This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and buy I will receive a percentage commission at no extra cost to you.
The Lesser Bohemians follows Eily, a first year drama student, newly arrived in London
from Ireland, throughout the school year, though college is definitely not the
focus. She is keen to experience all that student life in a big city has to
offer, first on her list – losing her virginity. She succeeds in this aim when
she meets an actor twenty years her senior in a pub and ends up back at his
bedsit. Thus begins a tumultuous relationship in which she struggles with his habit of promiscuousness and
when hurt does things that she instantly regrets. As the novel progresses they
grow in emotional intimacy and we see the emotional damage that causes Stephen
to struggle with letting love in.
We are not told their names until quite late in the novel, Stephen’s
especially comes so late that it feels almost awkward, but perhaps this is an
attempt to indicate a better depth of knowing the characters. Alongside the
disclosure of names there is also a shift to more access to dialogue between
them, and the terms of affection that they use, perhaps an indicator of the
move towards, and acceptance of, affection beyond desire.
The narrative style is instantly striking, described by McBride as
stream of experience rather than consciousness as it deals with far more than
the mind. There is something poetic about the writing that sweeps you along in
it. An entire book in a type of stream of consciousness would usually be far
from enjoyable for me, but not so here, so expertly crafted that it feels
entirely natural. Experiencing everything as Eily does gives us a real sense of
intimacy with the characters and a rawness to the emotions. When it feels that
disaster is being foreshadowed your heart will break at the thought of it.
Stephen is kind to Eily on their first night together, her beliefs
about his desire causes a souring in relations, but he still shows a level of
care in the morning. They seem to constantly be hurting each other at just the
moment the other makes a real effort, but underneath it all there seems genuine
affection. The way Stephen treats Eily is at times difficult to watch,
especially when we see how it impacts her beyond their time together. Despite
the difficulties they seem drawn to each other, and you do find yourself
rooting for them to find a way to happiness together.
A beautiful, intriguing novel, recently revealed to be the first of
a trilogy. It feels complete as it is, but I doubt I’ll be able to resist the
sequel.
Pick up a copy:
No comments:
Post a Comment