The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing (1962)

The Golden Notebook is considered the master work of Doris Lessing (1919 to 2013, received Nobel Prize in 2007).  At the time of publication in 1962 it was considered a pioneering work on the daily lives of women in England and English women in African colonies.  The persons in the novel were mostly members or former members of the Communist Party of England.  There is a bit of ideological conversations about the nature of communism and what it took to be a good party member.  

 

The novel has an interesting  structure.  (If you are seeking to avoid reading the novel, Wikepedia has a good article on the plot, characters, and structure). The main character is a famous novelist and is in the process of writing another novel.  She keeps different aspects of her thoughts in different colored note books.  There is a lot of fascinating conversations about great European writers.  

This is a serious book that needs to be approached slowly and with respect.  Sometimes it felt a bit dated.  I am very glad I have read The Golden Notebook.  

Mel u