Pages: 268
Original date of publication: 1924
My copy: 2008 (Persephone)
Why I decided to read:
How I acquired my copy: Persephone subscription, November
2011
Set in small-town America around the time it was written,
this novel explores gender roles and how they affect families, and one family
in particular. Lester Knapp is an accountant for a department store; his wife,
Evangeline, is a housewife raising their three children. They both perform the
roles expected of them by society, yet neither is suited to their role and
neither is particularly happy. When Lester is injured in an accident that leaves
him home-bound, his wife goes to work—to the benefit of everyone in the family.
Dorothy Canfield Fisher gets her reader deep into the heads
of her characters, so we can understand exactly what they’re like and so that
we get a three-dimensional view of the situation. Even the children’s point of
view is well represented—especially Stephen, aged 5, who fears having his Teddy
taken away to be washed. Therefore, we get the truth of a situation without the
biases of your traditional narrator and so that the reader can see exactly what’s
going on under the surface. While all the characters in the novel are lovable,
my favorite is Lester—a dreamy poetry lover who turns out to excel as a homemaker
and discovers a new-found appreciation for his children and their talents.
Fisher believed strongly in the strength of one’s internal
personal life over external considerations. And the strength of this novel is
what it says about American culture in general. Small town life is famous for
being busybody-like; everyone knew your business and involved themselves in it,
and if you strayed away from that, you’d be ostracized. So this novel serves as
a sort of criticism of that way of life and what it represents. None of the
Knapp family really has the freedom to do what suits them personally; they’re
all at the mercy of what society dictates. In all, an incredible novel, with
the wheelchair representing how social expectations can bind us all.
Comments
2 Kids and Tired Books
Our company is based on the belief that our customers' needs are of the utmost importance. Our entire team is committed to meeting those needs. As a result, a high percentage of our business is from repeat customers and referrals.
We would welcome the opportunity to earn your trust and deliver you the best service in the industry.
Location:
708-216TH ST SW
BOTHELL, WA 98021
Hours:
Mon - Fri: 9AM - 5PM
Sat: 10AM - 5PM
Sun: Closed
The Smart Office provides IT services to SMEs in the form of Business Intelligence (SAP Business One), Business Analysis, E-Commerce, IT Consultancy and informational Web Design. For more information then visit - Website: www.thesmartoffice.ie