This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud - Review
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- A review of This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud.
Over seven decades, from 1940 to 2010, the pieds-noirs Cassars live in an itinerant state-separated in the chaos of World War II, running from a complicated colonial homeland, and, after Algerian independence, without a homeland at all. This Strange Eventful History, told with historical sweep, is above all a family story: of patriarch Gaston and his wife Lucienne, whose myth of perfect love sustains them and stifles their children; of François and Denise, devoted siblings connected by their family’s strangeness; of François’s union with Barbara, a woman so culturally different they can barely comprehend one another; of Chloe, the result of that union, who believes that telling these buried stories will bring them all peace.
Inspired in part by long-ago stories from her own family’s history, Claire Messud animates her characters’ rich interior lives amid the social and political upheaval of the recent past. As profoundly intimate as it is expansive, This Strange Eventful History is “a tour de force…one of those rare novels that a reader doesn’t merely read but lives through with the characters” (Yiyun Li).
I'd been wondering about this novel, so very much appreciate hearing your balanced thoughts.
I agree with you entirely about it all being in the telling. It's a shame that this book might not have lived up to expectations, considering all the hype surrounding it.
Actually, you have intrigued me - I might give it a go.
I saw this book pop up on someone's Booker prediction list, so I almost got curious about it. You cured that! I've had a rollercoaster with Messud's books (absolutely HATED The Emperor's Children, liked The Woman Upstairs). I'll probably sit this one out.
What a bummer! The premise sounds so promising. This Boring Life!
Exactly my reaction. I thought it had a promising start with the family separated by world events but the narrative quickly moved on. I agree this might have been epic if all the promising stories were fleshed out. Odd selection of books on the long list this year.
Thank you so much for this review! I am just over 100 pages in this book and I was worried that I was missing something! It has little moments of interesting things but I’m just really bored and waiting for something exciting to happen. So far everything seems surface level and fragmented. I was promised an expansive and immersive novel, but that is not what I am seeing so far. I’m going to carry on and hope the second half at least fills in some of the gaps.
Andy, I do appreciate the depth of your reviews. Always so thoughtful. I’m sorry this book was such a disappointment. Great review. Thanks.
Didn't work for me either!! For me Alan Hollinghurst is an author that does the "jumping through time" thing that really forces you to fill in the blanks, but it works because the slices of life that he does show are extremely laser-focused, short, and (most importantly) entertaining
I was really looking forward to reading this one, as i really enjoyed The Woman Upstairs and wanted to read some more of Messud's work... I'll tackle some more of my unread books before going out to buy this one! I'm still laughing with your alternative title "This Boring Life" 😂
Claire Messud's "The Emperor's Children" is an excellent book. Thanks for this review. I don't think I'll be picking up this book. Will you recommend any other work of Messud?
@@karansehgal3962 it’s the first of hers I’ve read :)
@@rororeads Would like to know which books you have immensely liked in recent years? Have you made such videos?
@@karansehgal3962 Ooo! Good question. I haven't made a video like that. I tend to keep things simple. But I'll start compiling a list :)
Least if it does make the Booker our expectations will be a bit lower. It’s worse being excited for a book and being let down.
Great review Andy, very much appreciated. 😊
That’s true! As mention in the review, I think I’m going to be in the minority when it comes to this one :) thanks for commenting x
Yep that is the worst sort of writing crime: take something with so much promise and make it boring 😂
So boring. Real slog. Moments of literary brilliance clouded by mundanity. I read Restless Dolly, I read this, fool me twice, writers writing about their own family experience, probably won’t read anymore!
Each time jump left me disappointed and reluctant to pick up next section. Writing was great but to no purpose. The gaps crippled the character development. After a few days there's nothing to remember from this book.
I’m ready for your text to make sense 😂
A boring book that should be interesting - sounds like Booker catnip to me 🤭
@@GemofBooks 😂
If you find the events in this novel interesting, get out more 😂💀
Do you think it'll make the shortlist?
@@milespudge7817 god I hope not