The second in Ms. Barker’s Regeneration Trilogy based on the first world war. A central character here is Billy Prior, who appears in the book we read so long ago, Regeneration.
We’ll meet other familiar characters: Betty Roper, Sassoon and Rivers,
for example. The novel is set in London in 1918 and, though fictional,
is placed in the context of events that actually took place in that
year. We might want to consider which novel we prefer and why, if we can
remember much about Regeneration. Do we think this
mingling of fact and fiction adds anything to the readers’ experience
of the book? Billy Prior is a complex character. Is he one with whom we
have any sympathy? These events took place a hundred years ago. Do we
live in entirely different times? Rather a lot of questions ladies. Pick
and choose, or ignore entirely. My book has an Author’s Note at the
end. It might be useful to read that first. Happy reading.
Friday, 10 November 2017
The Eye In The Door by Pat Barker
by Sue,
The second in Ms. Barker’s Regeneration Trilogy based on the first world war. A central character here is Billy Prior, who appears in the book we read so long ago, Regeneration.
We’ll meet other familiar characters: Betty Roper, Sassoon and Rivers,
for example. The novel is set in London in 1918 and, though fictional,
is placed in the context of events that actually took place in that
year. We might want to consider which novel we prefer and why, if we can
remember much about Regeneration. Do we think this
mingling of fact and fiction adds anything to the readers’ experience
of the book? Billy Prior is a complex character. Is he one with whom we
have any sympathy? These events took place a hundred years ago. Do we
live in entirely different times? Rather a lot of questions ladies. Pick
and choose, or ignore entirely. My book has an Author’s Note at the
end. It might be useful to read that first. Happy reading.
The second in Ms. Barker’s Regeneration Trilogy based on the first world war. A central character here is Billy Prior, who appears in the book we read so long ago, Regeneration.
We’ll meet other familiar characters: Betty Roper, Sassoon and Rivers,
for example. The novel is set in London in 1918 and, though fictional,
is placed in the context of events that actually took place in that
year. We might want to consider which novel we prefer and why, if we can
remember much about Regeneration. Do we think this
mingling of fact and fiction adds anything to the readers’ experience
of the book? Billy Prior is a complex character. Is he one with whom we
have any sympathy? These events took place a hundred years ago. Do we
live in entirely different times? Rather a lot of questions ladies. Pick
and choose, or ignore entirely. My book has an Author’s Note at the
end. It might be useful to read that first. Happy reading.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
-
Hello Ladies, How is the weather where you are? We have had the most gloriously clear autumn days here followed by a few days of soaking ...
-
by Katie, The brother of a dear friend of mine witnessed the suicide of a friend/classmate inside his school during normal school hours. ...
-
by Sue "All families have things to hide but few can match the horrors that come to light in Atkinson’s improbable, convoluted bu...
Hello Ladies! Hope this review finds you well. We had a lovely Thanksgiving here in the States. We had some really nice time spent with family and way too much food! The Christmas rush has officially begun here. Hopefully it is not too crazy where you are. Sue, is the country all a buzz with Prince Harry’s recent engagement? The American press is already getting pretty worked up about it! Nancy, how is everybody? Hope you are enjoying your summer weather!
ReplyDeleteIf I had read this book before Regeneration, I would have been surprised with how much I enjoyed it. But I was expecting Ms. Baker to keep me riveted and she did not disappoint! It has been some time since we read Regeneration but I think I liked Eye in the Door better. It held a tight grip over me from start to finish. I felt that Regeneration was an introductory book to her subject while Eye in the Door was the middle of her novel which certainly makes sense in a trilogy. I guess The Ghost Road will give us the conclusion to what will happen to Prior, Rivers and Betty Roper among others. Are we intending to complete this series? I am very much open to that idea.
Did either of you find Manning’s opening up to Rivers about his war experiences to be difficult to read? I was left teary eyed! Had I not been sitting with coworkers while reading, I surely would have cried over Manning’s mercy killing of Scudder. Very realistic, very heartbreaking. I had to shut the book for a few hours.
As for Billy Prior, I find his situation curious; a split personality that takes over at its own will. I don’t feel anything toward Prior otherwise. I neither sympathize nor condemn him. He’s just another part of the story. Certainly our current societal views on homosexuality, promiscuity and mental health have changed significantly since 1918. To start with homosexuals and people with mental health issues are not ostracized from society. They hide in the shadows significantly less. We seem to embrace both cultures and promote awareness for their difficulties. Although homosexuals in the military is still a touchy subject, so I guess we have not progressed in all aspects of society.
I look forward to your thoughts. Thank you for this series, Sue. Again I’m completely surprised how much I’ve enjoyed this series!
Much love to you both!
Katie
Hello Ladies
ReplyDeleteThanksgiving sounds wonderful, Katie. And, like you, we are in the midst of the Christmas rush. Adventurously we went to London and, coincidentally, arrived when the Christmas lights went on. Gorgeous. I’m still a kid where lights and fireworks are concerned. The country, of course, is gripped by the Harry and Megan engagement. (Anything to stop us thinking about the cost of Brexit and the prospect of losing the next Test match.) Poor girl has to become British and be baptised. Harry’s a lucky man to find someone who’d go through this rigmarole. I’m very envious of you being in summer, Nancy. Snowed much of the day here and no-one had gritted the roads this morning. Cars just sliding around the roads. I bet you’re gliding over waterways. Enjoy.
This was another hard-to-put-down book. And that’s despite finding some of the events/descriptions absolutely harrowing. So glad you enjoyed it, Katie (if enjoyed is the right word) and couldn’t agree with you more regarding responses to Manning’s account of the death of Scudder. Shockingly moving. The references to eyes on prison doors, Towers’s eye, the spying on and horrific treatment of gay men, conscientious objectors and their supporters . . . And some of the war scenes, in particular those in the mud, were unbearable. My granddad was a stretcher-bearer in all of that, and such a tiny man . . . However, back to the book. I liked the inter-linking of fact and fiction. Such powerful writing could create an entirely coherent universe, but for me the mingling of fact and fiction made the story even more compelling. It also reminded me of how far Britain has come as a society. Though still a shockingly unequal, often very unkind society we are generally more tolerant – I hope.
I can’t recollect having much sympathy for Billy Prior in ‘Regeneration’, but as we learned more and more about his upbringing, his relationship with his father and his helplessness in the face of mental illness, I began to be more interested in his story. I had the feeling that his dislike of conscientious objectors may not, in the end, help him forgive himself for betraying Mac. There again, Rivers may have helped Prior live with himself.
My recollections of ‘Regeneration’ are vague, so I went back to look at our book reviews. Obviously, I loved this first novel and should have read the entire trilogy immediately. I have now bought the three books in one paperback so have no excuse for not reading the last novel, reputedly wonderful. I have the feeling this second one does not have the scope of the first one, but really can’t remember. I fear this is age beginning to tell. However, I do know that Rivers is a wonderful character. I wonder who his equivalents are today?
Hope you and your families are well, ladies.
Love to you both
Hello Ladies,
ReplyDeleteWow, how great was this book?
I was captivated from the beginning and wonder how you both feel about substituting our free choice month with The Ghost Road?
I found my recollections of Regeneration were vague as well but I do remember enjoying it but I prefer The Eye In The Door.
I really want to find out what happens to Rivers, this novel seemed to show a much more intriguing and complex character than the Dr/confidante of Regeneration.
I am also interested to see what happens to Billy Prior, I like his characters sense of honesty with himself and his effort to battle through his illness. I find it so sad the mental anguish soldiers, or any front line emergency personnel carry with them after enduring and seeing the unimaginable. I still feel we as a society do not do enough to help PTSD sufferers.
There were times I felt this novel had a contemporary feel and could easily be set in our present time. As you mentioned Katie, we have come so far as a society in our acceptance of difference but with the climate of fear in our world at the moment I worry we could easily backslide.
On a happy note, we now have marriage equality in Australia !! Yay!!
On reading our novel and the prejudices against homosexuals a hundred years ago I can say it’s been a long time coming, but it also dragged up some ugly words and scenes from people who apposed the legislation.
We are all well at Camp Katuzans’, Ivars and i are off to Melbourne next weekend to have early Christmas with Gracie. She is busy with her new job and unable to make it home [sad face]. The weather is fantastic and life is good. I am happy to hear all is well with you both and hope you enjoy your Christmases.
much love, Nancy
Hello Ladies
ReplyDeleteI'd be happy to substitute Ghost Road for the free choice month if that's O.K. with Katie too. I've got the book, as yet not opened, but could do the introductory bit if you are both a bit busy at this festive time. Enjoy Melbourne next weekend, Nancy. Hope you've got better weather where you are, Katie. By British standards, we've got quite a bit of snow here. Enjoy your Christmas activities, ladies. love to you both.
I'm on board with Ghost Road!
ReplyDeleteGreat, I love this trilogy, maybe we can do some more series soon I love this idea. Sue, if you could do the intro would be fantastic.
ReplyDeletelove Nancy
No problem. Looking forward to reading the book.
ReplyDelete