Islands of Mercy

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It highlights some of the issues of that era, but does so with a cast of characters that are not stereotypical, which makes it all the more interesting to read, because it defies expectation and presents an alternate scenario by focusing on those who defy convention, transgressing this straight-laced, Victorian society daring to live in ways outside mainstream society and getting away with it.

What a rich cast of characters and broad variety of locations is here brought to life by strong characterisation and vivid description. All of the senses are engaged, sound being strong, smell being overwhelming from sweet perfume to the stench of disease. Beautiful narrative and also the requirement to find out how they will create made this story unputdownable for me. Change the plan you will roll onto at any time during your trial by visiting the “Settings & Account” section. What happens at the end of my trial? Jane, meanwhile, visiting her aunt in Chelsea and also mixing in bohemian circles, is petrified by the attractive Julietta as well as rapidly, gloriously, taken to bed. Jane’s exploration that she does not enjoy guys as well as does love ladies is gently dealt with, as if it has no unique value except that it needs a little bit a lot more assumed if she is to have the best of life– as Julietta already has as well as Aunt Emmeline desires for her. Julietta is notoriously dedicated to the pleasure of sex, and also her tongue, “la langue de Juliette”, is celebrated as “the best bringer of satisfaction a female might ever before recognize”; her understanding husband shares her with the “appeals” that come and go. Guilt-free, rich, happy as a wife and mother, Julietta has internalized and also claimed as her appropriate flexibilities previously reserved for the dominant sex. Her love is not without its troubles but it is flexible and capacious, its soft power contrasting with the violence of disappointed guys.

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I suppose while reading, Clorinda Morressey won my heart. She is poor, yet she wants to be an independent woman, not willing to be a servant, and with money she receives from selling family heirloom, she establishes herself in the centre of Bath. The path she chooses is not the easiest for a woman in Victorian England, and yet she succeeds, not only in her business. Much less mercy is encompassed Dr Valentine Ross, whose own heart is worn away. There are excellent guys: Jane’s dad, Sir William, a medical professional; and Julietta’s other half, Ashton, a publisher. In a scene towards completion Tremain brings them with each other as Julietta hurries upstairs to comfort Jane, breezily prompting Ashton to tell her lover’s dad “guy to guy”, over a glass of cherry, “the entire dreadful story”. Ashton informs some of it, yet can not bring himself to expose all. Sir William, we are informed, was entrusted to the tale “as if told by a writer that disdains to apportion to his characters reason as well as objective”. Such is not Rose Tremain’s method. On the other side of the world, Valentine's brother Edward, a naturalist, is exploring the fauna and flora of Borneo. He finds himself in the company of Sir Ralph Savage, a colonialist building roads and trying to employ the natives in useful occupations - including taking one, Leon, as his lover.

Not to mention the power the book exude in the richness of truly courageous and powerful female characters who defy the patriaarchy, society expectations and opressions! You cannot but love and respect each and one of them in their own rights! Rose Tremain is a genius storyteller. In ‘Islands of Mercy’ she gives us yet another multi-layered narrative exploring, both literally and metaphorically, the importance of understanding who we are and our place in the world. From the jungles of Borneo to London’s relaxed soirées, from arak and rice served in a mud hut to Victoria sponge in the tea rooms of Bath, from a slum in Dublin to a rajah’s palace, the author explores many types of love, the importance of generosity of spirit and the need for mercy in a world full of greed and ignorance. For the content of the book, plot, characters, I have to say I have enjoyed the build up of the book, the progress and I like how the author decided to finish the book and where she led her characters to in the end... Somehow I feel that at least justice had been served... Of Islands of Mercy, Rose Tremain writes: ‘This novel explores the primal and timeless human quest to find meaning in a life, an aspiration which engages people in wildly different ways across the globe. I chose two contrasting locations: the genteel city of Bath and the harsh island of Borneo and unfolded in them both stories of sexual entrapment, material striving, loss of love, untimely death and – through them all – the desperate and unending search for places of consolation and solace.’Part of the plot being about life and somehow finding yourself and making something out of yourself hit differently and resonated with me, that's one of the reason i loved this book. The way all the various protagonist were so different but were so similar in that they were all on the path to somewhere, searching for something or getting away from something. They were all so unique to their own story. I loved the fact that i did not have a constant feeling or any of them, it kept changing. I relate to Jane in particular. Her coming to terms with how she really feels, who she is and knowing that she's destined for something but not sure what, speaks to me and i see parts of me in her. It's been a while since i saw myself in a character and Jane will for sure stay with me for a while. I found the descriptions of all speeds dazzling and, together with understanding right into social as well as moral elements, Ms Tremain took care of to provide a genuine feeling of the locations and also times. The year is 1865, and Clorinda Morrissey leaves Dublin to look for ton of money in Bathroom. Jane Adearne, a registered nurse called the Angel of Bathroom, assists the infirm to restore their health. Valentine Ross, a specialist collaborating with Sir William Adearne, Jane’s dad, chooses to ‘stand out an inquiry’ to Jane. Valentine’s bro, Edmund, travels to Borneo to expand his knowledge on anatomy. These are the moments when the real quest starts for the characters. In the city of Bath, in the year 1865, a remarkable girl renowned for her nursing abilities is persuaded that some other fate will someday show itself to her. Yet when she discovers herself torn in between a dangerous event with a women fan as well as the assurance of a traditional marriage to an apparently respectable doctor, her desires start to lead her towards a future she had actually never ever imagined. This is the sixth Rose Tremain novel I have read. I find her to be a very good historical fiction writer and have found all six novels interesting and satisfying reading experiences.