2023 WP shortlist - The Marriage Portrait

[Hugh, Active moderator]

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I was a big fan of “Hamnet” which I know had mixed views.

Many fans of that book will I think be drawn to this and see many similarities – but for me it drew too much on the downsides of “Hamnet” without much of what made that such a special (and timely) book.

I explain a bit more in my review but I hope to see this quietly dropped at shortlist stage.

[Paul]

Not as good as Hamnet isn’t selling this to me given how much I disliked that!

[Cindy]

I agree that this is not as good as Hamnet, but I nevertheless found it riveting and absorbing and could barely put it down. I actually did not expect it to be longlisted and don't expect it to be shortlisted. But I will follow O'Farrell's writing for so long as she continues to write.

[John]

I loved Hamnet and looking forward to reading this (my wife is reading it at the moment).

[Lisa]

I loved Hamnet. I didn’t enjoy this as much, but maybe that’s because this was a less familiar story for me.

[WndyJW]

I loved Hamnet, but something was missing from this novel for me too and I’m not quite sure what. I enjoyed the beginning of the book which was about life in the Medici family, but for a book about historical figures the characters were not fully developed.

I didn’t hate this book, I think I gave it 3 stars, but I didn’t feel invested in the characters or get drawn into the book.

[Jo]

Cindy wrote: "I agree that this is not as good as Hamnet, but I nevertheless found it riveting and absorbing and could barely put it down. I actually did not expect it to be longlisted and don't expect it to be ..."
Completely agree - I teach My Last Duchess and knowing the play and the context I think makes the difference in this novel. I hope to see it in the shortlist but doubt it will win. Still, an accomplished novel.

[Hugh, Active moderator]

I am afraid that an RRP of £25 for a book of less than 500 pages seems very excessive to me - I might well wait for the paperback in July.

[Jo]

Hugh wrote: "I am afraid that an RRP of £25 for a book of less than 500 pages seems very excessive to me - I might well wait for the paperback in July."

500 pages but a fairly quick read. 'Readable' is probably the word. Library or ebook?

Book prices seem to be skyrocketing. Surprised with the number of hardbacks at £20+

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Yes I borrowed from the library.

[Ben]

I gasped when this first came out and there was a £75 edition.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

That seemed cheap for a marriage portrait until I realised it was for a novel.

[Jo]

GY and your sense of humour! (Giggles!)

[John]

I'm nearly finished reading this one and am somewhat disappointed. I very much enjoyed Hamnet (a worthy winner of the 2020 Women's Prize) and was looking forward to The Marriage Portrait.

The packaging in terms of jacket cover art and so on is quite spectacular, but what's inside not so much. Sure there are fine passages as one would expect from O'Farrell. My problem I think is the authorial voice (even implied) is just so overpowering, even melodramatic. Sure I get the whole theme of the prision of the times in which Lucrezia finds herself and O'Farrell's effort to give her agency (including as an artist). I get the significant gender politics and perspective here. I just don't find it conveyed in a way that's interesting as literature or in terms of a voice that might be historicised in an interesting way.

The contemporary voice, O'Farrell's voice, is just too there for me. There's no nuanced interplay much here in what I would call free indirect discourse. Too often it's heavy-handed. Just not a book for me. I'm not dismissing the thematic concerns, they are important. On this occassion just not developed in a literary form that I find all that compelling.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Her footsteps are slow and measured. She can walk, with every footstep pressing a print into gravel, at her own pace, in any direction she chooses, for as long as she wishes. There is nobody here to bother or pester her or put her in danger. She can go where she pleases: Alfonso told her so, using these exact words. Where she pleases.

For me this quote summed up the writing almost perfectly - slow, measured and languid and an author going where she pleases rather than where this reader wants to go.

It’s still beautiful but I felt lacked real clear direction

[John]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "
Her footsteps are slow and measured. She can walk, with every footstep pressing a print into gravel, at her own pace, in any direction she chooses, for as long as she wishes. There is nobody her..."

GY yes i recall you mentioning this in your review. When I hit the passage I thought OK clever in a way about giving her agency and freedom where she can find it. But at same time I wasn't convinced that this was 'Lucrezia'. Even though it is'nt first person narration, there's definitely an effort here at something like free indirect, but I felt this direction we are prodded in here is too much O'Farell's and it annoyed me, even at same time I admired the imagery, the rhythms and so on. Maybe I feel railroaded with this one, not enough room for interpretation to breathe and stretch in terms of historical fiction.

Here's a possibility I just thought of. Does this gilded cage feel of the novel (for me anyway), it's beautiful but suffocating, structurally and formally mirror the themes O'Farrell's exploring? So the very thing I find annoying is what the work strives to convey? But even so, still doesn't convince me for some reason.

[Jen]

John’s comment about contemporary voice resonates for me. That might have worked, but wasn’t so successful here in my view. Having said that I enjoyed reading it, it was a story I knew nothing of and she can spin a yarn for sure. A solid 4* read as it was a page turning, enjoyable book for me over the holidays.

I hope the shortlist will uncover some gems, not sure I will read many before then. Though I’ll read I'm a Fan for sure. Not published here yet.

[Nadine in California]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "
Her footsteps are slow and measured. She can walk, with every footstep pressing a print into gravel, at her own pace, in any direction she chooses, for as long as she wishes. There is nobody her..."

For me, the overall emotional context of the book (fear, foreboding) gives the languidness you describe an electrical charge that is anything but languid. Fear + Languidness = Dread. Sometimes this book seemed like it had a foot in two genres, historical and horror.

[Britta]

Paul wrote: "Not as good as Hamnet isn’t selling this to me given how much I disliked that!"

Same here!

[Carol]

I enjoyed this jolly historical romp, but sadly haven’t really thought about it again since finishing it. I did like the end though.

[Britta]

O'Farrell knows how to tell a story (albeit at times less descriptions would have been appreciated) and her sense of place and setting is very good. However, I don't think the character of Lucrezia (or Alfonso for that matter) is convincing. O'Farrell's modern approach - strongwilled woman tries to find her own way despite dire marital cirumstances - is based on a type of individualistic look an one's life that just isn't in line with the world view in the 1500s. Especially for a family like the Medici, 'group-identitiy' and paying one's due to the advancement of the family were way more important than individual life goals, and I think that the IRL Lucrezia had a completely different attitude towards life in general and her place in it than the one portrayed in the book.

Still: 3*

[Britta]

Also, the ending: (view spoiler)[ The ending was quite bad on so many levels. Unnecessary to hit the reader with the suprise that L. 'got away' and also her escape only worked because Emilia was killed in her place. Quite selfish to be ok with your favorite maid getting murdered. Even if L. didn't l´know that the murder would take place that night - which she at least suspected - she would have heard about 'her' demise and should at least feel thoroughly guilty... And for a historical novel to change the way your main character dies so that you can have your surprise ending is a bit much of 'artistic freedom' spoiler>. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

Ha, I seem to be the only person on this thread who didn't like Hamnet and thought this was a lot better (though I'd agree with some of the criticisms made).

[David]

What worked for you, Laura? This is relatively high in the group rankings so it’s definitely picking up some fans.

[Laura]

David wrote: "What worked for you, Laura? This is relatively high in the group rankings so it’s definitely picking up some fans."

I'm still trying to figure that out :) bit of a funny one for me as I can see intellectually that this has all the same problems I criticised in Hamnet (though I think it's a bit less overwritten) but I just found it so much more emotionally engaging. It's helped me to understand the reaction others readers had to Hamnet as well. Putting together a review now...

[David]

Great review, Laura. And interesting comparison with the Browning.

[Laura]

David wrote: "Great review, Laura. And interesting comparison with the Browning."

Thank you! I read the Browning poem as a teenager, when also studying Webster's The Duchess of Malfi, and both texts made a huge impact on me, so that might explain why I connected so deeply to this novel.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I am re reading this and thinking I was harsh first time around. I still feel my criticisms were valid but she writes so beautifully - with this, the all conquering Demon Copperhead (which this prize has first claim in really as it’s long listing far preceded the Pulitzer), the vibrancy of Fire Rush, the assuredness of Trespasses and the quirkiness of Pod it’s a strong shortlist. I am very much looking forward to the shortlist readings.

[Cindy]

I am glad you are feeling kinder towards The Marriage Portrait. She really does write beautifully and I was truly absorbed into the story. It is a strong shortlist.

[WndyJW]

If I wasn’t determined to read the books I have I would be tempted to read this shortlist. I read and enjoyed The Marriage Portrait, I plan to read Fire Rush, and might get Demon Copperhead on audio this month.