Absent in the Spring

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Stranded between trains, Joan Scudamore finds herself reflecting upon her life, her family, and finally coming to grips with the uncomfortable truths about her life. The only favorable thing I have to say would be over the 'Absent in the Spring' - seeing the extent that a Karen takes to lie to herself (to convince herself that she's a good person) was interesting. For the first time in her life, Joan is forced to look inwards and examine her motives, her actions and the effect she has on others. An early encounter with a former schoolmate provided a foreshadowing for the major part of the novel: ‘If you had nothing to do but think about yourself for days and days, you might find out about yourself.

This book is in very good condition - small ownership stamp on ffep and inside of back board; slight spottiness to edges and ffep.The novel was first serialised in the United States in Good Housekeeping in two abridged instalments from July to August 1944. But they were proven wrong and Absent in the Spring remains one of Agatha Christie’s most surprising and revealing pieces of work. Coming from some author like Agatha Christy - you would be expecting dead bodies and forensic tests, but no, it is a complete Novel - a classic reflecting a highly matured outlook towards life. The environment is well described and since the birds, particularly the kakapo, are endangered species, it is good to raise awareness of their plight.

When Blanche tells Joan the story of her life, that she followed her heart with mixed results and that she moved down in social status because of her marriage, Joan pities her. We hear Joan’s thoughts about her husband, her three children, her marriage, raising the children, and a little about people in their lives. Joan dismisses her promiscuous friend’s words, offering up a pharisaical prayer: “thank thee that I am not like that. Beresford's review in The Guardian of 25 August 1944 concluded, "It is a very clever and consistently interesting study of a character that not even a desert vision could permanently change. Joan’s lack of understanding can result in some memorable dark comedy in what is essentially a psychological tragedy.Joan begins to suspect that others have not always seen her as she sees herself and resolves to behave differently once she gets home.