A closed eye

by Anita Brookner

Hardcover, 1991

DDC/MDS

823/.914

823/.914

Publication

London : Jonathan Cape, 1991.

Original publication date

1991

Description

"Seven voices contribute to this rare glimpse of the work being done on the front lines of the fight for social change in India. Playing with Fire is written in the collective voice of women employed by a large NGO as activists in their communities and is based on diaries, interviews, and conversations among them. Together their personal stories reveal larger themes and questions of sexism, casteism, and communalism, and a startling picture emerges of how NGOs both nourish and stifle local struggles for solidarity." "The Hindi edition of the book, Sangtin Yatra, published in 2004, created controversy that resulted in backlash against the authors by their employer. The publication also drew support for the women and instigated a public conversation about the issues exposed in the book. Here, Richa Nagar addresses the dispute in the context of the politics of NGOs and feminist theory, articulating how development ideology employed by aid organizations serves to reinforce the domination of those it claims to help."--BOOK JACKET.… (more)

Status

Available

Call number

823/.914

Collection

Letters

User reviews

LibraryThing member oldblack

This book is typical of Brookner, which is why I liked it! As usual, she focuses on one woman and a small number of her relationships, with the major participants being in the older age group....as I am. I guess the major elements in the "plot" are the unexpected deaths of a couple of key people (I

haven't experienced this, but I have imagined myself being in the situation of having a person close to me die unexpectedly), and her (largely fantasy) relationship with a person who is not her partner (who hasn't, at least for a microsecond, imagined being in such a relationship?). In many ways I could relate to the characters and their relationships. I like Brookner's habit of spending long sections of the book dwelling on the characters' thoughts. After all, aren't our lives like that - long periods of thinking in between the actual speaking times...and thinking while other people are speaking to you?

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LibraryThing member ivanfranko

Another sad story about a kind and cautious woman who suffers through her adult life because of these traits. It is a memorable novel because the writing is great; and the emotions it reveals move the reader as only an artist like Brookner so often has done. There is a surprise ending that

prefigures some respite and renewal for the main character, Harriet.

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LibraryThing member snash

This story is like Henry James or Virginia Wolfe in that it's 10% action and 90% the thoughts, dreams, fears, and anxieties of the characters. Part way through I wasn't sure about it but it grew on me as I finished it and then afterwards.

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