Normally, I like books of letters. Or diaries. They don't have to be those of famous people, they just have to be interesting. And, for me, that's the problem with The Letters of Nancy Mitford.
I know a bit about the infamous Mitford sisters and I think they all led interesting lives. But Nancy's letters are mostly about people I've never heard of, as well as some I have. They all seem to have pet names and I had difficulty remembering who was who when they weren't called by their proper names. There's not enough of the daily nitty gritty that I enjoy.
I stuck it out for half of the book, but then I realized I was forcing myself to continue. That's not the way to read!
So, goodbye, Nancy.
Ah, too bad. It is hard to read letters and diaries that talk about lots of people you don't know. Even if the editor provides notes it's hard going unless there is something else you can latch on to like fabulous writing or an exciting time period or whatever. Hope you've moved on to something you are enjoying better!
ReplyDeleteInstead of consigning her to the used book store bag, I've moved Nancy to my bathtub TBR pile. I keep a stack of moderately interesting things there for the times when I'm reading something I don't want to risk dropping into the tub but want to read something in the tub. Except for my paperback Alice in Wonderland / Through the Looking-glass. That's the one book I read over and over.
DeleteI enjoyed the Mitford book Letters Between Six Sisters but there were a few letters in there which weren't so interesting. I agree about the nicknames, very confusing especially as often various sisters shared a nickname and they all seemed to have about six different ones - if not more! I think Nancy was such a fool, allowing herself to be treated so badly by that Frenchman she took up with.
ReplyDeleteI think the sisters are interesting, but I felt like an outsider reading her letters. Who are these people she's writing about and why do their names keep changing. This book has copious footnotes and I wondered if they were a distraction. I really tried to keep up with her. I agree that she willingly subjected herself to an unfulfilling relationship.
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