The gang is back together! Join David, Heidi, and Tim as they chat about one of David’s favorite books, J.L. Carr’s A Month in the Country. In this episode, they discuss what Carr does especially well, the virtues of the book being short, the story’s place in World War I narratives, and much more.
It's so good to hear your takes on this book, which I've loved since the first time I read it but have been absolutely incapable of conveying to others why I love it. (There was a particularly disastrous episode when I convinced my Kristin-Hannah-loving book club to read it and they were absolutely nonplussed.)
I really appreciated your discussion of the two different literary reactions to the world wars. That helped me think about how the book is so poignant without being bleak -- the devastating WWI experience permeates this month in the country, but that trauma doesn't make happiness a lie or an impossibility. As Heidi put it, the sadness and consolation are united in this book. I think that's why it's so powerful despite being a small, often humorous book.
Great conversation- thank you!
It's so good to hear your takes on this book, which I've loved since the first time I read it but have been absolutely incapable of conveying to others why I love it. (There was a particularly disastrous episode when I convinced my Kristin-Hannah-loving book club to read it and they were absolutely nonplussed.)
I really appreciated your discussion of the two different literary reactions to the world wars. That helped me think about how the book is so poignant without being bleak -- the devastating WWI experience permeates this month in the country, but that trauma doesn't make happiness a lie or an impossibility. As Heidi put it, the sadness and consolation are united in this book. I think that's why it's so powerful despite being a small, often humorous book.
I have been waiting all year for this! Binge-reading it this weekend. It’s a favorite, favorite book.