Play Book Tag discussion

The only things that are true in this story are the wedding and Chapters 10, 11 and 12 and the poverty.

Had I not been a reader who actually glances at all the pages before the text of the story starts, I would have missed this note in italics at the very top of the copyright notice. It caught my eye, as being odd, and had me intrigued, before I even read the first line of the story, wondering who put that there and if the author, why there? why not as a Dedication? Once I read the first line - I told Helen my story and she went home and cried. - I completely forgot about that mysterious post on the copyright page. That is I forgot until I read Emily Gould's Introduction AFTER I finished the book. (Never ever read the intro before reading the book because of spoilers. Gould even says she doesn't read them until after either.)

Superficially this is the story of naive young artists marrying too young and living the bohemian life in London during the Great Depression. It's written in an light artless tone that reminded me in many ways of that of Lorelei in Anita Loos' Gentlemen Prefer Blondes written 30 years earlier. The reality is a searing portrait of poverty and its impact on women and children. That amusing breeziness, the innocence of the first person narrator Sophia, soon serves to throw into stark relief the conditions imposed on women and children by unrelieved poverty. Parts of the story -- specifically those chapters 10, 11, 12 -- were enough to give a woman nightmares. I found myself completely engrossed in this story, able to trust that all ends well for Sophia as in the opening paragraph she tells us she's ..so happy that when I wake in the morning I can't belive it's true."

This is a tragic story in so many ways, yet does not read like a tragedy, instead reading lightly with a certain breezy acceptance. In fact, it is clear from reading more about Barbara Comyns herself, the root of the novel is her own life. Here, at last, is the puzzle piece that explains that odd note on the copyright page.

NYRB is the current publisher of this gem, long OOP. I remember the moment I purchased it - from a rack next to the elevator at the 112th Street branch of Book Culture. The cover caught my eye first, then the title proved to be irresistable. I didn't even read the summary.

Great review! Definitely adding to my TBR!