Study for Obedience by Sarah Bernstein: A Book Review

[@Christine-jg2ch]

Paula Rego was a Portuguese-British artist. Her paintings are unsettling and well worth a look 😊

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you for that information. I will give her art a look when I am feeling as settled as possible.

[@bmaei5]

SPOILERS From an interview with Sarah Bernstein- “The narrator of this novel may have been victimized by her family, but as you point out, she’s also abdicating moral responsibility in various other areas of her life, and her incapacity to act can’t just be chalked up to the bad things that have happened to her-they’ve had an impact, of course, but they don’t completely occlude her agency elsewhere. It’s something I think she sees but can’t work her way out of, which is maybe why she uses a recursive approach to telling her own story.” I loved this book. The details relayed makes the story harder to figure out. The brother was accepted by the rural community. Our protagonist lead an independent life away from her family before the job loss. And she doesn’t speak the local language. So I ask myself do you absolve yourself when you only act in obedience? Include also her previous employer. Because you submit, will you never have to examine the repercussions of your actions?

[@BookishTexan]

Thanks for the quote from Bernstein. Great points about her absolving herself of, well, everything. My initial reaction to that is that she could be kind of a sociopath/psychopath which is why I thought that she might be intentionally provoking the villagers.

[@CharlieBrookReads]

I loved this book. On paper it’s not something that appeals but from the very first sentence it hooked me. Super interesting listening to your thoughts on this 😊

[@BookishTexan]

I really felt that the writing style played an important role in both hooking the reader and, perhaps, lulling the reader into an alliance with the narrator.

[@danielsteiner5659]

I really liked this book and might read it again to verify my understanding of it. My thought all the way through was that this is one passive-aggressive lady, but was never entirely sure what was going on. Great review and insights, as always. Thanks.

[@BookishTexan]

Passive aggressive exactly! Thank you for the kind words.

[@sandeesandwich2180]

Yours is the first positive review I have seen on this book.

[@BookishTexan]

Thanks . Charlie Brook Reads and Bob the Bookerer also had positive thoughts about it.

[@bookofdust]

Ugh, it just came available from the library and I put it off for two weeks as I already have the Boat book checked out and waiting to be read and now I want to read this one! I’m really fascinated by the description you gave, everyone else was putting a damper on it in my eyes for reading it.

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you. I hope you will share your thoughts about it after you read it.

[@author_liviu]

I feel like your book reviews are always made with great care. Very few people still do things in the same professional manner as you! Congrats!❤

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you very much.

[@clueless_about_books]

YES. I SAID THIS. I won't spoil but your spoiler is exactly what I thought. She is justifying the actions in her mind and relaying those to us, the reader.

[@BookishTexan]

Nice to know you and I had the same thoughts about this character. Thanks for your comment.

[@KierTheScrivener]

I was not expecting to like it based on the many reviews but ended up truly loving it. Which was a delightful suprise. I found the ending a haunting picture of the ways her brother had controlled her and now she was controlling him

[@BookishTexan]

Exactly. It felt like she had discovered a way to exact revenge against her brother and that community.

[@ChrisDailyReading]

This is very high on my TBR for the bookerprize longlist! Interesting review, and thanks for the spoiler time stamps 😊

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you. I look forward to your thoughts about the book.

[@janethansen9612]

This read like a dark fairy tale around alienation of the outsider but here can we trust the narrators description? I enjoyed the writing style.

[@BookishTexan]

That is a great description. I like the book a great deal and hope that it wins though I haven't read any of the other shortlisted books.

[@panosgerakis3348]

Paula Rego is a Portuguese fine artist. Thank you for sharing your review!

[@BookishTexan]

@@panosgerakis3348 thank you,

[@clarepotter7584]

Okay so I listened to part of this, to avoid spoilers. Sounds interesting, I love an unreliable narrator. I read 'After the Party' by Cressida Connolly, I was quite annoyed that the national newspaper review, effectively told the potential reader, what she had done. I started reading the novel and realised that the novelist clearly wanted to reveal that gradually. So thanks for warnings me there were going to be spoilers.

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you Claire l. I hope that if you read it you’ll come back and let me know what you thought.

[@terileekline]

This book is pure genius and holds up to multiple readings. It SHOULD (but probably won’t) win the Booker Prize I think your take on it is right on the money (There is also humor in this book, in my opinion, which I haven’t heard any other reviewer pick up on)

[@BookishTexan]

There is a sly, somewhat malevolent humor in it. Thanks for watching and commenting. I hope it wins, but like you I have doubts.

[@terileekline]

@@BookishTexan I’m so thrilled to have stumbled on your channel! Thank you!

[@MargheritaReads]

This is something tha I'd definetely want to read! Thank you for the great review.

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you for the kind words and for watching.

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

I’ve only read three The Bee Sting All The Little Bird Hearts Prophets Song I hope all are on the shortlist tomorrow. I loved all three and I want Prophets Song to win.

[@BookishTexan]

All the Little Bird Hearts is one that I think I want to read. I don't really like dystopian novels so Prophets Song isn't one I will likely read. The Bee Sting is one that I am curious about.

[@danielleshanks7126]

since I studied a lot about health in university, I decided to listen to the video. Got impatient before I could find out what the enzyme therapy costs. Too impatient to wait for the cost of these systemic enzymes. Hoping it s al available to everyone, even those who aren t rich

[@BookishTexan]

I think you intended this commented for another video.

[@barbarahelgaker390]

What an interesting review! I had not intended to read it , but have changed my mind.

[@BookishTexan]

I hope you will enjoy it. I’m still thinking about it.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

The combination of your review and Lindy's have convinced me I should read this one.

[@BookishTexan]

I definitely think it is worth reading and would like to hear your thoughts about it.

[@krc5210]

I am intrigued by this review so I think I'll look for it at the library. Some of your review reminded me of comments people might make about a Faulkner novel and that's a plus for me. Thx

[@dqan7372]

Interesting! Finally decided to check it out for myself.

[@BookishTexan]

I hope you get the chance to.

[@dqan7372]

@@BookishTexan Started last night. Liking it so far.

[@davidnovakreadspoetry]

I liked the spoilers, which seemed to suggest a dimensionality that otherwise wasn’t hinted at.

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you.

[@shiningyoonie]

There's one detail that showed the discrepancy in her narration that I'm not sure meant more than just "she is an unreliable narrator". Early on in the book, she said she was an exemplary student and she was praised and teachers, but later on in the book, she said the teachers didn't like her and were quite annoyed with her. What do you make of that detail? I loved the book and agreed with your interpretation of it. I'm just lingering on that one detail that I can't fully make sense of.

[@BookishTexan]

I think its an intentional detail, a clue, to her character. The same with her language ability, but her inability to learn the language of the area where she is living. Somethings don't make sense and make her seem unreliable/ a liar/ a passive aggressive villain. OR Maybe it just shows how people's initial reaction to her can be positive, but they grow to dislike her overtime. To me it just all adds up to a narrator/character that we can't really trust. Thanks for the great comment.

[@davidnovakreadspoetry]

The disappearing dog at 6:47 😀

[@BookishTexan]

A victim of editing.🤓

[@melissamybubbles6139]

As you're describing the unreliable narrator and style of the prose, I think the book would drive me crazy. Maybe that's because it hits home in some ways. I don't go around scaring people, but I have been accused of being an unreliable narrator of my own life by people who don't want to deal with the implications if I'm telling the truth. I need to learn to be able to put those experiences aside so I can deal with unreliable narrators.

[@BookishTexan]

That is an interesting dilemma and one the main character in this book is accused of on occasion as well. I think readers are definitely forced to ask if she is unreliable or has been told she’s unreliable so often she believes and maybe embraces it. This is a book that still has me thinking.

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

have heard different opinions about this book but if it does win the prize might end up reading it⚛😀

[@BookishTexan]

It does seem to be a divisive book in a way.

[@reaganwiles_art]

Have almost finished my Shorty Sept. reads. Only The Things They Carried to finish in eleven days. A challenge, since Im also reading David Copperfield qhich is difficult to defer for anything else.

[@BookishTexan]

The Things They Carried is so good. I hope you get a chance to read this book. Would like to here your thoughts.

[@reaganwiles_art]

@@BookishTexan oh im well into it and i reflect your enthusiasm for it

[@BookishTexan]

@@reaganwiles_art That is great to hear!

[@author_liviu]

Also, I sent you an e-mail and I would be very happy if you will read it!

[@mrl9418]

I liked it

[@BookishTexan]

Glad to hear it.

[@InebriatedKafka]

Unfortunately this one was not at all a favourite of mine.

[@BookishTexan]

I can see that. There dont seem to be a lot of people who are in the middle on this one.

[@InebriatedKafka]

@@BookishTexan Yeah I wanted to like this one because in the blurb, it said this was perfect for the fans of Shirley Jackson and Iain Reid , both of whom I adore.