Pages for You: A Novel [Paperback]

Sylvia Brownrigg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2002

Winner of a 2002 Lambda Literary Award

In a steam-filled diner in a college towm, Flannery Jansen catches sight of something more beautiful than she's ever seen: a graduate student, reading. The seventeen-year-old, new to evrything around her—college, the East Coast, bodies of literature, and the sexual flurries of student life—is shocked by her desire to follow this wherever it will take her. When Flannery finds herself enrolled in a class with remote, brilliant older woman, she is intimidated at first, but gradually becomes Anne Arden's student—Baudelaire, lipstick colors, or how to travel with a lover—Flannery proves an eager pupil, until one day learns more about Anne than she ever wanted to know.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The narrator of Brownrigg's thoroughly engaging new novel asks this question of her departed lover: "What would happen if I wrote some pages for you? Each day a page... to show you that I am finding a story, the story of how we might have been together, once." What follows is roughly 100 short chapters chronicling the rise and fall of one woman's first love. Flannery Jansen, 17 and fresh from a "one-horse town" in California, falls headlong for a teaching assistant at the tony (and never named) East Coast university she attends. Page by page, Brownrigg captures in delicious and witty prose the rapture and humiliation of first love: first sight, first words, first flirtation, first gift, first kiss, first night, first declaration, first fight and, as the prologue gives away, first betrayal. A lesser writer would be swamped in sentimentality, but Brownrigg handles her material with great good humor and vitality. Readers familiar with Brownrigg's first two books, the novel The Metaphysical Touch and the story collection Ten Women Who Shook the World, know that her characterizations are deft and spare. Here, in pitch-perfect dialogue, she conveys the dueling attitudes of an aspiring writer from the West and a teaching assistant deeply schooled in traditional literary criticism and academic mores. That Flannery's lover, Anne Arden, is a woman is not quite beside the point. The lovers are well aware others might find them "freaks." But refreshingly, Brownrigg doesn't make Flannery and Anne victims. They are simply two girls in love which shouldn't put any readers off. This exquisitely written, bittersweet Valentine of a novel is for any reader who has ever been in a romantic relationship and wants to remember and revel in all the foolish things we do for love. (Apr.) Forecast: Brownrigg's audience of discerning readers will grow with this book, which booksellers may recommend for its wit, fast-moving pace and emotional candor; the sexy jacket speaks for itself.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Coming-of-age novels that focus on sexual initiation were once the exclusive territory of straight male writers, but, thankfully, women now write authentically, unashamedly, profoundly, and directly about their sensual feelings, including those for each other. Here, 17-year-old Californian Flannery is new to the East Coast and the Ivy League college she attends, and is drawn irresistibly to Anne, a teaching assistant 11 years her senior. A hauntingly beautiful love develops between the two in this tale either for young readers first discovering who they are and how they love, or for those remembering a rose-colored past. Brownrigg lingers delectably on the small, suggestive gesture, such as a throaty murmur of indecision, but her otherwise exquisite timing falters at the end, condensing the length and texture of Flannery's grief. Some may read this with alarm at the inherently unequal power structure between the two women, seeing a minor-aged innocent exploited. But among those whose same-sex yearnings first attached themselves to teachers, some may sigh, not over past desires unfulfilled, but the fond recollections of what might have been. Whitney Scott
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Picador; Reprint edition (April 6, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312420048
• ISBN-13: 978-0312420048
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #360,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sylvia Brownrigg is the author of several acclaimed works of fiction: four novels--Morality Tale, The Delivery Room, Pages for You, and The Metaphysical Touch--and a collection of stories, Ten Women Who Shook the World. Morality Tale was described in the New York Times as "divinely deadpan", and in the San Francisco Chronicle as a "witty parable of marriage." The Delivery Room won the Northern California Book Award for best novel.

Sylvia's works have been included in the New York Times and Los Angeles Times lists of notable fictions and have been translated into several languages, and she has also won a Lambda award for fiction. In addition to writing fiction, Sylvia Brownrigg has been widely published as a reviewer and critic for publications such as the New York Times and the Times Literary Supplement.

Sylvia grew up in California and in England, was educated at Yale and Johns Hopkins Universities, and lived for many years in London. She now lives in Berkeley with her family.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Pages for Us June 23, 2001

By Daniel Olivas

Format:Hardcover

In beautiful, short and evocative chapters, Brownrigg tells the story of Flannery, a first-year college student, who falls in love with Anne, a teaching assistant a decade her senior. The passion between these two women is honestly and powerfully drawn by the author. I was a little concerned about the age difference between the two as well as the fact that Anne could be abusing her power with an undergraduate. Once I got over these hurdles (and we shouldn't ignore them...what if Anne were a Walter?), I fell under the spell of their love and Flannery's not-so-surprising heartbreak. This is a well-crafted, haunting book that will conjur up vivid memories of one's first encounter with passionate love.

25 of 30 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Lukewarm May 17, 2001

By Lesbian Reader

Format:Hardcover

... I expected more. Almost no one is calling this book a "romance," perhaps to keep it from being discounted as a mere genre effort, but it is basically a romance, and not a particularly inspired one at that.

As a novel of young infatuation and love, of sexual and intellectual awakening, it succeeds. Brownrigg's characterization of Flannery plays with sincerity--but there was nothing particularly profound. I felt I had read this story before and I took away nothing new.

As a coming out novel with an exploration of sexual identity it plays quite poorly compared to those much maligned "romance" novels. Frankly, the lesbian romance writers are delivering these complicated themes with power and passion that Brownrigg doesn't come close to. Even the quoted section on this page reminded me of a similar scene by a lesbian romance writer where a young woman watches a much older woman she yearns after ironing clothes. Every time I see an iron I remember the writer's evocation of the older woman's hands smoothing and caressing the fabric. Brownrigg's description of the way Anne's lips are touching the coffee gives me nothing nearly that evocative and I doubt I'll remember it months from now, let alone years.

This novel isn't strong enough to stand up to its hype and therefore disappointed me. It's an enjoyable read, but not a highly diverting one, sometimes thought-provoking, but when I was done I promptly forgot most of it. When a novel really works for me I'll think about it for days, recall scenes vividly, and wish it had never ended. Pages for You didn't do that for me. It left me lukewarm at best.

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A tour of the heart for women AND men April 7, 2001

By Reads Voraciously

Format:Hardcover

The striking cover drew me in - yes judge it by the cover -- and the prose kept me there. No, more than the prose, the insight to the shape and nuance of love. I felt present in this story so that the words dropped away and I was with these two lovers: laughing, playing, loving, learning, fearing. As a male reader, the theme is universal (and hotly revelatory, I must say, too). Two women, yes, but more like a younger and a wiser, though sometimes the wiser and the older. Brownrigg finds these moments and holds them, like catching light and letting us see the impulse before releasing it. The format is PAGE by PAGE -- a whole emotional imprint within the discipline of a page. "Pages for You" is delicious and compelling. I stretched out in bed and read it through. Wrung out a bit, but the story and vivid images are in my dreams. Dare I say it?: a masterpiece, a book unlike any I've read. Brownrigg in her other books writes bravely and imaginatively, with a confident and witty voice. I think this book will thrive. PFY will certainly keep many readers warm...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good read for the open minded April 23, 2002

By Ellie McHale

Format:Hardcover

I enjoyed reading this book. It is a good book if you want to take a lazy day and get lost in your own little world. We know that the two main characters in this book are female lovers, but never is there a point where the run around screaming "we're lesbians and proud!" It is a well written book. It isn't written to help create tolerance, it is just a love story between two women who just happen to be women. I highly recommened this book to anyone (but it helps a lot more if you are open minded).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful June 11, 2001

By "bookgrrrl"

Format:Hardcover

Simple, beautiful, perfect. Everything I've always wanted lesbian fiction to be.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful for women or men June 8, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This is not a trite or shallow book. Yes, it is the story of a simple romance, but most real romances are simple, probably even yours. The beauty of this book is the way the author reveals the romance petal by petal by petal. It is breathtakingly specific, and in the description of the story's context (a 17 year-old's first year at a college that must be Yale) it is unflinchingly accurate. I believe it will have staying power as a significant piece of literature. As to gender issues: anyone who isn't homophobic should enjoy it because the focus is on experiences that are universal. I particularly recommend it to young men.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars HOT! August 29, 2009

By Maford

Format:Paperback

I am not a lesbian...but sometimes...I wish I was!

Student/TA combo. What a fantasy! The book was slightly graphic...but tasteful. But you still the good stuff. Very hot!

Very fast read. Read off and on throughout one day. Certainly made my week.

Interesting formula. PAGES FOR YOU is journal style. Meaning new chapter after 2 to 3 pages. Made the book go really fast.

The plot...well, because it is journal entry-esque...there seems to be no plot. Imagine thinking back on a relationship...writing it down. Your purpose is to outline the relationship...maybe trying to decide how it went wrong. Consequently, you leave out lots of stuff...roommates, mothers, friendships. It's all about the couple...minor characters are truly secondary. You don't find out much about the lesbian student's life other than her relationship with the TA. The author doesn't bog down the story with how the people react to the student's gayness. It's all about the relationship and not about social politics.

Read now. Please.