Sisters By A River

[callmemadam]

We all know that dreary feeling of ‘nothing to read’ when there are hundreds of books around we could read, if only they were the very thing one wanted to read that minute. What a pleasure it is then, to find something one just can’t wait to read. Browsing the books in the local Oxfam shop I homed in on a familiar green Virago spine and Sisters by a River, by Barbara Comyns. I started reading at random. Harrumphed to myself at the price they were asking for a beat up paperback. Read some more. Walked round the shop, picked up some more books, dipped into Sisters again: I had to have it.

The book was first published in 1947 and is a memoir of childhood, a pretty horrifying childhood, told in an episodic, apparently random manner, in the first person and with the spelling and punctuation of a person never properly educated. If you can imagine a mixture of I Capture the Castle, Stevie Smith’s Novel on Yellow Paper and Molesworth you might just come somewhere near the extraordinary, strangely compelling style of this book. I absolutely loved it.

Comments

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

I often think 'Ugh, Virago' and don't investigate any further - they have a dull and unappealing appearance to me. This sounds great stuff though!

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

How strangely we differ in our opinions! I am always drawn to Virago books, although there are plenty which on investigation don't interest me. I'm looking forward to the day when there are lots of second hand Persephone books about.

It's gripping; full of horrors described matter of factly and mixed up with happy things.

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

Have you read this one? Amazon thinks I ought to.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

No. You'd be surprised what Amazon thinks I want.
A book by Rebecca West which you might like is The Meaning of Treason. I like The Fountain Overflows but I don't think you would. She had a long running affair with H G Wells, you know.

[gghost.livejournal.com]

Another one for the ever-growing list.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Strange how that To Be Read pile never gets any smaller, isn't it?