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laraamaee's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
I think this book was perfect for me who absolutely LOVES the Bloomsbury Group but didn’t really know much about all the interconnections between the sprawling members, not to mention how it was more like a queer chosen family with everyone fucking everyone. I guess I especially learned a lot about the Strachey family—Nino liked to focus on these characters, as members of her literal family…
I will say, however, that if you’re going to read this book, you should definitely read LOTE by Shola Von Reinhold as well. The protagonist in that book is obsessed with Stephen Tennant, a Bright Young Thing/member of Young Bloomsbury, but the book focuses on locating missing Blackness in the archives and the lack of historical Black representation. Indeed, Strachey’s book is entirely white by contrast…proving Reinhold’s point.
I will say, however, that if you’re going to read this book, you should definitely read LOTE by Shola Von Reinhold as well. The protagonist in that book is obsessed with Stephen Tennant, a Bright Young Thing/member of Young Bloomsbury, but the book focuses on locating missing Blackness in the archives and the lack of historical Black representation. Indeed, Strachey’s book is entirely white by contrast…proving Reinhold’s point.
fran_gel's review
informative
slow-paced
2.5
Very focussed on their relationships and sexualities - using terms that they themselves didn’t use and was often quite classist in approach
tesslw's review against another edition
Always life will be worth living by those who find in it things which make them feel to the limit of their capacity”
Reading this was a fun time. Any book in which the central cohort describe themselves as ‘very gay and amorous’ is going to be a winner for me tbh, and this was no exception.
Just as the original Bloomsbury Set (including Lytton Strachey and Virginia Woolf) had formed and caused societal stirs from the very start of the 20th century with their spirited approach to life, literature and culture - by the time the 1920s rolled around, a new era was blossoming (blooming? geddit?) in Bloomsbury, as a new generation and movement of youth stepped in to invigorate the already established Bloomsbury Group. This cohort still embraced art and creativity as their predecessors did, but brought new explorations of sexuality, gender norms, polyamory, and freedom of self-expression in all aspects of life. They pushed boundaries, turned heads and sparked discourse aplenty - and most importantly, revelled in it. They were queer, in every sense of the word, and proud.
I have long known of and been interested in the Bloomsbury Group - they are an incredibly well documented, romanticised and, dare I say it, likely overdone in many ways… However, bringing a fresh new lens to the second generation of the group, particularly as written by a direct descendent really reignited this for me. I loved meeting all these individuals chronicled in more detail - and it was astounding to see how many parallels there were between this younger generation, and so many people I know and are friends with now, and the causes they advocate for. There is a really central thread throughout this not only of self-expression, and authentic self, but of the fight for socialism (at one point capitalism is described as “thoroughly despicable”), Labour activism (the reality of class division and the differentiation between card carrying Labour members and those who remained on the fence) , and the ongoing dismissal of the notion of fair dealings between classes as ‘ideological’, and class traitorship. Ring any bells with the current political climate…?
Essentially this is a group who, despite their blatant privileges and lust for the finer things in life, ultimately chose to campaign for a fairer future, and liberation for all - even at the disinclination of their family and many peers. It’s very reminiscent of many things I have seen in this generation (though we are generally minus the wealthy parents and class protection also) .
What I will say, is that I regret listening to this on audio. Not because it was poorly narrated, but because there are so many names and connections and relationships that I so often lost track and wished I could flip back, or tab or highlight sections. I definitely don’t think I gleaned as much as I possibly could from this by listening to it, and I do think I will likely pick up a physical copy at some point.
Reading this was a fun time. Any book in which the central cohort describe themselves as ‘very gay and amorous’ is going to be a winner for me tbh, and this was no exception.
Just as the original Bloomsbury Set (including Lytton Strachey and Virginia Woolf) had formed and caused societal stirs from the very start of the 20th century with their spirited approach to life, literature and culture - by the time the 1920s rolled around, a new era was blossoming (blooming? geddit?) in Bloomsbury, as a new generation and movement of youth stepped in to invigorate the already established Bloomsbury Group. This cohort still embraced art and creativity as their predecessors did, but brought new explorations of sexuality, gender norms, polyamory, and freedom of self-expression in all aspects of life. They pushed boundaries, turned heads and sparked discourse aplenty - and most importantly, revelled in it. They were queer, in every sense of the word, and proud.
I have long known of and been interested in the Bloomsbury Group - they are an incredibly well documented, romanticised and, dare I say it, likely overdone in many ways… However, bringing a fresh new lens to the second generation of the group, particularly as written by a direct descendent really reignited this for me. I loved meeting all these individuals chronicled in more detail - and it was astounding to see how many parallels there were between this younger generation, and so many people I know and are friends with now, and the causes they advocate for. There is a really central thread throughout this not only of self-expression, and authentic self, but of the fight for socialism (at one point capitalism is described as “thoroughly despicable”), Labour activism (the reality of class division and the differentiation between card carrying Labour members and those who remained on the fence) , and the ongoing dismissal of the notion of fair dealings between classes as ‘ideological’, and class traitorship. Ring any bells with the current political climate…?
Essentially this is a group who, despite their blatant privileges and lust for the finer things in life, ultimately chose to campaign for a fairer future, and liberation for all - even at the disinclination of their family and many peers. It’s very reminiscent of many things I have seen in this generation (though we are generally minus the wealthy parents and class protection also) .
What I will say, is that I regret listening to this on audio. Not because it was poorly narrated, but because there are so many names and connections and relationships that I so often lost track and wished I could flip back, or tab or highlight sections. I definitely don’t think I gleaned as much as I possibly could from this by listening to it, and I do think I will likely pick up a physical copy at some point.
annarella's review
5.0
I found it enjoyable and learned something new. Bloomsbury set always fascinated me and I read quite a number of books by those authors.
This was an entertaining and compelling way to learn about the generation.
If you want a high brow, very serious book that's not for you as I found it quite enjoyable, well written, and informative
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
This was an entertaining and compelling way to learn about the generation.
If you want a high brow, very serious book that's not for you as I found it quite enjoyable, well written, and informative
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine