Commentary/review

After a spell of books started but never finished (and books finished but too awful to mention), finally a successful read.

I started this book in print, from some book swap shelf, then continued in audio. This rendition was not thrilling but was possible to finish. It was correctly read but the book is about a woman, for heaven’s sake; why cast a narrator who has little skill in reading female characters? Bizarre choice. The book contains a strong slur, by the way, with no introductory caveat. Not practiced nowadays. The audiobook was published in 2011; the book was first published in 1930.

I believe the novel itself is worth a read. Some longer observations call for a mature reader to be duly appreciated but there would be nothing wrong if the entire piece is read early. It is an interesting tale of people living on the same planet but in parallel worlds, even when living “together”. The message is neither pessimistic, nor optimistic. It is only a matter of fact and discovery, no judgment. It also contains a beautiful passage about the power of writing – how being able to put experience into words can set one free. Enlightening. Short. Worth anyone’s time.

I did not like the cover, a moustachioed man up close, why. The book is about Rosie, the Author was clear about it in his preface.

Cover Photo by Anastasia Vityukova on Unsplash