Brookner in July the Anita Brookner reading month is here. I only came up with the idea couple of months ago – and I’m not sure how many people are joining in. I have six Brookner novels sitting here TBR – and while I won’t get around to all of them, I hope to read two or three of them. I have started reading Undue Influence, and have: Providence, A friend from England, Leaving Home, Friends and Family and The Next Big thing to choose from later.
At the Hairdressers (2011) – a penguin short – available exclusively as an ebook –is a short story of approximately 35 pages. It is the most recently published work of Anita Brookner who is 85 later this month. I read it on Saturday afternoon in preparation for Brookner in July. The writing is typically Brookner – the themes of ageing, trust and betrayal seem familiar too. Elizabeth is 80 years old, living in a dark basement flat in Victoria. Elizabeth rarely leaves her flat, and when she does it is just to go shopping or have her hair done. A chance encounter at the hairdressers one day leads to unexpected change for Elizabeth.
At the hairdressers is moving but not in any way depressing (as some consider Anita Brookner to be) – the writing is beautiful and proves that even in her eighties Anita Brookner is still an astonishingly brilliant writer. Her observations are as acute as ever, the prose itself divine. This lovely little story really whetted my appetite for Brookner in July.
I do hope some of you will be joining me and will be particularly interested to hear of anyone reading her for the first time. Please feel free to leave links to your own Brookner reviews in the comments below.
Looking forward to joining in Ali – I shall read Hotel du Lac if nothing else!
The central character has the same name as my auntie : )
I still haven’t picked my read/s, so I should knuckle down!
I’m joining in! I will be reading “A Start in Life” at very least, and possibly one or two more – as I’ve read all the early ones, they fit into my Month of Re-Reading in July quite nicely!
Yay excellent – I seem to remember liking A Start in Life
I would like to join in as well. Can I do a reread of Hotel due Lac?
Yes of course, good choice.
I’m joining in and am reading for the first time Hotel du Lac! Very excited to participate.
Judith (Reader in the Wilderness)
Found out about you from Lakeside Musing
Great! So glad you are joining me. Last night I started my second Brookner for July.
[…] this month it’s down to Ali – she’s nudging us all to raid our shelves with her Brookner in July […]
[…] did want to re-read a Brookner anyway, but then Heaven-Ali came up with the idea of Brookner in July to celebrate the author’s birthday, so this forms part of that challenge, too. This one has a […]
I have a Brookner somewhere on my TBR pile. I’m also doing The Odyssey readalong with A Literary Odyssey this month and Brookner might mis it up nicely for me 🙂
The Odyssey – that sounds challenging!
*mess
Just squeaked in before July 31 turned into Aug 1 and I would turn into a literary pumpkin. I re-read Hotel du Lac. Enjoyed it as much the second time as the first time.
Excellent that is good to hear : )
[…] really enjoyed reading Anita Bookner this month. I began the month by reading the short story ‘At the hairdressers’ which was published exclusively as an ebook in 2011. I then read, ‘Undue Influence’, […]
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