ITS A WRAP!
Friday, December 22, 2023
Friday, December 8, 2023
It took a few date adjustments, but we all finally made it to the last meeting for 2023 on Wednesday 6 December, at Fox Street, for Wifedom by Anna Funder (Julie), and Mick Herron's The Secret Hours (Sue).
But first there was important chatter about Christmas golf and Barbies - both the pink one (Margy) and the charred one (Moggy) - after which we lined up in our trenches to discuss the first book, Wifedom. Julie introduced the book (here is a link to her notes from the Guardian: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TXUTkV0g2XsM94UBEsBFw5KOnrnkC8J50dHR7KswuIE/edit and then we all took off with a LOT of discussion but not so much resolution.
Anna's own orbit of 'wifedom' was described in the early chapters along with her respect for Orwell's books and essays. She then launched into the core drivers for the book - patriarchy and Orwell's misogyny. We were told this explained Eileen's invisibility in Orwell's biographies. But there was certainly a mixture of takes on this proposition around the book club room. Perhaps this was because it was unclear whether it was a book of fiction (answer: sometimes), or a history (sometimes), or a biography (sometimes); and was it a biography of Eileen or George - (answer: sometimes both but more George than Eileen because it was with George and his earlier male biographers that the patriarchy could be found - according to Anna).
Eileen's 'wifedom' centred on her role in the household and relationship with George, yet Eileen the person was hard to find in the book. We were presented with her 6 letters to her friend Nora, along with Anna's interpretation of the letters, as well as the fiction Anna created around Eileen and to a lesser extent, George. We were left to ponder what made Eileen tick, and wonder what was true and what was fiction. The book pointed out that at times Orwell copied Eileen's edits, or used similar phrasing in his books/essays, giving strength to the argument that Eileen was much more than an editor, but for some of us, in the absence of a more coherent narrative, how to interpret all this was the BIG question.
And this leads to the inescapable conclusion that Anna's sense of and experience of 'wifedom' was/is entirely different to Eileen's experience. So why did the author bring in her own experience and scatter it throughout the book? It was a complex, post modern book in so many ways - leaving some of us more convinced than others. It was all very puzzling.
But there were some things on which we did all agree - that a lot of research went into the book; that the historical background on the times during the Spanish Civil War and WWII were well constructed; that George (aka Eric) didn't come out very well, and we all wondered why Eileen stuck by him given his philanderings, apparent misogyny, the impoverishness that he seemed to relish, his illness, and his obsession with his own self (quite a list really!). No doubt this was one of the outcomes Anna was after, wanting us to put all these traits together with his writings to get to the sum of George's parts, as well as acknowledge and recognise the extent of Eileen's work not only in supporting him, but also her unsung contribution to his becoming a highly respected author and commentator.
If you want to hear Anna talking about her book and perhaps shed some light on the puzzles, try this (from The Monthly podcast, Read this)
https://podcasts.apple.com/pg/podcast/anna-funder-is-her-own-wife/id1691035626?i=1000620919508
(or you could just have another quiet chat to Cherrie!);
or there is this more general discussion on George Orwell, and what he was for, as opposed to what he was against (which was a lot!).
https://shows.acast.com/londonreviewpodcasts/episodes/what-was-orwell-for
Banjo was getting restless, signalling it was time to move on to The Secret Hours (link to the very brief summary of the spy novel genre here) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e4cuBRpNlmsjb3jnxEuBiDiBOY1KMTZlCX_jTzMCwKY/edit
Discussion about this book was not as robust as the first, with only two bookclubbers giving it the thumbs up, citing its dry, cynical humour, fascinating characterisations, along with its rattling and complex yet coherent plot line (yes indeed - that's what Cherilyn and I thought!). Most everyone else were not so convinced - the main issues were that it bogged down after the first chapter's chase (which started with some sentence - The worst smell in the world is dead badger); and it didn't resonate with the much vaunted TV series 'Slow Horses'.
So, because I can't recall any detail about other criticisms, I am here and now unapologetically suggesting you continue with it if it remains unfinished, if only to enjoy the witty, wry and wonderful writing - such as
the PM, as events had so frequently demonstrated, didn't have favourites, he had human shields (p 52).
Not for the first time she wondered about the fetishism of the upper classes: about their clinging on to the ways of childhood - the nannies and the school dinner menus; the club ties - and about the wisdom of putting those mired in their own pasts in charge of all our futures. (p 70). (Ed note: George O would have agreed, and probably gone further).
The events she is recalling took place years, decades, ago, but there is no statute of limitations on remembered damage (p326)
The clock on his bedside table silently threw another minute to the floor. (p 377). (Ed note: my fave!)
The spy novel genre and the importance of reality was talked about, with the TV series The Bureau given as a classic example (a must watch 5 series maybe still on SBS On Demand; and then there is the Director's earlier film Les Patriotes - which is available from Apple TV)
Les Patriotes (1994 spy film by Eric Rochant, of The Bureau fame).
Over refreshments from Mr Nicks and elsewhere, we reminisced about the fabulous haberdashery department at Demasius and the stores sad ultimate demise in the name of progress, shop theft and checkout counters, and a history podcast that featured on the Drum recently (which I think is this one)
We also realised 2024 is closing in so here is a tentative list:
Wednesday 13 March 2024 - Barb and Cherilyn
Barb's book: Balcony over Jerusalem by John Lyons
Cherilyn's selection to come - UPDATE: selection is Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
Wednesday 8 May - Cherrie and Mog (venue to be decided)
Wednesday 10 July - Megan and Kathy
Wednesday 11 September - Margy and McLassie
Wednesday 13 November - Julie and Sue
So thats it for 2023 - roll on 2024.
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