pedantic_reader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
mjcamilleri's review against another edition
3.0
It took me a year to read this, in bursts. Every time I dipped in I enjoyed the beauty of the writing, the acuteness of the observations, the originality of the descriptions. But in most cases, as soon as the short stories got interesting, they ended. Often abruptly. A few others never really took flight. I'm fine with that on occasion - I don't need a bowtie or twist at the end each time. But it begins to grate when it's repeated for 860 pages.
I'm still very glad I read all of this, and I can see myself returning to individual stories again in the future (but never to the whole collection). Now that I have been introduced to her excellent writing, I will follow the advice of many other reviewers and look into her novels.
I'm still very glad I read all of this, and I can see myself returning to individual stories again in the future (but never to the whole collection). Now that I have been introduced to her excellent writing, I will follow the advice of many other reviewers and look into her novels.
gh7's review against another edition
2.0
My feeling is Elizabeth Bowen didn't have any kind of special talent for the short story which begs the question why did she write so many? (This book runs to 880 pages.) There was often the sense of a writer writing for the sake of it. The themes of the best stories here she dealt with much better in her novels. Perhaps the only exception are the stories she wrote during the war which would make a brilliant short collection. Otherwise we're treated to a lot of the social whimsy which also dominated her first couple of novels and get a glimpse of her guilty pleasures - most notably the ghost and murder story, most of which, frankly, are a bit trite.
I've always been a little baffled why she doesn't have a better reputation. Maybe here lies the answer. There can appear a hint of sexism when we're told who are the most notable British writers of the 20th century. The likes of Somerset Maughan, Graham Greene and Evelyn Waugh are much more likely to be cited than Bowen. Perhaps it's these stories that have damaged her reputation? They make it easy to dismiss her as a writer of sensibility and lightweight social comedy. Imagine if Virginia Woolf had published sixty short stories. How gleeful her detractors would be! Probably someone ought to choose the best twelve of Bowen's stories - not difficult - publish them and the rest should be consigned to the scrapheap. Her reputation might be greatly enhanced as a result.
I've always been a little baffled why she doesn't have a better reputation. Maybe here lies the answer. There can appear a hint of sexism when we're told who are the most notable British writers of the 20th century. The likes of Somerset Maughan, Graham Greene and Evelyn Waugh are much more likely to be cited than Bowen. Perhaps it's these stories that have damaged her reputation? They make it easy to dismiss her as a writer of sensibility and lightweight social comedy. Imagine if Virginia Woolf had published sixty short stories. How gleeful her detractors would be! Probably someone ought to choose the best twelve of Bowen's stories - not difficult - publish them and the rest should be consigned to the scrapheap. Her reputation might be greatly enhanced as a result.
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