Alana Estelle

For my fourth installment of “Under the Radar Books” I have an interesting trio - a classic that is getting a bit more attention, a non-fiction selection and a book from one of my favorite female writers. 

“You think, because I always do as you bid me, I have no judgment of my own: but only try me - that is all I ask - and you shall see what I can do.”

Agnes Grey by, Anne Bronte is the Bronte sister that tends to get left behind, but she has been getting a bit more attention recently - mainly for her novel The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. For me, Agnes Grey is a hidden, quiet gem. This is a novel about a governess and she is a governess for some pretty horrible children. Her life however if pretty quiet and there’s a sweet little love interest embedded in the narrative. This s a cozy novel; it’s quiet and calm. I can see how some people would claim that this novel is boring, but I think the beauty of this novel is that it is so quiet. Sit back and enjoy the language. 

“… he also wanted her to know something of the ‘graver sciences’ in the event that she is responsible for educating her children because she had married a ‘blockhead’ - possiblity that Jefferson had calculated ‘at about fourteen to one.’”

Jefferson’s Daughters by, Catherine Kerrison is a non-fiction detailing Thomas Jefferson’s three Daughters - one of which was enslaved. This book is a real treat. Kerrison goes into a lot of detail about each daughter and give a lot of information about Jefferson as well. I love how the author paints a complete picture of Jefferson and his daughters, which really emphasizes how nuanced people are. She does not sugar coat and does call out Jefferson’s contradictions, while still portraying a man who loves his home, his books, his university, and his family. He was a man of his time. The information on Jefferson enlsaved children is few and far between, but Kerrison pieced what she could find together and it’s still really interesting. If you have an interest in Thomas Jefferson, Revolutionary American history, slavery and domestic history, this may really appeal to you. Also, my fellow WAHOOS - this is a must have for your shelves; there are some interesting little tidbits included about the construction of the University of Virginia. 

Like my bookish content? Follow me on Instagram for more!

“You know what she puts me in the mind of? A racehorse! Something delicate and proud, and yet free in the way she steps out.”

Young Anne, by Dorothy Whipple is a coming-of-age novel about Anne Pritchard. The story begins with Anne at around 5 years of age and concludes with her in her mid-20s. During this span of time, we follow Anne’s school days, romances, interactions with society, her strained relationship with her family, and her constant struggle with God and religion. Anne is a rambunctious, curious and introverted individual, who is often misunderstood by her family and community, as she doesn’t fit into societal norms. 

What initially stood out to me the most is Anne’s tense relationship with her father. He has no patience for her quirkiness and is harsh and mean towards her. In response, Anne withdraws from him, doing her best to avoid his judgment and rebukes. Her father is a man that sees no point in girls and clearly favors his eldest son. Anne’s spontaneity and at times, lack of decorum, irritates and embarrasses him to the point that one day he gets fed up and sends her away to school. 

I find stories that highlight parental relationships with their children, especially the father figure, to be interesting - there is something to be said about how a father treats his daughter(s) - it can really have an impact on how she views and interacts with men in the future. It can also impact how children view and interact with other authority figures. Though Whipple doesn’t delve much deeper into this dynamic, I do think that there are subtle instances in which Anne withdraws into herself because she’s used to suppression. There are ramifications to this as the novel progresses. 

This is also a novel on introversion. Anne has a difficult time being around groups of people and thrives best in more intimate settings, in nature, or on her own. It’s evident that she finds most people exhausting and is bored with the tedium of conventional social life.

Introverts are often misunderstood, because they thrive better in smaller, more intimate settings - it doesn’t mean that they are shy, don’t like people or social events, but these gathering literally drain and exhaust them more rapidly.  I find that a lot of novels focus on the introvert and this tension between the need to withdraw and the need to perform. I’m actually extremely introverted (not kidding, I’m as close to the “I” on the scale as you can get). I really resonate with these types fo characters because it feels like someone finally “gets” it. I have been in social situations where all of a sudden I “crash” and I physically can’t take it anymore - it’s a feeling of being trapped, a feeling of “short-circuiting.” Other people around you don’t understand what’s happening and assume you have an “attitude.” No, the introvert has literally become overwhelmed, over-stimulated and can no longer process anything else occurring in their environment; they are breaking down and everything is “noise”.

Though I’ve read many novels with introverted main characters, this novel makes me wants to actual explore and analyze this more deeply, so I’ll be adding this to my “to-do” list. “Introversion in the Novel” aaaah, I love it when a hobby keeps on giving. 

Moving on, a common theme in Whipple’s novels are God and faith. This is my third Whipple and this is recurring. In Young Anne, Anne has a difficult time reconciling the concept of God in a world that is disappointing.

As Anne gets older, she becomes more disillusioned with life as her expectations don’t meet reality. 

“…no material comfort can heal a spiritual dislocation.” 

Whereas in Whipple’s other novels, the characters tend to have a literal “Come to Jesus” moment, after they go through hell and high water, this doesn’t occur in Young Anne, which I find to be intriguing. I plan to read Whipple’s other novels (5 more to go…) and after completing that task, or once I become close to completing it, I would like to dive into “Faith and Religion in Whipple.” Once again, my hobby providing homework. 

Young Anne is a quick, enjoyable read and it is endearing to see how Anne navigates through life and the decisions that she makes. This is also a novel about how in youth, we tend to make more emotional decisions, but as we mature, we become more rational and reflective. We begin to understand that the decisions we make have consequences. I always enjoy reading Dorothy Whipple - I wish she was more widely appreciated. She has this way of writing simply about everyday life, that is relatable and evocative. She gets to the heart of both joy and despair without overdoing it. Young Anne is her first published novel and it may not be as strong the others but it’s still good and I can see how her writing and the topics she likes to write about matured. 

Rating: 4/5

Like my bookish content? Follow me on Instagram for more!

Last March I posted about how I’m fascinated by the topic of adultery in literature, after reading Madam Bovary and Anna Karenina. As I said in that post, I’ll be circling back to this theme from time to time as it’s a topic that is rather common. The question that mainly came to mind was, “What is the difference between how men and women write about adultery? 

Since last spring, I’ve read quite a few books that either feature an adulterous relationship or briefly mention one. Here, I’ve selected four books that raise interesting questions. 

Stoner by, John Williams - Stoner’s marriage is a massive flop and he develops a relationship with a woman at the university in which they both work. Stoner’s life is incredibly melancholy and this brief relationship is one of his only moments of happiness. As a reader, I was incredibly sympathetic towards Stoner and this created an interesting internal tension between his infidelity and his need for someone who truly understands him. 

Someone at a Distance by, Dorothy Whipple - I adore Whipple’s writing and her novels I’ve read thus far. Someone at a Distance is from a wife’s perspective and how destructive adultery is to the family. Her husband is unfaithful to her with a young women and Whipple expertly writes how this family falls apart at the seams. As much as I really disliked what the husband did to this family, through his actions, Whipple made it so that I still wanted this family to work it out. Whipple’s novel also reminds one that no one is immune to situations like this - no matter how happy the family was initially. 

The Odyssey by, Homer- This is an interesting one, because Odysseus is being help captive, against his will, by Calypso. Odysseus longs to get back home to his wife and son, but Calypso’s desire for him technically results in unfaithfulness against his wife. It’s evident that Odysseus does not like being with Calypso and doesn’t have much choice in the matter; Homer gives us images go Odysseus crying and looking out at the sea. Can he really be blamed in this situation when he’s own free will is pretty much non-existent? 

The Weather in the Streets by, Rosamond Lehmann - I just reviewed this a book a few posts ago. Olivia Spencer and Rollo, who is married, begin an adulterous relationship and Lehmann excellently evokes a subtle sense of paranoia throughout the novel. Lehmann doesn’t make excuses for people’s behavior; she’s writing realistically about things that happen and the complexities of relationships and the consequences of the decisions that people make. Like with Stoner, I felt an internal tension because Olivia and Rollo work as a couple, but infidelity is infidelity, plain and simple. 

All of this being said, it continues to fascinate me how complex and interesting adultery in narratives can be. I have noticed that when women write about it, there is a heavier focus on the detriment it does to the family unit and how these women do their best to fight for their marriages. Lehmann’s character Olivia really portrays the emotional turmoil these types of relationship have, even on the mistress. In short, with women, one could argue a more significant focus on the domestic. One does not have to agree with a character’s action to sympathize. In Stoner, we see a man who is so utterly unhappy, in a way we can over look that he’s being unfaithful to his wife and we are more compelled to give him a “pass.” Actually in a lot of the novels focusing on the male, written by the male, the male is incredibly unhappy in his marine. Lehmann actually portrays this with Rollo very well. 

Have you noticed any interesting features in these types of narratives and a difference between how men and women write about them, beyond how narratives like Anna Karenina and Madam Bovary show the hypocrisy between how men and women are treated, who do the same thing. Do you ever feel a bit awkward for rooting for a character or a relationship that is morally wrong? 

Like my bookish content? Follow me on Instagram for more!