The choice this month for the Wall Street Journal Book Club is Evelyn Waugh’s A Handful of Dust. I read this book back in the Sixties when DELL published Waugh’s work in very nice paperback editions. You can join the discussion about A Handful of Dust at http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/06/03/does-evelyn-waugh-care-about-his-characters-wsj-book-club/ A Handful of Dust starts out like a P.G. Wodehouse comedy with a young couple who are having marital problems. But mid-way through the novel a tragedy occurs that changes the tone and trajectory of the book. My favorite Waugh novel is Scoop, but there’s plenty to admire in A Handful of Dust.
I read this a long time ago and I remember being put off by the fact that [SPOILER] a child’s death is treated in a rather cavalier fashion and the mother’s response is utterly appalling. [End spoiler.]
My favorite Waugh novel is the much jauntier DECLINE AND FALL.
Deb, I had the same reaction to A HANDFUL OF DUST that you did. It seemed that Waugh was punishing the mother for studying economics. Waugh could be cruel to his characters.
i read this one long ago, too, and didn’t care for it.
Bill, there’s a darkness in A HANDFUL OF DUST that is disturbing.
I tried it but didn’t like it. To be honest, I’ve felt that way about most of Waugh, and Waugh himself. I’ve read a number of his brother Alec’s books.
Jeff, I ordered the DVD version of A HANDFUL OF DUST just to see how the story is handling on film.
I love THE LOVED ONE and BRIDESHEAD REVISITED. Not sure if have read any of the rest.
Patti, THE LOVED ONE is very funny. BRIDESHEAD REVISITED is very different. And the PBS version of BRIDESHEAD REVISITED is more different.
I’m with Deb. I fell in love with Waugh after reading Decline and Fall. Too funny.
I also really like The Loved One, which was turned into an equally good movie.
Beth, after reading your comment and Deb’s comment, I’m going back to reread DECLINE AND FALL. I read it over 40 years ago and only vaguely remember it.
I haven’t read any Waugh but I did like the PBS version of BRIDESHEAD REVISITED.
Rick, I loved the music to BRIDESHEAD REVISITED. I have the CD around here somewhere. I need to find it and listen to it again.