Keep the Aspidistra Flying is the tale of Gordon Comstock, a down and out poet who ekes out a living working in a bookstore. The book tells of how his life slides deeper into poverty as he attempts to escape from the rule of money.
The book is set in the 1930s, when it was written, and as such I found it a very interesting piece of social history, with Gordon's financial situation, home life and social life are all very different from the present. But what is perhaps more interesting is the problems Gordon faces are very current, from concern about smoking his last cigarettes before he can afford more, or worrying about borrowing money from friends who have plenty.
So, while this book is in its own way dated, it doesn't mean it's difficult to read or understand. The themes of the book stand up now as well as they did then, and this is related to the endless search for money, with the main character consistently refusing to seek out a better job simply because it pays better.
I don't really want to discuss the themes of the book too much, or the ending, without revealing too much of the plot, so I'll stop there. Ultimately, this is an interesting book, and the sort of book you could discuss with friends, at school or at a book club. However, I'd also say that, due to it's age and subject matter, it's not particularly easy to read. So, a book for the serious reader, and not a light read for holiday!
Buy Keep the Aspidistra Flying from Amazon.com
No comments:
Post a Comment