The Freudian Slip by Marion Von Adlerstein

A quick rundown… The advertising world in 1960′s Sydney, told from the views of three women

Strengths: 60′s nostalgia

Weaknesses: No real main character, ending is very open-ended for two of the major characters.

Why I read it: Billed as ‘Mad Men meets Paper Giants‘ (Australian miniseries on 1970s women’s magazine, Cleo)

Pages: 400

Published: 2011

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Setting: Sydney and Melbourne, Australia

Rating: 7 out of 10

If you liked this, try: Fortune Cookie by Bryce Courtenay, Mad Men (the TV show)

 

I was really looking forward to this book. I adore the TV programme Mad Men and thoroughly enjoyed Bryce Courtenay’s look at advertising in Australia and Singapore in Fortune Cookie. You know I’m a historical fiction fan, so you wouldn’t be surprised to read that I stalked the bookstores of Melbourne for days prior to the release of this book. (Hachette will be pleased to know that nobody broke embargo). I really wanted this book to read on the way home as I thought it would be all-engrossing. Sadly, it was not to be. Not to be as in – 1. I couldn’t read it on my return journey and 2. That the book was not of the type where the world stands still while you read.

I was disappointed!

Let me get this straight. This is not an in-depth social commentary of 1960s Australia – people of a certain era will smile at the heavy use of old, familiar brand names while those of a younger generation will marvel at two things: 1. That some brands are so old! 2. What life was like prior to seven day shopping (although this can be experienced in Perth in 2012), no fast food outlets or mobile phones/internet. It’s a great piece of nostalgia but sometimes the brand references seem to be more crammed in than a Costco trolley on the inaugural visit.

Which brings me to a second point that I found interesting- Australia looking still to the Motherland, England but having a sneaking glance at glamorous America. The advertising agency has weekly showings of American commercials and Stella, turns to American magazines for inspiration (and plagiarism).

But I digress. Let me return to the storyline. The novel looks at three women, all working at a Sydney advertising agency. There’s Stella, former secretary and new copywriter, wanting to get herself out of the suburbs and intro the middle class; Desi, the posh society girl and TV director and Bea, divorcee with a nose for creative. The book focuses on each of them, but it’s unclear if one is meant to be the main character or if this is an ensemble cast. Should we like or dislike Stella, who is desperately crying to move up the corporate ladder (not always in an orthodox fashion)? Should we support Desi’s affair while engaged and encourage her to break from society’s bonds? Why is Desi known as Dizzy sometimes by various people at only various times? Isn’t that an odd nickname for someone breaking new moral ground? What exactly is the role of Bea? Are we to focus on the husband she left in the UK or her Don Draper-esque eye for advertising?

Sometimes it seems if this book is too much in too short a space. It also deals with homosexuality, drag queens (this is one of the funnier moments of the book!), class, aging, sex and racism. Nothing is in great detail.

Perhaps I was expecting a little too much of this book. If you think of it as a light frolic down 1960′s Sydney memory lane with nostalgia aplenty, you’ll enjoy this book. And I did enjoy it on this level. Those expecting more though, may be disappointed.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson

A quick rundown… 24 hours in the life of Miss Pettigrew that change her life.

Strengths: Very uplifting, restores faith in the human spirit.

Weaknesses: Too short!

Why I read it: Given to me in the 2010 Library Thing Secret Santa.

Pages: 234

Published: 1938

Publisher: Persephone Books

Setting: London

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

If you liked this, try: there is a movie of this book. Watson’s writings also have the charming feel of Enid Blyton.

Miss Pettigrew was a present from a Secret Santa who knows that I like books that are part of a series or set (examples: Morland Dynasty series by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, Popular Penguins, Vintage 21). This eagle-eyed Santa noticed that I didn’t have any of the books published by the charming Persephone Books and soon rectified this. I had heard of the movie of the same name, but didn’t realise that like most good ideas, it was originally a book. And what a charming book this is. It’s kind of like Enid Blyton for grown-ups. There’s little sketches every so often of the action and the writing is so warming and pleasing, you’d think you had stepped into a warm bath.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is 24 hours in the life of Miss Pettigrew, an out of work governess who is almost penniless and on the brink of being evicted from her lodgings. Given an address from the employment office, she makes her way to the flat of Delysia LaFosse, who is looking for a governess. When Delysia opens the door, Miss Pettigrew is thrust into a world she has only dreamed of. A world where she is loved for what she is, opinions are listened to and respected and where happiness is not an optional extra. Delysia’s life is spiralling out of control and Miss Pettigrew’s words of advice and wisdom help her to discover what she really wants. Miss Pettigrew is also responsible for reuniting an estranged couple and there is a hint of romance for her.

This book is simply told and brims over with goodness. I don’t mean it’s goody-goody; I mean that it restores your faith in the human spirit. The gaining of confidence in Miss Pettigrew is beautiful to read, from her first evening gown and hairdo to the first twinkle of interest from the opposite sex. It’s heart-warming to see and the happy ending is also just perfect. Almost a fairy tale!

Don’t think that it’s all sweetness and light though. There are some fairly heavy issues discussed, from drug use to promiscuity to alcohol. I’m sure this would have been even more daring back in 1938 when the book was first published. It’s a fairly quick read, but one that leaves you pondering long after. Thank you Secret Santa!

The Group by Mary McCarthy

A quick rundown… Billed as the forerunner to Sex and the City, this book follows a group of girls post-college in the 1930s and looks at the different lifestyle choices they make.

Strengths: Very interesting seeing what each girl is doing with her life.

Weaknesses: There are a lot of girls, and it’s difficult at times to keep up with who’s who.

Why I read it: Saw it in a bookshop and realised that I’d read a great review of this book.

Pages: 448

Published: 1963

Publisher: Virago Modern Classics

Setting: America (predominantly New York)

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

If you liked this, try: watch Sex and the City for a more modern take on women’s lives.

I can’t remember where I first heard about The Group. It was one of those things that I thought I’d remember to look for and then promptly forgot all about it. It wasn’t until I was exploring a bookshop on holidays that I saw this book, saw the ‘introduced by Candace Bushnell’ and remembered that I was told that this was a book I simply had to read. Because face it, after the mess that was Sex and the City 2, every woman of a certain age is looking for a replacement SATC, aren’t they?

It is somewhat ironic that Bushnell herself introduces this book, as there are a lot of similarities between The Group and Sex and the City (group of female friends mainly in New York City, going through relationship problems, fertility issues, weddings and funerals while trying to get what they deserve in life). I’m not bagging out Bushnell – maybe if she hadn’t read the book, the idea wouldn’t have formed. Plus, there are many differences too. The Group is about a larger, well, group of girls, bonded by being graduates of Vassar College, somewhat unusual in 1930s New York when the Depression was starting to bite.

The Group reflects on life – we start with a wedding and end with a funeral, somewhat life what life was like for the average woman of the 1930s – get married, have kids, die. The Group is trying to rebel against that. Kay doesn’t even invite her parents to her wedding, while Dottie decides to get fitted for a diaphragm for sex with the exotic Dick (no pun intended). Libby tries desperately to get a job in publishing, while Priss tries an unheard of thing, breastfeeding. Polly has a love affair with Libby’s boss, then has to deal with her father moving into her apartment and Lakey brings home a new friend from Europe.

All of the above are somewhat shocking for the time period and demonstrate the Group trying to break away from the shackles of convention and try tasting freedom. It’s not that they don’t respect the old boundaries; it’s that their education and youth have led them to expect more from life. Yes, this could read as a summary of Sex and the City, but it’s the same idea, written brilliantly wickedly in book format. It just goes to show you that every generation attempts to reinvent the wheel, when really all we do is change the appearance somewhat.

This book was written in 1963 and would have still been shocking for some of its content. Even some issues, such as open relationships, lesbianism and mental health are somewhat limited in frank discussion nearly 50 years later. It’s a testament to Mary McCarthy that she has written a novel about the issues facing women which is timeless. Well worth reading.

Next to Love by Ellen Feldman

A quick rundown… Three American women and what befalls them during WWII and after. Three different but plausible stories.

Strengths: Easy to read, light and interesting.

Weaknesses: A lot of pain and compromise. It’s not always rosy.

Why I read it: Reviewed for Net Galley.

Pages: 320

Published: 2011

Publisher: Spiegel & Grau

Setting: USA

Rating: 8 out of 10

If you liked this, try: The Morland series during World War I deals with similar themes.

Next to Love was an absolute find on Net Galley for me. This was such a cozy book to read despite its content. The book opens as Babe, who is running the Western Union Telegram office in a town in the USA, is rushed off her feet as telegrams flood in from the War Office. The town receives many cases of bad news in just one day, affecting her friends Millie and Grace but not her.

The narrative then moves back in time to before America’s entry into WWII when all three of the girls were still at school. It then goes through each of their marriages and how they received the news that their husband was dead – or alive. But the majority of the book focuses on the period after the war and the issues each woman faces. Babe got Claude back, but he’s not the same man. How can they go on? Grace lost her husband and is extremely devoted to his memory – how can she move on? Some say that Millie is moving on too quickly from her widow status, but is she? Feldman covers many topics that are not generally discussed in books set in this time period – post-traumatic stress disorder, remarriage and grief. She also tells us the story from the female, left behind point of view which is refreshing.

This was a quick read and is very easy to pick up again after a day of work or during busy times. My only small gripe would be that it would be useful to have different fonts for each of the girls’ perspectives – it can occasionally be difficult to keep track of whose story is being told.

This is not a war story, but a story about the personal effects of war. The reactions and thoughts of each characters will remain with you long after the book is closed.

Thank you to Random House for allowing me to read this galley.

Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe

A quick rundown… Moll Flanders (not her real name) will do anything to survive – prostitution, stealing, multiple marriages…

Strengths: Must have been very original for its time.

Weaknesses: Sometimes it’s difficult to work out which man Moll is speaking about, as she doesn’t use names.

Why I read it: Green Penguin Classics are awesome (and wallet-friendly).

Pages: 339

Published: 1722

Publisher: Penguin

Setting: England, USA

Rating: 7 out of 10

If you liked this, try: The Crimson and the White by Michael Faber

Moll Flanders was another of my cheap green Penguin Classics reads. This must have been rather a controversial story for its time, as Moll (one of the few named characters) is involved in many taboo subjects – sex before marriage, prostitution, gaol and incest to name a few. Even to myself as a modern reader, I was surprised at some of her exploits.

This book is somewhat different to what I’m used to. For starters, it has no chapters. Not that much of a problem, just difficult to find a good stopping place. The second issue is that hardly any of the characters are named – even Moll is a pseudonym. Moll’s husbands and lovers are not named – which is difficult when she has several of them! This did make it a little difficult for me to keep track of who was who, especially when Moll’s previous husbands turned up later in the story.

Those points aside, this would make a rollicking movie or mini-series as the nature of Moll’s downfall and eventual redemption are still topical today. I must seek one out. Moll is born in prison, yet grows up in a more gentle household engaged to one brother, but being paid for sex with the other. Her husbands disappear in various circumstances – on the run from the law and one turns out to be her own brother. I found Moll’s role as a thief to be the most interesting as the devious ways to steal things were rather imaginative (for example, telling someone their house is on fire!). Despite her trials, Moll has the ability to turn a situation to benefit her while remaining cheerful.

Certainly an interesting life, I just wish I could have kept better track of the husbands!

What Women Want by Fanny Blake

In a nutshell… three older women dealing with a range of problems – will their friendship hold them together?

Strengths: Well written characters with backbone.

Weaknesses: The three stories don’t come together until the very end.

Why I read it: Given to me for review by PR (thank you).

Pages: 432

Published: 2011

Publisher: Blue Door

Setting: London, England

Rating: 8 out of 10

If you liked this, try: Someone Like You by Cathy Kelly

 

I was asked to review this book by a PR company in England, who kindly sent the book to me all the way to Australia. On the back, this looked like the type of book I read for my chick lit fix – three women, all friends who each have different problems but get through it. The cover also had a quote from one of my favourite writers, Penny Vincenzi (as an aside, her new book is released in Australia in September). However, the women in this book were older than your usual chick lit (perhaps I should call it mummy lit?) – late 40s or early 50s. Never mind, it was still interesting even though I’m nowhere near that stage of my life!

Although this book subscribed to the usual setting of three friends, very different in nature but who have a strong bond, there were differences that made the book stronger for me. Each of the women has a strong career, something I usually find lacking in chick lit. (Kate is a GP, Bea works in publishing and Ellen runs an art gallery). Even though they are of similar ages, each is facing a different problem: Bea, newly divorced, is looking for love while controlling a teenage son; Kate is worried that her husband is becoming increasingly distant; and Ellen has found love in the shape of Oliver – but how will her children react? Each of these stories is told with gentleness and humour. The strength of the trio’s friendship is exemplified by Bea’s determination to find out exactly what Oliver is hiding in order to protect Ellen. Although Bea’s detective work is intense and well-researched (she is a publisher after all), the climax where Ellen finds out about Oliver is not that powerful. The epilogue is probably more powerful as it again demonstrates the strength of their friendship and doesn’t tie up everything neatly, making this book more true to life.

This was a light read, easy to pick up and put down (I tested this to the nth degree, as I was on call 24/7 while reading this book). The characters are engaging and strong (I’d love to see Bea in her own book) and defies many of the chick lit stereotypes. There’s no Manolos and cocktails, these women really could be the friends of a real person. Enjoyable.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

I read Sense and Sensibility as part of the Sense and Sensibility Bicentenary Challenge 2011. The book (a pretty hardcover version) had been sitting on my shelves for some time, so it was a good opportunity to get onto it! Sense and Sensibility is the only Jane Austen novel I haven’t seen as a movie or series (yes, I know, shameful) so I was relying on Miss Austen herself to tell me all about this book.

I’m sure everyone knows the plot of this book (or can Google it), but in short, it’s the story of two single sisters of marriageable age and their trials and tribulations when it comes to men. There’s the cad, the gentleman (actually, two of them), a trip to London and a nasty illness. The sisters are very different – Elinor is sensible and restrained, while Marianne is passionate and impulsive.

The Austen wit is hard at work in this novel, and I enjoyed being able to chuckle at some of the actions of the characters (especially Marianne’s outbursts). It is finely written and captures the time well. I could picture Barton and the Dashwood’s cottage easily. I found myself on the edge of my seat at Marianne’s illness, wishing for penicillin – Austen captured well the despair that Elinor found herself in.

I did enjoy this book, but I still think Pride and Prejudice is my favourite. Elinor is a little too restrained for my liking, while Marianne is a bit too impetuous.

Read this if: you like your classics with wit and clever social commentary

8 out of 10.

Dune Road by Jane Green

Jane Green books seem to have two distinct personalities for me: there’s the funny and readable (mainly the earlier books) and then there’s the annoying and predictable (her more recent books). I loved Bookends and still have the highly recommended Jemima J to read, but I think I’ll stay away from her newer books in future.

Dune Road is also known as Girl Friday in other countries. I like Girl Friday better, even though it doesn’t really fit in with the tone of the book for me. You see, Kit is a famous author’s ‘girl Friday’ in that she makes him coffee, does office work for him etc. But the book is not really about the relationship between them. Kit is recently divorced and coming to terms with single mother life. There’s also some aspects about her friends – Charlie has to face the realities of the GFC (not every book written in the last few years needs a GFC crisis – authors please take note!) and Tracey, looks like being a schemer – or is she a victim? Throw in a sweet elderly neighbour, a new boyfriend, a mysterious relative and a distant mother and you have all the plotlines in the world to play with.

The thing I found though was that Green doesn’t make use of these plotlines, in particular, Tracey’s situation. There was so much room for emotional blackmail, some serious arguments and near-misses. However, it is all glossed over sweetly and superficially without the players realising the seriousness of the situation. The ends are not only tied up, they’re wrapped into a giant bow. So much more use could have been made of the lost relative storyline – they were portrayed again without depth. This could have been a great book if a few less threads were dealt with and the characters broke out of the stereotypical moulds. Now I know why Borders had this on the bargain pile.

Unfortunately, I’ve read it all before and there’s new reading ground for me to break, so I think I’ll stay away from Green’s new books for some time. I’ll seek out Jemima J, but that’s it. Am I too old to appreciate chick lit?

Read this if: you LOVE chick lit and are desperate.

4 out of 10.

Shall We Dance? by Maggie Alderson

Shall We Dance? is a bit of a departure from Maggie Alderson’s other novels – the protagonist, Loulou Landers is -gasp!- almost 49 with an adult daughter. I’m not sure who this book is targeted to – ladies in that age range or the age range of her daughter. It took me a while to get used to, reading about a character that is not much younger than my mum. Theo, Loulou’s daughter is 21 and obsessed with chain store shopping, which really didn’t fit in with me either.

Happily, Alderson’s characters are very interesting. There’s Chard, the ageing rock star and Keith the gay best friend. Then there’s Beaney, CEO of chain store West Wind and Mark, a young man with a taste for the older ladies.

In terms of plot, it’s quite simple: the mother-daughter relationship and the question of age and relationships. Loulou seems to spend quite a lot of the first half of the book trying to set up Theo, as she is single-mindedly concerned that Theo has never had a boyfriend. I found this really shallow that in this day and age, that was all Loulou cared about. Not Theo’s happiness or career, but having a partner, going to the extreme of having a matchmaking party with like-minded friends. This is not the modern woman!

Fortunately for Theo, Loulou’s focus then turns to her birthday and Mark, who happens to be young, a great dance partner and madly in love with her. The issue of being a cougar is raised, there’s an awkward birthday party, some dramatic moments and all is right with the world again.

There’s a lot of description of clothes in this book (as Loulou owns a vintage shop) and Theo’s textspeak diary entries could get on your nerves.

This book, while light and interesting, didn’t really fit with me. I strongly believe in women being more than just boyfriend material and at this stage in my life, I’m not really interested in reading about the problems of women with adult children.

Read it if: you’ve ever contemplated being a cougar

7 out of 10.