Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for this advanced copy. In exchange for a pre-publish copy I am giving an honest review. Originally published in 1982 and now being re-released in November 2014 is Trapido's book that has been named by several authors as the book that influenced their writing the most. With reviews/recommendations like that I definitely wanted to read it!It's a coming of age book featuring Katherine. She's 18 and is introduced to her philosophy professor's large family, the Goldman's. After taking up with one of the older sons and then getting her heart broken by him, Katherine moves to Rome to nurse her hurting heart. While in Rome she grows up in the ways of the world and relationships and returns to England with a wounded heart but this time none of the Goldman's have anything to do with it. In fact, this time one of the Goldman's helps Katherine heal from the beating her heart has taken and she settles into a life she realizes she was actually meant to live. That's the brief summary of this title that seems to be so well loved and well received. But I'm not sure why. Maybe I'm just not as sophisticated or something but I found the story to be tedious and dull. It was not interesting in the least, in my opinion. In fact, I kept falling asleep while reading it. It lacked an actual story, it was a rather boring telling of a girl named Katherine and about 14 years of her life. Yes, there were certainly elements in the story that all young women can relate to; broken hearts, uncertainty about direction of life, loss, etc. Trapido's telling of those common experiences, however, was no more special or different than anyone else who has told of those same things in their own coming of age story. The story lacked...life. I am a writer so I am trying to figure out what it is about this title that influenced so many to write themselves. It does nothing of the sort for me. In fact, if anything it makes me question the literary taste of many. All the glowing reviews and awards it won when first released have me confused. Perhaps this is a case of time marching on and as it does things, including novels and authors, improve. This is Trapido's first book, I wonder if her other books are similar in style and telling or if she improved. The love felt for this book makes me think it is a case of time and maturity. Something about the book spoke to so many back when it first hit the shelves but if they read it again today I have the feeling the majority of them may wonder why they have been claiming it as a favorite all these years.
I found a used copy of this book last summer based on Maria Semple's ('Where'd You Go Bernadette) listing of favorite books in Huffpost. When she reiterated her love for it in her recent 'By The Book' profile in the New York Times, I knew it was time to actually read it. The verdict? Maria Semple has great taste. This short coming of age novel is funny, tragic and heartwarming and it's DNA is all over 'Bernadette'. Let me state right now that this book deserves to be brought back into print in the US right now. Right now. I am going to buy used copies and start handing them out to people in the hope of starting a groundswell that will get a US publisher to pick up the rights and give this book the audience it deserves.Trapido's novel was her debut and since it was published more than thirty years ago, it may seem dated to some readers, but it is timeless in all the ways that really matter. The writing is clean and precise, the characters are complex and vivid, emotions are explored without wallowing in bathos, and the story unfolds with great pacing. The voice of the narrator, Katherine, is self-aware and romantically pragmatic, or pragmatically romantic, which wasn't too far from the character's own view of herself. In the closing pages of the novel she states, "I was very romantic about the prospect of our lives in that house, though. I hope, not without a degree of protective irony. I hoped to be a caustic romantic. I learnt it from Jane."Jane is Jane Goldman, Katherine's spiritual mother -- beautiful, aristocratic, mercurial and mesmerizing. The brilliant and eccentric and multitudinous (there are six offspring) Goldman family are central to Katherine's life and development. Husband Jacob, Jewish, lusty, uxorious, and unapologetic, is Katherine's professor. Oldest son Roger is Katherine's first love, but he breaks her heart, causing her to flee England for ten years, to live in exile in Italy. One of the great joys in the book is discovering, after her return to England, is how Katherine, unbeknownst to her, has played a central role in the lives of the Goldmans.If you have a soft spot in your heart for David Lodge, Penelope Lively, Kate Atkinson or E.M. Forster's Howard's End, try this book, I think you'll be glad you spent the a few minutes on the web and a few dollars to get your hands on it.
Do You like book Brother Of The More Famous Jack (1998)?
A strange story about an open family, the kind who tells you everything, whether you want to hear it or not. The story is about a love between 18 year old Katherine and the entire Goldman family. Professor Goldman is the head of the family, but they are an intellectual, lively bunch of eccentrics in their own right. The reader will either love them or hate them, it is the reaction this strange bunch inspires. The sexuality and wit is heavy in this story as the Goldman's openly share their lusty intimacy. Katherine falls in love with one of the sixth children, the eldest son Roger who feels she is not his intellectual equal. Devastation of the heart leads her to run off to Italy where she grows up and struggles through heartbreak and deep loss. As years pass, with love lingering in her heart for the unconventional Goldman's, she will return to their bohemian bosom to fall in love again. Not as likely to happen today, where professors shy from getting too close to their students, I imagine back in those days it wasn't impossible. I must say John Millet's 'homosexuality' often came off more as a caricature of what a gay man is really like. It took away from the story for me. The characters weren't exactly able to warm my heart to the point of loving them as much as Katherine does but there was enough witty banter to keep me invested. I certainly understand why this novel is so popular with writers. Worth reading, but often frustrating too, and I wanted to connect to the characters where sometimes a coldness seemed to keep the reader at arm's length. Still, I liked it.
—Lolly K Dandeneau
Absolutely loved Katherine and the warm, sardonic Goldman family, who couldn't have appeared more real to me if they were sitting in my lounge room. Because the dialogue is so quick-witted and rich and paints a perfect image of each of the characters, the narration doesn't feel laborious or unnecessary (e.g. I adored the way Trapido describes the minor character of Katherin's mum as "a creature of fixed habits, who could only wash dishes from left to right" - this says more about a complex character in one line than some heavily descriptive novels could say in pages!). The whole thing feels like one of those filled-with-love-and-swearing arguments you have with your eccentric family at Christmas, only everyone is smarter and better looking.Read this book!
—Erin
This has been recommended to me by my mum and aunty and probably other people for a long time. I even heard that the director recommended it to my manager at the library the other day, too! haha. So I finally read it, and really really enjoyed it. The Goldmans are definitely a lovable family for the most part, though I suppose I will forever hold a grudge against that scoundrel Roger! haha.I'm glad he turned out to be a boring Church-head - I think that suits him nicely. And from basically the f
—Trisha
