Sweet Caress
by William Boyd.
A change of venue to Cath’s and a big thanks from all of us for her hospitality.
The book gained unanimous approval, but provoked wide ranging discussion.
All liked the style and most thought that it felt as if it had been written by a woman.
The description of her crush on Grenville and the early boarding school events were felt to be particularly realistic from a woman’s point of view.
For some, her marriage and the birth of her daughters seemed unrealistic.
All liked the blurring of fact and fiction, some even going as far as to check whether or not the various characters existed.
The photographs added to the feeling that these were real people.
Amory’s life seemed like a summary of significant events in the 20th Century.
For some, the hippy commune was unnecessary and her experiences in Vietnam dragged a little.
Most liked Amory as a character, but some felt that she was devoid of emotion.
Given her early childhood experiences, that was hardly surprising.
It was interesting seeing wars from the point of view of a photographer.
All in all, A Life Well Lived.
Clever, Captivating, Compulsive and Creative.
JC. 4.25*
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