Sunday Salon

It's Sunday and I've managed to read another couple of books. One of them was kindly sent to me by Legend Press -- a  collection of short stories called Eight hours. It's an ingenious idea -- each story, by a different author, takes place in real time (an hour, obviously).  I suppose the best way to describe them is to say they are very contemporary, issue-based stories -- abuse, incest, problems with sexuality and so on.  Clever idea -- they have published several of these collections. So if this appeals to you, do support Legend Press by buying a copy! They are a newish independent publisher -- here is what it says about them on their website:

Legend Press is the UK's youngest-run mainstream fiction publisher, specialising in cutting-edge contemporary work, including both literary and commercial ranges. Set up in 2005 by Tom Chalmers, our company's profile is rapidly growing and we have set out our intentions to double our list year-on-year until 2009.                                          

The other book I have read was an amazingly lucky find. I spotted it in a charity shop for a pound and snapped it up on the strength of its green cover. It has not been reprinted, seemingly, and does not appear on the Virago website. I had never heard of E Arnot Robinson, who was apparently a prolific novelist and very popular in the 1930s. This was a most fascinating and enjoyable book. 'Ordinary families' is clearly an ironic title, as the families here are really far from ordinary, though perhaps the point is that all families are in some way extraordinary and indeed what we would now call dysfunctional. The novel is narrated by Lallie, who is eleven at the start and in her 20s by the end, so it is, of course, what we in the trade call a bildungsroman -- a book about growing up, in other words. Lallie is a member of the impoverished middle class Rush family, who live in Sussex and whose lives revolve around boating. The middle daughter, she is intelligent, perceptive, thoughtful, and feels like a misfit. Her real love is bird-watching, which causes great mirth and leads to comments about her brains, which are not valued at all -- when, as a young adult, she expresses the wish to go to college and study something like zoology, the idea is roundly squashed as not at all the sort of thing Rush girls should be doing. Really, though, what the book is about is Lallie's growing awareness of her own sexual feelings,  and her subsequent love for an older man, the archeologist Gordon Summers, who has been for many years unhappily involved with a married woman. The progress of their relationship is beautifully done, and I found myself relating painfully to the agonies she suffers when he tells her that he really likes her but does not feel it would be right to start a relationship with her, and again when she sees his intensely sexual response to her beautiful, amoral younger sister Margaret. The ending is extraordinary -- I don't want to spoil it in case anyone manages to get this and read it, but events seem to be going in a very satisfactory direction until almost the last paragraph in which there is a real sting in the tail. The writing is intelligent and witty, and all in all this was a great discovery, so if you ever spot it, go for it!

Comments

[m]

What a coincidence, such an obscure book but I've also been reading about it this morning, as it's quoted by Nicola Beauman in A Very Great Profession, her history of women's novels between the wars ... Lots that I haven't even heard of, so I must scribble a list of 'things to look out for in Oxfam' before it goes back to the library.

[Harriet Devine]

Well, that is a coincidence! I'm glad to hear NB likes it. I wonder if she will bring out a Persephone edition.

[Ann Darnton]

Yes, it's gone on to my Oxfam list as well. The local branch had a special display of Virago titles when I was in earlier in the week. I don't recall seeing this one, but must definitely go in again and look.

[Julie]

Sounds like something I'd love. I've put in an ILL request. I hope it comes soon!

[Litlove]

That sounds like a wonderful book. Makes one really wish Virago would attend to its old out of print list and re-issue some of those titles.

[Literary Feline]

One of the reasons I enjoy the Sunday Salon so much is that I am introduced to new books and authors I might not have found otherwise. I especially like the idea of Eight Hours and will have to add it to my wish list.

[Elaine Simpson-Long]

Oh what a find I am jealous and shall now keep an eye out myself.

I too have the book from Legend Press and have not looked at it yet, sounds interesting....

[oolookitty]

I read the Robertson book recently and was knocked out by it. I had never heard of it before and picked it up only because it was a Virago paperback and therefore likely to be worthwhile. I loved it and am glad to see it getting some attention!

[oolookitty]

I read the Robertson book recently and was knocked out by it. I had never heard of it before and picked it up only because it was a Virago paperback and therefore likely to be worthwhile. I loved it and am glad to see it getting some attention!