A conversation overheard in 1975…
Richard Yates: I usually write about men but I’m thinking I’ll do something about a miserable woman…
Anita Brookner: Well Dick, one knows that there’s plenty of material when it comes to miserable women.
RY: And so many tempting themes around misery…
AB (laughing): Misery loves company!
RY: Loneliness, bitterness, regret, jealousy…
AB: Yes, the truly miserable woman has it all.
RY: And all the more interesting when the woman does have it all. Not sure if you’re aware Nit, but I do love to plunge my middle-class characters into existential despair. Truly, they have nothing to worry over and yet they obsess about job promotions, the right car and houses…
AB: First world problems.
RY: First world problems…?
AB: Yes, just a little label I came up with. Not one that I identify with of course.
RY: No… because you don’t use your own life as material, do you…?
(very, very, very long uncomfortable silence)
RY: So yes, back to the book. I’m thinking some loneliness wouldn’t go astray…
AB: And perhaps some chaste flirtations…?
RY: My literary flirtations are generally not so chaste. Perhaps bitter, unfulfilled longing would work?
AB: Oh yes, that happens to be my specialty.
RY: Do I detect the germ of an idea for your own writing, Nit?
AB: More than a germ, Dick, more than a germ… You don’t think people will think we’re writing about our own lives do you?
RY: Pfft, not at all. *makes mental note that his characters absolutely must be women, to throw readers off the autobiographical trail*
AB: I think I’ll call my novel something such as The Rules of Engagement…
RY: Excellent. Strong but with an emotional edge. I think I’ll go with something that sounds completely unthreatening before I throw the reader into the depths of depression. Perhaps The Easter Parade?
AB: Wonderful. Well, it’s been lovely to catch up Dick. We must do it again some time.
3/5 On the more bitter end of Brookner.
WordPress needs to add a button for ROTFL!
Hope I’m not sued for slander… but fairly sure Brookner coined the term ‘first world problems’ 😬
Of course they won’t sue you, they’ll be too busy laughing. Loved it!
Even though you’re none the wiser to my thoughts on the book?! 😀
Brilliant!
Best review ever!
Fantastic review Kate 😀
I took a little artistic license but really do think that Yates and Brookner would have been great chums IRL.
I needed a good laugh tonight – bless you & never, ever stop 😀
Thank you 😀
Great review. I love Nit a lot, but bless her she did have issues!
I only started reading her last year – I love what I’ve read, if only for its solid and dependable style, but will make sure I don’t read too many of her books within a short space of time. My brief research into her life suggests she used a lot from her own experience 😬
Lewis Percy is my favourite – have I recommended that to you before? I recommend it to everyone!
No, but I’ll look it up. I got on to Brookner via my library’s audio collection – they have a lot of her titles as audiobooks, so I was curious. The narrators always read them in an appropriately plummy accent, which adds to my enjoyment!
Stellar review. Just really, really great.
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That’s not only very funny but very clever. I’ve read a few Brookners but only one Yates but you’ve nailed them. Brave, clever, funny.
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