Claire’s Corner

Posted on | June 10, 2010 | 26 Comments

The latest installments of The Bloomsbury Group series -complete with vibrantly coloured covers- arrived at Paperback Reader abode today (published in the UK July 5th). The one I am most excited about reading is the double-header photographed above: Mrs Harris Goes to Paris & Mrs Harris Goes to New York (or, And Other Adventures, as it appears on the book cover) by Paul Gallico. My review of the first in the double-header, Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, can be read here (under the title, Flowers for Mrs Harris); I am looking forward to reading about the further touching escapades of the salt-of-the-earth charwoman.

At the weekend I found this article in The Guardian fascinating; this year sees the fiftieth anniversary of the birth control pill. Whatever your thoughts may be on this form of contraception, it was revolutionary in the Women’s Liberation movement; Rachel Cooke explores its influence upon literature of the time including The Group by Mary McCarthy, which was my favourite read of last year. Attention is also paid to The L-Shaped Room by Lynne Reid Banks, a book also celebrating its fiftieth birthday this year, and one that concerns the pregnancy of a young, unmarried woman. I’ve been meaning to read the book for some time -especially as it appears on Simon of Stuck in a Book’s list of books that I (and everyone else) must read- and this is added incentive to finally read it this year; I think it is one to suggest to my book group (the one that mainly reads feminist literature) and would perhaps make a great companion read with Married Love by Marie Stopes.

Lastly, I don’t know where the time has gone but did you realise that Dolce Bellezza’s fourth annual Japanese Literature Challenge has already begun? JLC IV is a challenge that I will most definitely be participating in and will be sharing a list of potential reads with you shortly (I love making lists and even if I don’t manage to read many of them, they are so enjoyable to compile); before I do run away to my bookshelves with my notebook and pen, do you have any Japanese literature to recommend?

Comments

26 Responses to “Claire’s Corner”

stujallen
June 10th, 2010 @ 9:10 pm

i did a post on japanese writers last week some of my own plus quiet few from stewart at booklit he’s guy to ask ,endo be my choice ,all the best stu ,i ve read snow goose by gaillico
Katherine
June 10th, 2010 @ 10:40 pm

I’m so excited they’re reprinting Mrs. ‘Arris! I read this a couple of years ago and loved it. I even wrote to them to suggest it as a book they might consider bringing back–great minds think alike, huh?
Jenny
June 10th, 2010 @ 11:59 pm

I’m so pleased they’ve reprinted Mrs. ‘arris – I read those books ages ago and thought they were so charming. Easily my favorites of Paul Gallico’s books, apart from the one about the boy who turns into a cat.

Fifty years! That is so few! I always forget what a recent development the pill is. Crazy.
Aarti
June 11th, 2010 @ 12:34 am

I’m so jealous you get all the Bloomsbury Group books! I want them, too. Good heavens, I can’t believe the second batch is already out. I still have yet to read the first!
Mrs.B.
June 11th, 2010 @ 2:00 am

I love that vibrantly pink cover! I’m joining the challenge too! I’m in the mood for Japanese literature. I recommend anything by Murakami and Ishiguro. I’ll be compiling a list shortly too. I’m keen to read the N.Kirino books!
Joan Hunter Dunn
June 11th, 2010 @ 7:17 am

Oooh I really want to read Mrs Harris. I remember reading The L-Shaped Room as a teenager. After hearing it spoken about on the radio last week it had me trying to remember it. I should re read it – I wonder how different I’ll find it being 20 years older…
Novel Insights
June 11th, 2010 @ 10:45 am

Nice factoid about the pill’s 50th anniversary and you should definitely read The L-shaped Room. I read it when I was a teenager and would love to revisit it at some point.
Jackie (Farm Lane Books)
June 11th, 2010 @ 10:46 am

I’m just writing my Japanese challenge list too. My favourites are Out and Kafka on the Shore, but I think you’d like The Woman in the Dunes too.

I have heard a lot about the L-Shaped Room this week, but I haven’t read it. I think I need to find a copy!
Verity
June 11th, 2010 @ 10:48 am

Married love is an interesting read – I hop you’ve got the edition with Ross McKibbin’s foreword – he was one of my lecturers at uni!
Rachel
June 11th, 2010 @ 11:42 am

Very interesting article – I’m not sure I agree with the fact that allowing women to be sexually promiscuous is ‘liberating’, but then I am quite conservative when it comes to such issues. I’d love to read Married Love for the social history – I want to have a good concerted read of women’s history books, I have so many of them on my shelves. Maybe this summer I will be able to make the time.

Am jealous of your Bloomsbury reprints! I have heard many good things about Mrs ‘Arris goes to Paris…I’ll look out for that one.
Nadia
June 11th, 2010 @ 12:49 pm

Wow! I love the vibrant color on that book! I’m a bit jealous you received that second batch of Bloomsbury reprints, but I am looking forward to your reviews of them I just finished reading Henrietta’s War from the first batch and absolutely loved that book! And as for the JLC4, I’ve only read and reviewed one book so far, but am looking forward to reading more Japanese Lit soon. Can’t wait to see what list you compile for that challenge! Cheers!
Simon T
June 11th, 2010 @ 2:39 pm

There’s only one word for the next set of Bloomsbury Group reprints, and that is eekity-squeak!

I’ve been meaning to read Married Love for ages, so might get it off the shelves soon… although I’d feel a little embarrassed to be reading it in public. And I *know* that you’ll love The L-Shaped Room! I was so lucky just to pick it up on a whim for 10p once, never having heard of it, and was so nervous when I re-read, lest it not be as good as I remembered. I needn’t have worried! I’ll re-read the two sequels sometime this year…
Darlene
June 11th, 2010 @ 2:54 pm

Simon cracked me up with his ‘eekity-squeak’!

I’m reading reviews these days through hands over my face as I’m tackling my shelves at the present but don’t these new Bloomsbury publications look delightful!
Amanda R.
June 11th, 2010 @ 3:20 pm

I love those Bloomsbury publications; I’m so glad they’re issuing more books.

Enjoy your read!
sakura
June 11th, 2010 @ 3:52 pm

I remember going to a lecture by Lara V. Marks about the pill (she’s published a book called Sexual Chemistry about the history of the pill)and being shocked at the complex issues it threw up for women which I had never considered. It was an eye-opener.

I’m also compiling my list for the JLC4. Can’t wait to see what other people are going to read.
Thomas at My Porch
June 11th, 2010 @ 5:29 pm

Claire, I have been away from the blogsphere for a bit, and I must say I missed reading your blog. And to come back and see you talking about one of my favorite books of all time. I love Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. The NY one I did not love as much. My fantasy is that someone makes the Paris one into a period film complete with lots of Dior fashions from the time. Kind of Sex and the City meets Mrs Harris. I think it is interesting that for this new edition Bloomsbury chose a hybrid between the original Flowers for Mrs Harris and the US Mrs ‘Arris Goes to Paris.
Desperate Reader
June 11th, 2010 @ 10:54 pm

The pill article was really interesting but I thought it raised a lot of unanswered questions – why has it been such a good thing for women and for children to make contraception such a female preserve? The pill is surely a good thing for many reasons, but I’m with Germaine Greer on thinking it’s been a two edged sword.
Desperate Reader
June 11th, 2010 @ 10:55 pm

But what I should have said is thank you for bringing it to my attention!
Simon (Savidge Reads)
June 12th, 2010 @ 12:10 pm

Oh you lucky thing getting those books, do you have a picture of them altogether as I bet they look a treat in their new shades. Hmmm Japanese Literature… Endo is someone I now want to try everyone is loving him it seems at the moment.
Paperback Reader
June 12th, 2010 @ 4:30 pm

Stu, thanks for pointing out your post, which was very helpful. I really want to read Silence by Endo. The Snow Goose was tragically poignant and I reviewed it early last year.

Katherine, great minds so think alike (I suggested Mrs ‘Arris to Bloomsbury also)! I’m looking forward to her further exploits and suspect that they will make perfect Sunday afternoon reading.

Jenny, how could you forget that the Paul Gallico book about a boy that turns into a cat is called … Jennie?! Have you read The Snow Goose? It’s heart-wrenching.

Fifty years seems like no time at all for such an age-defining invention.

Aarti, I’m very lucky to have received them… especially seeing as I haven’t read all of the first batch yet.

Astrid, not only was the pink book the one I was most excited about but it was my favourite cover – such a deliciously vibrant colour!
I enjoyed reading your list; I’m going to read Kirino’s Out for the challenge.

Joan, I’m really looking forward to reading The L -Shaped Room and think I will do so soon. It is interesting (and sometimes shocking) how our viewpoints differ over time.

Polly, perhaps you, Simon, and I should have another read-along where you both reread it and I read it for the first time?

Jackie, I love reading everyone’s JLC lists!
I think I’ll definitely be reading The L-Shaped Room during its fiftieth birthday year.

Verity, I do have that edition! I think it’ll be another I definitely read this year; it was recommended reading for my Master’s course but not one I had the opportunity to read.

Rachel, I don’t equate the liberation of women at the hand’s of the pill with promiscuity but more the freedom to be in control of one’s own body and fertility.

Mrs ‘Arris Goes to Paris is charming and can easily be found in an old Penguin edition if not the Bloomsbury reprint.
Paperback Reader
June 12th, 2010 @ 4:43 pm

Nadia, I loved Henrietta’s War too – check out my review from last year if you have a chance.

Japanese literature is amongst my favourite and I’m excited to choose some for the challenge as I won’t to reed more deeply and widely from the country.

Simon, hee – excited, much?!
I *know* I’ll love The L-Shaped Room too, I couldn’t be more sure.

Darlene, they do look delightful but I understand your aim to tackle the shelves, something I desperately need to do myself.

Amanda, the Bloomsbury Group are such a talking-point and I have enjoyed those I have read thus far.

Sakura, the lecture sounds fascinating. I must look out for the book.

I’m looking forward to your JLC4 list!

Thomas, thank you for your lovely words. I remembered that this was a favourite of yours and I love your idea for a film. The title fusion is interesting (albeit frustrating when writing as I want to use one or the other).

Hayley, I agree that it has been a two-edged sword but I’m on the side of it being a good thing by handing back control to women.

Simon, your request has been noted and there may be a photograph in the works.

I want to read Endo myself, very much so.
Jenny
June 12th, 2010 @ 7:17 pm

When I read it as a kid, it was called The Abandoned – I think Jennie must be the UK title. Yes, I’ve read The Snow Goose, but it was too sad for me, which is something I’ve found about a number of Gallico’s books. The Abandoned [Jennie] ended more or less well.
Mae
June 12th, 2010 @ 11:53 pm

Ooh! I’m excited about the new batch too! And the pink is stunning. I’m quite partial to hot pink although I’m not sure how the manly men will take it.
Kate
June 13th, 2010 @ 4:50 am

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris was one of my favorite books when I was growing up. I was lucky enough to have a copy that has all four of the Mrs. Harris stories. I’ve got my fingers crossed that The Bloomsbury Group decides to publish those as well!
Jessica
June 14th, 2010 @ 12:33 pm

I have been eyeing up the lastest titles on the Bloomsbury website for a couple of week now and I love the new bright designs. Will wait for actual reviews of books before buying though
Buried In Print
June 14th, 2010 @ 4:52 pm

This sounds delightful indeed. As for Japanese writers, I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read of Banana Yoshimoto’s work; I started with Kitchen and have read everything that’s been translated, with the exception of Hardboiled and Hard Luck (2005) which somehow I missed, but have just requested from the library. Oh, no: the Challenge muscle is twitching. I’m looking forward to your list.