The Observations [Paperback]

There are so many novels written these days which are set in the Victorian era that they even have their own category - "Vic Lit". However while there are certainly parallels with, in particular, both "Fingersmith" by Sarah Waters and "The Crimson Petal and the White" by Michel Faber Jane Harris has certainly added something new to the genre. What makes her novel stand out is the voice of the narrator, Bessy Buckley, a serving girl of tender years who finds herself in the employ of the likeable but slightly peculiar Arabella Reid. Bessy is our only entry into the world of the novel, the tale we read is ostensibly written by her, and her voice is startlingly original and entertaining. Writing in a Scottish-Victorian highly intelligent but fairly uneducated patois Bessy's narrative is full of gloriously funny, and rather bawdy, observations on the events that are played out around her. During the course of the novel she describes her life at Castle Haivers - a run down old house in the middle of a Scottish nowhere - and her dealings with Hector (an earthily vigourous young chap with designs on everything female within a radius of five miles); Master James, the owner of the house and a man with political ambitions; the pompous and hypocritical Reverend Pollock; sundry servants such as Muriel, whom Bessy less than affectionately describes as "Curdle Features" and, most importantly, the lady of the house, Arabella Reid, whom Bessy affectionately calls "Missus" in her narrative.

The plot centres around Bessy's relationship with Arabella and, in particular, the book Arabella is writing on the subject of servants. However, as Bessy digs a little deeper into the past, she discovers that one of her predecessors, the saintly Nora, died in mysterious circumstances. Unfortunate accident or something more sinister? Bessy is determined to find out and in the process she sets off a chain of events that plunge the inhabitants of Castle Haivers into a world of secrets, lies and distinctly spooky goings on.

This book really does have something for everyone and, like most of the reviewers on this page, I raced through the novel in a matter of a few days. It's laugh-out-loud funny in places (Bessy's after-dinner sing song for the Master of the house and his distinguished guests being a highlight) and distinctly creepy in others, the whole plot strand to do with Nora twists and turns and creeps in ways that would have been a credit to the likes of M.R. James, but it's the sheer exuberance and originality of the narrative voice that makes it a real winner. Bessy is quite a character and I defy anyone to be bored by her company. Highly original. Highly recommended!

For the first few pages I wondered whether I would have the patience to wrestle with the Victorian/Scottish slang/patois which Jane Harris uses in 'The Observations'. But in no time at all I was tuned in to the unique 'voice' of Bessy Buckley, our narrator and heroine. And what a girl she is! Feisty, funny, smart, outrageous and thoroughly likeable - she can cope with anything that life throws at her. She tells her story without self-pity or self-congratulation (even managing to convince us that her past life as the thirteen year-old mistress of a sixty-one year old man wasn't too bad). The book concerns her time working as a maid for Arabella and James Reid at Castle Haivers and her involvement with the hilarious characters and strange events that go on there. The plot is intriguing and the details of what life must have been for the servant class in 1863 are fascinating. But it's Bessy's VOICE that I found so appealing - she could make the phonebook fascinating. 'Flip me'(to quote Bessy) I raise a glass to Harris's amazing achievement.

It's a long book but I was forced to ration myself or we might not have eaten at all over Easter. I'm still suffering withdrawal symptoms, three days after finishing it.

The novel is set in late 19th century Scotland and tells the story of Bessy Buckley, a young Irish girl, who is desperate to flee from her difficult, dark past. Her escape route to Glasgow leads her past a country estate - Castle Haivers - where she finds employment as a respectable, though clueless maid. Bessy latches on to her employer, the beautiful, but seemingly odd Arabella Reid. Their complex `friendship' as well as the mysterious death of Bessy's predecessor, Nora, form the core of the book's plot line.

The Observations has been short-listed for the Orange Prize for fiction 2007, but I would be very surprised if it won (despite the fact that I've not read any of the other short-listed books). Not to say this is a bad book, not at all. Actually, it is extremely well written and for a first book it is fantastic. Jane Harris's use of language is marvellous and her story telling entertaining. Bessy is a very likeable character with a good sense of humour and the book's narrative is easy to follow. Jane Harris writes honestly and unpretentiously, giving the book a nice and light feel.

But, a prize-winning book needs more than that. It needs to be ground breaking, moving, exceptionally creative or thought provoking and The Observations is none of these things. It's just a simple tale, which I'll probably forget all about in a few years time. Considering the lack of a surprising and spectacular ending, it's also way too long. Therefore, despite being a good book, I won't be going out and buying tons of copies for friends and family and hence I can't really recommend it wholeheartedly here. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading the book and believe that Jane Harris is an author to look out for in the future.