Instances of the Number 3 by Salley Vickers is a novel set in London in current times. I don't know exactly how I came to be in possession of this book, but I think it must have been at a library book sale. The book is in excellent condition and I seem to remember picking it up to find out the artist of the picture on the cover (Botticelli). I vaguely recognized this image as a classic painting and couldn't even begin to figure out who the artist was, but I was curious. From there, I'm quite certain I must have read the opening line, "After Peter Hansome died, people were surprised that his widow seemed to be spending so much time with his mistress." What a great opening line! I'm fairly certain that reading that line and seeing the "Graces" depicted by Botticelli got me wondering where this book was going to go. I know that this book was reviewed favorably by Michael Dirda (whom I respect immensely), but I'm certain I never read the review he wrote before writing this post--had I done so, Salley Vickers would have been tattooed on my mind.
Started: 8/28/2014
Completed: 9/1/2014
Recommendation: Highly recommended
Recommended By: Nobody
Words for which I sought a definition:
Amanuensis -- A literary or artistic assistant. In particular one who takes dictation or copies manuscripts.
Even Homer nods -- This phrase means that even someone who is superlative in their abilities occasionally makes a mistake (nods, in this case, refers to putting your head down, like nodding off to sleep)
Fractious -- (typically of children) irritable and quarrelsome.
Mendicant -- A beggar
Review:
This book is remarkably well written. The images and turns of phrase are simply excellent. There is a bit of a mystery to the book that I figured out shortly after it appeared, so I don't think it is intended to be a particularly difficult mystery. There are a lot of references to Shakespeare which can be informative to those who do not know the plays by heart (like me) or, I think, droll to those who feel the Bard is not the be all and end all of English literature. The characters in this book, for the most part, seem well educated or at least knowledgeable. They are few characters who seem to feel the need for money. Thus we see them flitting off to France or purchasing a country house on a whim. These characters have a base hunger for both love and acceptance and I think that is a theme well reviewed in this novel. Having said that, I would not read this novel for the story nor for the characters. I would encourage you to read this novel for the joy of how words can be combined into such a pleasurable reading experience. Salley Vickers is now tattooed on my mind and I will gladly sit down and read anything she writes that I happen across. Or, er, put it in the seemingly endless piles of unread books cluttering my basement!
This book is remarkably well written. The images and turns of phrase are simply excellent. There is a bit of a mystery to the book that I figured out shortly after it appeared, so I don't think it is intended to be a particularly difficult mystery. There are a lot of references to Shakespeare which can be informative to those who do not know the plays by heart (like me) or, I think, droll to those who feel the Bard is not the be all and end all of English literature. The characters in this book, for the most part, seem well educated or at least knowledgeable. They are few characters who seem to feel the need for money. Thus we see them flitting off to France or purchasing a country house on a whim. These characters have a base hunger for both love and acceptance and I think that is a theme well reviewed in this novel. Having said that, I would not read this novel for the story nor for the characters. I would encourage you to read this novel for the joy of how words can be combined into such a pleasurable reading experience. Salley Vickers is now tattooed on my mind and I will gladly sit down and read anything she writes that I happen across. Or, er, put it in the seemingly endless piles of unread books cluttering my basement!
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