Ath book club Feburary 2007
Shirley Hazzard – The Transit of Venus (Rating: 3)
Caro, gallant and adventurous, is one of two Australian sisters who have come to post-war England to seek their fortunes. Courted long and hopelessly by young scientist Ted Tice, she is to find that love brings passion, sorrow, betrayal and, finally, hope. The milder Grace seeks fulfilment in an apparently happy marriage. But as the decades pass and the characters weave in and out of each other’s lives, love, death and two slow-burning secrets wait in ambush for them……
Ath book club comments:
The Ath Book Club members had very different opinions about The transit of Venus. Most agreed that the book was difficult to get into in the beginning. Other words used about the book were “complicated” and “dreamlike”. The group agreed though about Hazzard’s extraordinary use of English language; once you get used it, you feel like you are floating through the words, but keep a dictionary close to hand!
This is not a book to pick up and read a train. You need full concentration to appreciate the style of writing. The story line has a few unexpected twists and the final revelation is quite intriguing. The Ath Book Club would recommend the book to those who appreciate good literature and poetry.
Free feel to put your thoughts and comments on this book.
