May 9, 2010

The Mistress of Nothing - Kate Pullinger

This book has sat on my TBR stack for a few months, but I couldn't bring myself to get around to reading it. I think that it was partly due to the Governor General award that it won last year - I generally don't enjoy the GG-winning books, and find them dry and uninteresting. But after hearing Kate Pullinger interviewed on the radio yesterday, I had to pick it up, and polished it off in less than a day.

I quite enjoyed the read. It is very fast-paced and interesting, and kept me wanting more every time I put it down. Basically it is the story of 2 women - Lucie Duff Gordon and her "Lady's Maid" Sally Naldrett - as they travel to Egypt from England in the 1860's in an attempt to cure the mistress's tuberculosis.

Sally is the first-person narrator, and I found myself drawn in by her voice. Lucie Duff Gordon (who is a real historical person) comes across as quite a character and rebel for the time period in which she lived - dressing in the clothing of an Egyptian male, learning Arabic, becoming involved in politics, and generally doing things that a well-bred English lady didn't do. She also seems to have a touch of the "little girl, who had a little curl" in her (i.e. when she was good, she was very, very, good, but when she was bad she was horrid). As long as you were on her side, you were fine, but if you dare to cross her, watch out!

After finishing the book, I am surprised that it won the GG award, as it is a very female book. It focuses on the relationships between Sally and Lucie; Sally and Omar (their dragoman and father of Sally's child); then Sally and Mabrouka (Omar's first wife). It is strange that the award committee would choose a book that only appeals to half of the reading public. Mind you, that is me writing from a female perspective. If there are any fellows out there who have read this book, I would be interested in your take on it!

4 comments:

Buried In Print said...

I really enjoyed this one too: I thought her style very evocative and the turn of events that she imagines for her characters fascinating, especially as the story moves along and things become more complicated and the relationships alter accordingly.

Wanda said...

I think you know the one exception to the GG's award winners that I've read and enjoyed. The setting alone would have me picking up The Mistress of Nothing. Hearing from you that it is fast paced and interesting with that "hate to put it down" quality has it going on my list, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this opne!

Kate said...

Buried in Print - I'm glad that you enjoyed it as well!

Wanda - Definitely worth picking up. I've had less luck with GG winners than with Giller winners. As well as this one, relatively recent GG winners that I've enjoyed are A Complicated Kindness, Clara Callan, The Englishman's Boy, and The English Patient. I did not like Divisadero and Anil's Ghost (despite loving The English Patient), Forms of Devotion, and The Stone Diaries. And I don't plan on reading Origin of Species!

Wanda said...

;) Good thing you entered the "other" contest then, lol! Should be there any day now, mailed it off last Friday ...