Frost in May: You don't get it because you didn't grow up in a convent?

Having just finished Frost in May, I'm puzzled by a number of reviews here that indicate it's hard to relate to the story because the reviewer didn't grow up in a convent or grow up Catholic. I thought differently. White paints the religious underpinnings of Catholicism so well in her wordcraft that I had no trouble following things or feeling intense empathy for the people of this world I didn't grow up in.

Any thoughts from other Virago lovers?

Wattsian: Since my review is still at the top here on LT, and seems to be the only one that mentioned understanding some aspects of Frost in May, I guess I'll be the first to respond.

First off, the key is in this sentence from my review: "I think, however, that because I am an American who was raised in a protestant tradition, I probably missed most of the nuances and social/religious criticism of the book." {italics added}. I didn't think it was difficult "to relate to the story" (as you say), I just felt that I probably missed some things that someone who grew up in that world would have better understood.

And for me, the nuances that I think I missed more were about class rather than religion. I think most Americans don't understand a portion - sometimes significant - of the class nuances in English novels. That's not a criticism of the author, the reader or anything else - it's rather a fact of life.

In the end, I think also that Frost in May didn't quite "grab" me the way it has others. Generally, I don't really like coming of age stories, but that's just me. I rated it 3.5 stars - for me it was a good book, but not a great one.

I suppose I'm forever poisoned/assisted by my background in English Literature from college.

>3 Wattsian: I'm not quite sure what that means?

As in, class nuances, religious strangeness, etc., isn't so odd for those who've immersed themselves in literature from all over the world and enjoy and revel in learning about new class nuances and religious strangeness.

I think perhaps there are two different things at play in the comments on Frost in May Wattsian.

If I may, (and I don't intend to speak for Talbin but there was an earlier Frost in May discussion in one of the threads) I think some have felt they could appreciate, empathize more with more knowledge of class structure or covent school life, I don't believe that means they don't enjoy immersing themselves in new literature or class nuances or religion.

A work may resonnate for a variety of reasons. I think most readers are adept and empathetically crossing barriers of time, class, race, gender through reading but there may be the occassional work that pulls a reader up short.

I myself happend to love Frost in May but I can see how one might want more information or understanding to appreciate it.

>6 Marensr: Marensr: You've spoken for me quite well. I actually hadn't planned to respond given the misguided assumptions - both about readers in general and me in particular - the OP has made in post #5. I figured a comment like that had to be a joke or an attempt to provoke argument.

Thanks Talbin. The tone made me a tad uncomfortable too. We are such a cosy, respectful little group. Which is not to say you are not welcome Wattsian you certainly are. I think we just discuss things in a very respectful way. *now I am just off to shine up my armor*

Frost in May just arrived at the post office from Amazon this afternoon. As soon as I finish a sci-fi novel I'm in the middle of, I'm anxious to get started. (I was in such a boarding school, with I.H.M. nuns though here in the States, from age 10 through 13, so I think I'm really going to find this fascinating!)

I love Hayley Mills, and my favorite Hayley movie is The Trouble with Angels. Somehow I have a feeling Frost in May isn't quite as comic, though. (But please don't tell me, no SPOILERS!)

By the way, it looks like this is the first book in a "quartet." Has anyone here read all of them?

I've read the second one, The Lost Traveller, and liked it quite a bit -- even more than Frost in May, in fact. I have the remaining books and will get to them eventually.

I've read all but the final book in the "quartet," Beyond the Glass. The books are quite intense, in their way, and I need a decent interval between each volume to recover!

I've got and read them all butI seem to remember I read them all in one go, straight after one another... and wished I hadn't!

CurrerBell, I hope you enjoy it! I own Frost in May but am getting the rest out of the library. I read The Lost Traveller in January and liked it even more than Frost in May, just like Laura, but I want a gap before the 3rd too.

And don't read the back covers of the later books! (You probably wouldn't anyway, but I stupidly did and there was a big spoiler.)

What's IHM? International House of Mercy? (I'm guessing here.) My schools were Presentation (primary) then Mercy and Dominican nuns (secondary).

I.H.M. = Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

And thanks about the warning on reading the back covers. I definitely do tend to do that.

I've just started (read the first chapter), and a lot of it's familiar. The saint names for rooms. The device that looks like a small wooden book but snaps with a click. On the other hand, my experiences were thoroughly middle class without any of that British class distinction.

I just finished Frost in May a few hours ago and love it dearly. I've got the other three on order from Amazon (but unfortunately they're shipping The Sugar House separately and seem to have the other two on back-order, so I guess I won't be able to start reading until I get The Lost Traveller).

Has anyone seen the 1982 BBC miniseries? I've just been introduced to White thanks to this VMC Board, so obviously I've never seen the miniseries. Is there any chance it's ever going to be released on DVD?