The Flamboyant
The Demerests and their 15-year-old daughter Lenora live in Chautauqua, an intellectual retreat in upstate New York, in a lakefront estate called Driftwood. In 1915 Lenora lives her last idyllic summer close to nature, far from war. The following year her mother dies and her liberal father, the enlightened Dr. Demerest, no longer likes the countryside. He decides to relocate to Puerto Rico. On the voyage, Lenora meets aviator George Hanson, who inspires her to learn to fly.
The author describes the events and people in an omniscient, sweeping narrative. After twenty pages, she has yet to involve us with the characters in a full-bodied scene. She breaks the cardinal rule, “Show, don’t tell,” using dry prose to tell a juicy story. She takes charge of the material when Lenora meets Ignacio Portelli, a wealthy young landowner, but chooses to write from his point-of-view. Smitten with the “Americana,” he presents her with an antique gem, sparking her interest in jewelry.
The story lacks conflict and tension. The characters are nice people, but since they have nothing at stake, it takes an effort to stay interested in their doings. The story picks up in Chapter 9 when Lenora takes flying lessons, but even then, the author summarizes, skimming the surface of her scenes. She forfeits the opportunity to describe Lenora’s first experience at the throttle of a plane. She isn’t engaging her subject or the reader. There are lovely lyrical passages and good dialog, but without tension they just lie there. Only the character of Lenora sustains the novel.
