Customer Reviews

SHOWER OF SUMMER DAYS

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Violet Dene Gordon inherited Dene's Court in Ireland. It was a grand house. The family always arrived in the rain, Violet thought. The servant, Annie, noted that Violet's husband Charles did not show his age and Violet did. Charles and Violet were not alltogether comfortable with each other.

Charles was a good observer. He was able to reconstruct some of the history. A ballroom had been designed but had not been completed because the money gave out. Violet's grandfather had been efficient. Charles was an enthusiast. He had learned the language in Burma. He knew about village customs. It seemed that Charles used excuses to get away and go and talk with the men at the pub. Annie knew how to cheer up Violet.

Notably, an American niece, Sally, comes to stay with the couple. She is sent to Ireland by her parents because she has become involved with an actor, Ian, whom the parents believe is misleading her into hoping for a marriage. Sally believes that Violet and Charles are still in love. She watches them. At Vassar Sally had revolted against a sense of responsibility being imposed upon her. She tries to resist the influence of Violet and Annie and their attempts to become close to her.

Later in the summer, Ian, through curiousity, attempts a visit. The visit is not a success. The couple parts.

The book was inspired by the circumstances of Elizabeth Bowen I learned from reading another book by May Sarton. This is a psychological story of considerable interest. The atmosphere of Ireland is very well done.

Not my favorite May Sarton novel by any means, but, by virtue of Ms. Sarton's extraordinary grasp of human nature, a remarkable read nevertheless.

Time passes slowly at Dene's Court, but even as we watch rain drip and roses droop, we are uncomfortably aware of the undercurrents of human interaction therein. The characters, who apparently have no life, read, misread, and over-read, that which passes between them both verbal and non-.

Curiously, the fourth character--and a substantial one at that--is the house in which all this angst takes place. Solid if somewhat mildewed and more than a little gloomy, the manor itself provides an anchor and stability that even the peanut gallery of venerable relatives hanging in portraiture on its walls cannot. Sally grows up, Violet and Charles grow old, and Ian remains excluded and clueless.

Interesting. I enjoyed it but rate it at four stars with an uncertain shrug.