Books
by Margaret Drabble
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The Dark Flood Rises |
I have devoured Margaret Drabble's novels over the years, being almost her contemporary, as she wrote about the stage in life she was experiencing, and now is approaching the finale! The central character is Fran, in her seventies, energetic and refusing to slow down. Lots of colourful characters touch her life with humour and sadness. Although I enjoyed the story I did find it a bit disjointed and rambling (maybe deliberately?) but a must-read for Drabble fans.
(Mary Standing - bwl 84 Spring 2017) |
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The Sea Lady |
I hadn't read a Drabble novel for years, so was pleased to find she still puts a good story together. Media celebrity Ailsa and marine biologist Humphrey once spent a childhood holiday together, later married - disastrously - and finally meet up again in their sixties, to find themselves manoeuvred into confronting their childhood experiences. Exploring the working out of our destinies and the life-long haunting of our early lives, I found it convincing and moving.
(Annabel Bedini - bwl 54 November 2009) |
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The Seven Sisters |
Candida Wilton has few expectations of a new life in London following divorce and estrangement from her daughters. However, a 'windfall' enables her to gather her friends, from different periods of her life, for a journey of discovery to Italy. It's beautifully constructed with wittily observed characters and unexpected, subtle twists, making an altogether excellent read - perhaps not so comfortable for men - the references to whom are superfluous in this journey of 'sisters'.
(Mary Standing - bwl 21 November 2003) |
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The Witch of Exmoor |
One of the most entertaining books I've read for a long time. A highly intelligent elderly mother-cum-author of Scandinavian origin, whose husband has pushed off and who detests her end-of-20th century successful professional class progeny, hides herself away in an abandoned ex-hotel on an Exmoor cliff-top. The story chiefly revolves around the progeny's efforts to make sure they inherit the mother's fortune. Wittily satirical and intelligent. Excellent characterisations.
(Jeremy Swann - bwl 17 February 2003) |
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