Birds of Passage

by Bernice Rubens

Mrs Pickering and Mrs Walsh didn't want their husbands to die but they did want to survive them for the cruise. It would be such fun: just the two them together on a boat, decently and thankfully widowed at last. But the sea holds hidden perils for women of a certain age...

Genres: Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Bernice Rubens was born in Cardiff, Wales in July 1928. She began writing at the age of 35, when her children started nursery school. Her second novel, Madame Sousatzka (1962), was filmed by John Schlesinger filmed with Shirley MacLaine in the leading role in 1988. Her fourth novel, The Elected Member, won the 1970 Booker prize. She was shortlisted for the same prize again in 1978 for A Five Year Sentence. Her last novel, The Sergeants’ Tale, was published in 2003. She was an honorary vice-president of International PEN and served as a Booker judge in 1986. Bernice Rubens died in 2004 aged 76.

Reviews

[Iva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why Bernice Rubens isn't better known in the U.S. She won a Booker, but not for this book. Her characters are wonderfully developed, the plot moves along at an engaging pace, and she is funny and observant. Those fans of Barbara Pym might welcome this as well as Jane Gardam and early Hilary Mantel. Recommended, but only if you can find a copy. (And try to find a review--I may be the only American to have read her!)

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging, concisely written, sometimes humorous, short novel about Alice Pickering and Ellen Walsh, two widows in their early 60s who live next door to each other. They decide to go on a three week boat cruise to the Mediterranean. On the cruise they are both raped by an Italian cruise ship waiter. Each widow reacts differently to being raped. Neither widow is aware that the other has been raped. There are other characters on the cruise that the widows become acquainted with. Mrs. Stella Dove and her daughter, Alice Dove. Mr Bowers, a recent widower. Wally Peters, a bachelor in his 50s, who proposes marriage.

The characters are interesting and well developed. This book is another enjoyable and satisfying reading experience by Bernice Rubens.

This book was first published in 1982.

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judging by the number of reviews on her books, Bernice Rubens appears to have fallen into some obscurity (at least outside of her native country). This is a shame because, this being the third book I read of hers, Rubens' writing continues to strike me as moving, beautiful, intriguing, and very unique. There are few authors who manage to make me ache for their characters while at the same time feel horrified by their predicaments, amused by their less-than-generous thoughts, and at times perplexed by their actions. I also love Rubens' writing for its signature dark humor. Take, for instance, this engagement scene between two characters who have met on a cruise, a scene which most writers would inject with prose full of beauty and romance:

"Will you marry me?" he said again.
"We hardly know each other," Mrs. Dove tried. She didn't want to put him off altogether. But she needed time....
Then he lost his cool entirely. "Well will you or won't you?" he screamed at her.
"Don't shout at me," she whispered. "I can't tell you straight away. I've got to think about it."
"How long?" he said. He couldn't understand that his proposal needed any deliberation on her part. The woman was being ungrateful. He had it in mind to punish her. If they ever did get married, he'd make her pay for her hesitation.
"How long d'you want to think about it?" he said again. "I'll leave you for a minute, and when you've finished your coffee, I'll come back," he said.

[Ah, pure romance.]

Rubens has a talent for taking readers' expectations and turning them on their heads. Her characters are truly, humanly flawed - selfish, aging, uncertain, envious, lonely, hostile, vain, wrinkled, pained, deceptive. Our "lovebirds" are sad, desperate, unattractive, and quick to exploit one another - as far from Harlequin romance heroes as one can get.

And I haven't even analyzed the main plotline, which is - without spoiling anything - pretty out there, definitely defying expectations. I'll be on the hunt for Rubens' other books, which are sadly difficult to get hold of.

[Lucynell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 51


Birds of Passage
Bernice Rubens
1981

5/5

I don't know where or how to begin with this. Like most newcomers to Bernice Rubens the first thing that hits you is how come you've never heard of her before. She did win a Booker prize and she's plenty critically acclaimed, but not very famous. Birds of Passage is about two proper and timid sixty-something recently widowed friends holidaying on a cruise ship cruising the Mediterranean sea. A few pages in I was reminded of a Penelope Fitzgerald review where the critic said something like reading her (Penelope Fitzgerald) is like been taken for a ride in a comfortable car, everything is top quality and fill you with confidence, then, after a mile or so, someone throws the steering wheel out the window. You won't see it coming, none of it, and that is one of its many pleasures. Bernice Rubens once said she found the human condition fairly ridiculous, that there's something ridiculous about the human condition, so this writer is paying attention. Consequently she can negotiate serious matters like rape, victim blaming, family relations and loneliness, but she'll make you laugh too because life is indeed very bizzare. I'm now on to the next one. I hope is as good or close which is definitely good enough.

[Rachel Minshull · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new author for me, recommended by friend. A well-written, albeit at times disturbing, tale set on board a cruise ship that manages to encompass big issues such as rape, loneliness, depression and familial estrangement with sufficient wry and lighthearted moments to bring the characters to life. I liked the fact that the two key characters are elderly women and that they are shown as real people with fears, desires and whims not consigned to the usual role in fiction as cuddly / evil grandmothers or super sleuths (no offence Miss Marple!). Will definitely look out for more of Rubens’ books.

[John Newcomb · Rating 2 out of 5]

This isn't a very pleasant book albeit comic. Two widows go on a cruise and are raped each night by a steward. One enjoys the experience, the other doesn't but its not really a suitable subject for a comic novel, however tongue in cheek the whole thing is.

[Annette Kane · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an astonishing book. A comedy about rape.

[Marni · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second I've read by this author. I find her way of writing about feelings slightly disturbing and at times just too much.

[lethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zeer goede karakteriseringen, maar helaas veel kromme zinnen en andere fouten in de vertaling.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious!