One of England’s finest and most loved writers explores the uncomfortable and tragicomic gap between people’s public appearance and their private desires in two tender and surprising stories.
In The Greening of Mrs. Donaldson, a recently bereaved widow finds interesting ways to supplement her income by performing as a patient for medical students, and renting out her spare room. Quiet, middle-class, and middle-aged, Mrs. Donaldson will soon discover that she rather enjoys role-play at the hospital, and the irregular and startling entertainment provided by her tenants.
In The Shielding of Mrs. Forbes, a disappointed middle-aged mother dotes on her only son, Graham, who believes he must shield her from the truth. As Graham’s double life becomes increasingly complicated, we realize how little he understands, not only of his own desires but also those of his mother.
A master storyteller dissects a very English form of secrecy with two stories of the unexpected in otherwise apparently ordinary lives.
Pete says:
"Pssst! Wanna read some Smut?
I thought as much. It was obvious to me. But please consider that this smut is not wrapped in dark plastic, hidden behind the check out counter, or tucked beneath some teenager's mattress. No, the smut of note is easily accessible, more specifically located in the new paperback fiction section. Smut by Alan Bennett, consists of two novellas. And while not nearly as lustful as the title suggests, both stories are humorous, intriguing, and highly entertaining. In the first story, the person one would expect least likely to engage in voyeurism (the prim widow Mrs. Donaldson) suddenly can't get enough when the opportunity presents itself. In the second, Graham, the perfect banker son, is perhaps not all that he seems. Yes, his fingernails are exceptionally clean, but what does that prove exactly? Read this funny little book and you'll find out all his secrets -- and more!"
1 comment:
This sounds promising.
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