Recently, someone posted a comment regarding Susan Howatch, and I feel compelled to reply. I'm actually not sure who posted the comment, but I'm guessing it must have been L.C., because he's the only one I can think of that I know has read Howatch's novels. So I just wanted to throw out a couple of observations:
First, I agree that the Starbridge novels seemed to explore the masculine psyche, generally speaking. I would note that the one in which Venicia has the affair with the married guy (was he Argyle? I don't remember), seems to be an exception, in that Venicia's point of view is dealt with there, specifically her tendency to fall in love with an older, father figure type.
Second, I've read Wonder Worker and the next in the Nicholas Darrow series--was it High Flyer? And I agree that both seem to explore the woman's experience in a way that the Starbridge novels (and I think I've read all of those) just don't. But what I find really interesting is that mysticism and the miraculous are explored more deeply in Wonder Worker and High Flyer. Although Darrow's father certainly has mystical experiences in the Starbridge series, it seems that the mystical element of Christianity, the mystical possibilities are dealt with more directly in this series that deals more directly with the female experience. And I don't know what to make of this. Naturally, because I'm me, I automatically think of Margery Kempe and especially Julian of Norwich, where mystical Christianity becomes so much feminized (We all remember the whole Jesus as Mother argument, right?) So is there some necessary connection between the female experience of Christianity, feminism, and mysticism?
Third, I want to publicly acknowledge that Howatch is not "high" literature in any sense of the word. In fact, I think she's a pulpy romance writer who turns to Anglican settings and characters. That said, her novels are good reads, provide an interesting way into different brands of Anglicanism, but are, in the end, rather soap opera like. Forgive me if I'm making too much of Howatch. I just suddenly felt interested and thought I should sound off.
a president, a King
13 years ago
2 comments:
Yup, I'm LC. I agree with you in every aspect of your interpretation of Howatch, except, perhaps, the organic connection between mysticism and a female perspective. Granted that mystics have frequently used the language of sex and romance to describe their connection with God, and that since God is nearly always schematized as a man, this casts even male mystics as female, I don't think that the mystical perspective is inherently female (sexually) or gendered feminine. I haven't read High Flyer yet, but I will before the quarter begins in a few weeks. Howatch may not be high literature, but she's better than my current devotional reading.
Ok, so I don't mean to imply that I think there's necessarily an inherent connection between the feminine and mysticism. I'm simply saying that Howatch's work seems, somehow, to imply the connection. And I suppose that I think what's-her-name's reading of "Jesus as Mother" rather over states the case.
Your coment makes me wonder what your devotional reading is.
And you know, I only read Howatch because you recommended her to me. She's a good read, entertaining, at any rate.
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