tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post2027210070967257253..comments2024-03-09T11:34:22.175+00:00Comments on The History Girls: PURE by Andrew Miller. A review by Adèle GerasMary Hoffmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241989732624913706noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-90539482260630300302012-03-08T08:42:23.035+00:002012-03-08T08:42:23.035+00:00I have this novel sitting on my bookshelf patientl...I have this novel sitting on my bookshelf patiently waiting (along with a great many others) to be read. Summer, I reckon. I'm particularly looking forward to seeing how Miller uses lightness of touch and economy of use with his research details. I was discussing this with another author recently on World Book Day; it's so very tempting to load the page with bright gems of interesting information, and so very hard to resist. Thank you for such an insightful review.Kit Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747077148847756149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-82836476534171450672012-03-08T08:36:32.702+00:002012-03-08T08:36:32.702+00:00Blow! Another novel I've just GOT to read now ...Blow! Another novel I've just GOT to read now I've read Adele's persuasive review.<br />Anything even peripherally to do with the French Revolution tends to give me the screaming abdabs, too.<br />Ah well, this one does look worth it.Sally Pruehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15999389456442530903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-50633312745348902042012-03-07T14:21:49.992+00:002012-03-07T14:21:49.992+00:00You make Pure sound wonderful. Must add to my wish...You make Pure sound wonderful. Must add to my wish list. A comment about writing in the present tense. I recently finished Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotay, and although I feel it has some flaws, the author uses present tense whenever her main character is in flashback mode. The technique works surprisingly well.Mary Todhttp://www.awriterofhistory.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-84051285699085083682012-03-07T09:29:26.821+00:002012-03-07T09:29:26.821+00:00Adele - interesting timing for me, this: first, I ...Adele - interesting timing for me, this: first, I sat next to the publisher at a dinner last week and she promised to send me (and did - arrived yesterday!) - a copy of Pure. I hadn't started to read it, deciding to wait till a forthcoming holiday, but your mention of it as a present tense novel was timely for me because I've got to write something for the Guardian re present tense novels that work, so I'm now going to dive into this one on your and Ellie's recommendations, and perhaps I'll add it to my LONG list of present tense novels that work! Thank you. Sounds great.Nicola Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-2070588464285335352012-03-07T09:21:35.340+00:002012-03-07T09:21:35.340+00:00I have recently read 'Pure' and can only a...I have recently read 'Pure' and can only add 'hear, hear!' to everything that you've said, Adele, and to Linda's comments too. It's a wonderful book - thank you for this fascinating analysis of how Miller achieves what he does.H.M. Castorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08716936870601385683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-39263255899360030632012-03-07T08:40:43.606+00:002012-03-07T08:40:43.606+00:00I so enjoyed reading your excellent appreciation o...I so enjoyed reading your excellent appreciation of Andrew Miller's novel, Adele. As it happens, I am about halfway through PURE, and I am only allowing myself small doses to make it last longer. He is such a stylist: Flaubert would have been proud of him. 'Rinsed muslin', as you say, is utterly perfect here. My w.i.p. is written partly in the present tense so I am particularly sensitive to it (and remarks about it!). I think PURE is a wonderful example of the present tense being used well. It doesn't draw attention to itself yet breathes life into the action and into the historical period. But every page of this novel reveals mastery of the form. From what I've read so far, this is a prize-winning novel that really deserves its acclaim. Lovely post, thank you.Linda B-Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01599899073420595717noreply@blogger.com