The nights are drawing in on this side of the planet, which means Phase 5 of #ReadingMuriel2018 is coming to an end already. Phase 5 has been all about the novels Muriel Spark published in the 1980s and 1990s. This roundup coming out a couple of days early, to make way for other things.
Loitering with Intent (1981) – shortlisted for Booker Prize
The Only Problem (l984)
Far Cry From Kensington (1988)
Symposium (1990)
Reality and dreams (1996)
Were what we had to choose from.
I had already read A Far Cry from Kensington, it made my books of the year list in 2017, so I was looking forward to reading more from the same period of Spark’s writing. After thoroughly enjoying Loitering with Intent and The Only Problem, I now view the 1980s as a period in Muriel Spark’s writing that I really engage with. I am squeezing Symposium into the very end of this phase 5 period, but it looks like I shall be reviewing it at the beginning of phase 6.
Sian read Loitering with Intent too, but it didn’t quite tick all the boxes for her, she decided she might be all Sparked out. Sometimes, we read the right books at the wrong times, I know that all too well. Meg also read Loitering with Intent and found Spark’s wonderful characters to be really quite a bunch – they are! Loitering with Intent does seem to be a favourite with many people, I have had a number of comments on the blog and on Twitter telling me it’s their favourite Spark. Michael from LT who continues to work his way through all of Spark’s novels rated it five stars calling it the most autobiographical of Spark’s novels. Jacqui from Jacquiwine reviewed Loitering with Intent during the summer, calling it ‘a marvellous piece of meta fiction about the work of writers’
Grier has also read The Only Problem, which I am glad to say she enjoyed too. Jennifer agreed with me, that the ingredients of this one could only have come from the imagination of Muriel Spark. An academic writing a book on the Book of Job while his estranged wife runs around with French terrorists and a policewoman masquerades as a housekeeper. The Only Problem was another five-star read for Michael.
A Far Cry from Kensington is such a good novel, it is probably the novel that really made me want to read a lot more by Muriel Spark. Mary read A Far Cry from Kensington, rating it 4 stars and calling it witty, clever, fun. Caroline from Bookword, reviewed it too saying how Spark’s depiction of the publishing world in the 1950s, which she knew, reveals how few people care about the written word and how many of them are more concerned with their reputation, connections or just hanging on to their job. Michael from LT was perhaps slightly less enamoured, rating it three stars, calling it more catty than clever.
Monica from Monica’s bookish life read and reviewed Symposium, which she found compelling enjoying the unexpected twists and turns. Jennifer joined me in squeezing Symposium into the end of the month. I enjoyed it a lot – though my review won’t be up for a few days. Michael rated it 4 and half stars but admits it does get a bit crowded with its large cast of characters. Though I can’t say I found it confusing, which is always the worry with a large cast of characters.
Michael from LT is the only one I have seen reading Reality and Dreams, rating it three and a half stars, calling it a thin rehash of themes already familiar to Spark novels containing echoes of other Spark novels.
Another post that dropped into my blog reader recently about Muriel Spark came from Lizzy – at Lizzy’s Literary life. She visited Edinburgh and joined a walking tour of sites associated with Muriel Spark.
Phase 6 starts on the 1st of November, just a few days away, and it seems unbelievable that we are here already. Phase 6 is a choice between Spark’s final two novels:
Aiding and Abetting (2000) and The Finishing School (2004)
Spark’s autobiography Curriculum Vitae (1992) and the biography
Appointment in Arezzo: a friendship with Muriel Spark – Alan Taylor by Martin Stannard (2017).
I have Curriculum Vitae for my 1992 slot of ACOB, I also really want to read Appointment in Arezzo, which I recently bought, it looks excellent. Though that will be dependent on my finishing ACOB with time to spare.
Let me know if I have missed your thoughts/review for Phase 5 – and I will try to remember to edit you in. Also, I would love to know if you’re planning to join in with the last phase of #ReadingMuriel2018 – and what you plan to read
Lovely round-up, Ali. I still have a copy of Symposium to read, but that may have to wait till next year seeing as we’re almost in November now!
As for the next phase, I’m looking forward to seeing what you think of Appointment in Arezzo (whenever you get a chance to read it). It’s caught my eye too as I’ve been browsing in bookshops.
Symposium turned out to be an odd little book, but entertaining with a weird little mystery at the heart of it. I really enjoyed it.
I guess I was a bit early but I just finished the excellent Curriculum Vitae, learning so much about Dame Spark and what influenced her writing. I am so glad I read it and am looking forward to your reaction to it. I haven’t heard of Appointment in Arezzo but have just ordered a copy. I read Symposium last year and liked it very much. I have two more Sparks on my shelf that I will read after ACOB, Reality and Dreams and Aiding and Abetting as well as her short stories. As you can probably tell, I’ve loved #ReadingMuriel2018.
So glad to hear you enjoyed Curriculum Vitae, I have been looking forward to it. Glad you will be reading Appointment in Arezzo, it looks so good. When my copy arrived I began reading the introduction and quickly had to put it away before I got dragged – looking forward to getting back to it at some point.
Nice round-up Ali! I’ve fallen off the wagon a bit with this challenge, but I’m sure I’ll eventually get back to Spark! 😀
Thank you, I hope you get back to Spark soon. I have enjoyed doing this so much.
It’s sad to think of someone getting all Sparked out, but I can also see where that could happen. I used to have about a dozen of her books on the shelf but they were lost as a bunch when I had to clear a room in 2016 and, since, I’ve found them difficult to borrow in a timely fashion from the library (they often have only a couple of copies and are, surprisingly, in steady demand – which is nice for Muriel, of course) I have not kept up with my plans for this year. BUT. I have had Curriculum Vitae all along and chose to keep that one; I am already reading and it is very enjoyable! I think it would even appeal to someone who had been all Sparked out!
I am so glad that you will be reading Curriculum Vitae too. I will look out for your thoughts on it.
A fab round-up and I’m so pleased you’ve had so much chat and engagement over the year. What a great project this has been even though I’ve obviously only watched from afar, and well done for all your hard work keeping it together.
Thank you, it’s been great that so many readers have wanted to carry on with it.
I recently reviewed A Far Cry From Kensington on my blog, I was surprised by how much I liked the book! I’m definitely going to read more of hers. I admire your dedication to reading so many Sparks 🙂
I loved A Far Cry from Kemsington. I have ended up reading far more Spark’s than I thought I would, it’s been great.
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