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Friday, October 8, 2010

Review Susan Hill's Air and Angels



My first foray into Susan Hill was disappointing. I was more disappointed in myself for not liking her book after all the hype. This time around things were different.

The book set in classical English style in Cambridge mainly with a side dish of the Fens with the main character of Thomas - reclusive, erudite scholar. The unusual part for me was that the other characters were not subservient to the main - Kitty, Florence, Georgiana, Mrs Gray, Mrs. Loveday and even Alice (the maid) were flesh and blood people who were in your face all the time so that Thomas's character was often overshadowed by one or the other.

Thomas falls irrationally in love with Kitty - 15 year old innocent girl just returned from India. He is at turns appalled, and rejuvenated but he also knows how society would look at him - a 55 year old Master in his college turning to a 15 year old girl for love. Then there is Florence widowed young, rich and in search of a husband she could be proud of, Georgiana Thomas's sister who does not know what she wants, tries to push him into a relationship with Florence and fails and is miserable throughout the book (almost throughout the book actually).

The writing is beautiful, the actors in this little book are brilliant. Emotions in all its forms are depicted very well. Human passions both good and bad - love in its purest form, envy, misery, greed are all thrown into the book. The story draws you in. Its a simple story of love and tragedy told the Susan Hill way.

7 comments:

  1. This sounds good! I've only read a few Susan Hill books yet, but I've loved each one.

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  2. This is one author that I have never read but want to. This sounds like a good one too.

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  3. I know what you mean about being disappointed at not liking a book that everyone has been raving about (that's why I usually end up putting those on the back burner). THIS one, however, sounds sweet and simple. Thanks for the review!

    Julie @ Knitting and Sundries

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  4. This sounds like something I need to read! Especially since it's about love and tragedy. I think she does it so well. I know you weren't a great fan of The Woman in Black. Have you tried any of her mysteries featuring Simon Serrailler (beginning with The Various Haunts of Men)? They are brilliant.

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  5. Sounds good. I've never read anything by Susan Hill.

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  6. I was disappointed in this book as well. I have enjoyed all the Hill books I've read until this one. The transitions between India and Britain are jarring, the life of the brother and sister numbingly dull, everyone seems to find life pointless except Kitty.

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  7. Well... I like to read but this... More than the half of the book is dull, explaining the dull life of the characters... Then arrives Kitty..and a "love" emanates from a 55 years old guy who has never felt anything before in his life... So after dull, a feeling of uneasiness adds to the whole. Well.. this love rests pure.. which is quite beautiful, in a way, but still... Strange lives they all live.

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