Last year I did a reading project – 25 Books in 25 Days (starting here), and I knew that I’d want to repeat it at some point in 2019. I kept looking at possible novellas to read (ideally ones with names in the title, of course), and finally decided: why am I putting it off?
And so I’ve taken the plunge today. The first of my 25 books has been read! And, as with last year, I have inspired by Madame Bibi Lophile‘s Novella A Day in May project, which is drawing to a close.
Every day, I’ll give a very quick intro to the book, where and why I got hold of it, and a quote. The posts won’t really be reviews, as they’ll almost certainly be too short for that – but let’s see how it goes!
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Neither of the Grimes sisters would have a happy life, and looking back it always seemed that the trouble began with their parents’ divorce. That happened in 1930, when Sarah was nine years old and Emily five. Their mother, who encouraged both girls to call her ‘Pookie,’ took them out of New York to a rented house in Tenafly, New Jersey, where she thought the schools would be better and where she hoped to launch a career in suburban real estate. It didn’t work out – very few of her plans for independence ever did – and they left Tenafly after two years, but it was a memorable time for the girls.
That’s the opening paragraph of The Easter Parade, and those first words set you up for what is likely to be a melancholy read. And, yes, Emily and Sarah don’t have happy lives – but the way Yates writes the novel is so captivating that it doesn’t feel miserable. We watch as they grow up – Sarah settles into domesticity, while Emily is keen for education, career, and the right man. And she gets instead, of course, a series of wrong men – though each relationship is delineated so carefully and with such realism that we swoop through the hopes and disappointments with her each time. The Easter parade of the title is a snapshot taken at a moment when it looks like the future will be bright.
I read Revolutionary Road during my Masters and thought it was brilliant – I bought this in 2011, but had yet to read another Yates since 2009. Thank goodness I did – what a wonderful and observant writer. Perhaps it would have made more sense to read this one gradually, to join more steadily in these advancing and unfortunate lives, but it was such a page turner that I’m not sure I could have put it down for long anyway.
Off to a good start! And more on this one in the next episode of ‘Tea or Books?’
What a fun project! I really enjoyed this book when I read it.
It is great that you rated The Easter Parade so positively. I am looking forward to reading it, but I am still a bit puzzled about my reaction to his books. Revolutionary Road is my all-time favourite book and I will continue re-reading it endlessly. It is just a masterpiece. But, recently I have finished Yates “Disturbing The Peace” and thought it was only mediocre. I did not like it much at all. It looks like the author’s work is a hit or a miss for me, which I did not expect at all given how masterful and engaging Revolutionary Road was.
Disturbing the Peace is probably the weakest of his novels. It’s rather baggy compared to the others – and there’s a bitterness too, a sense that the central character is on a path to self-destruction. I liked it, but not as much as his other works.
I really loved this one, and I am very over due reading something else by Yates. Very good luck with your 25 books project, I wish I read quickly enough to do something like that.
Good luck with the project (sounds daunting, but fun)! Yates has been on my list to read for a long, long time — Easter Parade sounds great; maybe I’ll finally get around to it.
I love this book. It’s probably my favourite of this author’s novels for its perceptiveness and insight. He writes so well about women, portraying their situations with understanding and humanity.
I’ve never read Richard Yates but this seems a good starting point. I remember reading a lot about Revolutionary Road a few years ago when there was a movie adaptation. And I am so impressed that you’re going to read 25 books in 25 days — that seems like something I should do at the end of the year when I’m struggling to make my annual reading goal! But it would probably be tricky as I’m always struggling to read books off my own shelves and so many of my unread books are chunksters.
I look forward to following your reading journey!
I thought the film was brilliant too – I think I read the book first, but I can’t quite remember. And luckily I have a lot of short books waiting for me!
Good luck Simon – look forward to seeing what the 25 books are! I read Yates back in the day and can’t remember much alas – I think I would look at his work very differently now, though. One day I’ll re-read! :D
Thanks Karen! He is definitely an interesting writer.
As you continue to read Richard Yates, don’t miss his story collection, “Eleven Kinds of Loneliness.” It’s what made me fall for him. In fact, nothing else of his has really swept me off my feet like “Loneliness” did.
Thanks, I’ll remember that!
This does sound interesting. I’ve never read Yates.
Hooray! So glad you’re doing this again. Thank you for the mention, and good luck!
Thanks! :D
Ambitious project – good luck!
I loved Revolutionary Road and maybe had too high expectations of this one as a result. I found it a bit disappointing – it seemed to have the same jaundiced view of life without the same anger as RR or something. I suspect I’d have enjoyed this one more if I’d read it first.