Saw that someone mentioned this book on one of the forums. I forgot I even had it.

Just returned from mailing this, hope you enjoy it bassoony.

I slipped this one in between two bookrings. I LOVED it. It was quite a sexy little novel, in the way that steamy romance novels can never be. This is one of the feminist standards, I believe, and I saw many similarities between this one and Wide Sargasso Sea, right down to the cursing parrot, and Creole characters. Damn, those Creoles!!! What is it that's in their blood?
I thought the novel was very pertinent to this century. The social requirements of women, despite all the freedoms gained through feminist movements, are still a force to be reckoned with. The woman who refuses to smile and giggle at appropriate times is still considered a bitch, and the woman who suddenly decides she's sick of playing the social role assigned to her is considered, "not herself." The mother-women have never changed. I see myself in Mademoiselle Reitz in many ways, and in other ways, Edna. Indeed, I am a menace to society, and I think that's as it should be.
The ending...well, I didn't like it, but it leaves enough hanging that I can harbor my own hopes.