So I read I Capture the Castle earlier this month. I'm a big fan of children's literature and some of my absolute favorite children's books are from this time period. Plus the family LIVED in a castle so how could it miss. Except for me it did. I mean, I could appreciate the excellent writing and the crazy wonderful setting but it just felt so incredibly dated that I really struggled with it. That being said I don't expect books written in the 1930s to have the same views on social justice issues as we do today but I am expecting to still have an enjoyable reading experience.
Now I read a fair number of books that were published in 50+ years ago and that dated feeling usually isn't a problem for me even when the book contains shining examples. Agatha Christie's treatment of the locals at archeological digs at times is painful. Ian Fleming has had James Bond essentially state that he feels that women should either be in the bedroom or the kitchen. Even my beloved Elizabeth Enright has Portia staying at home tending house while her male cousin is out having a few grand adventures in Gone-Away Lake. Yet, these three authors are some of my absolute favorites.
So what's the difference? There's really two things that makes me fall in love with some books and want to run away from others. The first is the amount of page time the datedness gets. Yes, Agatha Christie can be incredibly dismissive of the local people hired to work on digs that feature prominently in her books but in terms of page time it gets maybe 4 sentences in the entire book. Portia's cleaning the playhouse takes maybe a paragraph and most of this is about how much fun she's having with her friend who is helping her. James Bond's cringe-worthy comments may show up twice in the book.
The second thing is the depth of the story as a whole. Yes, Elizabeth Enright sticks very much with traditional gender roles but Portia is also shown as being just as smart and capable as her cousin. James Bond may not believe that women have any roll in espionage but in Moonraker and Diamonds are Forever Gayla Brandt and Tiffany Case show time and time again that they are just as smart and observant as Bond AND they both save the day. As well Bond comes out very strongly against sexual assault of any kind as well as physical abuse. So while these books may contain occasional comments that make me roll my eyes hard what these characters do and how they treat those around them tends to take the sting about it.
So just what about I Capture the Castle kept it from being on my keeper shelf? It violated both of these things. For one thing the focus on getting the oldest sister married off to a rich man was so constant and blatant that I think Jane Austen's Mrs. Bennett might have blushed. As well there just wasn't enough depth to save it. The family was in financial ruins and no one seemed to care or be able to come up with a plan that DIDN'T involve marrying money. For me the characters never showed enough of other sides of their personalities to keep this on the nostalgic side of dated and instead landed squarely in the hard to get past.
What makes a book that is dated readable to you? What would cause you to DNF a book?
Fascinating topic. I tend to read a bit of older sci fi from time to time and have the same problem. Sometimes the datedness really is a problem and other times I can overlook it even as I wince. I think you're on to something with depth of story and also with- just how MUCH objectionable material is there? Like you said, a few lines in an otherwise strong story is not a dealbreaker (especially when the female roles are otherwise strong). So I think I agree. and it's subjective too, I mean it can vary from book to book, and different reades may draw different conclusions.
ReplyDeleteInteresting! I recently read two middlegrade books that were published in the 50s and 60s. They were very dated. I don’t think modern kids would understand some of the references. I’ve never DNFed a book just for being dated. I used to read a ton of classics, so I understand that books are products of their time. When I see something objectionable, I just roll my eyes and move on.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I agree with your thoughts here. I do have a number of favorite books that were written long ago or long enough ago - some contains things that are terrible, especially these days of more assertive opinions - some are certainly products of their time. I think that with these older books, I treat them just like I do current books. If whatever it is bothers me enough, I DNF - if I can move on with just a wince, I do that. I'm continually glad for me heightened sense of when a book works for me and when it doesn't. Very interesting topic, Katherine!
ReplyDeleteI liked I CAPTURE THE CASTLE when I read it, but it was so long ago now that I can't remember the plot or writing style at all. In general, though, it doesn't turn me off if a book is dated since I'm prepared for that. Still, I agree that some books feel timeless no matter when and how often you read them and others just feel dated and out of touch. Interesting topic for sure!
ReplyDeleteThe dated stuff in older books don't really bother me as I know that is how society was at that time so books will reflect that, but I have to like the content which I am reading. If it's like a total basher of women, etc I might not enjoy it and if it's horrible slow and the content is just not interesting then why go on but most of that stuff really doesn't bother me. It's a book. I am not a feminist so I just roll my eyes and go on...lol.
ReplyDeleteYou asked good questions here. In general, a book has to grab me, sucking me into its world; it has to be so interesting that I'd want to keep reading. I don't like whining and redundancy. To DNF a book, I'd have to be bored because the plot is really slow and drawn out.
ReplyDeleteYou are spot on with this article, Katherine:). Attitudes have moved on very fast, so authors from even the 1980s can seem dated and offensive in some of the opinions their characters express. But it is all a matter of degree - as a science fiction fan there are a whole tranche of books from the so-called 'golden period' whose attitudes towards women, people of different race or sexuality are plainly bigoted. Or, which seems somehow worse, they simply aren't there in any role, other than to make the coffee or be killed off.
ReplyDeleteAlmost all of the books that I have been reading in recent years are very recent releases so this hasn't come up in my reading lately. I can see where something that was popular at one point in time wouldn't work today. I have noticed movies from my younger years can almost be offensive now.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Katherine! I haven’t read a lot of older, dated books. I don’t think I’ve ever dnf’d one because it felt too out of date. Sometimes a movie is a bit too dated for me and I’ll stop watching it. But at other times the nostalgia of days gone by draws me in. I guess it just depends on how well written the story is in both cases. If it’s good I’ll read/watch. ( :
ReplyDeleteOh wow, this is a good post. I Capture The Castle is one I purchased last summer for the TBR but haven't got around to reading yet.
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