Sayers, Dorothy - Gaudy Night

[oyceter]

I liked this much better than all the other Sayers I've read, possibly because it's so different from all the others. It didn't hit the "OMG SQUEE" button in me, but I love it in a more quiet way. It's a surprisingly quiet book, and an extremely satisfying read.

I'm usually not that big on stories set at an academic institution and focus on the academics, possibly because I'm jealous, or really, who knows. But I really loved how big a role Oxford played in Gaudy Night and how much the book was about the intellectual versus the emotional, the different choices you can make with your life.

Harriet ends up celebrating a reunion in Shrewsbury, the all-female college at Oxford (made up by Sayers), and gets caught up in a round of increasingly malevolent pranks intended to publically embarrass the college. Despite this being touted as the big Harriet/Peter book, there is relatively little Harriet/Peter interaction. In fact, most of the book is on Harriet, on her attempts to figure out what is most important to her, where her values lie, and what she'll end up doing about them. Peter is, of course, a large part of these decisions, but I really appreciate that Harriet's attempts to decide if Peter will fit in her life are only part of the decision. He's affected by her choices, but he's not necessarily the sole driving factor of them.

This is probably a stupid thing to say, but GN is a remarkably feminist book. Obviously, I do realize that feminism existed back in the 1930s, but the commentary on women's career choices and how said choices affect husbands and children and what society thinks of women who don't go for motherhood are sadly contemporary. Yes, progress has been made, but on the other hand, recent articles on how feminism has ruined the nuclear family would fit right in Harriet's world and Harriet's dilemma.

And, oh, I liked Harriet before because she is stubborn and grumpy and not bowled over by Peter's charm, but I adore her now. I had a problem with Have His Carcase because of the imbalance in Peter and Harriet's relationship. It wasn't just that Harriet was resentful of how much she owed Peter, it was that she thought he was so far above her in terms of class, charm, intelligence, and everything. I still wish there were more in Peter's point of view as to why he fell for Harriet so quickly (maybe I need to reread Strong Poison), but I like that Peter loves her for her integrity and honesty.

One of my favorite scenes in the book isn't the final one on the bridge (though that's a good one). Rather, it's the one in which Peter directs the discussion of the various dons and scholars to that of professional integrity, and how they would choose if they had to sacrifice the personal or the professional. I especially like that the question isn't phrased in a way to make it a choice between a family life and a career; instead, the professional realm consists of one's values and one's notion of integrity. And I love that Harriet can't put the personal over what she thinks is right, and that that is why Peter trusts her so much. It actually reminds me a great deal of Freedom & Necessity (that probably should be the other way around, given the publication dates), in which James says that he couldn't love Susan if she put him over her own beliefs.

I had a problem with the mysteries in other Sayers, mostly because I could honestly care less who killed whom and for what reason. Thankfully, there's a wonderful thematic resonance in this one; the culprit literally attacks the world of Shrewsbury and the female, non-nuclear-family space there. And while I had problems with Peter always being the one to solve the mystery in prior books, his solving the mystery here works because it is too close to Harriet and she can't conceive of someone making the choices that the culprit does.

Hrm. It looks like I have actually descended into incoherent squee ;). But oh, I loved the layers in this book, I loved all the things it talked about and had to say, I loved watching Harriet grow and choose, and I loved watching a romance between two people who needed an equal relationship and would fight for one.

Links:
- sophia_helix's review

Comments

[livinglaurel.livejournal.com]

People keep urging me to read this book, and you remind me I will probably love it!

[oyceter]

It was really good!

Most people said I should read the Harriet books in order (Strong Poison, Have His Carcase, Gaudy Night, and Busman's Honeymoon), but I sort of wished I skipped straight to GN, which is very different from the first two and much more to my taste.

[livinglaurel.livejournal.com]

I think people have told me I should start with GN, too -- hell, I just might do it anyway, since that's everyone's favorite apparently.

[oracne.livejournal.com]

If you only read one Sayers, this is the one to choose.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

I think my favorite part is when they go boating, and Peter falls asleep, and there's that wonderful intimacy of watching someone sleep that I find so touching. (Also happens in Fruits Basket, to similar effect.)

I also love the bit very early on where they're having dinner together, and Peter keeps making the waiter pick up Harriet's napkin.

[oyceter]

The weird thing is that my favorite romantic moments in the book aren't romantic per se; it's Harriet realizing after writing the letter for St. George that she has the upper hand for once, it's Peter understanding and being very bowled over by the fact that Harriet took his suggestions for her book seriously.

Oh, I adore that dinner as a whole, and actually, that entire chapter.

PS; OT

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Don't bother bringing measuring cups. We have everything.

Also, don't watch Samurai Champloo just yet, as I am bringing the first disc (sent to me due to a Netflixing error) and my Dad is interested in checking it out. Probably Friday night after dinner (probably at Mariposa's lone good restaurant.)

Also, it is cold out there and may rain. Bring warm clothing and an umbrella.

Finally, my parents do not know about my main LJ. They know about my auxiliary (rachelmbrown) one, and other forms of online activity like usenet and Dueling Modems. So they know how we met, but if you happen to mention specific posts of mine and they ask because they didn't see them, just say they were on a different board.

Re: PS; OT

[kate_nepveu]

Oyceter, I did mail your DVD of _Samurai Champloo_ episodes, but today.

Re: PS; OT

[oyceter]

Oh thank you!!

Re: PS; OT

[oyceter]

Ooo yay! Blue scones!

No worries about LJ... my parents don't know either, though they do know that I meet people that I somehow meet online.

Also, uh, what do your parents like, house-decoration-wise?

Re: PS; OT

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Oh, you don't need to bring a gift when we're going to bake them scones-- they'll love that. (And no doubt find it hilarious that I'm being so domestic.)

But if you are determined, they would no doubt prefer a book to anything decorative-- they seem to decorate exclusively in very expensive antiques. They are currently obsessed with "A Song of Ice and Fire," and were previously obsessed with Robin Hobb.

Re: PS; OT

[oyceter]

Oh ok, just want to make sure! Perhaps I shall bake other things and bring that as a present instead!

Re: PS; OT

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

You could bring lemon curd, and then we could spread it on the scones.

Re: PS; OT

[oyceter]

Exactly what I was thinking of!

[anneth.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you liked GN - it's my favorite book of all time, for all the reasons you mentioned above.

[oyceter]

I really liked it! I find it simultaneously depressing and amusing that this book so far best expresses current feelings about work and femininity and all that crazy things and that it is set in 1930s Oxford -_-;;.

[maeve-rigan.livejournal.com]

Sayers was amazingly 21st century as a "feminist." Look for her booklet of two speeches on work, sex, gender, titled Are Women Human?

[oyceter]

Oh cool, thanks for the pointer!

[rilina.livejournal.com]

This is a book I liked the first time around, and loved upon re-reading. I don't know if that's a function of the rereading or a function of my being older. Or both.

[oyceter]

I suspect the more I read it, the more I like it. I really love that it feels like it'll give much more back the more it's read.

[maeve-rigan.livejournal.com]

If your experience with GN is anything like mine, then re-reading GN will definitely improve it. I've read it several times...as good or better every time.

[minnow1212.livejournal.com]

I read GN first and loved it. Chess set!

[oyceter]

Yes! And letters! I love the letters.

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

"Shrewsbury College" was heavily based on Somerville College, which Sayers attended. According to repute, some of the dons were not happy about this.

[littlebutfierce]

I just read this book this weekend after reading your review. I really enjoyed it (my first Sayers!), so thank you! And yes, the issues about women & work/family are still so sadly applicable (I like to think that the classist bits are gone from academia, but I know there are still vestiges of them, alas).

[oyceter]

Oh, I'm so glad you liked! I loved this one so much, which was great after bouncing off some other Sayers books.