Our Spoons Came from Woolworths- Chap 1-18

[Charlene]

Discussion for Chapters 1 to 18 for Our Spoons Came from Woolworths.

[Charlene]

An article about Barbara Comyns: https://lithub.com/barbara-comyns-out...

[Marilyn]

Charlene wrote: "An article about Barbara Comyns: https://lithub.com/barbara-comyns-out..."

This was very helpful.

[Marilyn]

I started last night and I'm already through chapter 18. As to Comyns writing style, it feels like she is telling me about her life and not writing about her life so I can read it.

[Viv]

I have started this and am enjoying the quirkiness. The writing is very pared down and direct and with a wry sense of humour - I think it is going to be right up my street!

[Charlene]

I think the quirkiness exhibits Sophia' artistic qualities. She definitely is naïve.

[Charlene]

I got this from Reading Group Choices:

The book’s title comes from the first chapter of the book, in which Sophia, the narrator, describes the objects in the flat she shares with her soon-to-be husband, Charles. “We had a proper tea-set from Waring and Gillow, and a lot of blue plates from Woolworths; our cooking things came from there, too. I had hoped they would give us a set of real silver teaspoons when we bought the wedding-ring, but the jeweler we went to wouldn’t, so our spoons came from Woolworths, too.” What does this detail tell you about Sophia, and why do you think Barbara Comyns used it as the title of the book?

[Charlene]

Sophia has a grand optimistic view and easy view of her married life with Charles. Pointing out to us that their home items came from Woolworths shows that life isn't going to be a grand as she envisions it.

[Marilyn]

Charlene wrote: "Sophia has a grand optimistic view and easy view of her married life with Charles. Pointing out to us that their home items came from Woolworths shows that life isn't going to be a grand as she env..."

(view spoiler)[Charles also came from Woolworths. (hide spoiler)]

[Cam]

I'm about three quarters of the way through and enjoying it quite a lot - it's a very fast read. I'm finding it very funny and not at all the Woe Is me Introspective Drama Pretentious Bohemian Novel I was expecting. The wry and naive/optimistic/female version of stiff upper lip (not other choice but to keep on going really) reminded me of the no-nonsense writing style of Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, although with a lot more social criticism within it.

It's also very strange to think of all these areas as where struggling artists would live. They're all super expensive now and definitely not arty in the slightest. And two weeks of hospital care after giving birth paid for by the state! We've forgotten what the NHS actually was to start with (now you're kicked out within 24 hours)...

[Charlene]

Marilyn wrote: "Charlene wrote: "Sophia has a grand optimistic view and easy view of her married life with Charles. Pointing out to us that their home items came from Woolworths shows that life isn't going to be a..."

I must not have remembered that or didn't catch that when I read the book in end of August.

[Marilyn]

Charlene wrote: "Marilyn wrote: "Charlene wrote: "Sophia has a grand optimistic view and easy view of her married life with Charles. Pointing out to us that their home items came from Woolworths shows that life isn..."

I meant that Charles was a cheap version of a good husband. :)

[Charlene]

Marilyn wrote: "Charlene wrote: "Marilyn wrote: "Charlene wrote: "Sophia has a grand optimistic view and easy view of her married life with Charles. Pointing out to us that their home items came from Woolworths sh..."

Ok. But I am not sure Charles would fall in the category of good husband. It would be better to classify Charles as a "big kid"; he didn't accept responsibility at all. He didn't help out in the house or caring for Sandro.