Lifestyle
'Interpretations of Love' is debut novel for 82-year-old author
Jane Campbell made a splash with her first book, Cat Brushing, a collection of provocative stories about older women still very much in touch with the sensual side of life. It was published two years ago, when she was 80.
Her follow-up, a first novel called Interpretations of Love, is a decidedly less sumptuous book involving a long-buried family secret and moral conundrum that dates back to WWII. At its heart are several characters trying to come to terms with the holes in their lives.
Malcolm Miller’s life seems to have shriveled prematurely. In 1946, as a 20-year-old, he promised to mail a letter for his vivacious older sister. Sophy had written to Joseph Bradshaw — the young doctor with whom she spent a passionate night while sheltering from the Blitz — because she believes he might be the father of her four-year-old daughter, Agnes. Shortly after entrusting Malcolm with the letter, both Sophy and her kind husband Kurt, whom she had married soon after her “dramatic encounter” with Joe, die in a car accident. On her deathbed, Sophy asks her brother whether he’s delivered her letter. Wanting to reassure her, Malcolm lies and says yes. Agnes is raised by her emotionally distant grandparents, with occasional visits from “Uncle Mally.”
Some 50 years later, Malcolm, emeritus professor of Old Testament Studies at Oxford, still has the letter. ( I’ll leave the “why” for you to discover in reading.) In fact, he held onto it even when Joe, in an unlikely twist, had unwittingly become an important figure in Agnes’ life during a crisis in her marriage. Malcolm is consumed with remorse over his dereliction of duty, and hopes to settle the matter and ease his conscience before he dies.
Self-excoriating to a fault, Malcolm is a hard character to love. Part of the generation shaped by the strictures of war and tight social mores, he is a self-declared “crusty old bachelor with a dicky heart” who lives “in a sort of tepid slurry of dissatisfaction with myself and my life.”
Campbell, who studied at Oxford and worked as a group psychoanalyst for 40 years, weaves a dilly of a plot that brings her characters together for a wedding, a christening, and a funeral. Many of the guests at each event are related by marriage or love affairs. The narration alternates between stodgy Malcolm, troubled Agnes, and Joe, a psychotherapist who claims to be more of a scoundrel than we ever see. Along the way, there’s plenty of soul-searching, confessionals, and picking apart of the proceedings. The ramifications of Sophy’s letter are analyzed from multiple angles, teasing out Malcolm’s sad reasons for having withheld it. But because the narrators’ points of view are not distinct enough, the book feels repetitive.
At its best, Interpretations of Love recalls the work of 20th century British writer Mary Wesley. Beginning in her 70s, Wesley brilliantly channeled the social liberation catalyzed by the war years in lusty novels such as The Camomile Lawn and Not That Sort of Girl.
Interpretations of Love is a heavier, more constrained affair, weighted by loss, haunting memories, and a sense of missed opportunities. Gorgeous descriptions of Agnes’ rich ex-husband’s garden alternate with flat lines like “Agnes grew up to be as clever as anything and went off to university.”
One of the hazards of book reviewing is that you can’t help but trip over familiar plots. Just this past spring, Valerie Perrin’s Forgotten on Sunday, for example, involved a young French girl who lost both her parents in a car accident, was raised by her dour grandparents, and as an adult, finally learned the truth about what really happened.
Of course it’s what a writer does to make these classic stories their own that matters. In Interpretations of Love, Campbell brings her analytic background to bear on an extended exploration of ambiguity — in love, in questions about free will, and in the unfathomability of both past and future.
Towards the end of the novel, Agnes reminds herself — and readers – that “You will have to wait to see what the uncertain future brings…Accept the uncertainty. Do not yet try to resolve it. The dynamics of the provisional. The end is written into the beginning.” It’s quite a lead-in to the novel’s disturbing climax, which certainly commands our attention — and upends any sunnier views of this family’s future we might have been harboring.
Lifestyle
Eminem Betting Favorite To Date Jennifer Lopez After Ben Affleck Divorce
Could Jennifer Lopez bounce from Batman to Superman?? That’s what the oddsmakers are thinking … ’cause Eminem is the betting favorite to be J Lo’s next man after her divorce from Ben Affleck.
Fresh off the bombshell breakup news, the peeps at BetOnline wasted no time coming up with a batch of A-listers Ben and Jen could date next … and in all honesty, some aren’t all that farfetched.
Starting with J. Lo, Slim Shady has the best odds at +800 … with fellow musician, The Weeknd, right behind him at +1000.
Her former fiance, Alex Rodriguez, has the same odds as Abel … although he’s pretty boo’d up at the moment. Affleck’s bestie, Matt Damon, is in the middle of the pack at +5000.
There are some silly possibilities, too … including Kamala Harris‘ running mate, Tim Walz, Travis Kelce, Bill Belichick (all at +10000) and even Ellen DeGeneres (+15000).
The worst odds?? None other than former President Donald Trump and Diddy, who sit at a whopping +25000.
Over on Affleck’s side, the oddsmakers like the chances of him getting back with Jennifer Garner (+400), while his “Gone Girl” costar Emily Ratajkowski ain’t too far off with +500 odds.
Kim and Kourtney Kardashian are both +1000 … and Khloe (+1200) trails her sisters. Kendall Jenner rounds out all the KarJenners at +1600.
There are plenty more — Tom Brady‘s ex-wife, Gisele Bundchen, Cara Delevingne and Olivia Rodrigo (all +1200), Sandra Bullock (+1600), and Kate Beckinsale (+2000).
A number of his former flings made the cut as well — Ana De Armas (+2000), Shauna Sexton (+2500) and even Jenny from the Block … with a round three of romance getting +3300 odds.
The silly candidates include Neil Patrick Harris (+3300), Lana Rhoades (+6600), Taylor Swift (+10000) and Jenna Jameson (+10000).
TMZ broke the story — Jennifer officially filed her divorce papers earlier this week … officially calling off their marriage of two years.
So if ya don’t mind cashing in on other people’s heartbreak … throw down some money!!
Lifestyle
“The Squad” loses two members; plus, Colman Domingo shines in 'SING SING' : It's Been a Minute
Lifestyle
Hailey Bieber Gives Birth to Baby Boy with Justin Bieber
Hailey and Justin Bieber gotta be singing that song, because they’re brand new parents — she gave birth to their first child, and the kid’s gonna have music on his mind!
The happy couple announced the arrival of their baby boy Friday evening … showing off one of the little guy’s feet. Justin’s post simply said “WELCOME HOME.”
Well, they also revealed his name … Jack Blues Bieber. Sure, Justin’s a pop singer, but maybe he’s got different plans for his firstborn son.
It’s unclear when exactly Jack was actually born … for now, they’re not saying — but based on the post, it seems he’s gone home with Mom and Dad.
Back in May, the A-list couple announced they were expecting their first child together with Hailey displaying a noticeable bump in footage from their vow renewal. The couple’s rep later confirmed to TMZ … HB was about 6 months along at the time.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
Hailey later told W Magazine she probably could’ve hidden her baby bump for most of her pregnancy — due to its small size. However, she was happy to share the news with the public … telling the mag she didn’t enjoy the pressure of keeping the secret.
Hailey also defended her relationship in the interview, where she revealed how she copes with the constant speculation about her marriage. As Hailey put it … people have been rooting for her and Justin to break up since day one — but made it clear they’re perfectly happy.
Justin and Hailey tied the knot in a courthouse ceremony in September 2018 … mere months after their reconciliation and whirlwind engagement. They officially celebrated their nuptials the next year, in a lavish ceremony attended by their family and famous friends.
Now, almost 6 years later, the Biebers are a family of 3. Welcome to the world, Jack!!!
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