I chose Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay as my read for the Back to the Classics 2017 Challenge category “Classic Set in a Place You'd Like to Visit”. I have never been to Australia and probably never will visit given the expense and the distance but I have long been interested in it as both a country and a landscape. Picnic at Hanging Rock is a fiction, but Hanging Rock is a real volcanic rock formation located in Victoria, Australia.
The story features the students and teachers of a girl’s boarding school located a few miles from Hanging Rock, a popular local attraction for day trips and outings. As the book opens on Valentine’s Day 1900, the girls and two of the teachers are preparing to go for a picnic at the rocks. Later, however, party turns tragic, when three girls and one teacher go missing. This mysterious event affects not only the remaining staff and students but also two young men who happened to also be at Hanging Rock that days; some of the ripple effects are quite terrible, while others are quite providential.
This is a very short book (198 pages in the pictured Penguin edition I read) and it is structured as a faux-history/ true crime format which I found interesting. In particular, the ambiguity in the book really worked for me and the lush, atmospheric writing was a pleasure to ponder and digest. I think there is a lot of subtext in the book, for the reader who cares to look for it. I was especially drawn to the author’s depiction of the natural world as something independent and uncaring of humans, but always present and threatening. However, there is an actual “ending” to the book which was cut from the manuscript when the book was first published in 1967 which somewhat takes away the ambiguity I so enjoyed and definitely pushes the book in to speculative fiction territory.
There is also a really good film of Picnic at Hanging Rock directed by Peter Wier. It is pretty good, as I recall; very atmospheric and creepy.
Glad to hear you liked it! I still haven't read the book, but I do feel slightly obligated now after visiting it this year.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Comment Rob! Yes, you are OBLIGATED to read the book now. Ha ha.
DeleteWhen you do get to it that will be pretty cool since you will be able to actually envision the surroundings!
Great review & you've changed my mind about reading it. I saw the movie a long time ago but only remember it being depressing - this put me off reading the book.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about endings in books & how as I've gotten older, I'm not as troubled by an unhappy ending as I used to be. Just finished 'The Spy Who Came in From the Cold' which doesn't end well but it intrigued me to think about all the events leading up to the end & how I'd missed some cues along the way - I didn't expect it to end on a happy note but it didn't make my life miserable for a week afterwards like it might have done if I'd read it fifteen or twenty years ago.
Thanks for the comment Carol! I would be interested in hearing what you think of the book. I would say in general it does have a somber ending. I didn’t find it depressing necessarily…but I was already familiar with the story so I guess I was prepared! :) But I hear you on aging and how our tastes and ability to handle things change. This is most definitely true.
DeleteOh my goodness, 'The Spy Who Came in From the Cold' has THE BEST ENDING. I really should re-read it because when I first read it 100 years ago, I though pages were missing because it could not POSSIBLY END AS IT DID.
I've always wanted to read this book! (Even more so now after reading your review.) I'll have to find a cheap used copy online. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Lark! Yes, I had to interlibrary loan the copy I read! I was surprised that neither of my library systems had a copy. This would be an excellent book/movie comparison if Karen uses this category in the future.
DeleteI had heard of the movie. Didn't know there was a book as well. The novel sounds very interesting, atmospheric as you say and late Victorian. I do want to read Australian literature and this sounds like a good choice.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Kathy! I am astounded at how little I know and have read of Australian literature. If you do read this book, I hope you enjoy it!
DeleteI have wanted to read this book for the longest time--it sounds terrific. I love the format and setting, and I'm okay with ambiguity if the story/writing are good. I'd also love to see the movie...but book first! Interesting that the ending was cut from the original publication of the novel--will have to find out more about that.
ReplyDeleteGreat review--thanks.
Thanks for the comment Jane! I would love to know your take on this book. I think there is a lot that a reader could take away from it.
DeleteI had a friend in high school who was obsessed with this book and movie, so I read it but it was not my thing at all at that time. It would be interesting to revisit and see how my impressions are different now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Lory. I think I first saw the film in my late teens as well. But it didn't obsess me! It was more me trying to watch "famous directors" great works. I would be interested in your take on the book now to see if you feel differently or the same.
Delete