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A Dream Life
When the Armstrong family moves from New York at the dawn of the 1970s, Australia feels, to Alice Armstrong, like the end of the earth. Residing in a grand manor on the glittering Sydney Harbour, her family finds their life has turned upside down. As she navigates this strange new world, Alice must weave an existence from its shimmering mirage.
Lies and self-deception are at the heart of this keenly observed story. This is a sharp, biting, and playful tale with a cast of unscrupulous characters adrift in a dream life of their own making. Written with the characteristic delicacy of touch, humor, and emotional insight that make Claire Messud one of our greatest writers.
Lies and self-deception are at the heart of this keenly observed story. This is a sharp, biting, and playful tale with a cast of unscrupulous characters adrift in a dream life of their own making. Written with the characteristic delicacy of touch, humor, and emotional insight that make Claire Messud one of our greatest writers.
124 pages, Hardcover
First published October 21, 2021
13 people are currently reading
4420 people want to read
About the author
Claire Messud
45 books940 followersClaire Messud is an American novelist and literature and creative writing professor. She is best known as the author of the novel The Emperor's Children (2006).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
January 15, 2022
The latest effort to make short books commercially viable comes from Down Under. Tablo Publishing, a self-publishing company in Melbourne, is launching a separate literary imprint called Tablo Tales. The director, Jemma Birrell, understands the challenge but is undaunted. “I think there’s a gap in the market for exceptional, shorter-length, beautifully designed books,” she tells me. “The design is key — we want people to pick them up as soon as they see them.”
Tablo Tales is off to a promising start with a series of “short books by great women writers from around the world.” The first book launches in the U.S. on Jan. 15. It’s a witty novella by Claire Messud called “A Dream Life.”
Loosely inspired by the experience of Messud's mother, “A Dream Life” tells the story of a family that moves from a tiny apartment in New York to an ostentatious mansion in Sydney. Overwhelmed by caring for such a large place, the wife and mother hires a series of housekeepers. Things do not go as planned. Good help, as you may have heard, is hard to find.
To my mind, Messud's 2013 novel, “The Woman Upstairs,” is a feminist classic on the order of “The Yellow Wall-Paper” and “Wide Sargasso Sea." “A Dream Life” is a gentler story, though it's infused with serious themes about the awkwardness of class, the wearisome duties shunted onto mothers and particularly the way a house infects one’s consciousness. Think “The Turn of the Screw” reimagined as a comedy of manners. And yes, it’s also a beautifully designed little book — a delight to read and eminently giveable, too. (You'll enjoy listening to Messud talk about “A Dream Life” on the Shakespeare & Company podcast.)
Tablo Tales is off to a promising start with a series of “short books by great women writers from around the world.” The first book launches in the U.S. on Jan. 15. It’s a witty novella by Claire Messud called “A Dream Life.”
Loosely inspired by the experience of Messud's mother, “A Dream Life” tells the story of a family that moves from a tiny apartment in New York to an ostentatious mansion in Sydney. Overwhelmed by caring for such a large place, the wife and mother hires a series of housekeepers. Things do not go as planned. Good help, as you may have heard, is hard to find.
To my mind, Messud's 2013 novel, “The Woman Upstairs,” is a feminist classic on the order of “The Yellow Wall-Paper” and “Wide Sargasso Sea." “A Dream Life” is a gentler story, though it's infused with serious themes about the awkwardness of class, the wearisome duties shunted onto mothers and particularly the way a house infects one’s consciousness. Think “The Turn of the Screw” reimagined as a comedy of manners. And yes, it’s also a beautifully designed little book — a delight to read and eminently giveable, too. (You'll enjoy listening to Messud talk about “A Dream Life” on the Shakespeare & Company podcast.)
March 22, 2022
An odd book...a novella. I was at the library last week looking at the new book selections and espied an author who I knew and who I used to read and collect her books...so I grabbed it was it looked like it would be a quick read, which it was.
The publishing house is interesting...it appears that if you are interested in publishing your own book they will help you (https://tablo.com/tablo-tales). It doesn’t hurt to have a well-respected author like Messud who has her book published by this house!
I wonder how this novella came about.
On the first page of the novella is ‘Sydney 1971’. A couple and their two children move from New York City to Sydney and rent out a mansion (the owners had to temporarily move because of the husband’s job and they didn’t want to their house to sit idle). And the novella is about the different women who are employed as housekeepers, with the last one having perhaps the longest tenure there but with some mystery about her...that something doesn’t seem quite right about her, and right up to the end I was wondering what bad thing would happen to the family because of her. Did something bad happen? I shan’t tell! I never do! You have to read the book to find out! 😜 🤪 🤨 🧐 🤓 😎
Reviews
• https://vol1brooklyn.com/2021/12/07/c...
• https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/...
• https://bronasbooks.com/2021/11/26/a-...
Note:
• Geraldine Brooks liked it — ‘witty, arch and acutely observed’ —, Brooks is an Australian-American journalist and novelist whose 2005 novel March won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
• So did Helen Garnier (Garner's first novel, Monkey Grip, published in 1977, immediately established her as an original voice on the Australian literary scene–it is now widely considered a classic.) — ‘a perfect frolic of a book, puffed on breezes of beauty and wit: it waltzes you through a little fear, a little darkness, and tips you out, refreshed and laughing into the sun.’
The publishing house is interesting...it appears that if you are interested in publishing your own book they will help you (https://tablo.com/tablo-tales). It doesn’t hurt to have a well-respected author like Messud who has her book published by this house!
I wonder how this novella came about.
On the first page of the novella is ‘Sydney 1971’. A couple and their two children move from New York City to Sydney and rent out a mansion (the owners had to temporarily move because of the husband’s job and they didn’t want to their house to sit idle). And the novella is about the different women who are employed as housekeepers, with the last one having perhaps the longest tenure there but with some mystery about her...that something doesn’t seem quite right about her, and right up to the end I was wondering what bad thing would happen to the family because of her. Did something bad happen? I shan’t tell! I never do! You have to read the book to find out! 😜 🤪 🤨 🧐 🤓 😎
Reviews
• https://vol1brooklyn.com/2021/12/07/c...
• https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/...
• https://bronasbooks.com/2021/11/26/a-...
Note:
• Geraldine Brooks liked it — ‘witty, arch and acutely observed’ —, Brooks is an Australian-American journalist and novelist whose 2005 novel March won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
• So did Helen Garnier (Garner's first novel, Monkey Grip, published in 1977, immediately established her as an original voice on the Australian literary scene–it is now widely considered a classic.) — ‘a perfect frolic of a book, puffed on breezes of beauty and wit: it waltzes you through a little fear, a little darkness, and tips you out, refreshed and laughing into the sun.’
February 6, 2023
4.5 stars. I have to confess, I'm surprised this novella isn't more highly rated. I found it to be delightful from first word to last. Let it be an amuse bouche between weightier literary fare.
September 13, 2023
This novella sees an American family transplanted to Australia, where they rent a palatial house that exerts a subtle pressure on them. It soon seems indispensable to hire a live-in housekeeper and child-minder. But she is not all she seems…
February 4, 2022
This little novel is perfectly named. It's a story with very few consequences of very little consequence. I found it an adequately enjoyable way to spend a Saturday morning, but don't expect I'll think of it again.
July 24, 2022
I really don't get all of the mediocre or negative reviews for this author. I find her to consistently be an exceptional modern-day novelist. Here she writes essentially a long short story that I consumed in a day. It involves Alice who, in 1971, moves with her Husband and two young daughters to Sydney Australia, renting an elegant mansion. Alice's husband has been transferred to a bank in Sydney, and Alice is left to manage the house. She is from modest upbringing, and they have never lived in such a place. The remainder of the story is her finding people to help her and situations that arise from them.
This book reminded me of early to mid 20th century British parlor pieces--a touch of Evelyn Waugh, a dash of Dorothy Whipple, add in some Barbara Pym. The story is not that compelling, but the writing is so wry and delightful that it sufficiently carried me along. Towards the end there is an incident involving a live-in housekeeper, a driver, and the two young daughters that is a bit of a plot driver, but this is not a reason to read this tale.
This book reminded me of early to mid 20th century British parlor pieces--a touch of Evelyn Waugh, a dash of Dorothy Whipple, add in some Barbara Pym. The story is not that compelling, but the writing is so wry and delightful that it sufficiently carried me along. Towards the end there is an incident involving a live-in housekeeper, a driver, and the two young daughters that is a bit of a plot driver, but this is not a reason to read this tale.
January 16, 2022
Short and sharp, written with wit and insight. I’m absolutely a new Messud fan.
January 11, 2025
A smoothly written, flowing narrative, but one is left wondering — what does this dream amount to?
Is it the story of a house ("Chateau Deeds"), or a wife dealing with the demands of her husband's career, or is it about the different servants or "retainers" who are attached to the house or the family in one way or another.
What there was of this short book, I enjoyed. But it ends abruptly, they do not renew the lease on the grand home in Sydney, Australia, and I was left wondering — what was that all about?
Is it the story of a house ("Chateau Deeds"), or a wife dealing with the demands of her husband's career, or is it about the different servants or "retainers" who are attached to the house or the family in one way or another.
What there was of this short book, I enjoyed. But it ends abruptly, they do not renew the lease on the grand home in Sydney, Australia, and I was left wondering — what was that all about?
February 25, 2022
“A perfect frolic of a book?” on the cover of A Dream Life. It’s a Tablo Tales idea—a little over 100 pages and more a short story than a novel. And why, despite Messud’s gift of language and her observations, I found it to be a nothing burger.
The plot is simple – US banker husband gets a gig in Australia, brings along wife from modest circumstances, and two ADORABLE children (what, no dog?) and rents Sir Robert and Lady Maureen Deeds manor house—too many rooms, not much help, and how to cope? The rest is predictable except for the kids’ driver to and from school - and disturbing but never mind - we have a birthday party to tend to. I’m not sure I’ve ever read something as unbelievable as this bit—too small a tale to explore so just drop it into the plot and keep going.
Other than the Ms. Funk (aka...) and the caterer, the little book is full of uninteresting and unlikeable characters – the rich being rich and the workers being difficult. The moral of this story—you just can’t get good help these days?
No wonder her book reviews for Harper’s are usually far beyond me – I’m probably not that smart or a good enough reader to see how both her reviews and this little book are of interest except to the elite writers she hangs out with.
The plot is simple – US banker husband gets a gig in Australia, brings along wife from modest circumstances, and two ADORABLE children (what, no dog?) and rents Sir Robert and Lady Maureen Deeds manor house—too many rooms, not much help, and how to cope? The rest is predictable except for the kids’ driver to and from school - and disturbing but never mind - we have a birthday party to tend to. I’m not sure I’ve ever read something as unbelievable as this bit—too small a tale to explore so just drop it into the plot and keep going.
Other than the Ms. Funk (aka...) and the caterer, the little book is full of uninteresting and unlikeable characters – the rich being rich and the workers being difficult. The moral of this story—you just can’t get good help these days?
No wonder her book reviews for Harper’s are usually far beyond me – I’m probably not that smart or a good enough reader to see how both her reviews and this little book are of interest except to the elite writers she hangs out with.
March 7, 2022
This book/story gets an extra star because it's published by Tablo Tales and is promoting short (this one is a 121 page pocket-sized format) books by women. This story reminds me of many a fiction piece in "The New Yorker"; very well written, but for the life of me I can't understand what the point of the story is. I had very little sympathy for the family's "hardship" of moving from a small NYC apartment into a too-big house on Sydney Harbor and facing the "hardship" of finding appropriate staff. Boo hoo. Is the point to show that the grass isn't always greener? Or is this really a parody of hardships and I just didn't get it? Either way, very nice writing that I just didn't understand.
December 26, 2021
I read this aloud with my wife during our evening routine.
It reminds me of Rumaan Alam: a slim book, as he prefers; a witty but humane look at class anxiety; and a bit of mystery that in this case makes the novella (novelette?) feel more like a short story.
Whenever you like a book this short, you're supposed to call it a "gem" or a "jewel." Let's say it's a perfect hors d'oeuvre.
It reminds me of Rumaan Alam: a slim book, as he prefers; a witty but humane look at class anxiety; and a bit of mystery that in this case makes the novella (novelette?) feel more like a short story.
Whenever you like a book this short, you're supposed to call it a "gem" or a "jewel." Let's say it's a perfect hors d'oeuvre.
February 15, 2022
Claire Messud is NOT the writer for me. This is the second book written by her that I have read, and I should have known better. She writes well, it’s just not my jam for whatever reason.
Side note, I picked up this book bc it was published by a small publishing company called Tablo Tales. According to Ron Charles, book editor @ The Washington Post, this publishing company plans to publish one book a month written by a female writer. Hopefully next month’s writer will appeal more to my reading tastes.
Side note, I picked up this book bc it was published by a small publishing company called Tablo Tales. According to Ron Charles, book editor @ The Washington Post, this publishing company plans to publish one book a month written by a female writer. Hopefully next month’s writer will appeal more to my reading tastes.
February 25, 2022
I love Messud's writing, so subtle and intriguing. She really gets into the messy weeds of human folly and hubris.
March 9, 2022
The husband's very lucrative job takes a family with two young daughters to Australia, and they go from a 2-bedroom apartment in NYC to an absolute mansion in Sydney. This very short novel looks at how this changes them and how they have to find a staff to help take care of the house. I have a habit of looking at amazing houses online and drooling over them- but you know, it's just as well that I don't have, say, Ellen DeGeneris's amazing Moroccan/rustic style enormous house with sparkling Pacific views.
This was about 130 pages and is the first in a series of short novels by amazing female novelists, and I have to say, I very much like the idea. Sometimes its lovely to sink into a huge, complex, 800-page novel, but it was nice to read this in 3 sittings. It's not the masterpiece that I think Massud's The Woman Upstairs was, but small is good, too.
This was about 130 pages and is the first in a series of short novels by amazing female novelists, and I have to say, I very much like the idea. Sometimes its lovely to sink into a huge, complex, 800-page novel, but it was nice to read this in 3 sittings. It's not the masterpiece that I think Massud's The Woman Upstairs was, but small is good, too.
November 16, 2022
2.5
A light, little book about a family that is basically is trying to get a grasp on their new home with a series of housekeepers. It was written well but not memorable - it gave us nothing basically.
A quick read though and a lovely cover.
A light, little book about a family that is basically is trying to get a grasp on their new home with a series of housekeepers. It was written well but not memorable - it gave us nothing basically.
A quick read though and a lovely cover.
July 7, 2022
2.5 stars. More of a long short story. It feels like an examination of hiring help in the home and a woman’s role, and the influence of having money - but it never got as interesting as I hoped it would.
February 25, 2022
4,5 stars - well-written and engaging. basically read it in 2 settings, flows v well. maybe more of a short story than a novella? nothing really happens but I guess there is a bit of mystery, albeit predictable. the cover is nice as well. shakespeare and company stamp! overall a nice read that kept me occupied and entertained during my cancelled era 🤩
November 26, 2021
A delightful novella set in Sydney 1971.
Alice is a woman trying to make the best of things. Far away from everything and everyone she knows, she feels like she is living a life that is not real.
Now, slipping like a ghost through the opulent rooms, Alice thought she understood where she was: in a dream life, where nothing could matter and nothing would last, a hiatus from reality, precisely like time travel, would deposit her back on her own shores, in her own time, at some unforeseeable but anticipated moment.
A Dream Life is a very self-contained novella.
All the action occurs within the confines of Chateau Deeds (the name they give the grand house on arrival) and all the dramas are domestic in nature. Hiring servants, managing the children, hosting parties and keeping such a large house clean are the main priorities of Alice. And while there are some delights in being the lady of the manor and feeling the pleasure of giving pleasure, most of the time Alice feels out of her depth, over-whelmed and under-appreciated.
It was as if she had awakened after a drugged sleep to unfamiliar surroundings, as if some irretrievable portion of her life had been stolen from her. She felt her heart palpitating, ferocious in her breast, and almost panicked. How do I get out of here? she thought. How do I get back to myself?
All the little acts of self-deception come tumbling down though in the end.
The grandeur, opulence and elegance are not enough. The ‘portico and trickling fountains…the rose garden and the side lawn and the miniature orchard, the walled garden and the aviary and the garage that resembled stables‘ were not worth it if it meant losing sight of who they really were, if it meant turning “into people I don’t wont to be.”
Full review here - https://bronasbooks.com/2021/11/26/a-...
Alice is a woman trying to make the best of things. Far away from everything and everyone she knows, she feels like she is living a life that is not real.
Now, slipping like a ghost through the opulent rooms, Alice thought she understood where she was: in a dream life, where nothing could matter and nothing would last, a hiatus from reality, precisely like time travel, would deposit her back on her own shores, in her own time, at some unforeseeable but anticipated moment.
A Dream Life is a very self-contained novella.
All the action occurs within the confines of Chateau Deeds (the name they give the grand house on arrival) and all the dramas are domestic in nature. Hiring servants, managing the children, hosting parties and keeping such a large house clean are the main priorities of Alice. And while there are some delights in being the lady of the manor and feeling the pleasure of giving pleasure, most of the time Alice feels out of her depth, over-whelmed and under-appreciated.
It was as if she had awakened after a drugged sleep to unfamiliar surroundings, as if some irretrievable portion of her life had been stolen from her. She felt her heart palpitating, ferocious in her breast, and almost panicked. How do I get out of here? she thought. How do I get back to myself?
All the little acts of self-deception come tumbling down though in the end.
The grandeur, opulence and elegance are not enough. The ‘portico and trickling fountains…the rose garden and the side lawn and the miniature orchard, the walled garden and the aviary and the garage that resembled stables‘ were not worth it if it meant losing sight of who they really were, if it meant turning “into people I don’t wont to be.”
Full review here - https://bronasbooks.com/2021/11/26/a-...
April 16, 2022
When I'd read Claire Messud was writing another book, I could hardly wait. Her memoir, Kant's Little Prussian Head, And Other Reasons Why I Write, was fascinating and introduced me to her work. I then quickly followed up with The Woman Upstairs. I've yet to read her best seller The Emperor's Children, but it won't be long.
Her latest, the novella, A Dream Life, launched Tablo Tales' short book series of great women writers from across the world.
Says Messud in a recent interview, "I'm interested in what it's like to be alive on this earth. I'm interested in human truth."
This is what you'll find in A Dream Life, about an American family in Manhattan in the early 70s, that move to Australia due to the finance work of the father.
"The American Family rented the house without having seen it - how could they have, halfway around the world? so they did not know what it meant."
Messud is also interested in deception and self-deception and A Dream Life tackles these themes with exquisite writing in the subtlest of ways.
"What would make it real, this life?"
Alice Armstrong is at the heart of the novella at once overwhelmed, with two young daughters and a husband, in a stately manor that has its own ghosts and predilections.
"She had, in New York, all her adult life, been herself."
A Dream Life however is not a ghost story but an awakening to the frailties of the human condition and what we think of ourselves when no one is listening and the choices we make when we think they are.
Her latest, the novella, A Dream Life, launched Tablo Tales' short book series of great women writers from across the world.
Says Messud in a recent interview, "I'm interested in what it's like to be alive on this earth. I'm interested in human truth."
This is what you'll find in A Dream Life, about an American family in Manhattan in the early 70s, that move to Australia due to the finance work of the father.
"The American Family rented the house without having seen it - how could they have, halfway around the world? so they did not know what it meant."
Messud is also interested in deception and self-deception and A Dream Life tackles these themes with exquisite writing in the subtlest of ways.
"What would make it real, this life?"
Alice Armstrong is at the heart of the novella at once overwhelmed, with two young daughters and a husband, in a stately manor that has its own ghosts and predilections.
"She had, in New York, all her adult life, been herself."
A Dream Life however is not a ghost story but an awakening to the frailties of the human condition and what we think of ourselves when no one is listening and the choices we make when we think they are.
August 18, 2024
Had a hard time getting into this. It was kind of stream of consciousness and the characters were not that great. I found myself just not liking any of them and had trouble focusing on the story. Hopeful next one of hers will hook me better this one was just not my jam. The writing prose was solid though.
March 17, 2022
A book critic I follow was raving about this as part of a new publisher and I have to say the book itself is beautiful, smaller than usual, lovely pink hardcover, and profits to charity. The story was readable in a few hours, for me, about a New York family who goes to Australia for the father's job in the 1970s and rents a mansion for the first year. Daughters are young enough to be in early elementary school and mom Alice is stuck home all day with this enormous house to take care of. A series of housekeepers and other help all depict the times well. While the dream house suggests a dream life, our family is challenged . . . . but not beyond what they can handle.
February 26, 2022
Decided I needed a brief break from A Court of Silver Flames, so I picked up this short little 120 page book.
I thought it looked good because it’s set in Australia, but it seems like an American authors view of Aus is different to the reality… well, these rich areas do exist. But I wouldn’t pick them to write about when setting a text in Australia.
Literally none of the characters, except Africa who appears for like 4 pages, were likeable. The plot was verging on non-existent. It’s all very materialistic (except the ending which still didn’t provide me with much satisfaction).
This story was so incredibly average. There was nothing good or bad about it. It just was.
In all honesty, I’ll never think about this book again.
2/5 🌟
I thought it looked good because it’s set in Australia, but it seems like an American authors view of Aus is different to the reality… well, these rich areas do exist. But I wouldn’t pick them to write about when setting a text in Australia.
Literally none of the characters, except Africa who appears for like 4 pages, were likeable. The plot was verging on non-existent. It’s all very materialistic (except the ending which still didn’t provide me with much satisfaction).
This story was so incredibly average. There was nothing good or bad about it. It just was.
In all honesty, I’ll never think about this book again.
2/5 🌟
February 22, 2022
This is really good if you think of it as a beautifully written short story rather than a novel.
February 19, 2022
A perfect fun short fluff book that my brain needed
November 29, 2023
A family goes from a two room flat in New York to an absolutely sprawling mansion thanks to the father of the family landing a hugely lucrative job, and all I can say is the parents in this book are appallingly stupid. With money comes no brains, evidently.
The family faces hardships of a new house in that they don't know how to find any help/staff, and they have one party a week. The thing that got me most was NOT RUNNING A BACKGROUND CHECK ON THE LIMO DRIVER. Let alone any other man that comes into contact with their children.
The writing was good. But god the people in the book I wanted to strangle at their dimwittedness.
TW: paedophile, harsh language, implied homelessness, mentions of abuse towards children (?)
Rating: 1.5 ⭐ rounded up because the publisher is promoting women authors
The family faces hardships of a new house in that they don't know how to find any help/staff, and they have one party a week. The thing that got me most was NOT RUNNING A BACKGROUND CHECK ON THE LIMO DRIVER. Let alone any other man that comes into contact with their children.
The writing was good. But god the people in the book I wanted to strangle at their dimwittedness.
TW: paedophile, harsh language, implied homelessness, mentions of abuse towards children (?)
Rating: 1.5 ⭐ rounded up because the publisher is promoting women authors
July 29, 2024
I read an article in the NYT recently mentioning and delighting in this author, Claire Messud. After finishing this novella in about 2 hours on audiobook, I understand why. Messud's writing transports you from NYC to Australia when the husband receives a "promotion". His clever wife muses whether it's a real promotion or are they just getting rid of him.
There are other clever and humorous happenstances similar to this as this family (consisting of the snooty mother, father, and 2 their daughters), settles into a mansion-like home.
The husband works and tries hard to help his wife deal with hiring various women, and even a married couple, to help with the "housekeeping" in the true definition of this word, which also includes meal prep and child-caring.
It's clever and transporting!
There are other clever and humorous happenstances similar to this as this family (consisting of the snooty mother, father, and 2 their daughters), settles into a mansion-like home.
The husband works and tries hard to help his wife deal with hiring various women, and even a married couple, to help with the "housekeeping" in the true definition of this word, which also includes meal prep and child-caring.
It's clever and transporting!
August 18, 2024
I picked this book up randomly at the library because I liked the size and cover. The summary on the back didn't give me much info-but the 3.3 stars on goodreads gave me some hope. Although this book was only 120 pages-it still gave me the urge to constantly want to pick it up-and has become one of my favorite summer reads.
In essence-I guess one could call this book a short story. It reads like a classic would, there isn't too much of a plot, and perhaps isn't everyone's cup of tea, however-I loved the small story that it followed.
Most books that center on a wife or married couple always tend to follow the plot of the marriage falling apart or someone cheating-while those stories can be fun and good-I liked how this book broke down the normal acts of marriage.
Kids. Jobs. Outside help. Money.
This book had a dark humor to it.
Yet a sweet end-that brought me back to the simple stuff in life.
All you need is love.
In essence-I guess one could call this book a short story. It reads like a classic would, there isn't too much of a plot, and perhaps isn't everyone's cup of tea, however-I loved the small story that it followed.
Most books that center on a wife or married couple always tend to follow the plot of the marriage falling apart or someone cheating-while those stories can be fun and good-I liked how this book broke down the normal acts of marriage.
Kids. Jobs. Outside help. Money.
This book had a dark humor to it.
Yet a sweet end-that brought me back to the simple stuff in life.
All you need is love.
May 20, 2023
I don’t know why, but this novella reminded me of The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield. They’re not all that similar, but I feel like they are attempting to explore similar themes in very different ways. I felt like this novella, unfortunately, was less successful though not less entertaining. It had its interesting moments, but I felt like the reveal and the conclusion were underwhelming and left off on a flat note. I wanted something just a little more intriguing with more questions left to ponder. I wanted to be given something to think about but I was left with a “well that was a way to spend an hour and a half of my time”. Just very meh.
October 15, 2023
Inte heller här stämmer omslaget med innehållet. Tänkte mig något Moshfegh-aktigt. Men läsaren tas som gisslan och får uppleva författarens barndomsminnen från tiden då familjen flyttade till Australien och hade ett antal excentriska hushållerskor i huset och arrangerade födelsedagsfester... allt #adnf-faktorer.
Mot slutet uppdagas ett visst mörker + klassmedvetenhet, då blir det bättre läsning, men då är boken slut. Jag kommer att behålla boken för den har en parisisk flair med fin Shakespeare & co-stämpel och för att jag hyser litterär respekt för författaren av The Emperor's Children.
Mot slutet uppdagas ett visst mörker + klassmedvetenhet, då blir det bättre läsning, men då är boken slut. Jag kommer att behålla boken för den har en parisisk flair med fin Shakespeare & co-stämpel och för att jag hyser litterär respekt för författaren av The Emperor's Children.
August 2, 2022
I wish I had enjoyed this novella, but I feel that it is not to my taste. I prefer a good plot or an intimate character study. Whilst the piece was entirely without action, the characters also felt unstudied. Perhaps it is also that I do not care for the day-to-day problems of the wealthy. I picked this book up because the book jacket spoke of mirage and lies. Only for me to be confronted with a very contained and lackluster short story.
Messud clearly has a brilliant mind and is talented at her craft, what she chose to craft simply is not something of interest to me.
Messud clearly has a brilliant mind and is talented at her craft, what she chose to craft simply is not something of interest to me.
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