Our book choice for May 2013 is Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively. The elderly Claudia Hampton, a best-selling author of popular history, lies alone in a London hospital bed. Memories of her life still glow in her fading consciousness but she imagines writing a history of the world.
Moon Tiger is a 1987 novel by Penelope Lively that won the Booker Prize. It is written from multiple points of view and moves backward and forward through time. The novel follows the life of Claudia Hampton, a 76-year-old English woman and a professional historian, as she reflects on her past and writes a history of the world.
The novel begins with Claudia in a hospital bed, dying of cancer. She is surrounded by memories of her life, which she recounts in a series of flashbacks. These memories are not presented in chronological order, but rather in a way that reflects Claudia’s own understanding of her past.
Claudia’s memories range from her childhood in the early 20th century to her experiences as a war correspondent during World War II. She remembers her parents, her brother Gordon, her first love, and her husband. She also remembers her work as a historian, and her struggles to balance her career with her personal life.
Throughout the novel, Claudia grapples with the nature of history and memory. She questions how we can ever know the past for certain, and how our own experiences shape our understanding of history. She also reflects on the role of women in history, and the challenges they face in being recognized as equal participants in the historical process.
One of the most important relationships in Claudia’s life is her relationship with her brother Gordon. Gordon is Claudia’s closest confidante and rival. They are both brilliant and fiercely independent, and they often clash over their different ideas about the world. However, they also love each other deeply, and their relationship is one of the most important sources of strength in Claudia’s life.
Another important relationship in Claudia’s life is her relationship with Tom Southern, a British tank commander whom she met as a reporter in Egypt during World War II. Tom is Claudia’s great love, but their relationship is cut short when he is killed in action. Claudia’s grief over Tom’s death is one of the most defining experiences of her life, and it shapes her understanding of love, loss, and the meaning of life.
Moon Tiger is a complex and challenging novel that explores a wide range of themes, including history, memory, gender, and the nature of truth. The novel is written in a beautiful and lyrical style, and it is full of insights into the human condition. Moon Tiger is a classic of modern literature, and it is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of history, memory, and fiction.
Discussion Questions
- Why is the book named Moon Tiger?
- Lively layers the narrative, creating the same scene different viewpoints. what is the effect of this approach? What is Lively saying about history?
- Moon Tiger takes us through a historical sweep of social changes through twentieth century, how does Lively handle this journey?
- What is Lively saying about the power of memory and its impact on the past?
- How is the tension between personal and official history portrayed?
- Claudia is clever and cruel; do you identify with her and/ or cheer for her?
- Family relationships have conflicting dynamics: what do you make of the family relationships in the book?
- Between Claudia and her daughter?
- Claudia and her brother?
- Claudia and Jasper?
- How did you view Claudia’s death? Was it about dying or running out of time?
Individual Ratings
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