Booker 13 Number 7: The Testament of Jessie Lamb

I confess I had real problems with this book. Once I worked out where the book was going which was fairly early on I found it really upsetting to read. I have two beloved god-daughters the same age as Jessie Lamb and I know how I would feel if they made the decision that she did in the novel. However, even though the secret comes out very early in the novel if I say more than that I will be giving the game away. So I didn't read this properly because I just couldn't bear to spend much time with it and therefore it's difficult to form a proper opinion.

From what I saw the book did ask some important questions about the nature of motherhood, when we become truly adult in our responsibility for our actions, the mess that we have got the world in and what we could/should do about it. How young people feel about that mess. These are all very worthwhile topics, but...I just couldn't get past the central decision of the novel to grapple with them. I applaud Jane Rogers for taking on such a subject matter and attempting to address such questions but I don't know if this book is the one to stimulate debate. I can't in all honesty put it on my personal shortlist.

 

Comments

[Erika]

I am ignoring the Booker entries this year which is very restful although I am not proud of myself. I have just finished listening to a recorded book which is somewhat jerky in style and not very well written but is appropriate here as it made me think of motherhood and its varieties. This is "Then you Came" by Jennifer Weiner and its theme is surrogate motherhood along with unhappy childhood.

By a nice coincidence the New York Times this morning had an article on this and the mistake of waiting too long and then hoping for successful pregnancy.

[Cheryl Collins]

Hi Erika,

Sorry it has taken me so long to reply. I gave up on Booker longlist but wasnt impressed by what the shortlist revealed yesterday. Im feeling desperate for some time to read what i like but have several duty reads first.

[Ruth M]

I've heard via your comment on DGR that you are having trouble reading at the moment.
Have you tried Chaim Potok?

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Potok.html

http://craftypeople.blogspot.com/2006/06/some-of-my-best-friends-are-jewish.html

[Belstaff Jacket Sale]

He is a good friend that speaks well of us behind our backs.

[cruise the maldives]

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