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inthelunaseas's review against another edition
4.0
Within two pages of this book, I absolutely knew this was written by a woman. Woe betide me, I had't encountered anything by Henry Handel Richardson before, but I quickly went and Googled the name, to discover it was a pseudonym. Not only that, but this book had actually been published in 1910. This was such a tremendously easy read that I was convinced it had been written in the 1980s at least.
Written in a periodical style, where each chapter represents another moment in our plucky heroine, Laura's, time in a Melbourne boarding school, her maturity and wisdom blossom before our eyes. Despite a century or so of this book being written and now, there's still an element of truth to it. I, myself, went to a private all-girls school on the west coast of Australia, and that cattiness, backhanded nature but still mild camaraderie continue to exist.
Further, Richardson apparently did experience same-sex attraction. She married a man (but I won't muddy the waters with lesbian vs bisexual inclinations) but did seem to act on her attractions.
I really did enjoy this, and am delighted it was this month's Noveltea book.
I marked this as 'queer reads', because all there's nothing explicitly queer, there are very passionate, female friendships throughout... particularly at the end, when Laura and Evelyn become chums. This sort of relationship has been well documented in queer history as being representative of queer 'situationships' that have, in contemporary views, as being handwaved as 'good friends'. Whether Richardson intended this or not, I do think it's important where consider the period in which things were written and the culture in that it was presented. These close, intense relationships (Evelyn is notably and in-text very jealous and feels a resounding passion for her friend; she also decries men and never actively shows a real interest in them) were the norm for the time and were considered crushes. Is it so farfetched to consider this to have been a queer text?
Written in a periodical style, where each chapter represents another moment in our plucky heroine, Laura's, time in a Melbourne boarding school, her maturity and wisdom blossom before our eyes. Despite a century or so of this book being written and now, there's still an element of truth to it. I, myself, went to a private all-girls school on the west coast of Australia, and that cattiness, backhanded nature but still mild camaraderie continue to exist.
Further, Richardson apparently did experience same-sex attraction. She married a man (but I won't muddy the waters with lesbian vs bisexual inclinations) but did seem to act on her attractions.
I really did enjoy this, and am delighted it was this month's Noveltea book.
I marked this as 'queer reads', because all there's nothing explicitly queer, there are very passionate, female friendships throughout... particularly at the end, when Laura and Evelyn become chums. This sort of relationship has been well documented in queer history as being representative of queer 'situationships' that have, in contemporary views, as being handwaved as 'good friends'. Whether Richardson intended this or not, I do think it's important where consider the period in which things were written and the culture in that it was presented. These close, intense relationships (Evelyn is notably and in-text very jealous and feels a resounding passion for her friend; she also decries men and never actively shows a real interest in them) were the norm for the time and were considered crushes. Is it so farfetched to consider this to have been a queer text?
rychelereads's review against another edition
3.0
If you like Pride and Prejudiced by Jane Austen, perhaps you'll like this. Imagine all that colonial society has bore upon and into the minds of girls told through the eyes of a flighty dreamer, easily assuaged and pressured into things, with unrealistic expectations as we follow her school days from childhood into young adulthood; now add irony. That's the recipe for this book. It's a quick read (or listen, often for free on various audiobook sites) and it's something to think about.
BTW, "Henry" is definitely more she than he, and I think the fact that the author has a male pen name says much more to the context and content of this book than anything.
BTW, "Henry" is definitely more she than he, and I think the fact that the author has a male pen name says much more to the context and content of this book than anything.
quinnviv's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
esshgee's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it but I didn't find it an easy read, I had to really concentrate on the language or I drifted off. All I can say is Melbourne schoolgirls haven't changed much in 100 years!
leemac027's review against another edition
3.0
The Getting of Wisdom raises many issues that we still deal with today - the role of women in society, how they are expected to pander to men, the restrictive boundaries put in place to limit opportunities and the list goes on. So this work is as relevant now as it was then.
I struggled a little with the language as being written in 1910, it took a while to adjust to the quaint phrases and sometimes cumbersome prose. But once I got used to that I was able to engage with the narrative.
Laura is our protagonist, a bit feisty, wants to be independent but also wants to fit in and be approved of. She is sent off to Melbourne to attend school by her mother, who takes in sewing to help pay for Laura's education. Laura goes through all of the angst of being the new girl, then starts to gain some popularity and then sticks her foot in it with a faux pas or two (or three), she goes through a brief period of finding religion and then drops that as it's not really getting her where she wants to be.
The dynamics between Laura and Evelyn, Laura and Mr Shepherd, Laura and Pin are ones that highlight the different aspects of Laura's personality.
An interesting, if not vintage, read.
I struggled a little with the language as being written in 1910, it took a while to adjust to the quaint phrases and sometimes cumbersome prose. But once I got used to that I was able to engage with the narrative.
Laura is our protagonist, a bit feisty, wants to be independent but also wants to fit in and be approved of. She is sent off to Melbourne to attend school by her mother, who takes in sewing to help pay for Laura's education. Laura goes through all of the angst of being the new girl, then starts to gain some popularity and then sticks her foot in it with a faux pas or two (or three), she goes through a brief period of finding religion and then drops that as it's not really getting her where she wants to be.
The dynamics between Laura and Evelyn, Laura and Mr Shepherd, Laura and Pin are ones that highlight the different aspects of Laura's personality.
An interesting, if not vintage, read.
gl_mrtnl's review against another edition
3.0
Giving a whole new meaning to ~DaRk AcAdEmIa lol.. Damn I forgot how cruel schoolgirls in novels can be.
Reading this book was like the pessimistic version of Alcott's An Old Fashioned Girl (childhood staple of mine). Ultimately, no wisdom was actually acquired, and whilst I understood the imperfect heroine's thoughts, she was just selfish and mean with no chance of redemption.
Reading this book was like the pessimistic version of Alcott's An Old Fashioned Girl (childhood staple of mine). Ultimately, no wisdom was actually acquired, and whilst I understood the imperfect heroine's thoughts, she was just selfish and mean with no chance of redemption.
foggy_rosamund's review against another edition
3.0
Laura, at age 12, is sent far from her country home to a strict boarding school in Melbourne. Suddenly she is an unimportant and frequently mocked member of a huge social stratosphere that she struggles to understand. Richardson captures the anxiety and fear of teenage years and trying desperately to fit in with one's peers. My favourite parts of the book are moments when Laura is disgusted and horrified by boys and FURIOUS that she is supposed to mollify them or that her friends show any interest in them. It's extremely relateable. This book ends too quickly and never seems to quite come to a climax, but it's enjoyable while it lasts.
My edition, published by Echo Press, unfortunately had many typographical errors. I would recommend finding another edition if possible.
My edition, published by Echo Press, unfortunately had many typographical errors. I would recommend finding another edition if possible.
theellesbells's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0