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Originally Posted by caleb72
I personally wouldn't have thought Tirra Lirra by the River was that under-appreciated, but then again, I live in the country where it's considered a classic.
To give an example of this. It exists on the 2015 HSC reading list for one of the advanced English modules.
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Thanks! I wondered if this book is considered an Australian classic that is popular on school lists. I'm sure the under-appreciated perception is from the perspective of the US publisher. It was only just recently printed by Melville in late 2014. My research indicates it was last published in the US 30 years ago in 1984 by Penguin. It doesn't appear that any of her other books are currently in-print in the US.
I'm happy this book also exposed me to the Miles Franklin Award, annually awarded to "a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases." I looked at the list of past winners and many look very interesting!
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Originally Posted by Bookpossum
I finished reading the book last night. I thought it was beautifully and delicately done, though very sad to read. From the very beginning, we know Nora has very low self-esteem. One instance, when there is talk of embroidered wall hangings she had made as a young woman:
I shall have more to say when others have read the book as I don't want to spoil it for those yet to get into it.
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I agree with your thoughts. I don't want to say too much yet either. I loved Nora's wry sense of humor and it made me sad to see how stifled and passive she was through life events. Just referring to reflections of one's life as a chain of "periods of waiting" makes me sad. It was delicately portrayed though; Anderson did a nice job of not making it overly sentimental.
I think that the book's themes of memory, the passage of time and self-reflection fit very nicely into the suite of books that we've read this year! I also read Ishiguro's recently released book,
The Buried Giant, which is also about memories shrouded by mist and contains elements of Arthurian legend. I do recommend it.
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Originally Posted by fantasyfan
There are many things to admire in this book including the excellent analysis of gender stereotyping as Nora tries to escape the shackles of life as a trophy wife displayed in a "Doll's House". The writing quality is first class and very enjoyable.
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There seemed to be two main themes of discovery in the book: one based on Nora's self-awareness and the other based on gender stereotyping. Does anyone know if Ibsen's play was the inspiration for the main character's name of Nora?
Before I started reading the book, I read Tennyson's poem,
The Lady of Shalott, to which the title refers so I would understand the symbolic links between the poem and the book. I also enjoyed looking at the beautiful paintings by Waterhouse and Hunt that were inspired by the poem.
http://www.artble.com/artists/john_w...ady_of_shalott
Coincidentally I revisited
The Once and Future King by T.H. White a few months ago since I have fond memories of it from childhood and intend to read Tennyson's
Idylls of the King sometime in the near future. I've seen Farringford House on the Isle of Wight and also hiked the footpaths along the seaside cliffs from Freshwater Bay to Tennyson Monument (one of my most favorite areas of England!) so I keep meaning to read more of his poetry. I'm glad this book gave me a reason to divert a little down that path.