To begin, “The Shrouded Women” by Bombal has been my favourite novel thus far in the course. Although it might be too early to claim a favourite (it is only the third novel I have read), I think this is going to be a hard one to compete with. The reason I say this is because I am a big fan of stories that express hardship, misunderstandings, and relationships in life which of all were emphasized in this novel. I enjoy reading literature that feels intimate and which has an aspect of relatability and connection to humanism. I found myself submerged in the novel as I enjoyed the style of it, the storyline, and the themes. The novel was short, direct, and full of emotions on an intimate level provoking many feelings for the reader. I prefer reading shorter novels as longer ones often result in boredom or confusion about what is happening.
Furthermore, this novel is written in first-person narration by a woman, Ana Maria who is dead. She is reflecting on her life and the memories from the past. Even though she is dead it feels as if she is alive to some extent throughout it because she is still in tune with her senses as she can think, feel, and see what is around her. This is showcased in the beginning of the novel as she can hear and see the people whom she once had a relationship with at her funeral. Additionally, throughout the story we can see how Ana is a multifaceted and versatile character. She is depicted as a loving, jealous, beautiful, and cold human during different parts of her life.
In regards to the content, I think Ana explained her past in a great and relatable manner as she examines real-life events that happen to many people such as the feelings of having your first love, regrets in life, struggles in marriage, and challenges with close relationships. Many people do not share the pains of life when they are alive due to societal fears and judgement. Ana examines this idea as she delves into the struggles of being a woman in a marriage and living up to the expectations in place. Society places much pressure on women to live up to certain standards to be successful and happy. The emphasis on such topics is why I enjoyed the novel as it touches on real-life troubles. With that being said, “The Shrouded Women” was an amazing read and will be one I recommend to others.
Discussion Question
It may be impossible to tell your life story after death, but if you had the chance to recap your life after death, what would you include in your story?
I love how passionate you are about Bombal’s “The Shrouded Women”! That the book’s examination of adversity, miscommunication, and relationships struck a deep chord with you is amazing to hear.
Hello! I’m glad to hear that this was one of your favourite books so far! I definitely think we are getting into more enjoyable books in this class. As for your question, I think it is possible to do at least a brief recap of our lives after death. Especially since there is social media, the people we leave behind will have snapshots at least of us.
I would most likely be like Ana Maria, remembering and discussing the people in my life (the good and bad).
I think you would agree with me that this novel is a concentrate of narrative techniques, emotions, and uses of language. If you had to choose an element to introduce the novel to people who are not used to reading literature, how would you do it?
This is such a great analysis and I definitely agree that this has been my favourite book so far! In response to your question, I think the content of my life recap would be similar to Ana Maria’s in the sense that it would largely include discussions about my family, but on a much more positive and loving note. Loved reading this week’s post and looking forward to reading more in the future!