May 05, 2003 10:12 AM
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(Updated May 05, 2003 10:12 AM)
OSCAR AND LUCINDA was written by Peter Carney in 1997. I own a paperback copy that was published by Knopf Publishing Group. The book has 448 pages.
This novel is about Victorian England and Australia.
THE MAIN CHARACTERS:
Oscar Hopikins is a Minister.
Lucinda Leplastrier is an rich Lady
THE OTHER CHARACTERS I LIKED:
Oscar's Father was an interesting character and he would have scared me if he was my father! Mr. and Mrs. Stratton who become Oscar's Guardians are a loveable pair. Oscar's Housekeeper was a crafty lass. I loved Oscar's friend Wardrley-Fish because he had a few very interesting problems!
THE PLOT:
Warning there are no sexy parts in this novel! We are told the Story by a descendant of Oscars, (who lives in the late 1980's).
Oscar Hopkins is the son of a Preacher. He is very nervous and you can almost hear his knees knocking together when this happens.
His Father is very mean to him and his Mother is too meek protect him.
Lucinda's Mother bought her a beautiful china faced doll. She keeps her money hidden in a Jam Jar. One day during an argument with her Mother the Jar falls and her Mother takes the money. Lucinda is very angry and tires to straighten her Doll's curls. A traumatic event happens because she mutilated it.
For example I was so happy when Oscar tried to get away from his Father by becoming an Anglican. It didn't work because during one Christmas I hated it when Oscar's Father wouldn't let him have the fruit in the Christmas Pudding. Oscar Prays, ''If it be Thy will that Thy People eat pudding then please smite me.'' What does his Mother do? Nothing!
Oscar decides to leave England in 1940 to get away from his Father.
Oscar and Lucinda meet on a Ship that is going from England to Australia. He is going to work as a Minister there and she is going to set up a Glass Factor.
During the voyage we meet the villain of this book. His name is Wardley-Fish who is the Captain of the Ship.
She is very rich because she just inherited a lot of money. They have one thing in common and that is gambling! She likes to gamble but he is addicted to it.
I have no idea why she falls in love with him because either sick or hurt most of the time. He also is a coward and she is not. Luinda is pretty, a feminist and very intelligent.
It is not a true love story because the love doesn't last and for the rest of the Book we see them leaving each other.
Half of the book takes the reader up to the point where Lucinda and Oscar meet. The rest is about the ultimate bet. What is it? I'll never tell!
I never tell the entire story and just enough to see if you want to read the book your self.
THE PARTS I LIKED BEST:
I thought it was interesting when Oscar gambled when the voice of G-D told him to gamble and how to bet. I wondered why he thought it was G-D because he always lost and G-D always wins!
I liked it when Oscar says good-bye to Lucinda before his cross country trip. It was a tender moment. The problem is... oh no I'm not going to tell you!!
Oscar refers to the Church as a ''crystal church'' like it could be shattered.
It was interesting to see the difference between Oscar and Dennis Hasset, (Lucinda's first love).
THE AUTHOR:
Peter Carey was born, (in 1943) in Bacchus Marsh, Australia and now lives in NYC. He wrote five books but I have only read this one, the ''True History of the Kelly Gang'', ''Star Trek Gateways #7: What Lays Beyond'', (with Susan Wright) and ''Thirty Days In Sydney: A Wildly Distorted Account''.
AWARDS:
This Book received the Booker Prize Award in 1988.
MY CONCLUSION:
It was a well written book but I had problems with the most of the people in this book because Carey didn't give them strong CHARACTERS. We don't even find out how Lucinda's life goes on.
The main Characters always had problems and never tried to get help. It was like they were living on Mars!
I wonder how this book was given the Booker Award. In the end I didn't enjoy it and I am not recommending it.
I paid $10.00 CAD for my copy. The ISBN# 0679777504.
©LL 2003
