Wednesday, January 27, 2010

To Bed with Grand Music

When Vera Lynn was singing 'We'll meet again...', it would have touched the hearts of many a young woman during WWII. Deborah Robertson would not have been one of those women. The image we usually have of women whose husbands are away at war is one of housework, queuing for rations, chats over the wall and knitting while listening to the wireless. Marghanita Laski does a fantastic job of showing us that there were women who chose to spend their time engaged in other pursuits. Leaving her young son, Timmy, with the housekeeper, Deborah sets off for London to look up a friend named Madeleine. After some inquiries and decisions are made, the two women are sharing a flat. Staying in at night with their hair in rollers and eating beans on toast is not for these two. Madeleine has a steady stream of male friends taking her out to dinner and it's not long before Deborah is joining in, after all, a girl has to eat doesn't she? Drinks follow dinner and then it's sex. Being faithful while apart is something that Graham said was unlikely, I'm not going to promise you I'll be physically faithful to you, because I don't want to make you any promise I may not be able to keep'. Social mores of the time implied that women would absolutely be faithful lest they be labeled by the proverbial scarlet letter. At first, Deborah is shocked by her behaviour and swears to herself that it won't happen again. But it does...over and over with a string of men. Soon she becomes skilled at saying and doing all the things her lovers want to acquire perfume, furs, jewellery, shoes and handbags. At her core, Deborah is selfish so she justifies her actions with ease and any guilt is fleeting. During an air raid, I desperately wanted a bomb to drop on the very table she was dining at with her latest companion! This is where I thoroughly admire Laski's writing, she was able to have me despise the main character and still love the book. I haven't hated a character so much since Louise from Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple. Even though this is a story about men, women and sex during the war, it's so far removed from being romanticized. Turning the last few pages, I wondered how this was all going to end...I was gobsmacked, Laski has a brilliant way with an ending. Just as in Little Boy Lost, you read the last few lines and then stare at the page in disbelief. This is not one of those books that will have you hugging it to your chest as you close the cover, more likely you'll want to fling it across the room! But only because Laski has executed the characterization so well as to bring forth such visceral emotion. This one has me wishing that I could sit in on another book chat at Persephone, I would love to hear Nicola's thoughts on everything about it. So if she does offer one, could someone please attend and let me know what she has to say?

16 comments:

  1. I've read 2 of Laski's other titles re-published by Persephone and have been saving this one but you make me want to drop everything and read. It does sound like a good book and I'm glad you enjoyed it. I just finished Someone at a Distance so I know just what you mean about disliking a character and having that characterization pull you in!

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  2. It was such a clever novel being able to do that wasn't it. Such a different perspective on wartime life. I loved all of the period detail so much too and the endpapers. If there is a bookchat on it, I'll make sure to go Darlene.

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  3. WHY haven't I read this yet?! I have had the book for three weeks now and it is impatiently waiting on my bedside table. A character that you despised as much as Louise? Oh my goodness.

    I'll be attending that bookchat with Verity, don't you worry.

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  4. Brilliant writer, isn't she? I don't she means us to despise Deborah - I had a sneaky admiration for the way she wreaked some fun out of the war, when she really might have been blown up at her nightclub table, many were. (I certainly didn't want her to be blown up ... how mean of you!) And after all, I don't suppose her husband was staying in every night in Cairo or wherever it was, washing his socks ... he didn't even promise her fidelity, did he? I think we're being invited to look at the double standards of morality for men and women. And the war opened up women's lives in so many different ways, even Nella Last went into a nervous depression once it was over and she had to go back to undiluted domesticity with her very dull husband. (Have you read Nella Last's diaries ... brilliant read, but she's one of the WRVS/queuing- for-England respectable housewives. And she didn't have Deborah's good looks ...
    But I'm lost now, having read the all the Persephone Laskis ... I wonder if they have any more up their sleeve?

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  5. This is another Persephone I really, really want to read. And I understand you wishing you could get to a bookchat - between this novel and Saplings' Lena, Persephone is definitely finding some interesting side-notes to the expected dutiful wife.

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  6. I have Someone at a Distance and I've put off reading it for the very reason of such an unlikeable character. Of course I don't Have to like characters if the story is good, and I wouldn't mind reading this Laski, but I've held off ordering any UK books for a while (am still trying to be good--why didn't I get a Persephone gift card for Christmas??). Your post is tempting me. What other Persephones do you have up your sleeve? I'm going to have to read one of my own soon. Wonderful post, by the way! :)

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  7. When I read what it was about in the P. catalogue, I didn't think it was for me. And I guess I still don't, but what a great review you wrote. Amazing.

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  8. Darlene, I purchased and read The Village recently, thinking from the title it would be a 'cosy' read! How wrong I was.
    To Bed With Grand Music sounds similar with a devastating female character (the Mother, Wendy, in The Village was simple a viper!), and a devastating, unvarnished portrait of English society in the 40's.

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  9. This sounds like a wonderful Persephone. I've put it on my wishlist. I've only read one book by her, The Victorian Chaise Longue and it was creepy. I have Little Boy Lost on my To-be-read pile.

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  10. This sounds amazing! I must read more Laski. It's so interesting to hear about a book set during the war that's not all about plucky women doing their bit on the home front. Great review Darlene!

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  11. leaningtowardthesun, When you pull To Bed with Grand Music off of your shelf, I'd love to know what you think of Deborah...do let me know!

    verity, Oh yes! When Laski mentions Deborah's silver fox fur, I instantly had this image of the whole outfit. Let's hope that if there is a book chat on this title one day, you'll be able to eat the cake!

    Paperback Reader, So many of us like to ration our Persephone's don't we. I will definitely be interested to read what you think of this one, Claire!

    Anonymous, Your comments are one of the reasons that this book would make for such a stimulating chat! I absolutely get the double standard as I mentioned in my post. My disdain for Deborah has more to do with her conniving than her morality and I'm sure there will be those who even admire Deborah for this trait. As for being mean in wishing a bomb would drop on Deborah...that's just my dramatic black humour at play. I was terrified at that moment that Timmy's life was in peril and thought better Deborah than him!

    I haven't read Last's diaries but have watched Housewife 49 which was excellent!

    Let's hope there are at least a few more Laski's to be had, she's absolutely fantastic!

    Danielle, Thanks! There are several Persephone titles waiting on my shelf, the next one will most likely be a Whipple. Rachel really liked They Knew Mr Knight so that's a possibility. Please read Someone at a Distance!!!

    makedoandread, Luckily for me, my trip last May coincided with a Persephone chat about Someone at a Distance...it was so much fun! I would attend every single one if I lived over there.

    Nan, I find myself taking another look at titles in the catalogue that at first didn't appeal. I really trust Nicola's choices as every single Persephone that I've read has been a rewarding experience.

    Merenia, I loved The Village! You are so right about Wendy. Isn't Laski fabulous at characterization?!

    Mrs B, Oh you're in for a treat! I keep swearing that I'm not going to follow any more blogs as I worry about spending too much time on the computer but I'll keep an eye out for your review of Little Boy Lost. Elizabeth Bowen wrote that it contains the best last sentence in 20th century fiction!

    Rachel, You can't lose with Laski! I wonder if there's a biography out there...she would have been so interesting to talk to.

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  12. What a super review! I absolutely agree - one of the reasons I loved this book so much was that I got to thoroughly despise the main character, and yet became fascinated by her story couldn't put the book down. The ending is brilliant!

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  13. I own twenty-three unread Persephones at present so it's not a need to ration them :s. I've been looking forward to it so much that I'm hoping eventually reading it won't be an anti-climax! I have faith in Laski though.

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  14. You've captured the book so perfectly. And you're right: I haven't despised a character so thoroughly since Louise! K x

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  15. skirmishofwit, What would we do without Persephone Books and the wonderful cast of characters to be found in them? Doesn't bear thinking about!

    Kristina, Thank you for your praise of my humble review skills, that's so nice of you to say. I fear that I will be old one day and forget all the lovely characters in these books and Louise and Deborah will be burned in my mind...yikes!

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  16. I haven't read Laski yet, but you've certainly convinced me that I need to read this one! Wonderful review.

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