"The Whistling Season"

If I remember correctly, I was introduced to Ivan Doig's evocative writing by my friend, Kristina. The first of his books I read was his first, The Sea Runners - a novel about four Swedes escaping from New Archangel - today's Sitka, Alaska. I continued reading Doig over the years and found his novels set in his boyhood state of Montana to be my favourites.
I had previously read and enjoyed The Whistling Season, published in 2006, but when it arrived in the mail with three other books from Kristina, I decided to read it again before passing it on to my son, Douglas, whom has also become a Doig fan. (I've also given brother, Ron, a Doig book, but had no feedback about whether or not he liked it - or even read it.)
From the back cover: "In the unforgettable fall of 1909, Rose Llewellyn and her brother, Morris Morgan, bring west with them 'several kinds of education' - none of them of the textbook variety - and life is never again the same in Marias Coulee, Montana."
Oliver Milliron's wife has died, leaving him with three boys to raise. They've muddled along all right for a year when he sees an ad: "Housekeeping position sought by widow. Can't cook but doesn't bite." Such an intriguing ad cannot go unanswered. Thus we learn of the first year of the Milliron's exposure to Rose and Morris told through words of the oldest Milliron son, seventh grader, Paul.
Reading Doig is like taking a trip to the past and learning about the regional history of Montana. His themes are family, loss, learning responsibility and the importance of education. His writing is smart, funny and poignant. I'm glad there are still a few of his novels I have yet to read.

I was reading an interview with Jacqueline Winspear last month wherein she mentioned she was reading Julian Fellowes' Snobs and how much she was enjoying it. As our library had a copy, I decided to give it a try. But why did the name Julian Fellowes sound so familiar? Oh, he played Lord Kilwillie in the Monarch of the Glen series. Yeah - and he won the Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Screenplay for Gosford Park and he is the creator of Downton Abbey - that Julian Fellowes.
Snobs is his first novel, published in 2004. It deals with the traits and foibles of the British upper class and what happens when an upper middle class girl marries a peer*. It definitely gives insight into the British class system, but I prefer gaining my insight by watching Fellowes' highly acclaimed Downton Abbey.  The second season begins in January. Can't wait!
(*In 2011, Fellowes was ennobled as a life peer of The House of Lords.)

The more I read Ruth Rendell (also a life peer), the more I wonder about her. She is either a great observer of humanity or has one twisted mind. (Maybe both?) I really like her Inspector Wexford series, but her stand alone novels, of which The Bridesmaid is one, really delve into the themes of misunderstandings and the unintended consequences of family secrets. I chose this book from the many of hers I've yet to read because a statue of the Goddess, Flora* - representative of all the female virtues - figures predominately in the story line.
Philip Wardman is an ordinary young man with a neurotic fear of violence and death. He lives with his widowed mother and two sisters. When he meets a living encarnation of the marble Flora - Senta, a bridesmaid at his sister's wedding - he quickly falls into bed and into love. But while he fears violence and death, his new love has a morbid fascination with it. Mayhem and murder follow when Senta insists that to "prove their love for one another", they should each murder someone.
How the statue of Flora leaves his Mother's garden and is then returned to it is central to the storyline. Philip comes to believe Senta is just a little crazy. I wonder about the author.

(*See May 1, 2011 blog.)