An exquisite little novel in which not much happens until the end, and yet, due to storms of all kinds, the whole world of each protagonist changes irrevocably.
Flux, Transition, Contrast, Stagnation
"Reality seemed to have lost its accustomed hold, just as the day wavered uncertainly between night and morning."
Everyone lives between land and water, but each is also caught in some other dichotomy: childhood or adulthood; togetherness or separation; comfort or poverty; in or out of love; life or death; artistry or manual labour; dreams or cold reality.
"Decision is torment for anyone with imagination... [because] you multiply the things you might have done and now never can". But that can lead to paralysis.
Parallels in my Life
I don't relate to the specific circumstances, and its set before I was born, but the paralysis of indecision, when torn between two thoughts or situations is something I often struggle with. Sometimes it leads to an impulsive decision (which I may or may not regret), other times I try to pass the decision to someone else, or just avoid making it altogether. I feel I should be able to learn from this beautiful book, but it suggests diagnosis (which I'd already worked out), but no prescription. And that's fine.
Setting and Atmosphere
It is set in "the Reach", a small community of barge-dwellers in London, around 1962. The houseboats are permanently moored; their movement is limited to bobbing up and down on the tide.
The residents are very much a community, and yet they have almost nothing in common, other than the fact they are all adrift (even the cat), living in a never-world between land and water - literally, and in a more profound, psychological sense.
"The barge-dwellers, creatures neither of firm land nor water would have liked to be more respectable than they were... but a certain failure, distressing to themselves, to be like other people, caused them to sink back, with so much else that drifted or was washed up."
It vividly conjures the vicissitudes of the sights and sounds of the water and weather, aided by a splattering of boaty jargon. "The river's most elusive hours, when darkness lifts off darkness, and from one minute to another the shadows declare themselves as houses or craft at anchor."
Characters
"Was there not, on the whole of Battersea Reach, a couple, married or unmarried, living together in the ordinary way?"
All the characters are Characters. As are the five boats. In fact, tradition dictates that owners are addressed by the name of their boat, though that doesn't happen all the time, and one owner thwarts it by changing the name of his boat to match his own name.
The main characters are Nenna (only 32, but with daughters Martha, 12, and Tilda, 6); Maurice, a young gay man making ends meet as a prostitute; Willis, an old marine painter, whose boat is in need of sprucing up; boat-proud Woodrow (Woodie); and Richard, a natural leader, ex-navy, now working in insurance, with the biggest, smartest boat.
All have troubles of some sort, though Nenna's are most evident. She's depressed and has other vague mental health issues. When she's alone, her thoughts "took the form of a kind of perpetual magistrates' hearing", perpetually having to defend her action and inaction regarding her marriage. Meanwhile, she is over-reliant on her daughters, who no longer attend school. Her "character was faulty, but she had an instinct to see what made other people unhappy".
Tilda is perhaps the least convincing character, which is a shame, as it could be fixed by making her 10, rather than 6. Growing up in the Reach, she is understandably fascinated by and knowledgeable about the river. She "had the air of something aquatic, a demon from the depths", and "respected the water and knew that one could die within sight of the Embankment". But her language and insight don't always sound right: "Do you think Ma's mind is weakening?" and "It's not the kind who inherit the earth... They get kicked in the teeth".
In contrast, Martha is "armed at all points against the possible disappointments of her life, conscious of the responsibilities of protecting her mother and sister, worried a the gaps in her education... she had forgotten for some time the necessity for personal happiness."
Plot Summary
(view spoiler)[Nenna often chats long into the night with Maurice, but there is a frisson between her and Richard. Willis' barge (Dreadnaught) sinks, though he escapes, and is put up by Woodie. Eventually, Nenna plucks up courage to visit her husband, Edward. He's a wastrel, recently returned from a failed attempt to make money in South America, and won't come to the boat. (Meanwhile, Martha gets friendly with a 16-year old German, Heinrich, staying for 24 hours, as a friend of a friend of Nenna's sister.) She hoped to spend the night and win him back, but things don't go well, and she walks home, where Richard is waiting (his wife, Laura, has recently left him properly) and takes her out in a dinghy, before returning to the Reach. We later discover they did go into a cabin together. Meanwhile, Laura's wealthy sister is over from Canada, and wants to take her and the girls to start a new life there. But Richard is attacked by Harry, an acquaintance of Maurice (who uses Maurice's boat to store stolen goods) and is severely injured. His wife comes back to take care of him. Meanwhile, Edward comes looking for Nenna, but ends up drinking with Maurice, before trying to board Nenna's barge (she's not in, because of the storm) and possibly falling into the cold and turbulent waters. (hide spoiler)]
Then it ends! I like untidy, open endings, but this was SO open, I was aghast. (view spoiler)[Do Edward and Maurice survive? Does Richard stay with Laura? Do Nenna and the girls go to Canada, and if not, do she and Richard have a chance, or even she and Edward? Will Harry be caught, and if so, what are the implications for Maurice (if he lived)? What about the homeless and penniless Willis - he surely can't go on living with Woodie? (hide spoiler)]
Quotes
* "That crucial moment when children realise that their parents are younger than they are."
* The advantages of youth, "Tilda cared nothing for the future, and had, as a result, a great capacity for happiness." Also, "Her heart didn't rule her memory... she was spared that inconvenience."
* A petty criminal "had no expression, as though expressions were surplus to requirements."
* "Tenderly responsive to the self-deception of others, he was unfortunately too well able to understand his own."
* "Martha bruised so easily. A princess, unknown to all about her, she awaited the moment when these bruises would reveal her heritage."
* "Many enterprises in Chelsea which survived entirely by selling antiques to each other."
* A man, propositioning a woman on a street, "smelled of loneliness".
* "The kind of man who has two clean handkerchiefs on him at half past three in the morning."
* "She would go with him to the end of the world if his outboard motor was always going to start like that." 😉
* A young German (ex) aristocrat had "an upbringing designed to carry him through changes of regime and frontier, possible loss of every worldly possession... had made him totally self-contained and able with the sunny smile and formal handshake of the gymnast to set almost anybody at their ease."
* "The ship's cat was in every way appropriate for the Reach. She habitually moved in a kind of nautical crawl... Through years of attempting to lick herself clean, for she had never quite lost her self-respect, Stripey had become as thickly coated with mud inside as out. She was in a perpetual process of readjustment... to tides and seasons... The resulting uncertainty as to whether she was coming or going had made her, to some extent, mentally unstable."
More Fitzgerald?
Given how much I loved this, I was excited to pick up The Blue Flower (see my review HERE). It couldn't have been more different. I had to force myself to finish it. Nevertheless, this was so good, I will give Fitzgerald another chance. One day.
And there is a growing tide of support among my GR friends for The Bookshop, which - apart from its bookish appeal - sounds much closer to this.
Read the rest here:
Offshore by Penelope Fitzgerald - Goodreads
- Home | Discover Oil & Gas | Rigzone - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- Offshore - Wikipedia - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- EscapeArtist - Live, Work, Travel, Retire & Invest Overseas - December 15th, 2016 [December 15th, 2016]
- Offshore installation manager - Wikipedia - December 30th, 2016 [December 30th, 2016]
- Offshore Energy 17 - January 12th, 2017 [January 12th, 2017]
- Offshore Drilling and Exploration - The New York Times - February 2nd, 2017 [February 2nd, 2017]
- Offshore - novenco-marine.com.php56serv2.webhosting.dk - February 5th, 2017 [February 5th, 2017]
- Further decline in North Sea offshore supply work - BBC News - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Japan ignores protests, begins offshore construction work on ... - RT - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Offshore Drillers Are Still Seeking Recovery Enjoyed by Shale - Bloomberg - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Offshore Profits and US Exports - Council on Foreign Relations (blog) - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Diamond Offshore Surprises Everyone With a Fourth Quarter Earnings Gain - Madison.com - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Dems: Don't repeal offshore tax rules - The Hill - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Offshore Wind Moves Into Energy's Mainstream - New York Times - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Trump's Plan to Tap Offshore Profit for Infrastructure Gains an Ally - Bloomberg - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- China Regulator Urges Insurers to Avoid 'Reckless' Offshore ... - Insurance Journal - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Perriello comes out against pipeline and, in a shift, says he is skeptical of offshore drilling - Washington Post - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- AGL to head offshore amid limited growth options locally - The Sydney Morning Herald - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Should Diamond Offshore (DO) Stock Be in Your Portfolio? - Zacks.com - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Wind Overtakes Coal Power in Europe as Turbines Head Offshore - Bloomberg - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Cuba Eager to Develop Offshore Oil Reserves | OilPrice.com - OilPrice.com - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Eni starts production of East Hub Development Project, offshore Angola - Offshore Technology - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- 'Fifty Shades Darker' Unmasks $22M In Offshore Foreplay International Box Office - Deadline - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Statoil looks to Newfoundland offshore after selling off all oilsands assets - Globalnews.ca - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Coalition urged to charge 10% royalty on offshore oil and gas projects - The Guardian - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Israel Puts Off License Award In First Offshore Oil, Gas Bid Round - OilPrice.com - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Cost Impact of Immigration and Visa Reform to US Customers Using Offshore Services - Forbes - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- These Offshore Drilling Stocks Are Up Big as Earnings Season Starts - Fox Business - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Offshore projects help raise profile of wind power in US, Europe - WorkBoat (blog) - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Shares of Seadrill Went in the Exact Opposite Direction of Other Offshore Drillers in January - Motley Fool - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- After selling off all oilsands assets, Statoil looks to Newfoundland offshore - Calgary Herald - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Oil and Gas Stock Roundup: The Outlook for Offshore Drilling Continues to Dim - Fox Business - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Diamond Offshore Surprises Everyone With a Fourth Quarter ... - Motley Fool - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Diamond Offshore Is A Hold - Seeking Alpha - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Trudeau: Arctic offshore drilling too dangerous - The Independent Barents Observer - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Don't Overlook This Cost-Effective Alternative To Offshore Services - Forbes - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Legislation could mean an economic boost in New Bedford offshore wind projects - SouthCoastToday.com - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Ontario signals extension on offshore wind project moratorium - BNN - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Oil Majors' Plans - No Relief For Offshore Drillers - Seeking Alpha - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Director hits back at offshore worker blacklisting claims - BBC News - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- OPEC Report: Pressure On Offshore Drilling Remains - Seeking Alpha - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- UK Offshore Wind Construction Had Bumper Year In 2016, Barbour ABI - CleanTechnica - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Trump urged to back offshore - Offshore Wind | reNEWS ... - reNews - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Russian Spy Ship Spotted Offshore From Connecticut; Congressman Says Goal Is To Test US - CBS Local - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Australia Accused Of Committing Crimes Against Humanity In Offshore Detention Centres - BuzzFeed News - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- US Wind Secures Cabling Partner For MD Offshore Project - North American Windpower - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Professional Diversity Network: Offshore Investment Fund, Dropping ... - Seeking Alpha - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Vineyard Power vying for offshore wind farm - News - capecodtimes ... - Cape Cod Times (subscription) - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Liquidity Warnings Send Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.'s Stock Plunging - Motley Fool - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Will Offshore Stymie Oil States? - Seeking Alpha - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Enbridge Partners with EnBW on 497-MW German Offshore Wind Project - Marketwired (press release) - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- JDR lands US offshore bounty - reNews - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Natural gas leaks from offshore pipeline in Alaska - Press Herald - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Halliburton's GRIP delivers rapid response to offshore source-control incidents - WorldOil (subscription) - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Model advances analysis of offshore BOP closure during extreme conditions - WorldOil (subscription) - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- IRS Cracks Down on Offshore Tax Cheats - CPAPracticeAdvisor.com - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Vineyard Power vying for offshore wind farm - Cape Cod Times (subscription) - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Offshore Yuan Exposed to Onshore Risks as Spread Narrows - DailyFX - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Offshore Somalia: East Africa's Oil Frontier - Midnimo Information Center - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- Emas Offshore refinancing deal delayed - Splash 247 - Splash 247 - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- The Offshore Markets: 2016 In Review - Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- Court Declines to Halt Long Island Offshore Wind Lease - RTO Insider - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- Fuel the American economy with offshore energy - The Detroit News - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- Congress says won't renew liquor licenses of offshore casinos in Goa - Times of India - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- An offshore deal for Indigenous people? - Policy Options (registration) - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- Exclusive: Petronas considers $1 billion stake sale in offshore gas project - sources - Reuters - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- JDR wins US offshore wind farm work - OE Digital - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- Offshore Drilling - 2 Floaters Needed In The Verbier Field And In The Partridge Prospect In UK North Sea - Seeking Alpha - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- Rystad Energy Believes That Offshore Projects Are Becoming Competitive Again - Seeking Alpha - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- EnBW Hohe See 500 MW Offshore Wind Farm To Proceed With Siemens & Enbridge - CleanTechnica - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- Offshore catering staff reject offer after phone ballot - BBC News - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- Child abuse inquiry to hold limited public hearings into offshore ... - The Guardian - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- Iberdrola Completes Installation Of First Turbine At 350 Megawatt ... - CleanTechnica - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Offshore drilling opponents re-gear for new round of battles | News ... - Charleston Post Courier - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Hornbeck Offshore Services: Too Many Problems Will Drag The Stock Further Down - Seeking Alpha - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- US grid can handle more offshore wind power, cutting pollution and power costs - Science Daily - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Fugro to conduct natural leakage survey in offshore Kenya ... - Offshore Technology - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- Russia inks second Turkish Stream pipe offshore construction contract - New Europe - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- Trump to seek jobs advice from firms that offshore US work - Reuters - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- W&T Offshore Expected to Reduce Net Losses in 4Q16 - Market Realist - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]