That I didn't particularly enjoy it is almost certainly because I cannot warm to Lively as a personality and to read an autobiography with any pleasure I suppose you have to either admire or like the author (or dislike them so much you can enjoy having all your prejudices confirmed). I haven't read enough of her work to develop any admiration for Lively as a writer which was a handicap that her voice in this book didn't overcome; if anything it was the opposite and I was strongly reminded if people I've found tedious at dinner parties - and from there it's all down hill.
That's not a very rational response, though it's one reason why I don't read many biographies and actively avoid them when it comes to favourite authors - you can't escape into a written world quite so happily if it's creator turns out to be obnoxious. Not that Lively comes across as obnoxious , she really doesn't, but the world of an only child who spends most of her time alone or with her nanny/governess felt quite claustrophobic to me as a reader. There are things she has to say about the nature of time and distance, homesickness, and culture shock that resonate but overwhelmingly there is a sense of self absorption - which is basically the point of the book.
Lively is looking at her own memories much as an archeologist might examine physical remains and trying to fit them in to the known history of the period. In this case war time Egypt. For the most part her recollections are of smells, colours, and the general texture of her own every day life against which the war makes very little impact - and why would it. Overlaid on the original impressions are layers of created and shared memory that come with hindsight and the telling of stories and all the inconsistencies they bring.
In theory these are themes that are right up my street, and when I made myself get on with the book I found enough of interest to make finishing it fall short of the chore I feared it might become but in the end there was no spark. I don't think I'll be trying Lively again, at least not anytime soon, she's better left to those who do find the right chemistry with her writing.
I am so interested in your response to this memoir; it was exactly the way I felt when I read it (or most of it - I abandoned it about 3/4 of the way through). The chemistry just wasn't right, though all of the indications were that this would be just the sort of thing I love to read. I put it away for the future; perhaps the right time will come when it delights. Or possibly not? I do have a hard time really liking Penelope Lively's novels, though I have a lasting favourable impression of Moon Tiger, which I read many years ago. Her writing can be rather flat, I find. Oleander, Jacaranda was not bad, but neither was it as stellar as it should have been. (In my opinion.)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree - it sounded like a book I should love, was in no way badly written, but left me cold. It's very reassuring to know I'm by no means alone in this. One day I might try one of her novels to see if I feel the same ambivalence towards it but not in my current, distinctly negative, mood about her.
DeleteA while ago I read, and quite enjoyed, a couple of PL's novels, but like you, I just couldn't get on with this, and like Barb, I abandoned it before the end. Obviously we all share a kind of chemistry which doesn't align with PL's. I remember the reason I got this one was that I'd heard or read people raving about it. Oh well -- you can't win them all.
ReplyDeleteVery true! Generally I can isolate what it is that doesn't work for me about a book, but this one felt very much like a difference of personalities which is an honest enough reason but not a very satisfactory one.
DeleteThe first Lively I read was her novel Consequences. I loved it. Since then I have have liked her novels to varying degrees but didn't get on much with Oleander, Jacaranda. Before giving up on her, give Consequences a go. In general I think it is one of her more readable novels How it All Began and According to Mark are also on the more readable side.
ReplyDeleteMaybe one day, Thomas - but for now I'm more inclined to avoid her. Only desperation would make me pick up another of her biographies.
ReplyDeleteI've only read two books by Penelope Lively and I think there is something about het 'voice' that I find hard to engage with. So may be it's not just me.
ReplyDelete