I hadn’t heard anything about it on the news so it was only when I turned to the Guardian’s obituary page that I realised that Anita Brookner had died on the 10th of March. You can read it here.
Apparently she wasn’t too keen on writing fiction, it was just something she was more or less addicted to, writing one book a year on average.
I must admit that I only read Hotel du Lac when everyone was reading it way back in 1984 after it had won the Booker prize. I recall it was quite enjoyable but nothing astonishing as far as I was concerned.
Apparently Brookner’s favourite novel was Oblomov by Goncharov which happens to be the book I got in the Classics Club spin. I’m now really looking forward to reading that one.
I also have only read Hotel du Lac, when some of the bloggers were hosting an Anita Brookner day a few years ago. I liked it – not a favorite read or anything, but it was well-written. I have The Debut on my to-read list.
Christy,
Hotel du Lac beat J.G. Ballard’s Empire of the Sun for the Booker I believe. That seems unlikely from what I can remember – but it happened.
Katrina,
I haven’t heard a word about her death, and I try to keep up somewhat with obituaries. I thought Hotel du Lac was an absolute gem of a novel. I counted it among my two-top reads in 2011 or 2012. So understated but profound in my view. I haven’t read any of her other books. Gosh. Ken and I can’t stand it when authors we like die. Let the politicians be carried away, but preserve our writers!
And isn’t that fascinating about Oblomov! I agree that it makes me warm toward trying the novel. I’ll look forward to hearing what you think of it.
Judith
Judith,
To be fair though Brookner was a good age, unlike some who leave us far too early. It does seem strange that it wasn’t on the news about her death, considering she won the Booker.