2020 November : Doris Lessing's The Golden Notebook

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Born in 1919 in what is now known as Iran to British parents, Doris Lessing relocated to Zimbabwe at age 6 and until 13, she was educated in a convent. She became a parent during her marriage, but left both her husband and her two children in 1943 and remarried a member of the Communist Party with whom she had another child, Peter. She began writing and again divorced and relocated to London with her young son.
In 1962, The Golden Notebook was published and became a success, and she was established as a major literary voice. She went on to publish many other books and to win various awards and honors for her work, including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2007. The Golden Notebook remains her crowning achievement and an iconic piece of writing for women of multiple generations.

The novel is a story within a story of Anna Wulf, who is a writer. She has written about her life in four separate notebooks, and the Golden Notebook is her attempt to tie all four together.

Anyone in on this?

[Jazzy]

I was going to read a different book by this Nobel Laureate, but this is on sale for £2.99 on the kindle so I'm in!

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I'm in for this one-I'm reading my daughter's copy. She hasn't read it yet, so I get to read it first.

[Tr1sha]

I will read this.

[Kathy]

I'll be joining in.

[Brian E]

Jazzy wrote: "I was going to read a different book by this Nobel Laureate, but this is on sale for £2.99 on the kindle so I'm in!"

I chose to read her first novel over .since it seemed both much shorter and easier to read. I thought The Grass Is Singing was a pretty good read with an interesting protagonist.
I had bought the used copy of Notebook in 2013 for $3 and it has remained in my TBR pile as I continually chicken out of trying what I expect to be a challenging read. This month, I hope to, in the words of the Philly mayor, "get my big boy pants on" and finally get around to reading this.

[Jazzy]

I'm only 9% in, but a bit disappointed so far. Something better kick off or it's not getting 5 stars!

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Brian wrote: "I hope to, in the words of the Philly mayor, "get my big boy pants on" and finally get around to reading this...."

Haha! I saw him on the news this morning!

A great quote used in a fun way Brian! :)

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Good choice, Brian. It's a lot shorter and more focussed. Doris Lessing can be wordy at times.

[Brian E]

Rosemarie wrote: "Good choice, Brian. It's a lot shorter and more focussed. Doris Lessing can be wordy at times."

Yeah, I made that choice and read The Grass is Singing back in 2015, so I could say I had read a Lessing novel. It is a good entry point for Lessing .
I still feel that I should read this one as it is considered an important work, with more philosophy and social commentary, and the work that likely earned Lessing the Nobel. I expect to enjoy it less but think about it more.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I've abandoned the book on P 162.
I didn't like any of the characters!

[Kathy]

I'm up to p. 55. I can see that these are characters that might rub me the wrong way!

[Tr1sha]

Rosemarie wrote: "I've abandoned the book on P 162.
I didn't like any of the characters!"

That sounds ominous. I don’t remember you abandoning a book before. I haven’t even started it yet...

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I have abandoned more books this year than in previous years-maybe I've just been picking the wrong books.
When I was in my 30's I read a lot of Doris Lessing-her Martha Quest books in The Children of Violence series.
The Golden Notebook doesn't compare to them-since they basically deal with some of the same topics in a much more structured way.

I have been reading a lot more fun reads this year-I wonder why? 🤔

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

I can understand wanting to read more enjoyable books this year.

[Tr1sha]

Lesle wrote: "I can understand wanting to read more enjoyable books this year."

Definitely!

[Brian E]

Rosemarie wrote: "I've abandoned the book on P 162.
I didn't like any of the characters!"

My big boy pants are feeling snugger and snugger.

[Jazzy]

I took a half hour trying to find the thread!

Well, the book starts out with the two lasses being all smug and that, but then Anna goes home and here our story actually begins! If you gave up early, perhaps try it again.

Anna has several notebooks she has written in and starts with her tales in Africa and a group of friends staying at a guest house. They are all rather bohemian and quite modern for the times.

I'm 35% in now and it's alright.

[Tr1sha]

That sounds encouraging, Jazzy. I haven’t tried this book yet, so perhaps tomorrow...

[Jazzy]

I hope you enjoy it Trisha!

[Kathy]

I'm at about p. 100 and still enjoying the story, although I can't say that I understand all the talk about the communist party. Looking at S. Africa in the 40s and 50s is interesting in light of their later history - Nelson Mandela and getting rid of apartheid. Lessing is writing about topics I know very little about.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Doris Lessing actually lived in a neighbouring country to South Africa, which was settled predominantly by English speaking settlers-who were a privileged class compared to a similar status in England. The native population had very few rights.

[Kathy]

Oh, I see she lived in the former Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. That changes my perspective a bit, but the native population was treated very poorly. The group Anna is associated with is trying to help the natives.

[Kathy]

I'm slowly reading this book and am enjoying how different it is from books I usually read. This book takes some work just to figure out what's going on. There are no headings and not that many breaks so it's hard to go back and re-read. I've finished the first parts of the Black notebook and the Blue notebook, and am into the Yellow one, which is supposedly a novel.

[Jazzy]

I've finished this book today, and yes it is well written but not sure I want to read it again, so 4 stars.

Quite familiar though, since I have many friends who are Communists, and whilst it is a wonderful idea in theory, for practicality I lean toward Socialism so had to agree to politely disagree with them on many issues.

[Brian E]

Kathy wrote: "I'm slowly reading this book and am enjoying how different it is from books I usually read. This book takes some work just to figure out what's going on."

Good for you, Kathy. I think this is a book one can appreciate and enjoy, but only with an exerted effort. I decided I was not up for the effort at this time, and admire you and Jazzy for making that effort during this holiday period.
I've noticed from previous years that I tend to choose to tackle challenging reads in January through April and September rather than either the summer or the winter holiday period.

[Jazzy]

Thank you for your kind words Brian, but I hadn't realised being in lockdown was a holiday! Perhaps you will read it later.

I do most of my reading in December and January as my classes come to an end and then there is nothing happening until they start again.

[Brian E]

Jazzy wrote: "Thank you for your kind words Brian, but I hadn't realised being in lockdown was a holiday! Perhaps you will read it later. "

Yes, being in lockdown can be like a holiday. Like Christmas, you just stay in jammies all day and enjoy your at-home playthings.
In addition, though, this Thursday is the American Thanksgiving Day, which starts the holiday season, and then there is Christmas and New Years. Actually, it seems more and more that the Holiday season commences on Halloween, the last day in October and continues through New Years or Twelfth night.

[Tr1sha]

Like Brian, I have to confess that I tried this book but didn’t continue with it. I admire those who read & enjoyed it.

[Jazzy]

Brian wrote: "Jazzy wrote: "Thank you for your kind words Brian, but I hadn't realised being in lockdown was a holiday! Perhaps you will read it later. "

Yes, being in lockdown can be like a holiday. Like Chris..."

I'm looking forward to Chanukah, which is on the 10th of December. Too bad I don't have any jammies. I don't have a bedroom so i just stay dressed all day (and night) hahaha
Happy holiday to you!

[Brian E]

Jazzy wrote: "Too bad I don't have any jammies.."

No, jammies? You should get these: https://www.catalogfavorites.com/item...

[Jazzy]

Brian those are adorable! If i had them i would certainly wear them :D

[Kathy]

I really liked this book and was amazed at how Lessing writes about human emotions. The characters lived lives so different from my own and that was interesting also.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Kathy I am glad you really liked this book. It being so different than most of the books we read might explain how she ended up being a Nobel Laureate.