Wednesday Reading Meme
Sep. 25th, 2024 08:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
osprey_archerWhat I’ve Just Finished Reading
Like John le Carré’s first Smiley novel Call for the Dead, his second A Murder of Quality is more of a murder mystery than the sort of spy story for which he was later acclaimed. In fact, this book has almost no spy content at all, but it does expand upon one of le Carré’s other great themes, which might be described as “They fuck you up, your public schools.” (Public schools meaning posh English boarding schools.)
Also Sorche Nic Leodhas’s Ghosts Go Haunting, with excellent silhouette illustrations by Nonny Hogrogian. A delicious collection of Scottish ghost stories, which would be perfect for reading around a campfire - one of those books with a wonderful cadence to the writing that would clearly read aloud well.
What I’m Reading Now
You will be unsurprised to hear that there are no fairy references at all while Jane Eyre is under St. John’s oppressive influence. As Jane notes, to please him she must “disown half my nature”; and as St. John is interested in Jane merely as a yoke-fellow in his missionary work, believing that she is “formed for labour, not for love,” he of course sees nothing elf-like about her. (St. John is one of the most chilling men in literature, because he crushes people so completely while believing devoutly that he intends nothing but good. Rosamunde Oliver had a lucky escape in not becoming his wife.)
But just when all appears lost, and Jane quivers on the cusp of accepting St. John’s offer of marriage, the uncanny touches her again. Across the distance she hears Rochester cry, “Jane! Jane! Jane!”, and knows that she must go to him.
Jane insists this is no witchcraft - no magic - that Nature “was roused, and did—no miracle—but her best.” Well, perhaps. Or perhaps it seems natural because we have been so thoroughly primed to see Jane herself as an elfin creature, with one foot in the world of magic, and a touch of the uncanny about Rochester as well.
What I Plan to Read Next
My next le Carré is The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Everyone tells me that this is the book where le Carré starts scourging your soul with a purifying fire, and I can’t wait.
Like John le Carré’s first Smiley novel Call for the Dead, his second A Murder of Quality is more of a murder mystery than the sort of spy story for which he was later acclaimed. In fact, this book has almost no spy content at all, but it does expand upon one of le Carré’s other great themes, which might be described as “They fuck you up, your public schools.” (Public schools meaning posh English boarding schools.)
Also Sorche Nic Leodhas’s Ghosts Go Haunting, with excellent silhouette illustrations by Nonny Hogrogian. A delicious collection of Scottish ghost stories, which would be perfect for reading around a campfire - one of those books with a wonderful cadence to the writing that would clearly read aloud well.
What I’m Reading Now
You will be unsurprised to hear that there are no fairy references at all while Jane Eyre is under St. John’s oppressive influence. As Jane notes, to please him she must “disown half my nature”; and as St. John is interested in Jane merely as a yoke-fellow in his missionary work, believing that she is “formed for labour, not for love,” he of course sees nothing elf-like about her. (St. John is one of the most chilling men in literature, because he crushes people so completely while believing devoutly that he intends nothing but good. Rosamunde Oliver had a lucky escape in not becoming his wife.)
But just when all appears lost, and Jane quivers on the cusp of accepting St. John’s offer of marriage, the uncanny touches her again. Across the distance she hears Rochester cry, “Jane! Jane! Jane!”, and knows that she must go to him.
Jane insists this is no witchcraft - no magic - that Nature “was roused, and did—no miracle—but her best.” Well, perhaps. Or perhaps it seems natural because we have been so thoroughly primed to see Jane herself as an elfin creature, with one foot in the world of magic, and a touch of the uncanny about Rochester as well.
What I Plan to Read Next
My next le Carré is The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Everyone tells me that this is the book where le Carré starts scourging your soul with a purifying fire, and I can’t wait.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-25 05:32 pm (UTC)Haha enjoy! No wonder that is the book that made his name. The movie, with Richard Burton and Claire Bloom, is great too.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-25 07:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-09-26 12:33 pm (UTC)My dad's cousin was so fucked up by his. My dad wasn't, but he was the kind of kid who was both extremely able academically - he retired a Cambridge professor - and a decent & enthusiastic athlete.
Jane insists this is no witchcraft - no magic - that Nature “was roused, and did—no miracle—but her best.”
Very Romantic-Gothic! I love that the fairy/uncanny/etc references disappear while Jane's with St. John.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-26 12:41 pm (UTC)And yes, it's so fitting that the magic references disappear when St. John's around. Simply represses them out of existence with the weight of his personality.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-26 06:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-09-27 01:27 pm (UTC)