595. The Birds Fall Down

The Birds Fall Down
Rebecca West

1966

Around 450 pages

It's a bit surprising that Rebecca West wrote a spy thriller. She did a great job with a genre outside of her wheelhouse, and the woman can write insults like there's no tomorrow. Here was my favorite from this novel: "You're idiotic like an idiot in Gogol. You're such a fool that you achieve a certain eminence by being such a supreme example of your type." Yeah, she could definitely make me cry.

Laura Rowan's parents have a strained relationship. Her Russian mother wants to go to France with Laura to meet her elderly father. Laura's grandfather was a senior government official and suddenly we are in a political story based on the Azef affair. If you are an American like me and have no idea what that was, here's a quick rundown. A Russian revolutionary terrorist group was led by a Tsarist secret agent who in order to maintain his cover organized the assassination of minor members of the Tsar's family and leading figures in government. Don't worry, the Russian government was okay with it.

The real version of this story is complicated and sounds made up, so naturally it makes for a pretty good novel. It did drag in places (that conversation on the train lasted way too long), but overall, it was educational and entertaining. Perfect for my little nerd heart.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Cicily Fairfield took the pseudonym "Rebecca West" from the rebellious young heroine in Rosmersholm by Henrik Ibsen.

UP NEXT: A Man Asleep by Georges Perec

384. The Thinking Reed

The Thinking Reed
Rebecca West
1936
Around 430 pages

Rebecca West isn't widely read now, as evidenced by the librarian having to go into the basement to fetch the copy from storage for me. My copy had that really good old book smell, along with a loan slip stamped from the 1930s. I love libraries.

Isabelle is a wealthy widow in France with a slew of suitors. To general surprise, she chooses Marc Sallafranque, a short Jewish industrialist with a gambling problem. She thinks she can change him, and that goes about as well as expected. 

I enjoyed this, and the well-aimed jabs at Henry James. West's Isabelle is very different from the protagonist of Portrait of a Lady. She seems much more real, even with her over the top behavior. West is also much funnier than James. I was smiling at her witty observations and the descriptions of Isabelle's other suitors. She did a great job capturing the way men can speak to women like they are children. 

Jane Austen would have really enjoyed Rebecca West. 

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

West's real name is Cicily Fairfield. She took the pen name"Rebecca West" from the young heroine in Rosmersholm by Henrik Ibsen.

UP NEXT: Eyeless in Gaza by Aldous Huxley

331. Harriet Hume

Harriet Hume
Rebecca West
1929
Around 290 pages

I think if your novel doesn't have a Wikipedia page, it officially counts as underrated. I feel that way about Rebecca West in general, although I know she was appreciated in her time. It's like modernism done right.

Harriet Hume is a beautiful piano player. If you've read The Piano Teacher, you know those ladies are freaks in the sheets. She has an affair with Arnold Condorex, who leaves her to pursue a career in politics. Harriet has some unusual powers that allow Arnold to see what a disaster his life is without her. Hopefully my exes can manage that without me. 

This was a magical story. I hesitate to label it magic realism, because it's so gosh darn English. Often female characters exist in stories for the sole purpose of motivating our hero, whether he wants to bang her or avenge her death.  West leans into this concept with interesting results.

Worth reading for how unusual it is. I'm glad there are more West novels coming!

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

West had an affair with H.G. Wells. So many of our writers are boning.

UP NEXT: The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen

271. The Return of the Soldier

The Return of the Soldier
Rebecca West
1918
Around 100 pages

I have been loving the frequent appearances of female authors on the List lately. The List tends to overdose on specific female authors like Virginia Woolf and Edith Wharton (love you, ladies), so we don't get the one-offs as much as we do with the men. After reading this novel, I am looking forward to the other Rebecca West entries on the List.

Our narrator, Jenny, is anxiously awaiting the return of her cousin, Chris, who is fighting for England in France. Jenny is keeping Chris's wife Kitty company as they wait for news and keep the Baldry estate up and running. One day, they are told by an unlikely informant that Chris is alive, but has no memory of the past 15 years. This makes things hella awkward, because Chris is still pining for Margaret, the girl he was in love with at 15. Not to mention he has no memory of his son's existence.

I loved the choice of narrator here. In some ways, she's much more reliable narrator than Kitty would have been. We are almost tricked into thinking she is impartial, then her hero worshipping of Margaret begins. I also thought it was fascinating that three such different characters had to decide among themselves what the cost of dignity should be. 

A brilliantly weaved tale, and can't wait to see what else she has in store for us.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Made into a stage musical in 2014. I'm sorry, what?

UP NEXT: Tarr by Wyndham Lewis.