This month's book for the Rather Dated Bookclub is Rumor Godden's 'The Greengage Summer'.
All are welcome to join in the discussion!
This is a wonderfully immersive story about a family of five, whose mother, in a pique of annoyance takes them over to a sleepy rural village in France in champagne country, to 'see the battlefields' and 'give them an education' because she thinks they need to learn and appreciate what the previous generation has experienced during world war two and then they will appreciate how well off they are.
The children are only too keen to travel outside of the boring, humdrum little town of Southport. Little do they know what lies ahead for them as their mother becomes seriously ill and the children, the eldest of whom is sixteen, are left at the hotel to manage on their own and cope with the French staff and the mysterious Englishman Eliot, who, while wonderful and kind to them, is a complex and difficult individual with an agenda of his own and who shows a ruthless streak and is frightening and confusing for them.
There is so much to discuss in the book. I'm going to start by outlining the main aspects of the plot. Firstly, there is the introductory section in England where the children are bored and restless and Mother hatches her plan. I liked Mother. I was sorry that she was laid up in the hospital for the duration of the book but it had to be, or the story wouldn't have happened!
Then, the early days at the hotel when Joss was sick in bed. This was idyllic. The children start to settle in and find their feet. Then Joss gets better and Eliot notices her. Mlle Zizi becomes jealous. Eliot takes them out on an excursion three days in a row. There is trouble on the third day. M. Joubert takes Joss on as a student. Everything calms down and there is a reprieve. The children go back to playing and having a quiet time, but they still observe everything that happens around them.
The Brass Instruments Ball preparation is underway. Jealousy on the part of Mlle Zizi rears its head again. Joss dresses up and becomes the belle of the ball. Eliot ignores her and stays at Mlle Zizi's side. Joss attracts the attention of Paul with disastrous consequences. The gendarmerie and Detective Cailloux, alerted by Joss, come to the hotel to interview the children about Eliot. The telegram which calls Uncle William from England is Eliot's downfall. We don't know what happens following the close of the story, but I assume that Eliot's location is discovered and he will be arrested.
I really loved the description of the village and the hotel and I thought the writing was very descriptive and colourful and that it was full of vivid imagery evoking all the senses. I liked the children and thought they were a real bunch of characters. There were many good lines too, sharp observations and humour.