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A review by chlosophis
My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin
4.0
I loved the pacing and tone of the writing - and I became very attached to the narrator/protagonist. She made me laugh, cry, sigh and reflect on my perceptions of womanhood. Sybylla is perfectly imperfect.
I can understand why readers would become frustrated with Sybylla and her advancing/fleeing/toying/yearning/hating/admiring of Harold Beecham. I personally found this frustrating myself (thus the 4 stars). However, I understand why it has to be so.
My Brilliant Career is essentially about two things: Most people focus on the dominant theme; the stunted expectations of working class women in 19 Century Australia. It was either marry and slave for your husband, or become a spinster and slave for your parents. Syb makes it very clear from the beginning of the novel that she has no desire to marry, nor does she wish to marry for money - she has this pride complex you see. Unfortunately, she has no desire to stay a farm-maid for her parents either - what she wants (knowledge, art, literature, to-be-a-writer) is unattainable for women.
The second thing this book is about: Low self-esteem and pride. Syb has the lowest regard for her looks, and the lowest regard for men - believing they are only interested in looks. She sincerely believes she is not good enough for Harold (sigh). See? Perfectly imperfect.
I can't wait to discuss this one at book club.
I can understand why readers would become frustrated with Sybylla and her advancing/fleeing/toying/yearning/hating/admiring of Harold Beecham. I personally found this frustrating myself (thus the 4 stars). However, I understand why it has to be so.
My Brilliant Career is essentially about two things: Most people focus on the dominant theme; the stunted expectations of working class women in 19 Century Australia. It was either marry and slave for your husband, or become a spinster and slave for your parents. Syb makes it very clear from the beginning of the novel that she has no desire to marry, nor does she wish to marry for money - she has this pride complex you see. Unfortunately, she has no desire to stay a farm-maid for her parents either - what she wants (knowledge, art, literature, to-be-a-writer) is unattainable for women.
The second thing this book is about: Low self-esteem and pride. Syb has the lowest regard for her looks, and the lowest regard for men - believing they are only interested in looks. She sincerely believes she is not good enough for Harold (sigh). See? Perfectly imperfect.
I can't wait to discuss this one at book club.