The Holiday (Virago modern classics) (original 1949; edition 1979)

I enjoyed this book but I do think it is very much of its time: it feels like it was written in the 40s (which it was), although I did relate to the mood of the book, which is pensive and melancholic (hmm, what does this say about me...?!). It focuses on a young woman, Celia, whose job (and life) is sometimes meaningful but which often seems pointless in the post second world war London. Relationships are tense and people cry - a lot - which I found moving occasionally, and irritating too.

There were some beautiful poetic passages in the book, like 'I feel absolutely ghost-girl deficient' which I think captures the strange existence the group of people experience and reflect. The book also tackles some serious issues of the day in terms of the politics of post-war Britain and topics such as the place of women in society: 'he said the more gadgets women had and the more they thought about their faces and their figures, the less they wanted to have children...he said women who thought about scanty panties never had a comfortable fire burning in the fire-place, or a baby on the house, or a dog or cat or a parrot...' (p.69 in my edition).

I didn't find the book a pleasure to read, but I did think it raised some interesting questions and left me with an impression of what post-war Britain might have been like for some people (the characters are definitely not representative of anything but a small section of well-off society), as well as being beautifully written overall. ( )

The Holiday is set in England in 1949 and tells the story of Celia who works in a government Ministry. She and her cousin, who she's secretly in love with, go to stay with their Uncle Heber for a holiday. And that's it really. The story's a bit slow for me and I drifted off during some of the long conversations between Celia and her cousin, but I did enjoy the discussions about what victory means for a country. There was a real sense that after the intense experience of the Second World War and the excitement of victory, it's not clear what remains, apart from some very damaged people. ( )

I am so disappointed in this read. It is my first (knowingly) read Virago Modern Classic and I could not like, let alone, love it. (And it is the first one I purchased which makes it even worse.) I liked the premise of the book; which is that of perhaps a two or three week period in the life of a young lady who lives with her spinster aunt. She "loves" 2 of her male cousins and she, a friend and a cousin go to spend "the holiday" with a beloved uncle in the country.
The first part of the book is all mumbly, jumbly with not much making sense other than it is postwar England (I believe it was written earlier but not published until after so some changes had to be made.) and everyone works for the ministry in some sort of job or another. It just sort of rambles hither and yon until they leave for "the holiday".
Then it started to pick up and get better until all of a sudden everyone is crying here, there, and everywhere and poetry is being thrown about, not really fitting in. But there were some good bits in it also. I liked the parts where the young people went rambling across the countryside, horseback riding, swimming, picnicking, etc. Perhaps if I were a Brit I could have liked this but I don't think so.
I really could not recommend this book to anyone. ( )

The Holiday is set in post-war uncertainty. It contains lots of uncertainty; uncertainty over the war, over India, over Britain's role in the world, over love, and over life. It starts as Celia is at work in the ministry. We're introduced to her friends and family in a witty almost biting tone. Stories about their childhood and ideas about politics are passed back and fourth in dizzying conversation (warning for purists: no speech marks, although once you get into things it's not a problem) Eventually (it feels like an eternity) she goes on the promised holiday and talks more of politics and religion and ideals.

It's a difficult novel, frustrating at times. In it is contained a number of poems a short story that really broke things up and tried my concentration. It's painful to read too, Celia's love for her cousin Caz can never come to conclusion (or really be admitted) and she cries often. It's not only Celia that cries. Caz seemed to me to be harsh and repulsive in a childish way that almost made be want to scold him.

I'm not sure if I should say but here. Is it despite the difficulty or because of it? Either way I should not go without saying that this novel is a beautiful portrait of confusion, uncertainty and pain. ( )