Helen Scheller
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The next book on our list was Women in Love, by DH Lawrence. This has variously been described as lacking momentum, too wordy, and vague about the aspirations and desires of its central characters Gudrun, Ursula, Rupert and Gerald. While these criticisms are valid up to a point, they in no way detract from the power and sensuality of this twentieth century classic. Lawrence achieves his effect not so much by a logical sequencing of events, but by the creation of a series of tableaux which depict the struggles of the protagonists to understand each other and the world around them. The novel reaches a climax with the death of Gerald in the Bavarian Alps and Gudrun, Ursula and Rupert are left to resolve the issues of love and life in their own inimitable ways.
Helen Scheller Our literary season kicked off with A World Of Other People, by Steven Carroll. To link the story of a love affair with the poetry of T.S. Eliot was certainly a challenge, but, I think a successful one. A day after the Blitz in London, three people stood on a rooftop acting as fire spotters, when they saw a British plane go down. One of these watchers was Iris, a would-be novelist, and another was the acclaimed poet T.S. Eliot. A year later, quite by chance, Iris meets Jim, an airman sitting on a park bench who is clearly distressed. She speaks to him, and their love affair begins, but later cools due to a misunderstanding. Hoping to see Iris, Jim goes to a reading of Little Gidding by the poet, but the evocative and powerful imagery of a plane going down triggers a memory of his rear gunner trapped in the burning aircraft. He wanders off into freezing weather, and dies of hypothermia. It's only later that Iris and T.S. Eliot realise the doomed airman was Jim. If anything, this novel, made us aware of the power of love, the power of words, and the meaning of hope and inspiration.
Helen Scheller |
About 'Page Turners'The Page Turners group reads a selection of contemporary novels, some crime fiction and a few books based on actual events. Convenor and contact detailsMeg Dillon
5762 6558 Meeting times1st Tuesday
10 am to 12 noon Dillon's Home* *Please note - Page Turners is limited to 10 - 12 members due to constraints on where we meet.
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