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Jupiter Lights
Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1889
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 2, 2018
4.5 stars
Set mostly on a South Carolina island and then the Great Lakes area in the specific year of 1869, this is a ‘rough’ book dealing with tough subjects: domestic abuse; cruelty; revenge; race relations (on a side note, though a strong one, is the attitude toward black men who are thought to have committed a crime based purely on circumstantial evidence). No matter our modern sensibilities about such issues as women choosing to stay with abusive partners, these topics remain relevant. Also 'rough' in that the reader gets the ending she likely ‘wants,’ but it comes at a big cost (especially for a 21st-century reader): a realistic deflation, not a triumph (romantic or otherwise).
If Margaret of East Angels is repressed passion, Eve Bruce is her antithesis, which is not to say she doesn’t also have a strong moral compass. And while East Angels is an analytical novel (my preference), Jupiter Lights is nonstop action (What that poor baby goes through!) with nary a chance to catch your breath. Its depiction of a delusional, alcohol-fueled mental illness may seem melodramatic (some of the action borders on the sensational), but it is all too real. Once again, Woolson seems unafraid, choosing to contrast women (older, virginal and Southern) who either ignore or are ignorant of ugly truths (the men are complicit in covering for each other) with other women (younger, passionate and outsiders) who see all and love in spite of what they know.
Also of note is the quirky Hollis, a slouching, slang-speaking non-practicing lawyer, and owner of an auction house possessing a skeleton and six bonnets. Hollis could be a precursor to the best-friends-forever character in a John Hughes movie: comic relief while carrying an obvious and unrequited love.
I suppose it’s not likely that Faulkner read this novel, yet I thought of him on page 30:
Set mostly on a South Carolina island and then the Great Lakes area in the specific year of 1869, this is a ‘rough’ book dealing with tough subjects: domestic abuse; cruelty; revenge; race relations (on a side note, though a strong one, is the attitude toward black men who are thought to have committed a crime based purely on circumstantial evidence). No matter our modern sensibilities about such issues as women choosing to stay with abusive partners, these topics remain relevant. Also 'rough' in that the reader gets the ending she likely ‘wants,’ but it comes at a big cost (especially for a 21st-century reader): a realistic deflation, not a triumph (romantic or otherwise).
If Margaret of East Angels is repressed passion, Eve Bruce is her antithesis, which is not to say she doesn’t also have a strong moral compass. And while East Angels is an analytical novel (my preference), Jupiter Lights is nonstop action (What that poor baby goes through!) with nary a chance to catch your breath. Its depiction of a delusional, alcohol-fueled mental illness may seem melodramatic (some of the action borders on the sensational), but it is all too real. Once again, Woolson seems unafraid, choosing to contrast women (older, virginal and Southern) who either ignore or are ignorant of ugly truths (the men are complicit in covering for each other) with other women (younger, passionate and outsiders) who see all and love in spite of what they know.
Also of note is the quirky Hollis, a slouching, slang-speaking non-practicing lawyer, and owner of an auction house possessing a skeleton and six bonnets. Hollis could be a precursor to the best-friends-forever character in a John Hughes movie: comic relief while carrying an obvious and unrequited love.
I suppose it’s not likely that Faulkner read this novel, yet I thought of him on page 30:
“…you are the most extraordinary people in the world, you Southerners; I have been here nearly a month, and I am still constantly struck by it—you never think of money at all. And the strangest point is, that although you never think of it, you don’t in the least know how to get on without it; you cannot improve anything, you can only endure.” [Emphasis mine]Within five more words is the name of a black servant: Dilsey.
December 28, 2021
I’m probably being too harsh in my rating. I read this because the author’s relationship with Henry James made me curious. I didn’t really like the story or the writing. I do g think it has stood the test of time very well at all.
May 11, 2016
Eva Bruce is a 'pale, cold, and stern' young woman, devoted to her brother Jack, who left her in England to fight in the American Civil War, settling down thereafter in South Carolina, marrying a young girl and having a child, given his father's name.
When Jack Bruce tragically dies of yellow fever, Eva travels back to the country of her birth to take her nephew away from his flighty, childishly cruel mother Cicily, who has already married again, to a charming man named Ferdinand Mortimer, but one prone to drunken, violent fits.
This is a situation fraught with difficulties, which only intensify as Eva ends up staying with her brother's step-family longer than expected, becoming further embroiled until tragedy inevitably results. She soon finds herself committed for more than just young Jack's sake.
Jupiter Lights has a powerful premise and an entirely unsentimental narrative. The characters are all very real and not entirely likable in their imperfections. The prose is sparse and flinty, with barely a hint of the melodrama that frequently ruins such stories.
As a background, the American South in the years immediately following the Civil War is unsparingly depicted, highlighting the tensions and resentments brought about by defeat and the ending of slavery, where patrician whites still feel superior to the emancipated blacks, yet no longer hold the whip hand, legally at least.
Essentially the novel becomes a love story, but not at all a warm or conventional one. I can well imagine many readers being alienated by the repressively spartan tone, but I was strangely captivated by it.
When Jack Bruce tragically dies of yellow fever, Eva travels back to the country of her birth to take her nephew away from his flighty, childishly cruel mother Cicily, who has already married again, to a charming man named Ferdinand Mortimer, but one prone to drunken, violent fits.
This is a situation fraught with difficulties, which only intensify as Eva ends up staying with her brother's step-family longer than expected, becoming further embroiled until tragedy inevitably results. She soon finds herself committed for more than just young Jack's sake.
Jupiter Lights has a powerful premise and an entirely unsentimental narrative. The characters are all very real and not entirely likable in their imperfections. The prose is sparse and flinty, with barely a hint of the melodrama that frequently ruins such stories.
As a background, the American South in the years immediately following the Civil War is unsparingly depicted, highlighting the tensions and resentments brought about by defeat and the ending of slavery, where patrician whites still feel superior to the emancipated blacks, yet no longer hold the whip hand, legally at least.
Essentially the novel becomes a love story, but not at all a warm or conventional one. I can well imagine many readers being alienated by the repressively spartan tone, but I was strangely captivated by it.
March 1, 2013
This was my second Woolson. She writes about such interesting people. This was the story of Eve, who travels from England to South Carolina, where her brother had been living. He had died, leaving a wife and son behind. Eve is very attached to the son, and wants to take him away. Her sister-in-law is quite bizarre and has already re-married. her husband drinks and physically abuses her. One night, Eve, Cicely and the baby flee. Eve shoot Ferdie (the husband) and they go to stay with Ferdie's brother Paul. Eventually, Even and Paul fall in love. Meanwhile, Ferdie seems to be recovering from the gunshot, which locals believe was done by two black men. Even is haunted by herr actions. Ferdie then takes a bad turn, and dies. Eve, believing hse has killed Paul, eventually confesses. Paul claims he will love her nonetheless, as he knows how "difficult" Ferdie could be. She takes off for Italy. Meanwhile, Paul is told by the doctor that Ferdies' wound was completely healed and he died of alcohol poisoning. Paul tracks Eve down and the book ends with her falling into his arms.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2013
More interesting sidelights by Woolston on marriage, women, men, and the post-Bellum South. At times the period conventions about madness (and there is at least one more mad person than the obvious one in this book) threaten to make it unreadable, and it has occasionally the same air of padding pages to satisfy a publisher's requirements that I detected in Anne. But if you just surrender to the conventions of the past, the novel can be both revealing and satisfying.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews