What a book! Anyone here to talk about the ending? The first 30 pages I was feeling a little confused with who and who and out of those who’s, who was our main heroine. It felt like we the reader were wandering around the hostel observing the girls and their lives with no real plot and I’d decided I preferred Muriel’s other works more. But then the ending, comedy turned into drama, really gripped me.
I really wanted to find out more about the girls by the end, even though Muriel does tell us where they all end up more or less. What was Selena thinking when she ran off with the dress?
The only bit I think I really missed the meaning of was on the last page where the woman gets stabbed by a sailor and Nicholas shoves his fake letter at the killer before leaving. It felt quite random and whip lashed me away from the fire ending. Was this the actual event that turned him to religion? Was it symbolising him giving up his rather selfish lifestyle to be more like Joanne?
Have I missed the point entirely?
I can’t find much online, it doesn’t seem to be one of Muriel’s more popular novellas, but I can’t stop thinking about it.
by PMMeYourHousePlants