Feb book 1: A short book with fewer than
200 pages
(Third book of my 2025 project: 6 classics
before turning to 60)
Passing
Author: Nella Larsen
Genre: Harlem fiction
Number of pages: 125
First published: 1929
Setting: New York, Chicago
Rating: 5 stars
First sentence: It was the last letter in
Irene Redfield’s little pile of morning mail.
One sentence comment: The theme of this
book is not generally understood as the issue of discrimination against Black
people; rather, I think it is about a universal human topic: insecurity and
what we have to pay to combat it.
As I read, I found myself repeatedly
thinking, "This is the mark of a classic." The work confronts a
fundamental human experience: fear, the attitudes it engenders, and the
inevitable consequences.
The story centers on three individuals:
Irene, her husband, Brian, and her childhood friend, Clare. Initially, Clare
appears as a rebellious figure, distancing herself from the Black community,
while Irene seems more grounded in her origins. However, the second part of the
story reveals Irene's deep-seated fears and how her perception of the world
contrasts with Brian's. Though Brian's perspective isn't directly presented, we
understand through Irene's observations that he experiences oppression and
restlessness. Irene grapples with a common fear among women, pushing her to the
brink of madness, all while navigating the complexities of racial issues. In
the third part, the narrative reveals the true source of malice and
manipulation within the group.
I find myself sympathizing with Clare. She
suffered deeply, wounded by her white father and facing contempt from her
family for her Black and mixed-race heritage. Her desire to change her
circumstances feels understandable, even a right. While her deception of her
white husband stems from a lack of love for white people, it's important to
note that she didn't harm her Black community. In fact, she longed to return to
it. Tragically, she was met with suspicion and remained an outsider, even among
her own people.
We all harbor fears of various kinds. Some,
like Irene, choose avoidance, preferring not to acknowledge them. Brian and
Clare, on the other hand, confront their fears, albeit in drastically different
ways. This book delves into the complex
psychological landscape of those grappling with fear, exploring the diverse
emotions and attitudes that arise. It's a truly excellent book, one that
lingers in the mind long after reading.
Feb book 2: A book with a short title, 1-2
words
Rebecca
(Fourth book of my
2025 project: 6 classics before turning to 60)
Author: Daphne du Maurier
Genre: gothic fiction
Number of pages: 441
First published: 1938
Setting: Monte Carlo, Cornwall
Rating: 4 stars
First sentence: Last night I dreamt I went
to Manderley again.
One sentence comment: While the writing is
inimitable, the theme doesn't interest me, but Sally Beauman’s reiew
enlightened me afterwards.
I wasn't very engaged in the story until
about page 150. The "poor girl
meets prince" trope initially felt cliché and unappealing. However, my
connection to the narrative deepened when the narrator met the old, blind
granny. I began to appreciate du Maurier's contemplation of the cruel realities
of aging and abandonment. The flashback to an old woman's youth, strolling the
estate with her young son, was poignant. It highlighted how everything around
her remained seemingly unchanged, while she herself was cast aside by time, as
if by a brutal, inescapable force. This resonated with my experience of
accompanying my old father to a park where elderly individuals who live alone
gather. While they seem to find some connection with each other, I perceive a
deeper loneliness. Their failing health is a constant concern, and exercise is
their primary focus. They belong to a generation that deeply desires the
company of their children, perhaps without fully realizing that those visits,
like Beatrice's in the novel, are often seen as a duty, a way to ease the
children's consciences. As an observer,
I've noticed that aging individuals are often profoundly alone on their life
journey.
My appreciation of the book changed
drastically after I read the afterword, which is a review by Sally Beauman. The
review offered a penetrating view of the book. Before reading the review, I
underestimated the book, sharing the view of contemporary critics that it was
simply a love story with tropes I dislike. However, through the review, I
realized why du Maurier named the man "d'Winter" and how both
heroines were destroyed by him. In du Maurier's time, these themes had to be
expressed subtly so that the book could be published without being rejected for
its forward-thinking vision.
There's another interesting connection.
When I was reading the book, it was the Chinese New Year period, and I had to
listen to rockets being shot off all night. I then perfectly understood the
phrase "the foolish rockets burst and fell" when the narrator felt a
sense of disturbance at the party. I can relate to her feeling of annoyance.
Feb book 3: A book on TBR for a short amount
of time
Heidi
(Fifth book of my 2025 project: 6 classics
before turning to 60)
Author: Johanna Spyri
Genre: children’s literature
Number of pages: 173
First published: 1880
Setting: The Alps
Rating: 4 stars
First sentence: The little old town of
Mayenfeld is charmingly situated.
One sentence comment: It is an inspiring
story about a little girl, Heidi, changed the lives of people around her.
This book, one of the Collins Classics that
arrived in this month, is a great company in the recent chilly weather.
I was amazed by Heidi’s astute senses as I
read how she saw, heard, or smelled things in the Alps. I felt as if I was
there hearing the mesmerizing fir trees swaying, and the loud, sharp screams of
the eagles. The perfume of the air and the pungent, herbaceous scent of the
goats created a refreshing atmosphere.
Not to mention the awe-inspiring image of the mountain and sky ablaze
with color.
Heidi's soft heart for the old grandmother
was most touching. She was stricken with sadness when she learned that Grandma
was blind. She immediately realized how sorrowful it must be to be unable to
see the beautiful scenes Heidi had recently experienced. She worried about the
old woman's needs, such as soft bread and warm clothing, as if she herself were
undergoing privation. Her empathy seemed to travel through an unseen wire to my
heart.
At the end of the book, it is truthfully
stated, even by a rich man: “Before God, we are all equally miserable and poor
if He should forget us!”
