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A review by dreesreads
The Life of Objects by Susanna Moore
2.0
Beatrice, an Irish teenager, is desperate to get out of her small town and away from her cold parents. While working in her parents' store, she teaches herself lacemaking. A worldy woman comes through town, and takes Beatrice to Germany, where she leaves her with wealthy landed friends, as their own lacemaker.
But it is 1938. Beatrice is naive and clueless. The couple she is left with have no need nor desire for a lacemaker. And war is coming to Germany.
This novel chronicles the next 7 years of Beatrice's life, as essentially a servant in a wealthy household, to a friend and confidante and servant in a household with no young men and quite a few refugees; through bombings and people disappearing' through times of plenty and starvation.
Sounds like it should be good, but it is long, and slow; boring and exhausting. As people disappear, this household stays put and refuses to believe the truth, and gives away their best chance to leave. And Beatrice, an Irish citizen, chooses to stay with them. Mystifying, infuriating, and just plain boring.
But it is 1938. Beatrice is naive and clueless. The couple she is left with have no need nor desire for a lacemaker. And war is coming to Germany.
This novel chronicles the next 7 years of Beatrice's life, as essentially a servant in a wealthy household, to a friend and confidante and servant in a household with no young men and quite a few refugees; through bombings and people disappearing' through times of plenty and starvation.
Sounds like it should be good, but it is long, and slow; boring and exhausting. As people disappear, this household stays put and refuses to believe the truth, and gives away their best chance to leave. And Beatrice, an Irish citizen, chooses to stay with them. Mystifying, infuriating, and just plain boring.