The Bookshop -- Take 2

The Bookshop was a quick read.  Some of this is probably ascribed to the comparison which I inevitably make to my recently-finished Truman.  But even trying to separate its lenght from that of the heftier Truman, I really did get through it in no time at all -- and I consider myself to be a slow reader.

It is a simple story.  A widow moves to a small town on the English coast, buys a long-vacant house, and opens a bookshop.  That's it.

What really had me hooked was the writing style.  I had never heard of Penelope Fitzgerald -- let along read any of her work -- prior to picking up The Bookshop.  I found her to be a brilliant writer. This slim volume is filled with small references to something first raised one page or 100 pages before, and thoughtful sentences and phrases that evoke a recognition of the people and places she's describing in such clever ways:

  -- "Perhaps her battle to establish herself in the Old House was over, or perhaps she had been wrong in thinking that one had taken place, or would ever take place.  But if she was not sure which of these alternatives she meant, the battle could hardly have been decisive."

  -- "Florence had noticed one or two eccentricities in herself lately, which might be the result of hard work, or of age, or of living alone.  When the letters came, for example, she often found herself wasting time looking at the postmarks and wondering whoever they could be from, instead of opening them in a sensible manner and finding out at once."

  -- "She did not know that morality is seldom a safe guide for human conduct."

  -- "While the church ceremony was still in progress, and Florence, without any expectation of customers, was slowly winding down the cash register, General Gamart came into the shop.  He stood for a moment blocking the light.  Then, evidently giving himself a command, he took three paces forward.  At first, that seemed to exhaust the whole enterprise."

And my favorite, which is also referenced in the introduction:

  -- "His fluid personality tested and stole into the weak places of others until it found it could settle down to its own advantage."

I do recommend reading the preface and introduction, which as I discussed with K, I often skip over.  The preface offered insight into this little-known author's career, and the introduction places this work in a bit of context vis a vis the rest of her canon. Apparently, somewhat hopeless heroines are a mainstay, so you should be prepared for that going in.

What a delight to find so much lovely text in so short a reading experience.  Plus, a few letters to boot.  What's not to love?  A bookshop, set in England, and a few epistolary pages tucked within?!  Reminds me a bit of one of my other short favorites.