Carol’s Comments by
Carol Rusinek
December 2012
Hello,
Everyone! Welcome to another issue of Carol’s Comments. I am a volunteer
at the River Park Branch. For some odd reason, it took me forever to find the
perfect book to kick off my Fall reading spree. After sampling dozens of titles
ranging from Tina Fey’s Bossypants to Prague Winter by
Madeleine Albright, nothing seemed to work.
The
only book that really intrigued me was Fifty Shames of Earl Grey, a very
hilarious parody of E.L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey which I
ironically read during Banned Books Week. Unfortunately, it was far too risqué
to review in this column.
Just
when I was about to give up hope of ever selecting the right book, one evening
I watched Masterpiece Theatre’s splendid 1997 adaptation of The
Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. The film impressed me so much that I
decided to read Collins’ original book. Published in 1860, The Woman in White is
considered the first “sensation” novel because it combines the creepy elements
of Gothic fiction with Victorian psychological realism. This forerunner of the
modern thriller reminded me of a cross between Charlotte Bronte and Edgar Allan
Poe. It is also one of the first novels to feature multiple narrators.
The
story centers around two sisters: Laura and Marian Fairlie who discover that
they are eerily connected to a mysterious “Woman in White” Anne Catherick who
bears a strong resemblance to the younger sister Laura.
With
the help of young artist Walter Hartright, the sisters are able to foil the
nefarious plot concocted by the sinister Count Foscoe and Laura’s husband Sir
Percival Glyde that could ruin them forever.
Despite
its length and 19th century writing style, The Woman in White has a
very complex and fascinating plot filled with intrigue, terror and madness.
This chilling adventure is a terrific way to spend a gloomy autumn evening.
After
finishing The Woman in White and soon realizing that The Flight of Gemma Hardy still
had a profound effect on me, I longed to re-inhabit Charlotte Bronte’s world.
One Sunday, I read an article in The New York Times which stated that
reimagining or updating literary classics wasn’t a recent phenomenon.
One
novel that may have started this trend was Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys.
Published in 1966, Rhys’ book is a prequel to Jane Eyre. Set in 1830’s Jamaica, this spellbinding
tale focuses on Creole heiress Antoinette Cosway, Edward Rochester’s first
wife. Told through the perspectives of both Rochester and Antoinette, the story
vividly describes the heroine’s rapid descent into madness. Despite its
incomplete ending, Rhys’ deeply intense and passionate novel perfectly
illustrates how unforeseen circumstances can drive anyone insane.
While
searching SJCPL’s online catalog for this book, I was pleasantly surprised to
find a film version of Wide Sargasso Sea. This
exceptionally beautiful 2006 BBC production successfully brings Jean Rhys’
novel to life. Stephen Greenhorn’s atmospheric and very mesmerizing screenplay
adds essential plot and character development lacking in the original story. This
very sensual film allows the viewer to witness Antoinette’s extreme anguish and
eventual mental deterioration amidst a tropical paradise.
When
PBS aired Downton Abbey Series 2 again in early December, I suddenly
realized that I watched it two times within 6 months! What fascinated me most about Season 2 was the devastating
effects of World War I on British society. I was particularly interested in the
war’s dramatic impact on women.
Although
many novels like All Quiet on the Western Front and Hemingway’s A
Farewell to Arms realistically depict the horrors of war through the
soldiers’ perspective, few books capture World War I’s destructiveness through
a woman’s viewpoint.
The
landmark work chronicling World War I through a woman’s eyes is Testament
of Youth, the heartbreaking memoir by Vera Brittain . Much like Downton Abbey’s Lady Sybil Crawley,
Miss Brittain served as a nurse in the Army
Hospital Service and witnessed firsthand the war’s destructive cruelties as
well as the utter decimation of England’s young men. The very lengthy
autobiography also painstakingly and poignantly recounts how the author lost many
loved ones including her fiancé.
Regrettably,
the St Joseph County Public Library doesn’t currently own a copy of this
remarkable book. However, it can be
obtained from another library through interlibrary loan. Likewise, the
wonderful 1979 BBC TV/ PBS miniseries starring Cheryl Campbell as Vera Brittain
is presently unavailable in U.S. DVD format. Ultimately, Testament of Youth is a
must read for anyone interested in the tragic aftermath of World War I.
When
I finished Brittain’s memoir, I still wanted read a fictionalized account of
World War I’s dramatic impact on English everyday life. While skimming through The
New York Times Book Review, I found an article suggesting that Life
Class and its sequel Toby’s Room might appeal to Downton
Abbey devotees. I immediately checked out Life Class from the
library.
Written
by award winning British author Pat Barker, this fast paced novel centers on
the complicated relationship between three art students: Paul Tarrant, Elinor
Brooke and Kit Neville set against the backdrop of World War I. The book’s
absorbing narrative successfully blends historical realism with romantic
melodrama. I enjoyed Life Class so much that I plan to
read the sequel Toby’s Room very soon.
For
more information about all the books and movies reviewed in my column, visit
the SJCPL web site at www.libraryforlife.org
. Thanks for reading!
Previously posted at the SJCPL blog
Previously posted at the SJCPL blog
