descriptions are beautiful and sometimes I'm wowed but I agree with you, LuAnn. Too much of it. I'm in book two, just about to start Chapter 3. I must say I'm ready for an out and out cat fight.
I am definatly struggling. Like The Sea, The Sea, I am simultaneously bored and captivated.
Finished this morning and am still trying to process. Very mixed feelings about this one. Has a Gothic quality in the second half that I found sort of off-putting, can I say less mature? Hmmm. Not sure. Found this very interesting interview with Dame Rebecca -- thought you all might enjoy as well. http://www.theparisreview.org/intervi...
I am 2/3s of the way through but I agree - the second half of the book - Marion's half, is very different and much more dramatic, almost like a Hardy novel. The sections about Roger are almost revolting. Yet I am fascinated by the book - and interested to see where this is going.
The descriptions of the natural world are incredible. Lots and lots of re-copying into my journal.
Oh Lord, that book takes a weird turn. I am not sure what to make of it except that I feel a little scared!
The first copy of the book that I ordered was lost in the mail and I only received the replacement today. I'm so curious to see what it's like but now I'm so behind everyone.
Well, it's worth reading but it gets so wild at the end, I don't know if I can contain myself.
I'm peddling as fast as I can. I'm dying to know what you guys are talking about. Come on in, Cynthia. I'm two thirds through but apparently most of the wildness is ahead.
Karen wrote: "I'm peddling as fast as I can. I'm dying to know what you guys are talking about. Come on in, Cynthia. I'm two thirds through but apparently most of the wildness is ahead."Just started it! Damn the mail service.
I don't even know where to begin. My copy has an introduction by Jane Marcus, so I'm reading that now to see if I can make any sense of it all. She does mention the gothic aspects (compares it to the Brontes.)I am not quite sure I got the end but maybe I was just reeling from the last sixty pages which I read today.
OOH! I wish mine had that. Can you make a xerox for me and send it? I am really struggling with context of this novel.
I'll get it off tomorrow, Lauren. If anyone else wants a copy, let me know.
I have the intro. Should I read it now at the beginning or wait? I only started last night.
Wait, Cynthia, there's a huge spoiler in the intro.
I loved The Return of the Soldier but I really struggled with this one.
I think you all should read Fountain Overflows -- first of the Saga of the Century trilogy....I read all three this year and loved them.
I have that whole trilogy.
