While I've Been Away, Part I

You may have noticed that there’s been rather a long silence since my last post. Other commitments sadly got in the way and although I kept intending to post it never quite became reality. Before (hopefully!) getting back to my more regular posts I thought I’d write a few short words on some of the things I’ve been reading in the meantime. My memory not being perfect and my notes sadly having been lost short words they must be, but I’ve read some great books that it would seem a shame not to share.

Infinite Jest, David Foster Wallace – This behemoth took me something like three months to plough through. It’s a complicated set of stories based variously around a Tennis Academy, a drug and alcohol recovery house, and a group of wheelchair assassins. It’s not until quite near the end that the links between the different narratives begin to become apparent. Some tough subjects are touched upon – addiction, domestic abuse, suicide, and difficult family relationships and the traces they leave. This may not be the easiest book to get through, and the infamous endnotes are certainly something, but it was absolutely worth the effort. Quite honestly I felt like I was being given an insight in to the mind of a genius.

The Engagements, J. Courtney Sullivan – Five stories spanning the past 80 years linked together by an engagement ring. From Frances Gerety, the woman who coined the phrase ‘a diamond is forever’ finding her place in a man’s world through to 2012 and a woman who mirrors Gerety’s refusal to conform to gender stereotypes. The book deals with the nature of love and marriage, no romantic delusions present, but also covers some critical social history. Although I’m not a massive fan of the neat linking up of the different narratives, this is an engaging, thoughtful read.

The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood – A dystopian novel set in a time where the role of women is carefully controlled. The handmaids are kept for reproductive purposes, their old names forgotten, new names assigned to them indicating which man they are currently in dominion to. The flashbacks to the protagonist’s previous life gives an unsettling sense of the helplessness of her situation, of how easily freedom can be snatched away. A genuinely disturbing novel, well deserving of its place on most ‘must-read’ book lists.

Reasons to Stay Alive, Matt Haig – I’m a big fan of Matt Haig. I loved The Humans and have read a lot of the articles and blog posts he’s written. I even went to a talk he did about this book. I think this may have been part of the problem – by the time I actually read the book it didn’t feel like there was all that much that was new in it. In saying this, if you haven’t followed Haig quite as avidly but are interested in depression then this is a great read. It’s honest and funny and in explaining his techniques for coping with depression he gives some sound advice.

How to Build a Girl, Caitlin Moran – A coming of age novel focusing on a teenaged girl trying to lift her family out of poverty one music review at a time. It’s amusing enough and she learns some important lessons along the way, ones that some women far more advanced in years would benefit from remembering. At times I found her oblivious self-centredness a tad exaggerated and mildly irritating. An easy read that is ultimately heartfelt and hopeful and will provide a few hours of light entertainment.

Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination - British Library

The British Library's biggest Gothic exhibition to date traces the development of the genre over 250 years. What better starting point than Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto, an essential catalyst for the Gothic revival of the mid-eighteenth century? In the exploration of the origins of this novel and the life of its author we are introduced to some of the settings and plot devices common in the literature of the genre. Progressing through the eighteenth century we arrive at the nineteenth century and the added psychological dimension developed by some of the great novelists of the age twinned with the absorption of contemporary concerns in to the portrayal of the Gothic horrors.

The latter part of the exhibition focuses on modern Gothic with its continued obsession with current concerns - now manifesting themselves in anxiety around psychological and bodily trauma and an obsession with the fragility and eventual decay of the body. It is shown that the same strong themes have permeated the genre from early novels through to modern film and fashion as well as highlighting ongoing concerns over the damaging effect of the exposure of young people to such horrors, fears which were so prevalent back in 1796 with the publication of Matthew Lewis's The Monk. 

A broad exhibition which never loses its focus, and successfully shows how modern manifestations of the genre are firmly rooted in tradition. Whether you're drawn to it because of a love or literature, film, or all things Gothic there'll be something to satisfy your desires. I certainly came away with a long list of books and films to explore further. The labyrinthine feel to the design of the exhibition space with its semi-opaque black curtains creates a somewhat mysterious feel leading to a more immersive experience. 

The exhibition runs until 20th January 2015 and is definitely worth a visit. 

The Garden of Evening Mists, Tan Twan Eng

The Garden of Evening Mists is the story of Supreme Court judge Teoh Yun Ling and her attempts to record her memories before the aphasia strips them away. There’s a complex narrative chronology split between the present, her time as a prisoner of war, and the time in which she sought out the Emperor’s ex-gardener Aritomo to teach her to create a garden in memory of her sister, Yun Hong.

From the start we see Yun Ling’s obsession with ageing and decay and how the way in which she views the world is shaped and coloured by the war. Two of the main themes of the novel are remembering and forgetting, and there are some painful scenes where the horror of losing the ability to comprehend the world is poignantly portrayed. There’s both a desperate need to remember – to remember loved ones who are lost, to remember what happened, and to honour those who didn’t make it whilst also dealing with the issue of how much the past should be let go of, the difficult fact that holding on too tightly can damage the present.

As the story progresses we learn more about the complex development of the various relationships depicted. The narrative order makes this particularly interesting as you work backwards to discover how relationships were shaped. There are revelations for both the characters and the reader as we learn that most of the key players are harbouring some form of guilt, and we are constantly forced to re-assess our opinions.

This is a slow burner of a novel which is very real and very human. At the centre is a deep pain which winds itself around the story and permeates every aspect of the characters’ lives. There are references to very specialized knowledge about the art of gardening as well as a good dose of history, but the universal themes of guilt, regret, love, memory, and obsession mean that the story has the ability to resonate with any reader.

The Moon and Sixpence, W. Somerset Maugham

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This review details some events in the novel that may spoil sections for those who have not yet read it.

The Moon and Sixpence tells the story of Charles Strickland, stockbroker turned artist who gives little explanation when he leaves his life in London to while away his hours painting in Paris. Maugham took his inspiration for the character from the life of Paul Gauguin, but there are reminders throughout that this is not Gauguin’s story, an obvious example being that it is specifically mentioned that Strickland had never met Van Gogh.

Our narrator is an author, writing a book about Strickland’s life. This has an impact on the way he writes the story, and he admits that he embellishes and interprets what Strickland actually said. In his opening explanation as to why he feels it necessary to add a further book to the existing selection on the topic he explains his own opinions on art and that he believes the artist puts part of themselves in their work – an opinion worth remembering throughout as he attempts to dissect Strickland’s personality. We do, however, learn more about our narrator’s character than his subject in the opening chapters. The book as a whole is an interesting examination of the complexity of individual psychologies and we learn a lot about him through his interaction with others. He comes across as socially awkward and naïve with set ideas about what  constitutes appropriate behaviour at different stages of life.

He judges Strickland for his behaviour and lack of concern, increasingly seeing him as an odious man and he has no qualms in telling him that he finds him despicable. Strickland does not care for the opinions of others and points out that it is really this lack of power that distresses the narrator. There’s something oddly admirable about Strickland’s total absence of care in regards social pressure and expectations, although there’s no denying that his behaviour is far from ideal. He is a complex character; both incredibly straightforward and upfront but with unexpected passion and hidden concerns. For all his flaws he seems to understand deeply some truths about human nature that others do not. Any sympathetic feelings toward him do tend to dry up as the novel progresses and he seemingly heartlessly breaks up the marriage of someone who has shown him nothing but kindness, and feels no pity when it ends in death.

Strickland is often described as having sensual features and he has a lot of pent up lust that he has to relieve on occasion, a fact he seems to resent as an unworthy distraction from his art. He does at least see lust as natural, love on the other hand seems to him to be a weakness. He does not believe Blanche Stroeve loved him, merely that she wanted to possess him, and thinks her foolish for her actions. He shows no remorse or concern for either her or her husband, Dirk.

On leaving his wife, Strickland felt no guilt at forcing her to fend for herself, and indeed her reaction to his departure suggests he may not be entirely wrong in his views on the nature of relationships. She is greatly concerned with what people will say, and remains ashamed of earning a living (she is by no means a feminist figure). In many ways they are an incongruous pair, he caring nothing of what people think of him nor for physical comfort, but for all their differences they do share a devotion to different forms of art, albeit a passion that manifests itself in very different forms.

Despite his affection for Strickland’s wife, our narrator is surprised by her concerns and disturbed by the assertion that had she been called to her husband’s deathbed she would willingly have gone and cared for him. This he sees as a strange passion in women, almost as if they look forward to being able to play this role. He learns a lot about the world and the complexity of personal relations interlinked with the outside world from his dealings with Strickland, and seems to mature because of it.

The Moon and Sixpence is full of absolutely fascinating characters whose backstory and the impact this has on their psychology is gradually revealed throughout. Rarely have I come across a novel that is so sage in its approach to its characters’ mental development. Despite the constant reminders that we have an unreliable narrator who does not know all the facts and elaborates on those he does, you’re left with a very clear sense of the varied characters. Strickland may seem despicable in his actions but its also clear that his compulsion to paint enslaves him, making him an intriguing protagonist.

This was the first of Maugham’s work that I read, and it left me eager to read more.

Pick up a copy:

Bookshop

Foyles

Waterstones

White chocolate and blackberry cupcakes

Makes about 18 cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 250g unsalted butter, cubed
• 150g white chocolate, chopped
• 440g caster sugar
• 250ml milk
• 225g plain flour
• 75g self-raising flour
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 125g blackberries, halved, plus extra for decoration

Icing:

• 110g butter, softened
• 250g icing sugar
• 150g white chocolate, broken in to pieces
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp milk

Method:

• Preheat oven to gas mark 4/180°C/350°F and line a muffin tray with cupcake cases.
• Combine butter, chocolate, sugar, and milk in a saucepan and heat over a low heat, without boiling, stirring until smooth. Remove from the heat, pour in to a bowl, and allow to cool for about 15 mins.
• Using an electric whisk add the flours and then the vanilla essence and eggs and whisk until combined.
• Gently stir through the blackberries.
• Spoon the mixture in to the cases to about a third full and bake in the oven for 25-30 mins. The cakes should be a golden brown and have quite a crunchy top when fully baked.
• To make the icing, melt the chocolate over a pan of water. Remove from the heat once melted and allow to cool slightly.
• Use an electric whisk to beat the butter. Gradually add the icing sugar, beating well so that the mix is pale.
• Add the white chocolate and vanilla extract and mix in. 
• If the mix hasn't come together well or needs to be a bit softer, add the milk and mix well.
• Once the cupcakes are fully cooled pipe on the icing and top with a blackberry.

Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen

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Northanger Abbey is the story of Catherine Morland’s first season in Bath and all of the potential pitfalls of a life in society. Her love of Gothic literature and a timely visit to Northanger Abbey lead her on a mock Gothic adventure where she learns the difference between fact and fiction and discovers the true nature of some of her friends.

The reader is assumed to have some knowledge of literary tradition, with the assertion right from the first line that Catherine is not a typical heroine. The initial passage of description is in stark contrast to the character study of Jane Austen in her brother’s preface. This highlights the importance and interrelation of all aspects of a book and not merely the novel itself. As an avid reader we can assume that Catherine herself is aware that she is not in possession of the expected credentials of a heroine. Her meagre return home so different to the triumphal return of the great figures of literature is not lost on her, and we are reminded throughout of her failings as a Gothic heroine. Austen’s mocking of the oft-exaggerated Gothic female protagonists means that this is no damning judgement of her character. We are encouraged to laugh at her naivety and the misunderstandings caused by her over-active imagination, but ultimately we see her learn from her mistakes and mature in a fashion entirely appropriate to her young age.

Her love of novels goes beyond mere enjoyment of the story and starts to colour her view of the real world and the expectations she holds. It is therefore with great excitement that she sets off for Northanger Abbey, imagining it will be as if it were straight out of an Ann Radcliffe novel. Henry teases her on the journey, claiming she would not like it if it were as threatening as all that. Determined that she would she invents mystery where there is none and judges people for their imagined role in wicked activities. Henry realises where her mind has wandered and sets her straight. It is at this point that she realises how foolish she has been and that her sensationalising of events has led to an oversight of very real suffering.

It is not only this strain of childishness which is highlighted with her stay at the Abbey, but also her ignorance of what is fashionable as she does not show the desired sense of awe at some of the fine items. Throughout we are reminded that she has not been brought up in a way that would have equipped her with the necessary sensibilities to succeed flawlessly in society. She worries terribly when she thinks she has offended her friends but soon learns well enough that the appearance of friendliness must always be maintained. It is quite a revelation to her that people are not always entirely truthful in order to make themselves seem more impressive. In this way she learns not merely abut social expectations but also about human nature.

Austen gently mocks the ladies hunting for husbands, showing them to be easily swayed by flattery and occupying their time with shallow concerns. The scene in which it is asserted that an ignorant woman is far more likely to find a suitable husband is both a judgement on the qualities looked for in a genteel wife and also of the ever-changing focus in fashion and the subsequent shifts in art appreciation. That Catherine feels ashamed of her ignorance in such matters shows that she has a more genuine appreciation for that which she considers beautiful. It also again hints at the status of the novel at the time – she is well-read in popular fiction but this is not considered an intelligent activity and would not be discussed with potential suitors.

A light and humorous novel with a naïve but endearing protagonist which pokes fun at so much that was popular in the late eighteenth century. Lovers of Gothic fiction will enjoy the many references, even if Austen doesn’t seem the biggest fan of the genre. Not particularly to my taste but if you enjoy light hearted happy endings with a good dose of historic social commentary then you’ll probably appreciate this more than I did. 

Pick up a copy:

Waterstones

The First Georgians: Art & Monarchy 1714-1760, The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace

The title doesn’t give much of a clue about what you’ll see at this exhibition. It’s about the Georgians, yes, and it makes sense that the focus is on the monarchy seeing as it’s produced from the Royal Collection. The main perspective, however, I’d struggle to tell you.

The first room doesn’t make a huge impression despite containing one of my favourite items – a letter from Frederick, Prince of Wales to his son (and future King) from 1749 saying he won’t regret not being King so long as George rules worthily. This I found particularly touching considering the Hanoverian reputation for family feuds. Sentimentality aside, it’s a fairly weak start, suggesting the disparate nature of the exhibition as a whole.

After a vague introduction to the royal family there is a painting of James II and his family, hopeful of regaining the throne. Admittedly it is interesting to contrast this with depictions of the Hanoverians, but the impact would have been far greater had it been placed side by side with just such a painting rather than in a connecting room. It raises the idea of opposition but you first have to pass through a room focused on the royal palaces before the theme is taken up again with an area devoted to the Georgians at war.

I’ve been to a fair few of the Georgian inspired exhibitions in London this year and none of them particularly touched on this issue so I felt my interest piqued. I did learn a fair amount and particularly enjoyed the certificate confirming four spies had infiltrated to Jacobite camp on the eve of the Battle of Culloden, as well as the striking medley drawing by J. F. C. Schilling. Plans of battle don’t often have the power to engage me but I imagine if they do that you’d really enjoy this section.

That the next area deals with Hogarth signifies the unconnectedness that let this exhibition down. The final two rooms were inhabited by a plethora of decorative art and furnishings and although I felt as though I saw some impressive pieces they would likely have been more fully appreciated had they been presented in a more coherent fashion. It wasn’t the grand and impressive art that made it worthwhile being there but the personal touches such as the letters.

With so many excellent exhibitions celebrating the anniversary of the accession of the Hanoverians this one, sadly, would not be at the top of my recommendations.

The First Georgians: Art& Monarchy 1714-1760 is at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace until 12^th October, 2014.