A Life of Jean Rhys

 

I don't know much about author Jean Rhys, other than she wrote a few novels during the first half of the twentieth century and received critical acclaim for her last book, Wide Sargasso Sea (the only of her novels that I've read).  From what I've gleaned reading here and there about her, her life was filled with sadness and self-destruction.  I guess I'm about to find out more as I picked up Lillian Pizzichini's The Blue Hour: The Life of Jean Rhys from the library this week.  I've curtailed my library book borrowing (for the summer anyway) drastically, but this is one title I know I want to read sooner rather than later.      

This biography has come highly recommended from more than one corner of the literary world, so I've decided that just reading the biography is not enough.  Most of her novels were written in the 20s and 30s, which is likely what drew me to her initially.  I accumulated most of her books long ago when the exoticism of Paris and London between the wars (see even back then I was interested in this period) appealed to my adventurous side.  Although I'm not sure which of her books I'll pick up and read alongside The Blue Hour, I like the idea of getting a fuller picture of her life and work.

As I've already read Wide Sargasso Sea, I will give that a pass this time around (worthy of a reread at some point, however).  Instead I have on hand: Voyage in the Dark (am leaning towards this one at the moment--seems very autobiographical), Good Morning, Midnight, and Quartet.  Any Jean Rhys aficianados out there?  Any one in particular I should read first.  I also have a collection of her short stories that I picked up at a recent library sale that I need to go dig out from the shelves.  I plan on starting reading this weekend--something I'm looking forward to!    

Comments

[avisannschild]

Oh, I really want to read this book! Like you, I've only read Wide Sargasso Sea, although I have all her other novels as well as her unfinished autobiography, Smile Please. I actually have Jean Rhys: The Complete Novels and the back of the book says the first two novels follow Jean Rhys's life closely, so I think it would make sense to start with the first one, Voyage in the Dark.

I'm looking forward to your review!

[Danielle]

Avisannschild--I have a little collection of novels, too. It seems a good time to read something by her. I hadn't even gotten so far as to figure out which books came first, but Voyage in the Dark seems as good a place as any to start. I plan on doing some reading in them this weekend!

[Cornflower]

I haven't read Jean Rhys at all, but I do have The Blue Hour waiting in the pile, so I shall follow your progress closely, Danielle.

[Mike B.]

I would consider myself a huge Jean Rhys fan and though I don't know I would recommend which one to read first, but Good Morning, Midnight is one of my favorite books. It's on my top ten list.

[Catharina]

Wide Sargasso Sea is the only one I have read so far. Think I would start with her first one. I am really looking forward to reading about The Blue Hour.

[Tiina]

I haven't read Rhys, but have heard good things especially about Quartet. If I should choose one of her books solely by titel, it would be Tigers Are Better-Looking. Isn't that a great name for a book? :)

Greetings,
Tiina

[Nadia]

I absolutely Jean Rhy's works - they are just wonderful!! One of my favorites by her is Good Morning, Midnight. Definitely one of her best works. I look forward to your posts on her work. Happy Reading!

[Dorothy W.]

I've read only Wide Sargasso Sea, and I wasn't terribly fond of it, but I'd like to try another of her books. I have Good Morning, Midnight on my shelves, so that will probably be the one. I hope you enjoy the biography, and I'm looking forward to learning more about her!

[Elaine Simpson-Long]

This is a fascinating biography of a woman who seems to be the eternal victim and who seems to wallow in it as reflected in her books. Not quite the genius that every one seems to think she is (IMHO) and at times a truly ghastly person but this book had me riveted from page one.

[Danielle]

Cornflower--I am sure I'll be posting about it as I go. She sounds like such a tragic figure!
Mike--I had always planned on reading more of her, so this will give me a good opportunity. I'm still not sure which book I'll start with--they all sound good.
Catharina--I might start reading the biography and see which book they talk about that sounds most appealing. I've heard many good things about the bio, so I am looking forward to it.
Tiina--That title is very eye catching, isn't it? I think it might be a collection of her stories, which might be a good place to start actually.
Nadia--It seems to be a favorite of other readers as well. It's going to be hard choosing just one to read, so I will have to revisit her books often.
Dorothy--I'm looking forward to learning more about her as well. I read Wide Sagasso Sea ages ago, so don't remember all the details. I also read it before reading Jane Eyre, which might have made a difference as well, though I remember liking the book more or less. I'd like to reread it sometime--now that I have read JE and perhaps after I've read the bio.
Elaine--I remember you post on the book. She sounds like a complicated person, and the author must be quite talented writing such a good biography with a difficult subject. I'm looking forward to reading it as well as some of her fiction to get a better picture.

[iliana]

Have not read anything by her and actually didn't even realize she had quite a few books. I hope you'll enjoy the biography and will look forward to reading your thoughts on it. Maybe I'll have to go rush out and find one of her books :)

[Danielle]

Iliana--I didn't get to start it as I had hoped this weekend, but I have the bookmark in it ready to go! :) And I haven't yet decided which of her novels to read. I've been trying to finish a couple of other books this weekend first.