Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell...

[fajrdrako]

Today I read Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell. She's a writer, I have found, who elicits strong feelings from readers, pro and con - I don't know many who have been indifferent to her books. My favourite is A Thread of Grace, about Jews in Italy during World War II.

This one is about Cairo in 1921.

Or, more specifically, about the world as it was in 1921.

Or, even more specifically, the world as seen through the eyes of Agnes Shanklin, a schoolteacher from Cleveland who goes to Cairo in 1921 and meets her sister's friend Neddy, known to history as Lawrence of Arabia. We see the Cairo peace talks through Agnes' eyes as she comes to know Winston Churchill and his wife, and Gertrude Bell, and the others who were rewriting the history of the middle east. We see Agnes' growing relationship with a German spy, and the way she comes to terms with her expanding knowledge of her world and herself. We hear her ruminations on life, the afterlife, and the unfolding of history as the world changes.

Since Agnes is in her late thirties, it's a bit odd to think of this as a coming-of-age novel, but that's essentially what it is.

And it's a novel about war and its consequences.

A fascinating (and sympathetic) glimpse into Lawrence's life, which made me want to go and read another biography of Lawrence (if not of Churchill), and to watch A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia one more time.

Comments

[abrakadabrah.livejournal.com]

Well that sounds good. Also, now I want to see that film, didn't know it existed.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well that sounds good.

I'm one of those people who loves Mary Doria Russell's style, and therefore tend to really like her novels even when I have doubts about the content. Here... well, there were things about the last chapter that made me think of the last chapter of Gemini, for whatever that's worth.

now I want to see that film, didn't know it existed.

I enjoyed it very much, particularly since I like both Ralph Fiennes and Alexander Sidding. But I confess I don't remember the content much at all - another reason to want to see it again.

Or just watch Lawrence of Arabia again, too.

[abrakadabrah.livejournal.com]

Here... well, there were things about the last chapter that made me think of the last chapter of Gemini, for whatever that's worth.

Tries really hard to think of the final chapter of Gemini. Fails. Scary.
Well, I remember the epilogue, but that's not the final chapter.

I enjoyed it very much, particularly since I like ... Ralph Fiennes

I particularly like Ralph Fiennes, too, and would like to see him as Lawrence. Have seen the other one plenty.

I haven't read A Thread of Grace either, maybe I should.

Off topic

[spherissa.livejournal.com]

But this is joy...

http://ryttu3k.livejournal.com/747093.html?style=mine#cutid1

<3 Barrowman

Re: Off topic

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I get a message that it's a protected entry and I can't see it! ...But I'd love to. I guess I have to get ruttu3k's okay to read it.

Re: Off topic

[spherissa.livejournal.com]

Grr at all my friends deciding to lock up their journals, one of these days I might lock mine up, but for now it's such a nuisance.

Hm, Naomi would probly love having someone else to squee over Torchwood and Dr Who over, she's very fannish.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

I got a copy of this for you, didn't I...? I have not been brave enough to read it myself, yet. She writes so honestly about war and how people act within conflict.

Have you been not staying awake to the midnight hour, these few days? It was fun going back and forth with you in LJ comments, there, and for two days now, you've been [virtually!] napping while I'm on, late at night on my way home from work.

Keep wiggling your toes!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I got a copy of this for you, didn't I...?

I got it from the library. It's due in a couple of days; I hope someone can return it for me. You got me A Thread of Grace, I think. One of the other Russell books.

Wiggling toes.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

Oops. Well, more proof that I am bad with names (and titles). I'll look this book up, however -- sounds very, very good.

wiggle those toes, yes! Pretend you are trying to avoid randomly falling budgie feathers!

[sollersuk.livejournal.com]

Since Agnes is in her late thirties, it's a bit odd to think of this as a coming-of-age novel

Not so very odd, perhaps, given that at that time Englishwomen didn't get the vote till they were 30.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

at that time Englishwomen didn't get the vote till they were 30.

A point that is mentioned rather firmly in the book, as well! At one point, Agnes has an interesting conversation with Winston Churchill about women and how they vote.

[jwaneeta.livejournal.com]

Well, interesting. I have a big hangup for Lawrence: I might look this up.

How are you feeling?

(they didn't strap my ribs here in the US: they said, the fucking devils, that use would cause my stuff to knit faster.)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I have a big hangup for Lawrence: I might look this up.

I would recommend it, especially if you like Lawrence.

How are you feeling?

Tired but otherwise all right.

use would cause my stuff to knit faster.

Ouch!

[chatona.livejournal.com]

That sounds interesting *bounces*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It was. Highly recommended. I think the author both liked and understood Lawrence.

[cionaudha.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks for the positive word! I've seen it around and have been frankly terrified. I've bravely read a couple of novels with Lawrence in them either as a lead or side, and have been freaked out by his characterization.

The Oxford Roofclimbers Rebellion remains the only non-"canonical" (i.e. not Lawrence of Arabia or A Dangerous Man) work that makes me sincerely happy. My squee-post about it. (http://community.livejournal.com/te_lawrence/83841.html#cutid1)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I've bravely read a couple of novels with Lawrence in them either as a lead or side, and have been freaked out by his characterization.

I haven't read much about Lawrence, just one biography, but I've wanted to read more. Thanks for recommending The Oxford Roofclimbers Rebellion - I will look for it.

[cionaudha.livejournal.com]

Ah, well, it's a play. Actually, it had its world premiere in Ottawa two years ago (but the actors were both about 15 years too old for their parts). I saw it in New York last fall, and the actors were sublimely right.

It's about the intense relationship between Lawrence and poet Robert Graves when they were Fellows at Oxford after the war; both of them trying to cope with their severe psychological damage and make a new life. They leaned on each other too hard, I guess, and like a house made of rotten timbers they fell apart, each into his own breakdown.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

Since Agnes is in her late thirties, it's a bit odd to think of this as a coming-of-age novel, but that's essentially what it is.

Not at all hard. In 1921, a woman in her thirties could very well have been as inexperienced in the ways of the world as the typical 18-year-old is today. As recently as the 1970s, many of us were able to remain unaware of our own non-heterosexual orientation well into our twenties; and in that earlier decade, a woman would have been much more sheltered and, so, this trip would indeed have been her first real awarenesses of the ways of the world.

I think again of China Beach -- not to be a one-note trumpet, but it had such depth and detail that it became for me a true mirror of the reality of that earlier time, the late 1960s. In commentaries on the episodes, some people who had actually been medical personnel at the real China Beach trauma hospital pointed out that it would probably seem absurd to people of today (the 1990s) that someone could be so naive and "backward" at age 21, as one of the Red Cross volunteers was portrayed to be; so, in the 1990s version of the 1960s events, this person was made to be actually only 19, having gotten the position by lying about her age.

We all come of age in our own best time, yes?

What biography of Lawrence of Arabia would you recommend to someone who has no familiarity with the man at all?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

In 1921, a woman in her thirties could very well have been as inexperienced in the ways of the world as the typical 18-year-old is today

That's part of it. But even now, I think a person can have that sort of turning-point experience at any age. It isn't the age, it's the insight and the experience.

Let me explore the Lawrence possibilities and get back to you.

[cionaudha.livejournal.com]

What biography of Lawrence of Arabia would you recommend to someone who has no familiarity with the man at all?

This is me, jumping in! I've been obsessed with the man for, um, nearly 30 years.

I'd recommend A Prince of Our Disorder (http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Our-Disorder-Life-Lawrence/dp/0674704940/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208364502&sr=8-1) as a first-time overview.

[filkferengi]

Just Wednesday, the Professora & I went to the library booksale, where I found the "Lawrence Of Arabia" dvd for $3; now there's even more incentive to watch it.

[enthusiastically seconds rec for Peabody books.]

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oh, lucky you! I think I own a copy of "Lawrence of Arabia" in VHS; but I'm not sure I want to dig it out (which at the moment would not be easy). I might just wait till I can get the DVD.

And, yes, the Peabody books are on "that list".

[msilverstar]

*Makes notes* Was she the one who wrote those SF religion books, the fall of sparrow or something? My mom liked those but I wasn't thrilled, they felt preachy to me.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Was she the one who wrote those SF religion books,

Yes. They didn't seem preachy to me, but I can see how they might. There were two of those, "The Sparrow" and "Children of God". Then she wrote "A Thread of Grace", which is historical, about Jews in Italy during World War II, and now this novel.