11.22.08
Small-Town Mentality and The Bookshop
From the author and achiever of the National Book Critics Circle Prize in 1998 for The Blue Flower, and winner of the Booker Prize in 1979 for Offshore, comes this little treasure – itself a Booker Prize nominee; The Bookshop.
In this novel, Penelope Fitzgerald tells the tale of Florence Green, a widow who dared establish the first and only bookshop in the provincial district of Hardborough bearing in mind John Milton’s line on how a good book is “the precious lifeblood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life.” Nevertheless, to her chagrin, her enthusiastic intentions for the community were not warmly welcomed.
The story illustrating her desire and the scheming cruelty of her neighbours result in a comic tragedy which details the truth of insular ideology and resonates with the shadowy yet witty narration for which the author is known.
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Ironically, this book gave me the idea of opening a little bookstore here in Dipolog one day – the only one and the first of its sort. But hailing from a small town myself and very familiar with all manners of short-sightedness, I could very well understand the situation in which Florence Green was placed.
This kind of provincial mentality not only concerns literature, but classical music as well. One moment you feel so confident in doing your community a big favour, the next thing you know, they are either complaining about you, pulling you down, or completely ignoring you.
Then it struck me… is our country adhered to this small-town state of mind?
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Fred said,
November 22, 2008 at 8:37 pm
The “provincial mentality” described here is simply a matter of logistics. In other words bigger cities are open to classical, jazz and other world musics due to constant exposure with various cultures. Education is also a factor. This sounds like an interesting book that I will probably purchase soon. Sounds like there is a lot to identify with here. You don’t have to open a bookstore to feel the social wrath of small towns if you stroll in with your own ideas and methods. They used to call those people witches years ago! Now the new burning at the stake is being ostracized.
Miracle ♪♫ said,
November 22, 2008 at 8:51 pm
How true your words are, and while you are right in saying that it is a matter of logistics, I cannot help but be concerned about the poor education and exposure our government is providing its people… they can do much better, even for a small country like ours, and it would already be so wonderful if they could display even a hint of an attempt.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts in here, Fred.
Have an insightful time with The Bookshop!
Karlo said,
November 22, 2008 at 10:22 pm
“The precious lifeblood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life” - Milton’s famous passage from the Areopagitica.
Strangely, Dr. John Illo of the Milton Society of America contended in the authoritative 1965 essay “The Misreading of Milton” that the Areopagitica was not a “condemnation of all censorship” but was in fact a rationale for censorship wherein “all popery and open superstition” and “all which is impious or evil absolutely either against faith or manners” are excluded from liberty. Milton himself said:
The Protestant Milton’s tolerance then, Dr. Illo said, differs from the Catholic missives in the 16th Century Council of Trent:
If Dr. Illo’s reading is to be believed, Florence Green should have thought of other passages for inspiration. :) Then again, his essay was on Areopagitica as a whole and not that specific passage alone.
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Noticed that Penelope Fitzgerald book once somewhere cheap but didn’t buy it. Poor me!
Miracle ♪♫ said,
November 22, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Hmmm… that’s very informative, Karlo. Thanks for yet another thought-provoking comment. Now that you’ve mentioned this, I can imagine that perhaps Penelope Fitzgerald saddled this line on the protagonist since Florence Green was not extremely well-versed in literature (and even had to consult another character whether Lolita was a book worth displaying in her shop hehe), but realized the value of books nonetheless. =)
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I acquired my copies quite cheaply and have The Beginning of Spring, Innocence, and Offshore patiently waiting on my shelf. Still rummaging for The Blue Flower and the rest of her works.
I hope you find her again. =)
Karlo said,
November 22, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Oh, my… Fourth paragraph: that’s “differs little,” not simply “differs.”
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I have her The Blue Flower just lying on the shelf since a month or two ago. :) Still haven’t read it.
Miracle ♪♫ said,
November 22, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Note taken.
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Ohhh! Don’t be surprised if the disappearance of The Blue Flower from your shelf coincides with one of my trips to Cebu. =P
mika lastrilla said,
November 23, 2008 at 3:01 pm
“Then it struck me… is our country adhered to this small-town state of mind?”
i think so. though this may have many bad consequences, perhaps there is one blessing in having such a mentality - we don’t so easily absorb all the negative values of western culture. but with globalization, we’ll soon enough be saturated with western culture.
Beryl Black said,
November 23, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Interesting. I found that book in Booksale here in Cebu early this year, along with another Fitzgerald book. Was having second thoughts, then I left it where I found it. The next time I went there, decided, it was gone. =D
I thought of the same thing, too - a book cafe. One where artists can have their exhibits or where local writers can launch their books. On weekends, a poetry reading session. On weeknights, musicians of our kind playing. =) No one has bought my business idea yet, but Kendi’s thinking about it. :P
Miracle ♪♫ said,
November 23, 2008 at 3:20 pm
¤ To Mika:
I agree, Mika… but I wish they weren’t so close-minded about the many better aspects of the arts. Hayy…
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¤ To Beryl:
I’ve really learned my lesson about “coming back” for a book. If you decide to “shelve” a book, it has to be your own shelf. haha =) I believe this is your first time to come by/comment here in my Friendster blog? Welcome!
Haha, I opened up my idea to Papa this morning. He said, “While you’re at it, merge it with a cafe.” On second thought, our “Cafe Romano” is more of an art and music hub and library already. ;-) But hmmm… Let’s continue trading ideas. =)
Musicians of “our kind”??? You sure that won’t frighten people away? ahihihi =P