I started reading Elizabeth Jane Howard's Falling several nights ago. I know nothing about the book and some months ago downloaded it at an extremely minimal cost. Like, say, $1.99?
The male protagonist, aging and in his sixties, is scrambling to get by financially. He lives on a houseboat, though he doesn't own it. He does not have the money to buy vodka when he wants a glass. His situation seems dismal, but on the other hand, he has very high standards and expectations of what he would like to find in a female companion. Please note: I'm only forty pages in on this one, but he is coming across as a totally unreliable narrator. I'm reading on to find out if he really is an unreliable narrator, or if something else is going on. And I worst of all, I don't know Howard's work as a whole, this being the first book I've read by her. So this is an adventure! Have you read books by Howard, and what have been your thoughts about them?
The House of Second Chances by Lauren Westwood
8 hours ago
Well, my first thought was that although I have heard of Elizabeth Jane Howard, I haven't read anything by her. Then I thought again. A vague memory of a short story and yes, when I checked there was one, Summer Picnic, in a Penguin anthology. I thought the writing was superb and the story was clever. I meant to try one of her novels and never have so I'll be watching how you get on with interest.
ReplyDeleteHi Cath,
DeleteKatrina emailed me to say that she wasn't able to post a reply on my blog. She said that she loved Howard's The Cazelet Chronicles, which Google is telling me is a series of five novels. That does sound interesting. (Katrina really liked them.) I want to continue with Falling, but it's so hard because there are so many other books grasping for my attention.
Hope Falling turns out to be a good read. Romance or mystery?
ReplyDeleteActually, I might say that Falling is neither romance or mystery. It's told from two different points of view, each telling their story--that is, Henry and alternately, Daisy. They each have had hard knocks, but these previous lives have affected each person totally differently. I'm fascinated by the way Howard has set this novel up! I'm a third of the way in, and I'm alternately shocked and sad for their past lives. So what will happen when they connect? Will that be a romance?? It's awfully hard to tell at this point. All I can say is I'm very glad I'm reading it and that I've been introduced to Howard's fiction.
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