This month's retrospective book reviews feature three novels that continue to resonate with readers: Dawn Powell's "A TIME TO BE BORN," Cynthia Asquith's "THE SPRING HOUSE," and Joan Barfoot's "GAINING GROUND."
"A TIME TO BE BORN" by Dawn Powell, originally published by Pushkin, is a satirical look at 1940s New York society. The story follows Amanda, who escapes a difficult Ohio upbringing by marrying wealthy newspaper magnate Julian. She reinvents herself in high society, with her novels, ghostwritten by Julian, contributing to her fame. Amanda's life becomes a complex game of manipulation when she uses an acquaintance, Vicky, as a cover to secretly meet her former lover, Ken. The novel is described as a "diamond-sharp satire" on wealth, social climbing, and the dynamics of love and sex, with themes that remain relevant to contemporary society.
Cynthia Asquith's "THE SPRING HOUSE," published by British Library, is set in May 1915. Miranda, unable to return to her unloved husband in Canada due to the war, stays with her mother in an English stately home that has been requisitioned as a military hospital. As a young, privileged woman facing wartime realities, she engages in flirtations until her younger brother is killed at the front. She then falls deeply in love with John, though their relationship remains unconsummated due to Miranda's conscience. The novel explores themes of love and grief, with two plot twists serving as stark reminders of potential loss, a poignancy amplified by the fact that Asquith's own two brothers died in France.
"GAINING GROUND" by Joan Barfoot, from Faber, is presented as an unsettling and provocative examination of self-discovery outside conventional boundaries. Abra, who has a husband and two young children, finds herself suffocating in suburban life. She purchases a remote woodland cabin, leaves a letter at home, and disappears into nature. For nine years, she lives without clocks, mirrors, or social interaction, immersing herself in the rhythms of the natural world and physical labor. The narrative takes a turn when her daughter appears, seeking answers. Abra's initial hostility evolves into a limited relationship until a crisis compels her to re-evaluate her choices. The book is noted for its beautiful writing, honesty, and bravery.
