Vera by Elizabeth von Arnim

A hidden gem of a book!   Lucy Entwhistle young, naive, hopelessly trusting and recently bereaved of her beloved father, finds comfort in the organising, overbearing recently windowed Everard Wemyss.  This clever careful tale becomes a black comedy as the character of Wemyss develops and we come to understand that Vera (Wemyss's first wife) may have decided that suicide by falling from a window was preferable to life with Wemyss.  This is slowly revealed in intimate detail as the story progresses and Wemyss's character is unveiled in all its awfulness.  A delicious book, which illustrates the lack of power and advocacy women had over their own lives at the turn of the 20th C, either being under the aegis of their father, then their husband.

This book is suppose to have been a reflection of Elizabeth's own disastrous second marriage to Earl Russell and clearly influenced Daphne du Maurier and her writing of Rebecca.

The story provoked a good discussion about the place of women, how things have changed, the lack of influence and the wonderful dialogue of the Aunt with her great lines.  Many concidered it would make a great play.  Although some members thought Lucy vapid, she was really just a conduit for the bully Wemyss to play out his OCD, narcissistic tendencies!

Words used to describe it:

Charming, a discovery, looking forward to reading it (you must Alison) engaging, enchanting, wanted more, must read

Marks out of 10 - all 9's

Next book

The Spell of Winter by Helen Dunmore

Next meeting

115 Harbord St

9th July

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey

This book isn't called an American Classic for nothing!  We all thought we knew the story, having either read or seen the movie many years ago, but reading it again you realise what a good book it is and why.  
Randle McMurphy arrives at Pendleton Mental Institution, Oregon from prison, relived as his days of hard labour are over, not appreciating  that now he has no date for release and he could be incarcerated indefinitely under the 'care' of the tyrant Nurse.  Nurse is the main character in this book.  McMurphy subverts and undermines her cruel, inhumane and psychotic authority bringing life, laughter and a reason to live into the lives of the inmates of the asylum.  It doesn't end happily.  It is a discourse on Big Brother, the affect of an omnipresent and autocratic government and the state of mental health treatment in the US in the 60/70's on people and a not so subtle elegy to the human spirit.

Words used to describe it:
mind fuck, captivation, chilling, excellent

Marks out of 10 between 8 and one 10!

Next Book

Vera by Elizabeth von Arnim

Next Meeting 

28th May 

at 

117 Harbord St