by Sue,
“Jasper Jones” was published when its author was 27. He’d already had two books published, has produced another one since, and plays in an Indie rock band (do we know what kind of music that is?) for which he also writes songs. Now where’s the justice? I can’t tell you how envious I am. To have received both critical and popular acclaim, to be around 32 years old (my maths isn’t good) and apparently having a good time . . . Perhaps he doesn’t sleep.
An Australian friend gave me the book. It’s set in Australia. I have the first page open as I’m writing this. What strikes me is the energy of the style. Like “To Kill A Mockingbird”, to which it has been compared, the intended audience may be adolescents, but I’m not letting that worry me. I loved “To Kill A Mockingbird”. So, I’m hopeful that we will at least be entertained.
I’m a little worried that we going to read about racism again. But perhaps that’s what we should be thinking about as we read: does the book cast any light on why racism is so widespread? The central characters are teenagers: has he created teenagers we recognise? What does the book have to say about parenting? (I’m guessing here, but where there are teenagers, there must be parents.) “The Slap” and “We Need To Talk about Kevin” considered parenting from a parental point of view. Do we learn anything different here, from a teenager’s point of view?
Above all, were we informed and entertained? Let’s hope so.
A summer day of high cloud and intermittent warm sunshine: just gorgeous. And this brilliant Sunday is a real day of rest for Jay and me. Hope you are both enjoying whatever you are doing, ladies, and that your families are well. The excitement and huge happiness of the family across the road, whose baby is now a month old, makes me realise all the more clearly how busy you must be, Katie, and what a wonderful thing parenthood is.
ReplyDeleteNot that Charlie’s Mum would agree with me. Not a lot going for her, Charlie’s Mum. But there were some other great characters: Jeffrey, Jasper and Jack Lionel, for example, and Charlie’s Dad. List of men, I realize now I’ve written it. Silvey wasn’t all that good on creating rounded women characters: they’re all a bit one-dimensional, perhaps?
I was very much involved with the plot, with the detailed and realistically portrayed background (or maybe I’m wrong there, Nancy), and the insights into life in a small community: a universal small community. It’s the same here. I liked the writing style, though it’s a little contrived in places: for example, the comments about the kites flying (pp368-9). But the main character is a budding author so perhaps he would think that way at such a critical point in his life.
Answering my own question, I’m not sure how much I learned about parenting: given that Jasper is perhaps the most well adjusted person, maybe the book suggests parenting’s not that important? Charlie has an excellent moral compass, for which his mother cannot claim much credit. Jeffrey’s family life is obviously loving, which might account for his strong self-belief: there again, he’s a force of nature. So, is Silvey suggesting it’s friendship that’s critical to one’s development?
To be honest, I think the author’s major concern is the T.S. Eliot thing: “mankind cannot bear very much reality”. That’s why the community’s outward face is hypocritical: why the town wants to keep everything “so settled and smooth and serene”. Racism is considered, but it isn’t the major concern I thought it might be: it’s seen as a reaction to loss (of a husband, of a job); and no-one questions that Rosie, Jasper’s Mum, would be discriminated against. It’s just reality – too hard to question.
I might be simplifying all this.
But I was entertained and I was informed. I hope you were, too, ladies.
Looking forward to reading your views.
Sue
Hello Ladies! Hope you both are doing well. It has been such lovely weather here. HOT HOT HOT! Like I love it. We've been having such fun bringing Benjamin into the pool. You're right, Sue, parenting has been a very wonderful adventure.
ReplyDeleteI am unsure as to why the title of the novel was Jasper Jones. He was a frequently absent character. Maybe a better title would have been "Laura Wishart". Considering her death and disappearance was the whole dilemma of the novel. Did you ladies think the title was appropriate? Why do you think Jasper was given the title and not Charlie or another character?
Sue, you feared that our novel might focus on racism. Do we think that the town's distrust of Jasper was based on his aboriginal descent? I personally don't think it was. I believe it was the idea that he came from a broken home that made everyone think he was "bad". It appeared that most of the racism was focused on Jeffery and his family. However, this seems to be more a circumstance of the time period. I'm sure that if it was not set in the middle of the Vietnam war, there would probably have been less discrimination toward Jeffrey's family.
Your next question is about parenting in the context of this book. There was an extreme absence of parenting. First there is the blatant absence in Jasper's life; deceased mother and abusive father. Next we have the absence and neglect in Laura and Eliza's lives. I say absence here because of Mrs. Wishart's total inability to protect her daughters or regard their concerns. Laura told her mother what her father was doing, and Mrs. Wishart completely ignored it. And finally Charlie's parents, for the most part, did very little parenting. Or at least from what we see during the novel. Does the book suggest parenting is not important? No, I think it suggests that parenting is important. Jasper might not have had such a bad reputation if he had a good mother or father figure in his life. Laura Wishart may have been alive if her mother had been a better parent. Jeffrey seemed to be the strongest, most well adjusted teenager in the novel. We assume this is from his parent's strong loving involvement in his life. Or maybe this is just my assumption.
This was an enjoyable read. I very much loved the playful bantering between Jeffrey and Charlie. I also loved Charlie's descriptions and literary references.
Much love to you both!
Another lovely day here in Hornsea - just past nine o'clock in the evening and it's still sunny. Mum's 91st birthday today. We've had a happy family gathering in a local pub: my husband and my brothers were marvellous and my parents enjoyed themselves.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking, Katie, that perhaps the novel's called Jasper Jones because he's the catalyst for Charlie's increased understanding of the townspeople. Because of his position as an outcast, Jasper seems to know another side of the people Charlie had accepted at face value: police officers, Mr. Wishart, Jack Lionel.
There again, a title like "Beneath the Surface of a Small Town" would have been appropriate too - well, it would need to be a little snappier, but something which gives an insight into the novel's concerns rather more than a person's name.
Hope the weather's still good, Katie. Benjamin's probably swimming by now. Does our sunshine mean it's cold in Australia?
Take care, ladies
Sue
Hello Ladies,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to hear you are both enjoying your summer weather. We also are enjoying bright sunny days of about 15C-20C, nights are a little cooler and require a fire. All is well here.
For the most part I enjoyed Jasper Jones, I found it young and fresh and often laughed out loud at some of Charlie's banter. There are some very dark and disturbing issues addressed in a novel of teenage suicide, incest, rape, racism,Vietnam War protests,adultery,broken marriages,serial killers and alcoholism [did I miss anything?]. It seems absurd for me to say I found it entertaining, yet Silvey's delivery style made it so.
I was reading a review of Silvey's debut novel "Rhubarb" and I quote "It is very ambitious. So much so, that at times it's like he's thought of too many ideas and clever linkages to fit them all into one novel" I felt a little like this with Jasper Jones.
I'm sorry to disagree with you Katie, but I feel the novel made fair comment on racism in the sixties in Australia. I feel Jasper Jones' part aboriginal heritage played a large part in him being ostracised from society. Sadly it still occurs today and not just in small communities. The unjustified beatings he received from the police are still occurring to many Aboriginal people and has sparked inquiries here into Aboriginal deaths in custody as it it so frequent. I guess this is true for many indigenous and minorities worldwide.
I agree with you about the timing of the novel and and the Vietnam War playing a major factor in the violence against Jeffrey's parents, although Jeffrey himself was picked on and belittled terribly by his peers, that I feel would have occurred regardless of time frame.
I agree with you both about the lack of parenting skills all round.
This novel is written from a teenagers point of view, and I feel Silvey captures roller coaster of emotions, the passion of young love the brutality of racism and the honesty of what our communities can sometimes do to each other out of fear.
Why the title Jasper Jones ?
Perhaps as you say Sue, he is the catalyst for Charlie's awakening,
Perhaps, disenfranchised people need a hero and Craig Silvey was doing his part in creating one. Or perhaps because it is such a cool and catchy name to say .
Love to you both and your families
Nancy
Benjamin enjoyed fireworks for the first time last night. Very cute. Congratulations to your mum on her birthday, Sue!
ReplyDeleteNancy, no worries about disagreeing with me. That’s the best part of book clubs! Everyone brings something different to the table. I can absolutely concede to your knowledge of racism in Australia. (As I obviously don’t live there haha.) We saw blatant racism between the settlers and the aboriginal people while reading The Secret River. It would be completely foolish to believe it does not still occur, but I had no idea the extent! How horrible about those beatings still occurring and from the people who are supposed to protect the community! Maybe I had blinders on while reading but most of the racism I noticed in Jasper Jones was directed toward Jeffrey and his family. There may have been many subtleties that I missed. The only part that jumped out at me was when Jack Lionel initially rejected Rosie. I feel very naïve but when I first read about Jasper being beaten by the police, I assumed it was because of his outcast status. I didn’t even think it could be because he was half Aborigine!
Sue, you’re right. "Beneath the Surface of a Small Town" may not have been a very snappy title. And Jasper being a catalyst is a very wise conjecture. I feel like I missed a lot! I must have too much mommy brain going on.
Silly little story. I was typing my review in the lunch room at work when a co-worker walked by. He said what I was doing seemed like “too much work”. I said to him that I spent most of my off work hours talking about colors, shapes and animal sounds. So I completely revel in an opportunity to talk to other ADULTS about interesting pieces of literature. He said he’d choose the shapes. Haha. Hope you both get a chuckle from that as I did.
-katie :-)
Katie, I also enjoy our little book club and the sometimes different perspectives we all have. I feel quite proud of us that we are still going strong three years after we met for such a brief period of time.
ReplyDeleteYay for us !!