Terrible things happen. It's hard to get upset about it though because the protagonist, possibly a child throughout although even this isn't clear to Terrible things happen. It's hard to get upset about it though because the protagonist, possibly a child throughout although even this isn't clear to me, has the perceptions and the amorality of an animal. She goes to a slaughterhouse for example because of she loves the smell and feel of the carcasses on hooks; while there she may or may not be violated by one of the butchers. She bites people for the hell of it. What is this novel about, anyway? Child abuse? I'm not sure the protagonist is a child per se, though. Or is the novel an indictment of the morals of the wealthy classes? Maybe. The protagonist has governesses and servants and there seem to be the trappings of wealth in her descriptions of depravity. When it comes to what this novel means, in other words, pretty much anything is possible. There are frequent references to Greek mythology and though I know who these mythic characters are my knowledge didn't help me comprehend their use in the story. The "Kassandra" of this novel doesn't relate, in any way I can figure out, to the Kassandra of Greek lore. Although, come to think of it, whatever this Kassandra is pronouncing is incomprehensible to me as her audience, so I guess her name is exactly right.
Let me say I have great appreciation for the author, though, and that my confusion did not get in the way of my enjoyment of this novel. I think, maybe, that I loved it. Although I''m not sure why. And those who enjoy knowing precisely what's going on in a story may want to choose another novel....more
Under the Udala Trees is restrained compared with almost any other novel I've ever read about a child growing up in time of war. There are terrible thUnder the Udala Trees is restrained compared with almost any other novel I've ever read about a child growing up in time of war. There are terrible things happening throughout the novel, but somewhat obliquely. After reading many memoirs and novels that have no such restraint I kept being surprised when this main character was never raped or maimed or burned at the stake, all things that the author could have chosen to have happen to her protagonist.
The language here is simple and straightforward and feels like appropriate language for this character, what she might sound like while telling her own first person story--she doesn't speak like a writer, she speaks like a person. So she will say things like "you could hear a pin drop" and you might say it's cliche' writing or you might say it's a natural speaking voice shining out of the story itself. The way these things feel to you will have a lot of influence on whether you enjoy the novel or not. ...more
I wish people weren't always calling a book "stunning" in the jacket blurbs. Because this book stunned me. I feel like I've been hit on the head with I wish people weren't always calling a book "stunning" in the jacket blurbs. Because this book stunned me. I feel like I've been hit on the head with a metaphorical bat. There is a lot here of course about the special way one comes undone after a first child is born--perfect. Even more precious to me was Albert's meticulous attention to the way women can ignore, mistreat, use, celebrate, support, and love one another, sometimes all at once....more
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