Books are like art. Sometimes you look at art and appreciate a picture created with vivid colours, intricate detail, or interesting texture. Sometimes that piece of art is the
Voice of Fire and you wonder why somebody else thinks it is worthy of a million dollar price tag and its own room in a gallery.
For me, this book was a very beige painting. The descriptions of the setting didn’t enchant me, but perhaps that was intentional on the writer’s part. She was poking fun at the social conventions of the time, and maybe the locale too. The story wasn’t captivating, but it was a subtle commentary on New York high society. Not really dramatic material. Nor my cup of tea. I generally like a little more action.
I thought the main character Newland Archer was a melodramatic spoiled rich brat. He had everything going for him but he couldn’t get his head out of the clouds. He wasn’t in love with the Countess Olenska, he was in love with the idea of a romantic fantasy. May gave him ample opportunity to call off the engagement and he didn’t, so he had nobody to blame for his situation but himself. I was thrilled that the book had the happiest ending possible. He and May remained married, had kids, and he never ran off with the Countess.
I did not feel that the Countess Ellen Olenska was ever in love. It’s a shame that she was married off at a young age to a brute, but I didn’t see her hooking up with a dull guy like Newland. Now that she was “free”, she enjoyed artistic company and defying social norms. I saw her as an early flapper type and not someone that would settle down with one person.
My favourite character was the old lady Manson Mingott. At least she had some spunk.
I’m glad I read this book. It was a good reminder that there are books out there that employ a richer vocabulary than many current offerings. It was an exercise for the brain, trying to tease out the hidden gems in the subtle storyline. It was also a reminder of what I didn’t like about high school English class.