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The Finishing School
College Sunrise is a somewhat louche and vaguely disreputable finishing school located, for now, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Rowland Mahler and his wife, Nina, run the school as a way to support themselves while he works, somewhat falteringly, on his novel.
Into Rowland’s creative writing class comes seventeen-year-old Chris Wiley, a red-haired literary prodigy whose historical novel-in-progress, on Mary Queen of Scots, has already excited the interest of publishers. The inevitable result: keen envy, and a game of cat and mouse fraught with jealousy and attraction, both literary and sexual.
Into Rowland’s creative writing class comes seventeen-year-old Chris Wiley, a red-haired literary prodigy whose historical novel-in-progress, on Mary Queen of Scots, has already excited the interest of publishers. The inevitable result: keen envy, and a game of cat and mouse fraught with jealousy and attraction, both literary and sexual.
181 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
About the author
Muriel Spark
193 books1,107 followersDame Muriel Spark, DBE was a prolific Scottish novelist, short story writer and poet whose darkly comedic voice made her one of the most distinctive writers of the twentieth century. In 2008 The Times newspaper named Spark in its list of "the 50 greatest British writers since 1945".
Spark received the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in 1965 for The Mandelbaum Gate, the Ingersoll Foundation TS Eliot Award in 1992 and the David Cohen Prize in 1997. She became Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1993, in recognition of her services to literature. She has been twice shortlisted for the Booker Prize, in 1969 for The Public Image and in 1981 for Loitering with Intent. In 1998, she was awarded the Golden PEN Award by English PEN for "a Lifetime's Distinguished Service to Literature". In 2010, Spark was shortlisted for the Lost Man Booker Prize of 1970 for The Driver's Seat.
Spark received eight honorary doctorates in her lifetime. These included a Doctor of the University degree (Honoris causa) from her alma mater, Heriot-Watt University in 1995; a Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris causa) from the American University of Paris in 2005; and Honorary Doctor of Letters degrees from the Universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, London, Oxford, St Andrews and Strathclyde.
Spark grew up in Edinburgh and worked as a department store secretary, writer for trade magazines, and literary editor before publishing her first novel, The Comforters, in 1957. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, published in 1961, and considered her masterpiece, was made into a stage play, a TV series, and a film.
Spark received the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in 1965 for The Mandelbaum Gate, the Ingersoll Foundation TS Eliot Award in 1992 and the David Cohen Prize in 1997. She became Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1993, in recognition of her services to literature. She has been twice shortlisted for the Booker Prize, in 1969 for The Public Image and in 1981 for Loitering with Intent. In 1998, she was awarded the Golden PEN Award by English PEN for "a Lifetime's Distinguished Service to Literature". In 2010, Spark was shortlisted for the Lost Man Booker Prize of 1970 for The Driver's Seat.
Spark received eight honorary doctorates in her lifetime. These included a Doctor of the University degree (Honoris causa) from her alma mater, Heriot-Watt University in 1995; a Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris causa) from the American University of Paris in 2005; and Honorary Doctor of Letters degrees from the Universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, London, Oxford, St Andrews and Strathclyde.
Spark grew up in Edinburgh and worked as a department store secretary, writer for trade magazines, and literary editor before publishing her first novel, The Comforters, in 1957. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, published in 1961, and considered her masterpiece, was made into a stage play, a TV series, and a film.
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July 19, 2019Perhaps the title was meant playfully, since this was Muriel Spark's last book, but it seems not — she'd begun another book just before she died aged eighty eight. When I first heard about that unfinished book, and before I'd read many of her books, I thought what a pity that we'd never be able to read it. Now, having read a couple of the later books, I don't feel at all regretful. She had her Prime, and the books she gave us in her Prime are more than enough.
August 17, 2011
The bookshelves constitute the review. Though I paid only $2.98 for this smug little nugget of crap, I'm tempted to sue the estate of Muriel Spark just on principle. The characters don't even rise to the level of caricature; they are stick figures that Dame Muriel pushes around her chessboard for a while. Until she can't be bothered anymore. The mystery is why she bothered at all. Surely she didn't need the money, and why would she choose to have this piece of mincingly clever dreck be her last "novel"?
I appear to be in a minority of one on this book. So be it. But this is really nothing more than a case of a talented author phoning it in. Muriel Spark's conversion to Catholicism and its effect on her writing are well documented. Somewhere during that conversion process she should have learned the meaning of shame. Because this is a book to be ashamed of.
I could allow my righteous indignation to sputter on for several more paragraphs, but I think I've made my point. There is nothing in this book that merits your attention.
I appear to be in a minority of one on this book. So be it. But this is really nothing more than a case of a talented author phoning it in. Muriel Spark's conversion to Catholicism and its effect on her writing are well documented. Somewhere during that conversion process she should have learned the meaning of shame. Because this is a book to be ashamed of.
I could allow my righteous indignation to sputter on for several more paragraphs, but I think I've made my point. There is nothing in this book that merits your attention.
February 21, 2022
“You begin,” he said, “by setting your scene. You have to see your scene, either in reality or in imagination. For instance, from here you can see across the lake. But on a day like this you can’t see across the lake, it’s too misty. You can’t see the other side.” Rowland took off his reading glasses to stare at his creative writing class whose parents’ money was being thus spent: two boys and three girls around sixteen to seventeen years of age, some more, some a little less. “So,” he said, “you must just write, when you set your scene, ‘the other side of the lake was hidden in mist.’ Or if you want to exercise imagination, on a day like today, you can write, ‘The other side of the lake was just visible.’ But as you are setting the scene, don’t make any emphasis as yet. It’s too soon, for instance, for you to write, ‘The other side of the lake was hidden in the fucking mist.’ That will come later. You are setting your scene. You don’t want to make a point as yet.”
Sigh. Such a brilliant opening to such a mediocre work, even if I found Nina's comme il faut lessons to be pretty entertaining. A book about young people--you know, with their PCs and their email and their drugs (crack and Viagra, apparently) and their sex--very clearly written by an old woman. Certainly a woman--forgive me--past her prime. It wasn't boring, and I did read it twice--think of it as cheap reality television (meaning nothing is very real or very realistic).
October 7, 2021
In this last rousing comedy by Spark, writ when she was 86, she confronts jealousy and hypocrisy with rapier-sharp results..."What is jealousy? I hate you because you have got what I have not got and desire." ~ "Is it difficult to be a hypocrite?" The reply: "Not very much. We do it in civilized society the whole time." The arts of hypocrisy and the rampant issue of jealousy provide the backdrop at a free-wheeling school for rich teens in Switzerland where creativity -- and who controls the characters in a novel -- is also up for robust discussion. A young couple, whose marriage is falling apart, host a scene of changing bed partners, raging hormones, career questions (can ceramics sell, a fashion show and thieving publishers from London who arrive to court a young, would-be genius.
For Spark readers, this is all bliss....It's Spark territory, lean, spare, not a word wasted. If you are unfamiliar w Muriel, do not start here...many GRs posted grouchy (pissed off) reviews and even thought the ending was rushed -- it isnt. (Muriel knew exactly what she was doing). Spark's touch is very subtle and, in the end, surprising. Her finale novel is seriously witty.
An explosive bathtub tussle, in the last pages, put me on the floor. Mischief on a saucy, memorable level.
For Spark readers, this is all bliss....It's Spark territory, lean, spare, not a word wasted. If you are unfamiliar w Muriel, do not start here...many GRs posted grouchy (pissed off) reviews and even thought the ending was rushed -- it isnt. (Muriel knew exactly what she was doing). Spark's touch is very subtle and, in the end, surprising. Her finale novel is seriously witty.
An explosive bathtub tussle, in the last pages, put me on the floor. Mischief on a saucy, memorable level.
February 6, 2017
I loved Muriel Spark's "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" which was written earlier in her long career. This was her last novel written two years before her death. While not as deep and detailed as "Jean Brodie", I found this to be a fun, frisky read. The contentious relationship between writers who none the less feed off each other was great fun to see. Overall, not her best but I really liked it!
August 19, 2023
Spark’s swansong is a brief and inoffensive re-re-tread over old territory—obnoxious posh people have neuroses and behave in a silly manner amidst a lush European backdrop. Humour-wise, Spark’s well of cutting descriptions and scimitar-sharp dialogue is bone-dry—here she merely moves Sparkian archetypes around the page for one last turn on the fictional whirligig—leaving nothing more than a pleasant waft of the former Spark genius in the reader’s nostrils. One for the completists, i.e. me.
July 1, 2010
Although I like Muriel Spark, I found this one lacking. It was certainly the thinnest of her books I've read; the page margins seemed much larger than an inch. I found the plot--Rowland, medium-skanky teacher "trying" to finish his "novel", is stupefyingly jealous of his prolific student, Chris--to be underdeveloped and not very interesting. The additional characters--rich, stupid students, Rowland's wife Nina, and a selection of servants who seem to be there only to illustrate class divisions--are more or less undeveloped, used as an audience to the already fairly boring plot. A mild satire of the false "education" of finishing school and the gullible, rich parents who send children there rounds out the book.
It's hard to believe the finishing school institution ever existed; it's certainly not relevant to the vast majority now, as far as I know. Maybe this is a function of me being American, or of a less than totally moneyed class, but still. Since the institution is vanished and irrelevant, the satire is as well.
It's hard to believe the finishing school institution ever existed; it's certainly not relevant to the vast majority now, as far as I know. Maybe this is a function of me being American, or of a less than totally moneyed class, but still. Since the institution is vanished and irrelevant, the satire is as well.
February 7, 2018
My University held a two-day conference to mark Muriel Spark's centenary in early February, and it seemed rude not to buy a book whilst I was volunteering. I have read quite a few of Spark's books to date, but The Finishing School is one of those outstanding which I have had my eye on for quite a while. I was intrigued enough, in fact, to begin reading it right away.
According to a few of the lecturers and general Spark fans whom I spoke to at the conference, The Finishing School is her weakest book. Ali Smith, however, deems it 'one of her funniest novels... Spark at her sharpest, her purest and her most merciful'. The Smith quote held weight for me, as she is one of my favourite authors (this will come as no surprise to anyone who follows my reviews, I'm sure!).
The Finishing School, first published in 2004, comes in at just over 120 pages in its newest Canongate edition, and is easy enough to read in a single afternoon or evening. It is Spark's final novel, published 45 years after Memento Mori, and 43 after her most famous work, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. It certainly marks a departure; whilst there are definitely similarities to be found between The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and The Finishing School, particularly with regard to its school setting and imparting of an education of sorts from rather a tyrannical teacher, it is neither as searching, nor as acerbic as the former. The story here is not quite as tense psychologically as The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie either.
The Finishing School, named College Sunrise, is located in Ouchy, on the edge of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Here, a 'would-be' novelist, Rowland Mahler and his wife, Nina Parker, run a finishing school 'of questionable reputation to keep the funds flowing'. After having failed to make a profit in Brussels, where the school was opened several years beforehand, Rowland 'moved the school to Vienna, increased the fees, wrote to the parents that he and Nina were making an exciting experiment: College Sunrise was to be a mobile school which would move somewhere new every year.'
One student named Chris, just seventeen years of age, shows remarkable promise in the field of literature, and is working on his first novel about Mary Queen of Scots, with interest from a host of publishers. In the school, in consequence, 'jealousy and tensions run high'. No one person's relationship with Chris is as fraught as that between himself and Rowland, whose criticism Chris relies on, but who is markedly jealous that he is getting somewhere with his writing. Nina, whose opinion is given at points later in the novella, believes that Rowland's jealousy of Chris is what is prohibiting him from producing a coherent novel of his own.
Spark gives an insight into the workings of Rowland's mind and frustration within his own writing. This manifests itself into a seething hatred of Chris' work, which he can see is very good: 'Rowland was frightened; he felt again that stab of jealous envy, envious jealousy that he had already experienced, on touching and reading Chris's typescript.' Of his writing process, Spark goes on to say: 'All the students of Sunrise knew that he struggled with a novel. They often volunteered to give him ideas for it, which he accepted politely enough. They begged him to read it aloud to them, but the truth was, the book was not yet in any readable condition. It consisted of paragraphs here and there on his computer, changing from day to day. He was in a muddle, which was not to say that he would not eventually get out of it, as in fact he as to do by writing a different sort of book.'
The Finishing School uses a structure of rather short chapters, which works well. Much is included about the craft of writing, the price of education, and relationships between particular characters; there are extramarital affairs, crises of self, and friendships which will not be shaken by anything. The style here, as ever with Spark's work, is amusing in places - in fact, the humour here is noticeably biting in places - and peopled with interesting character constructs. I did find it engaging, and whilst it is not my favourite Spark book, it is fascinating to see how her writing style has evolved since the beginning of her career. My only qualm with The Finishing School, which made me give it a three- rather than a four-star rating, is that the ending is quite peculiar; I do not feel as though it was quite satisfactory, as it feels rather hasty and cobbled together. Regardless, this is certainly a novella worth seeking out.
According to a few of the lecturers and general Spark fans whom I spoke to at the conference, The Finishing School is her weakest book. Ali Smith, however, deems it 'one of her funniest novels... Spark at her sharpest, her purest and her most merciful'. The Smith quote held weight for me, as she is one of my favourite authors (this will come as no surprise to anyone who follows my reviews, I'm sure!).
The Finishing School, first published in 2004, comes in at just over 120 pages in its newest Canongate edition, and is easy enough to read in a single afternoon or evening. It is Spark's final novel, published 45 years after Memento Mori, and 43 after her most famous work, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. It certainly marks a departure; whilst there are definitely similarities to be found between The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and The Finishing School, particularly with regard to its school setting and imparting of an education of sorts from rather a tyrannical teacher, it is neither as searching, nor as acerbic as the former. The story here is not quite as tense psychologically as The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie either.
The Finishing School, named College Sunrise, is located in Ouchy, on the edge of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Here, a 'would-be' novelist, Rowland Mahler and his wife, Nina Parker, run a finishing school 'of questionable reputation to keep the funds flowing'. After having failed to make a profit in Brussels, where the school was opened several years beforehand, Rowland 'moved the school to Vienna, increased the fees, wrote to the parents that he and Nina were making an exciting experiment: College Sunrise was to be a mobile school which would move somewhere new every year.'
One student named Chris, just seventeen years of age, shows remarkable promise in the field of literature, and is working on his first novel about Mary Queen of Scots, with interest from a host of publishers. In the school, in consequence, 'jealousy and tensions run high'. No one person's relationship with Chris is as fraught as that between himself and Rowland, whose criticism Chris relies on, but who is markedly jealous that he is getting somewhere with his writing. Nina, whose opinion is given at points later in the novella, believes that Rowland's jealousy of Chris is what is prohibiting him from producing a coherent novel of his own.
Spark gives an insight into the workings of Rowland's mind and frustration within his own writing. This manifests itself into a seething hatred of Chris' work, which he can see is very good: 'Rowland was frightened; he felt again that stab of jealous envy, envious jealousy that he had already experienced, on touching and reading Chris's typescript.' Of his writing process, Spark goes on to say: 'All the students of Sunrise knew that he struggled with a novel. They often volunteered to give him ideas for it, which he accepted politely enough. They begged him to read it aloud to them, but the truth was, the book was not yet in any readable condition. It consisted of paragraphs here and there on his computer, changing from day to day. He was in a muddle, which was not to say that he would not eventually get out of it, as in fact he as to do by writing a different sort of book.'
The Finishing School uses a structure of rather short chapters, which works well. Much is included about the craft of writing, the price of education, and relationships between particular characters; there are extramarital affairs, crises of self, and friendships which will not be shaken by anything. The style here, as ever with Spark's work, is amusing in places - in fact, the humour here is noticeably biting in places - and peopled with interesting character constructs. I did find it engaging, and whilst it is not my favourite Spark book, it is fascinating to see how her writing style has evolved since the beginning of her career. My only qualm with The Finishing School, which made me give it a three- rather than a four-star rating, is that the ending is quite peculiar; I do not feel as though it was quite satisfactory, as it feels rather hasty and cobbled together. Regardless, this is certainly a novella worth seeking out.
December 11, 2017
This is shocking for me to admit but I forgot I had read this book previously. The plot was that boring. If I didn't have to read this for a friend's book club I would have probably just stopped and chosen another book. Instead I found an audiobook copy that was narrated by a narrator, Nadia May, I have had good experiences with previously.
Let me start off this review by saying the writing in this novella isn't bad. Truth be told the writing is just fine, and it could have been a good book given the proper care. As the novella is right now, I felt no connection to the story or the characters. I think that is what makes this book such a disappointment to me.
Everyone wishes that we had a natural talent for something. Rowland, a wanna be author, is envious of Chris's writing ability. Even though Chris admires Roland it isn't enough to soothe the envy. A sort of fascination turned obsession for finding the manuscript of Chris's upcoming novel on Mary Queen of Scott. I should have felt a connection! Even Rowland's wife Nina trying to help his by being a good wife and friend. She's fine with her life but wonders about making changes and finds intelligence sexy. These are things I've felt. Again, they are feelings everyone had yet I still didn't feel anything. Having the empty feeling that "The Finishing School" gives me leaves me feeling deflated.
I have always enjoyed Nadia May as a narrator because she speaks clearly and loud enough for any listener to hear her. Unfortunately even her narration couldn't save this story but it did make the experience better than it could have been. There is nothing worse than having to listen to a horrible book through a bad narration. I would have given this audiobook a 2, if not for fact there were long pauses at the end of each chapter. They were so long I thought my player had accidentally paused the recording. Those pauses were terrible and interrupted the flow of the story, which I didn't think was possible considering the book was boring to begin with.
If you're interested in reading this book I would probably advise against it as there are more intriguing stories out there. This was Ms. Spark's final book that she ever wrote and I was waiting to see what all her talent given into one final project would book like. I pictured an incredible look into human souls that would make me laugh, cry, etc. but it none of that happened. "The Finishing School" is a prime example of wasted talent; this is a book that had promise but it all went bad. Hate to be mean, but this book will never be a modern classic and is quite forgettable.
Let me start off this review by saying the writing in this novella isn't bad. Truth be told the writing is just fine, and it could have been a good book given the proper care. As the novella is right now, I felt no connection to the story or the characters. I think that is what makes this book such a disappointment to me.
Everyone wishes that we had a natural talent for something. Rowland, a wanna be author, is envious of Chris's writing ability. Even though Chris admires Roland it isn't enough to soothe the envy. A sort of fascination turned obsession for finding the manuscript of Chris's upcoming novel on Mary Queen of Scott. I should have felt a connection! Even Rowland's wife Nina trying to help his by being a good wife and friend. She's fine with her life but wonders about making changes and finds intelligence sexy. These are things I've felt. Again, they are feelings everyone had yet I still didn't feel anything. Having the empty feeling that "The Finishing School" gives me leaves me feeling deflated.
I have always enjoyed Nadia May as a narrator because she speaks clearly and loud enough for any listener to hear her. Unfortunately even her narration couldn't save this story but it did make the experience better than it could have been. There is nothing worse than having to listen to a horrible book through a bad narration. I would have given this audiobook a 2, if not for fact there were long pauses at the end of each chapter. They were so long I thought my player had accidentally paused the recording. Those pauses were terrible and interrupted the flow of the story, which I didn't think was possible considering the book was boring to begin with.
If you're interested in reading this book I would probably advise against it as there are more intriguing stories out there. This was Ms. Spark's final book that she ever wrote and I was waiting to see what all her talent given into one final project would book like. I pictured an incredible look into human souls that would make me laugh, cry, etc. but it none of that happened. "The Finishing School" is a prime example of wasted talent; this is a book that had promise but it all went bad. Hate to be mean, but this book will never be a modern classic and is quite forgettable.
June 26, 2020
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I found The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie intriguing and wanted to explore more by Muriel Spark. I don't think this was a great option for more.
Not my cup of tea.
The plot, the characters, everything fit awkwardly. I thought maybe this was one of those English major novel where I was just missing the key to make it ascertainable, but even after reading other reviews here on Goodreads I feel lost. It wasn't long enough to tell much of a story, but it was too long to feel amusing.
Plus, the weird relationship between the obsessive teacher and his successful student was more awkward-uncomfortable than edgy.
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I found The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie intriguing and wanted to explore more by Muriel Spark. I don't think this was a great option for more.
Not my cup of tea.
The plot, the characters, everything fit awkwardly. I thought maybe this was one of those English major novel where I was just missing the key to make it ascertainable, but even after reading other reviews here on Goodreads I feel lost. It wasn't long enough to tell much of a story, but it was too long to feel amusing.
Plus, the weird relationship between the obsessive teacher and his successful student was more awkward-uncomfortable than edgy.
August 18, 2014
Rowland and Nina Mahler both run College Sunshine, a travelling finishing school for the young and wealthy. Richard, who is trying to finish (and start) his novel, becomes obsessed with Chris, a 17-year-old student, whose own vaguely historical novel is showing far more progress and has attracted the attention of publishers. Stuff happens, though not much. Muriel Spark's last novel, already quite slender, is also rather thin, story-wise, and even flatter, when it comes to characters. But the library didn't have The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie or her other work, so I had to make do until they arrive from ILL. I hope that happens soon, so I can forget about this one.
December 4, 2021
Muriel Sparks last book. As the introduction says ‘Muriel Spark’s books may be short but, like a good dram, they have a long finish’.
The plot is set in Switzerland at a finishing school that is not really a school but a way for Nina and Rowland to make money in a fun way. They care little for the pupils but not in a nasty way and teach classes which have no rigor or reason.
Rowland is trying also to write a novel but suffering writers block. Along comes 17 year old Chris who is writing an historic novel about the murder of Darnley, Mary Queen of Scots husband. Jealousy, envy and obsession result with Rowland upset with the apparent ease Chris has in writing his novel.
The characters are unlikeable and lack for me substance. However, the story is well crafted and funny.
The plot is set in Switzerland at a finishing school that is not really a school but a way for Nina and Rowland to make money in a fun way. They care little for the pupils but not in a nasty way and teach classes which have no rigor or reason.
Rowland is trying also to write a novel but suffering writers block. Along comes 17 year old Chris who is writing an historic novel about the murder of Darnley, Mary Queen of Scots husband. Jealousy, envy and obsession result with Rowland upset with the apparent ease Chris has in writing his novel.
The characters are unlikeable and lack for me substance. However, the story is well crafted and funny.
October 12, 2010
Although a short book, it took me two days to read as I was not particularly drawn in by either the plot or the characters. While the novel was set in the present time, I did not feel like the author was able to recreate today's teens. They felt like kids back in the 50's to me.Naive, willing students, deferential to the adults. While there was some interesting tension between Rowland, a creative writing teacher, and Chris, his star pupil, it wasn't enough to carry the story.
July 16, 2011
For me, this was reminiscent of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie only in that it took place at a school. In comparison, The Finishing School's characters are paper-thin, and although I occasionally found it amusing, I never found it absorbing.
January 12, 2009
This was kind of creepy and odd and I kind of liked it. It was written very objectively, in that there's almost zero emotion to be found in this book, despite it being about jealousy, loyalty and love. I liked Nina best of all (especially her lessons, which were fantastic), but felt that even though this was clearly set now, with all of the laptops and faxes, the characters felt like they belonged in the past - hippies, maybe? That could be part of the distance the reader has from all the characters, though. I don't know - it was just kind of weird, I guess, Chris and Rowland feeding off each other and the way they all seemed to think it was possible someone would murder someone else. But I also kind of liked it for its weirdness, so, there you go. *g*
September 9, 2011
This was a strange little book. Parts of it were funny and held my attention, but there were too many characters for so few words, and I wasn't sure if this was supposed to be pure satire, or if there were deeper messages behind the story. There were some confusing sections, which may have been editing mistakes, where dialogue actually didn't make sense (was I missing something?) This actually sums up how I felt reading the book - that I was missing something. But somehow despite my reservations, I enjoyed reading this book, and especially liked the triangle of relationships between Nina, Rowland, and Chris.
January 15, 2013
I was disappointed with this book. I've read severalother of Spark's books and liked them but this was boring. The plot failed to interest, the characters seem contrived. I don't think I'd even have forced myself to finish if this had been an unknown author.
I see from other reviews it wasn't just me. This was her last novel written when she was in her 80's.
I see from other reviews it wasn't just me. This was her last novel written when she was in her 80's.
August 7, 2022
muriel,,, what were you up to here i am not sure
April 30, 2015
Book #2 of a 24h marathon on the 26th of April 2015
The book revolves around a small finishing school run by a married couple (who happen to be oblivious to this fact). There is a 17year old boy named Chris who is writing an exceptional novel and Mr. Rowland tends to get so jealous of this kid's ability to be sucessful that he is fine to go to great lenghts to stop him.
That's it. That's the story. 160 pages of pure bluntness. I wonder what went through Spark's head while publishing this because I mean, is there any point at all? It is not comical neither is it educative... and lets not even get into the entertaining point of things.
I found characters dull and their motivations pointless. Overall I do not recommend ever picking this up, for the simple reason that I can't find anything the least exciting about it.
The book revolves around a small finishing school run by a married couple (who happen to be oblivious to this fact). There is a 17year old boy named Chris who is writing an exceptional novel and Mr. Rowland tends to get so jealous of this kid's ability to be sucessful that he is fine to go to great lenghts to stop him.
That's it. That's the story. 160 pages of pure bluntness. I wonder what went through Spark's head while publishing this because I mean, is there any point at all? It is not comical neither is it educative... and lets not even get into the entertaining point of things.
I found characters dull and their motivations pointless. Overall I do not recommend ever picking this up, for the simple reason that I can't find anything the least exciting about it.
September 30, 2010
Anemic little book. I felt at first like whole paragraphs were missing and as it progressed like whole chapters were missing. Some snappy writing here and there with interesting observations but little else. No real sense of time and place. Could be 1960 could be 2005 except for allusions to emails. Actually the whole thing is like an allusion to a real novel.
January 10, 2013
breezy and swift, though aside from its ascerbic humor it had lacked gravity. The Finishing School was a Murdochian sketch pushed forward slightly into realization. The time twisted totems of education and affection pull up short of Don't Stand So Close To Me.
April 17, 2020
What a weird entertaining book
December 24, 2018
There was something disconcerting about the modernity of ‘The Finishing School’, as it has precisely the same tone as The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and The Driver's Seat, yet the characters send emails. It was published in 2004 and is presumably set then. I wouldn’t say that Spark’s tone is ill-suited to the 21st century, just that it surprised me. I enjoyed her arch omniscience, in this case focused on a mildly dubious finishing school run by a married couple. As the husband fails to write a novel, he becomes obsessed with a pupil who is successfully doing so. Meanwhile his wife is tired of her life and preparing to leave. Although I appreciated the stylishness and aplomb of the narrative very much, I felt that the novella gave the reader only a glimpse of events. While amusing, this was also a little unsatisfying. The final pages recount what subsequently happened to each main character yet, unlike the two prior Spark novels, I couldn’t easily connect these fates to the incidents recounted. Possibly the larger cast was a factor? In any event, I love Spark’s distinctively arch writing but didn’t find this particular novella very memorable.
August 9, 2018
There were themes and ideas in this that were really interesting. Namely, professional jealousy, and art feeding from toxic relationships. Sadly, I just found the whole thing a little too jarring. Firstly, the setting, characterisation, and dialogue felt too much like historical fiction for a modern novel supposedly set in the early 2000s. The strange, slightly hypnotic atmosphere could have been really effective, but by far the most interesting parts of the narrative were glossed over in just a few pages at the very end of the book, meaning its oddness was left feeling somewhat inexplicable. Overall, it's a book comprised of a great concept that never reached its full potential.
This is my third Spark novel, and easily my least favourite. Still, with such a vast back catalogue, it's unlikely they'd all be gems, so I am still open to exploring more of her work.
This is my third Spark novel, and easily my least favourite. Still, with such a vast back catalogue, it's unlikely they'd all be gems, so I am still open to exploring more of her work.
October 24, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up
Quite a few reviews slammed The Boarding School, claiming that Muriel Spark "phoned it in", but I disagree. The usual Spark "dark" and snark are present. There are quite a few characters, but the story focuses on a few. And per usual those characters are involved in wackiness of varying degrees and design.
Once again, Nadia May gives Spark's words a wonderful voice.
Quite a few reviews slammed The Boarding School, claiming that Muriel Spark "phoned it in", but I disagree. The usual Spark "dark" and snark are present. There are quite a few characters, but the story focuses on a few. And per usual those characters are involved in wackiness of varying degrees and design.
Once again, Nadia May gives Spark's words a wonderful voice.
January 21, 2024
This is a Bookcrossing book and my review may be read here:
https://bookcrossing.com/journal/1639...
https://bookcrossing.com/journal/1639...
December 11, 2017
This is shocking for me to admit but I forgot I had read this book previously. The plot was that boring. If I didn't have to read this for school and a friend's book club then I would have probably just stopped and chosen another book.
Let me start off this review by saying the writing in this novella isn't bad. Truth be told the writing is just fine, and it could have been a good book given the proper care. As the novella is right now, I felt no connection to the story or the characters. I think that is what makes this book such a disappointment to me.
Everyone wishes that we had a natural talent for something. Rowland, a wanna be author, is envious of Chris's writing ability. Even though Chris admires Roland it isn't enough to soothe the envy. A sort of fascination turned obsession for finding the manuscript of Chris's upcoming novel on Mary Queen of Scott. I should have felt a connection! Even Rowland's wife Nina trying to help his by being a good wife and friend. She's fine with her life but wonders about making changes and finds intelligence sexy. These are things I've felt. Again, they are feelings everyone had yet I still didn't feel anything. Having the empty feeling that "The Finishing School" gives me leaves me feeling deflated.
If you're interested in reading this book I would probably advise against it as there are more intriguing stories out there. This was Ms. Spark's final book that she ever wrote and I was waiting to see what all her talent given into one final project would book like. I pictured an incredible look into human souls that would make me laugh, cry, etc. but it none of that happened. "The Finishing School" is a prime example of wasted talent; this is a book that had promise but it all went bad. Hate to be mean, but this book will never be a modern classic and is quite forgettable.
Let me start off this review by saying the writing in this novella isn't bad. Truth be told the writing is just fine, and it could have been a good book given the proper care. As the novella is right now, I felt no connection to the story or the characters. I think that is what makes this book such a disappointment to me.
Everyone wishes that we had a natural talent for something. Rowland, a wanna be author, is envious of Chris's writing ability. Even though Chris admires Roland it isn't enough to soothe the envy. A sort of fascination turned obsession for finding the manuscript of Chris's upcoming novel on Mary Queen of Scott. I should have felt a connection! Even Rowland's wife Nina trying to help his by being a good wife and friend. She's fine with her life but wonders about making changes and finds intelligence sexy. These are things I've felt. Again, they are feelings everyone had yet I still didn't feel anything. Having the empty feeling that "The Finishing School" gives me leaves me feeling deflated.
If you're interested in reading this book I would probably advise against it as there are more intriguing stories out there. This was Ms. Spark's final book that she ever wrote and I was waiting to see what all her talent given into one final project would book like. I pictured an incredible look into human souls that would make me laugh, cry, etc. but it none of that happened. "The Finishing School" is a prime example of wasted talent; this is a book that had promise but it all went bad. Hate to be mean, but this book will never be a modern classic and is quite forgettable.
April 17, 2016
What I liked about this story the most is that it has a creative writing theme. Chris subject of his story was about Mary Queen of Scots. This is Muriel Sparks contribution to world literature.
February 3, 2019
The Finishing School by Muriel Spark - Very Good
The last novel Muriel Spark ever had published. For me it brought me full circle.
A married couple, Rowland and Nina, run a peripatetic finishing school, currently in Switzerland. They keep moving as they run up debts, constantly looking for cheaper premises to keep their costs low. They sell this as a feature, that the young people in their care see more places and experience different cultures, can immerse themselves in different languages. It is far from a traditional school, but the pampered rich really just want somewhere to look after their children beyond school/university while they arrange their futures for them.
One such is Chris. He's writing a novel.....but so is Rowland and as one progresses, the other is blocked.
I loved some of the descriptions of people:
'Her ambition was to open a village shop and sell ceramics and transparent scarves'
'Her yellow, bright, hairdresser-done hair fell evenly round her shoulders from a strictly black parting'.
The reason I felt it brought me full circle is that in her first novel, The Comforters, there is a character that feels she is a character in a novel. That everything she says and does is being scripted to the sound of typewriter keys in the next room. In this book, two characters discussing writing say:
'I mean, once you have created the characters, don't you sort of dream of them or really dream of them so that they come to you and say "Hey, I didn't say that."'
So we started with a novel writing itself and end with two novelists writing. It worked for me.
The last word, of course, has to go to Muriel Spark:
'It's hypocrisy that makes the world go round'.
Sadly, she's probably right.
The last novel Muriel Spark ever had published. For me it brought me full circle.
A married couple, Rowland and Nina, run a peripatetic finishing school, currently in Switzerland. They keep moving as they run up debts, constantly looking for cheaper premises to keep their costs low. They sell this as a feature, that the young people in their care see more places and experience different cultures, can immerse themselves in different languages. It is far from a traditional school, but the pampered rich really just want somewhere to look after their children beyond school/university while they arrange their futures for them.
One such is Chris. He's writing a novel.....but so is Rowland and as one progresses, the other is blocked.
I loved some of the descriptions of people:
'Her ambition was to open a village shop and sell ceramics and transparent scarves'
'Her yellow, bright, hairdresser-done hair fell evenly round her shoulders from a strictly black parting'.
The reason I felt it brought me full circle is that in her first novel, The Comforters, there is a character that feels she is a character in a novel. That everything she says and does is being scripted to the sound of typewriter keys in the next room. In this book, two characters discussing writing say:
'I mean, once you have created the characters, don't you sort of dream of them or really dream of them so that they come to you and say "Hey, I didn't say that."'
So we started with a novel writing itself and end with two novelists writing. It worked for me.
The last word, of course, has to go to Muriel Spark:
'It's hypocrisy that makes the world go round'.
Sadly, she's probably right.
February 1, 2020
On reading this I found my dissatisfaction with Spark’s writing beginning to crystallise. Clearly people find it engaging and worthwhile but to me there is something cold and detached about it, observational yes, but uninvolving. Her de haut en bas style renders her characters flat and merely going through whatever motions Spark intends for them. They don’t come alive. They certainly don’t leap off the page and into my mind.
This one all starts promisingly enough with a lecture on scene-setting in writing delivered by the joint owner of College Sunrise, the Finishing School of the title. He is Rowland Mahler who runs the place along with his wife Nina (who actually does most of the work.) One of the attendees, Chris, a seventeen year-old, is writing a novel where he speculates the death of Lord Darnley, second husband of Mary Queen of Scots, was instigated by a desire for revenge on the part of Jacopo, brother of David Rizzio in whose murder Darnley was deeply implicated. Rowland has aspirations to be a novelist himself but having read Chris’s first two chapters finds himself blocked and increasingly obsessed with Chris.
That first page is deceptive though and we are soon pitched into a narrative where too much is told, not shown; where information is dispensed to the reader in a way that is like reading author’s notes for characters rather than experiencing them behaving as themselves. They may have passions but we are not given the opportunity to feel them but Spark does find space to include a few sideswipes at the publishing industry.
There are some interesting ideas here but they are not fleshed out. In the end this is not so much a novel, more like a series of preliminary sketches for one. Or an extended outline.
This one all starts promisingly enough with a lecture on scene-setting in writing delivered by the joint owner of College Sunrise, the Finishing School of the title. He is Rowland Mahler who runs the place along with his wife Nina (who actually does most of the work.) One of the attendees, Chris, a seventeen year-old, is writing a novel where he speculates the death of Lord Darnley, second husband of Mary Queen of Scots, was instigated by a desire for revenge on the part of Jacopo, brother of David Rizzio in whose murder Darnley was deeply implicated. Rowland has aspirations to be a novelist himself but having read Chris’s first two chapters finds himself blocked and increasingly obsessed with Chris.
That first page is deceptive though and we are soon pitched into a narrative where too much is told, not shown; where information is dispensed to the reader in a way that is like reading author’s notes for characters rather than experiencing them behaving as themselves. They may have passions but we are not given the opportunity to feel them but Spark does find space to include a few sideswipes at the publishing industry.
There are some interesting ideas here but they are not fleshed out. In the end this is not so much a novel, more like a series of preliminary sketches for one. Or an extended outline.
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