Wednesday, November 23, 2011

The Odd Women by George Gissing

It can be a bit frustrating to be surrounded by a community of mainstream fiction lovers when you want to stand on a chair and shout out how much you adored a late-Victorian novel.  So I'll do it here...I loved this book!

The Odd Women, published in 1893, is a spectacular novel about the choices and obstacles faced by women in their struggle for independance.  Whether that be as single women or within a marriage.  Mary Barfoot and Rhoda Nunn are steadfast in their belief that to marry reduces a woman to being a cook and cradle rocker and to retard her thinking.  Together they operate a business that teachs young women to use a typewriter so they can escape the drudgery and abuses of service or other menial occupations.  They also make themselves available one night a week in their Chelsea home to meet with women who share their views.

Alice and Virginia Madden have reached the stage of spinsterhood but their younger sister, Monica, has beauty enough to secure a better future for all three.  Her chance meeting with the modestly wealthy Edmund Widdowson creates debate amongst all of the above-mentioned ladies.  Let it be said that Mr Widdowson is a stuck in the mud loner and once he reels in his young prey becomes nothing short of her jailer.  His opinions are to be Monica's opinions and his jealous eye questions her every movement.  The security of marriage has come at a price to both and Gissing writes of that toll from his own dismal experiences.  There are other riveting storylines but to hint at them would ruin the fun of discovery.

The Odd Women is a page-turner full of secret alliances, betrayal, vice, misunderstanding and deceit.  And I have a new author crush in George Gissing, which is saying a lot for someone who tends to prefer the writings of women.  His portrayals of a Victorian London where pea soup fog from charcoal fires causes its citizens to hug walls in order to read an address is irresistible.  Also, his ability to convincingly construct characters from different classes and both genders while creating arguments for and against marriage is nothing short of remarkable.  Even before I had finished The Odd Women I placed an order for two more books by Gissing, The Nether World and New Grub Street.

If this book is languishing on your shelf then you are housing a gem.  Go and get it!

24 comments:

  1. It can be a bit frustrating to be surrounded by a community of mainstream fiction lovers when you want to stand on a chair and shout out how much you adored a late-Victorian novel.
    Oh I so know that feeling! I just read a book that I really enjoyed but would only appeal to a certain audience. How do you crow about it? Thank goodness for our blogs (and for LibraryThing, where I have already crowed).

    Here's my review of said book as I think you would be interested too:
    Review: A Book of Secrets, by Michael Holroyd

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  2. Ooh, this is on the VMC list. I have to admit I've been struggling with some of the victorian VMCs, but on your recommendation I will order myself a copy...

    (Bizarrely there is a VMC called Odd woman!)

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  3. It's been sitting on my pile for at least six months so I really must get round to reading it.

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  4. Laura, Thanks for the link to your review and you're absolutely right, I would really enjoy that book! Hopefully my library has a copy. And thank goodness for blogs indeed.

    Verity, You absolutely MUST read this! It's one of those books you read whilst at the stove, walking from one room to the next, half-dressed when you should be getting to work...you get the idea. I'll keep an eye out for it to appear on your Virago blog!

    mary, You mentioned it as perhaps a pick for your book group. Oh the discussion you could have about the characters and the choices they make...it wouldn't be a dull evening!

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  5. I have the Virago edition, and I did pull it out when you mentioned it before. Thank you for that, because it does look good, and The Odd Women is now on my list for next year.

    And seeing Laura's comment reminds me to suggest that maybe you should took at the LibraryThing Virago group where plans are being laid to spend next year with the works of Elizabeth Taylor. You'll find a good few bloggers you know over there too. Me, Laura, Verity, Simon ...

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  6. Well, I don't own it, but I can see I am going to have to go and buy it! :) You can happily share your love of Victorian novels here as I am sure there are plenty of us who will nod our heads in happy agreement! I am reading Wilkie Collins's No Name at the moment and very happy to be lost in a good old Victorian tale!

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  7. Thank you for the great recommendation! I love learning about the books you read. I love Victorian novels and almost always prefer them to contemporary fiction.

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  8. I read this a while ago and loved it!

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  9. fleurfisher, The cover art on that Virago is so beautiful and count me in for the Taylor read-along. Laura told me about the event recently and I'm so looking forward to joining in!

    Danielle, You and my other bookish friends here have absolutely been a source of supreme happiness in my adventure with books. And I thought Wilkie Collins was the bees knees until I read Gissing...get this book!

    Sunday Taylor, To read this is to turn your afternoon into a Victorian panorama! You will love it I promise you.

    harriet, It really is a cut above and I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as I did.

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  10. I've been meaning to read this book ever since I read The Slaves of Solitude and Gissing was mentioned in the introduction. It sounds right up my street. Thanks.

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  11. I read this in my pre blogging days and loved it - it's a fascinating and frightening and brilliant book. I haven't read any more of his books though - just haven't got around to it/haven't come across any second hand. I'm interested to see how you get on with the others...as I may shortly be doing an MA in Victorian Studies I probably should attempt to delve a bit more into Victorian Literature!

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  12. Katrina, And it just so happens I'm reading The Slaves of Solitude now which is a teensy bit spooky! Definitely put The Odd Women back on top of your tbr list.

    bookssnob, Well I for one hope you still have time to write a blurb about the fascinating things you're learning about once you start that MA. And you will get in!

    The Odd Women was absolutely gripping and perfect for all the reasons you mentioned and I could have happily turned right back to the beginning.

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  13. I also read this book in my pre blogging days. It was my introduction to Gissing and I've read half a dozen others since. I do wish more people read him. In the Year of Jubilee is pretty wonderful. At the moment I'm very slowly making my way through Gissing and H.G. Wells' correspondence.

    Earlier this month I read Gail Godwin's The Odd Woman, which she must have been writing during The Odd Women's centenary. The main character, an odd woman in Gissing's sense, is rereading the book prior to teaching it in the upcoming semester. It's definitely put me in the mood, as does your review, to reread it myself.

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  14. I'm glad you enjoyed it Darlene. I read it years ago but I remember loving it, couldn't put it down as you say. New Grub Street is alos wonderful but I haven't read Nether World. I'll have to get back to Gissing.

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  15. I DO have a copy unread on the TBR shelf -- and New Grub Street as well. I'm moving this up to the top of the TBR list, and I think I might have to amend my Classics Challenge 2012 to include it.

    I'm also amused by the fact that the cover art is exactly the same as on the Penguin edition of The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett, another largely ignored classic that I loved. Go read it!!

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  16. Susan, Thanks for stopping by! I will be doing my bit to spread the word and thanks for letting me know about The Year of Jubilee. I read the first page on Amazon and it reeled me in straight away.

    lyn, I'm looking forward to finding out about the title of New Grub Street...it doesn't sound very appealing does it!?

    Karen, Oh you absolutely MUST read this for the Classics Challenge!!! And I whipped over to Amazon to read the synopsis for The Old Wives' Tale--it's definitely going on my list. Thanks for letting me know about it and those ladies on the cover are more than welcome to appear again, amusing indeed!

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  17. Never read Gissing. I really should read more male writers. I do like a good Victorian novel in winter so I'll look out for a copy.

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  18. I recently came across your blog and immediately found a book I need to read. My copy arrived today - I am so looking forward to reading this, thanks to your review.

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  19. Nicola, Female authors far outnumber the males on my shelves as well. I shudder to think my preference almost cost me the discovery of a sublime writer...give him a try!

    Lisa, I'm thrilled and thanks for stopping by! You're in for a fabulous read.

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  20. This sounds like a good read. Thanks for sharing.
    Ann

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  21. A lovely review - you have made me want to read this too!

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  22. Cozy, You're very welcome!

    A Bookish Space, You would love it so keep your eyes out for a copy and don't let it sit too long. Lovely to see you again!

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  23. I walked past George Gissing's house last week...

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  24. StuckInABook, Ooh...was it his Chelsea address? I see there's a blue plaque at that site. And "hello" by the way!

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