A busy writer and her academic husband, neither of whom is interested in house work, look for a housekeeper to help them out. Emerence is recommended to them - with the cryptic warning 'She doesn't just take anyone on'. After being duly interviewed by the formidable Emerence the author and her husband are taken on. In this slowly eeked out story, small crumbs of information are carefully woven into the fabric of the story. Emerence, her strange attitudes to people, why no-one can enter her home, animals and the way she dresses are all intertwined with her life. A difficult book to precis and review.
This book generated an interesting discussion on war, PTS, spinsterhood and life in a Communist state, we did wonder if it actually was more of a political allegory than story?.
Words used: mystical, symbolic, dispassionate, dry, engrossing, intriguing, difficult, challenging
Marks out of 10 - between 6 - 8
Next Book
Old Filth by Jane Gardam
Next Meeting
10 March at hosted by Maire at 117 Harbord St
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