Waiting for a Party is the second novel I’ve read by Vesna Main. I was so impressed by Good Day? I included it on my 2020 Women’s Prize for Fiction wishlist, knowing it didn’t stand much chance, and so was pleased to see it on the Goldsmith’s Prize shortlist later that year. Her new one sees Claire reflecting on her life as she waits to be taken to her dear friend’s 102nd birthday party.
But there was Bill who saved her, or so he said and she believed him.
Claire has made the cake she’s made for Martin’s birthday for seventy years. Martin was originally her husband’s friend until the row she half overheard which seemed to be about Martin basing a character married to a much younger wife and a habit of visiting prostitutes on Bill in one of his detective novels. Claire married Bill when she was just twenty and he was in his forties, coming to the rescue of ‘my dear, little Claire’ when she fainted, a story he loved to tell at dinner parties. When he died in circumstances Claire can’t quite remember – had he already taken his pills, or did she administer a second dose at his request? – it took ten years for her to finally build a life encouraged by her dearest friend, Patricia, now long gone. She knew she could look after herself despite Bill’s taking care of things for so long but had not expected the sexual awakening she enjoyed at sixty-two, nor the arrival of the child she had so longed for in the form of a much younger lover who she persuaded to understand his own sexuality, introducing him to the man she know regards as her son-in-law. As she looks back at her long life at the age of ninety-two, Claire recalls its rich and varied path and the friendships that have meant so much to her, not least with Martin.
Has she ever embraced her age? Not really. She certainly hasn’t aged gracefully, but what does that mean?
Main’s novella takes the form of a long interior monologue in which Claire remembers her life, from the early loss of her parents through the nearly eighty years that followed. She explores a multitude of themes along the way: love, marriage, friendship, sexuality and ageing, and, of course, memory. Despite the care Claire has taken of herself, she knows she will never have the joy of being desired again, remembering the lovers she took after Bill’s death, not least, Hal, the love of her life. Her memory is clear although sometimes she confuses things that happened long ago – perhaps she should have rung 999 when she heard Bill cry out rather than talking to Patricia – making her a pleasingly unreliable narrator. Bill slowly emerges as a monstrously selfish, coercive character, despite Claire’s many reassurances to herself that they were happy, whose death was a liberation not fully realised for many years. Another enjoyable, skilfully crafted piece of fiction which has made me want to explore more of Main’s work.
Salt Publishing: Cromer 9781784633226 176 pages Paperback (Read via NetGalley)
If you fancy buying a copy of Waiting for a Party you might want to consider ordering it direct from Salt Publishing who are a small indie trying to keep their heads above water. I’m sure they’d appreciate it.
Whoa, ok, this sounds way more interesting than the blurb makes it! Slightly reminiscent of some of the stories in Jane Campbell’s Cat Brushing. I’m definitely interested in it now.
Pleased to hear that! She’s an interesting writer. I’m not familiar with Jane Campbell’s writing but if it’s anything like Main’s I should take a look.
Cat Brushing is, as far as I know, the only thing she’s done, a collection of stories that prioritise the experiences and perspectives of women over seventy. It’s not perfect, but it’s such a rare thing to let protagonists be old—especially old women—that I found myself really enjoying it and thinking about it a lot after I’d finished it. Campbell herself is in her 80s, I think.
Excellent! I’ll look into it, and you’re right about women over seventy in fiction. Lesley Glaister is very good at that, also Helen Dunmore and Angela Carter’s twins in Wise Children.
Glaister! Another Salt author. They’re so good.
They are, indeed!
This sounds really cleverly done. I like the idea of a pleasingly unreliable narrator. Salt are such an interesting publisher.
They’re always the best, aren’t they. Salt have a great list, and I love the little twist of salt they include in their orders.
Hm? Like, actual salt? Little grains tumbling out when you unfold the packet? (It sounds like a fabulous story though!)
Yea! It’s a great novella. Not many old ladies take central stage in fiction.
I do love an unreliable narrator and an older one at that. This sounds wonderful Susan.
Me, too, Cathy. They’re so much more interesting than reliable ones.
I’m a fan of an unreliable narrator too. I don’t often buy fiction – seriously running out of book space in the house – but perhaps I need to make an exception here. And if there’s free salt …
There certainly as with my last order! It’s nicely slim so shouldn’t take up too much space.
Point taken!
I hadn’t heard of her before, but a well written unreliable narrator is a thing of beauty – even at that age! I will keep an eye out for Vesna Main.
She’s an interesting writer. I thought Claire was a brilliant charcater.