Bilgewater; Jane Gardam
Europa - 2016
(originally published in 1977)
Bilgewater is a coming of age story starring a delightful protagonist, Marigold Daisy Green (AKA Bilge - Bilgewater). She was given the unflattering nickname by cruel boys at the private boarding school in Northern England where her father, "William the Silent"works.
Bilge's is 16 years old and sees herself as odd, large and plain. She has frizzy hair and wears glasses, which the mean spirited boys use against her. She doesn't have any friends, it's just her and her eccentric father ever since her mother died shortly after she was born. She thinks that her mother took one look at her after she was born and was already bored stiff by her life with her father so she "upped and died".
A funny, touching but, mostly quirky coming of age story told from the POV of Bilge. I liked watching her transformation. At the start of the story she's a girl so uncomfortable in her own skin but, by the end of the story at 18 she begins to lose those insecurities and becomes her own person. If you enjoy quirky characters and academic settings try this novel. I enjoyed seeing the the cards turn in our heroine's favor. I am looking forward to trying other books by this author. This one is just 227 pages which went quickly.
4/5 stars
(library)
Sounds good! I enjoyed Gardam's Old Filth and have God on the Rocks on my shelf.
ReplyDeleteShe was a fun character to read about.
DeleteYes to quirky characters and academic settings. I'll have to look for this one.
ReplyDeleteMe too Kathy. Did you every read The Secret History? No quirky characters in that one but, a great story in an academic environment.
DeleteSometimes we do like quirky!
ReplyDeleteI like quirky too:)
DeleteI do like quirky but not so sure about the setting. I'm not sure if I've read a book set in academia for a while.
ReplyDeleteI loved an academic setting.
DeleteI have several of Jane Gardam's books and just haven't checked one out yet. I love coming of age stories so this sounds like a good one to try out.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first by her but, I do own several others so I'm looking forward to them.
DeleteI keep meaning to read Jane Gardam but haven't gotten to her yet. This one sounds more to my liking than some others. What is with her yucky sounding titles: Old Filth, Bilgewater?
ReplyDeleteYou have a point Judy with her oddball titles...LOL
DeleteI love coming-of-age stories. This one looks like it could tug at my heart a bit, but I like that.
ReplyDelete