Lcsmcat's blurb on The Custom of the Country

The Custom of the Country | Edith Wharton

So what do you think of Undine? And who is Wharton being (more) critical of, the Invaders or the Invaded? I confess to liking Undine Spragg (what a name!) better this time around than the first time I read this book. She elicits more sympathy this time for being so clueless. The Stentorian Hotel (stentorian meaning brash, loud) makes me chuckle - if Wharton were writing today would she have put them in Trump Tower? 👇🏻

Lcsmcat 👆🏻because that was the first set of images that came up when I googled the description of Undine‘s sitting room. 😀 So instead, I chose this pink princess bedroom that Undine might have liked. Promised quotes below. (edited) 2y

Lcsmcat #whartonbuddyread
@jewright @Louise @Sace @Suet624 @arubabookwoman @Currey @catebutler @Catherine_Willoughby @crazeedi @mdm139 @emilyhaldi @rubyslippersreads @KathyWheeler @llwheeler @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @BookishTrish @graywacke @leftcoastzen @ann_reads @sparklemn @sarahbellum @imaslowreader 2y

Lcsmcat “The Spragg rooms were known as one of the Looey suites, and the drawing-room walls, above their wainscoting of highly-varnished mahogany, were hung with salmon-pink damask and adorned with oval portraits of Marie Antoinette and the Princess de Lamballe. In the centre of the florid carpet a gilt table with a top of Mexican onyx sustained a palm in a gilt basket tied with a pink bow.” 2y

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Lcsmcat “Mrs. Spragg herself wore as complete an air of detachment as if she had been a wax figure in a show-window. Her attire was fashionable enough to justify such a post, and her pale soft-cheeked face, with puffy eye-lids and drooping mouth, suggested a partially-melted wax figure which had run to double-chin.” (edited) 2y

Lcsmcat “Undine‘s white and gold bedroom, with sea-green panels and old rose carpet,” 2y

Lcsmcat “She wanted to surprise every one by her dash and originality, but she could not help modelling herself on the last person she met, and the confusion of ideals thus produced caused her much perturbation when she had to choose between two courses.” 2y

Lcsmcat [the groom] “had left Cracow under a charge of swindling servant-girls out of their savings; in the light of which discoveries Undine noticed for the first time that his lips were too red and that his hair was pommaded.” 2y

Lcsmcat “(Undine had noticed that they were all more or less cousins)” 2y

Lcsmcat At the Stentorian- “silently eating their way through a bill-of-fare which seemed to have ransacked the globe for gastronomic incompatibilities;” 2y

Lcsmcat Undine “was used to the homage of the streets and her vanity craved a choicer fare.” 2y

Lcsmcat “It was one of Mrs. Spragg‘s chief occupations to watch the nightly lighting of New York.” 2y

Lcsmcat “the other “guests” simply formed a cold impenetrable group who walked, boated, played golf, and discussed Christian Science and the Subliminal, unaware of the tremulous organism drifting helplessly against their rock-bound circle.” 2y

Lcsmcat “Undine blushed with anger at her own simplicity in fancying that he had been “taken” by her—that she could ever really count among these happy self-absorbed people!” 2y

Lcsmcat “As her imagination developed the details of the scene in the Van Degen dining-room it became clear to her that fashionable society was horribly immoral and that she could never really be happy in such a poisoned atmosphere. She remembered that an eminent divine was preaching a series of sermons against Social Corruption, and she determined to go and hear him on the following Sunday.” 2y

Lcsmcat Of Marvell - “For four or five generations it had been the rule of both houses that a young fellow should go to Columbia or Harvard, read law, and then lapse into more or less cultivated inaction.” 2y

Lcsmcat “he seemed to see her like a lovely rock-bound Andromeda, with the devouring monster Society careering up to make a mouthful of her; and himself whirling down on his winged horse—“ 2y

Leftcoastzen Wow ! You are up & running,I had a poor reading week , I am probably going to comment later today when I complete book 1. 2y

Cathythoughts That‘s a scream .. would they be in Trump tower 😆. Undine IS clueless, she‘s innocent enough, I don‘t know how it will all work out ( my first time reading ) .. and I‘m not too sure yet about Ralph Marvell and his cave ( I like him now at the start ). Great quotes! I must have a proper look at them. Apologies, I‘m heading out now on Granny duty, but will join in tomorrow. Loving the book 👍🏻♥️ 2y

Currey @Lcsmcat I can‘t say I am appreciating Undine. She is clueless yes, but also is terribly manipulative of her parents not unlike a 6 year old. Ralph also rather clueless in his own bubble. I did Love the dialogue between Mr Spragg and Mr Dragonet regarding Ralph‘s inability to work at any business 2y

Lcsmcat @Currey That was funny. Mr. Spragg has more of my sympathy than anyone else, so far. 2y

Currey @Lcsmcat Where are you imaging Apex is? Also I am intrigued by what exactly Elmer has on the Spraggs. Were they (gasp) engaged? 2y

Louise It‘s interesting that Wharton chose to name her main character Undine, which is the name for the elemental beings associated with water. In the way that water always takes the shape of its environment or “container”, Undine continuously tries to take on the ways of the social circles she aspires to belong in. I was struck by @lcsmcat ‘s observation that she feels more sympathy for Undine this time around due to Undine‘s cluelessness. 👇 2y

Louise I‘ve been reading the book aloud to my mother; and so often, we pause and exclaim, “Oh my gawwwd!” in response to Undine‘s actions or thoughts. We feel for poor Marvell, whose poetic soul is in for a crushing. We also re-read certain lines and passages, as Wharton‘s writing is so exquisite. She captures the social undercurrents brilliantly! (edited) 2y

Graywacke @Louise how interesting about Undine‘a name. Thanks! 2y

Lcsmcat @Louise Interesting observation about U‘s name. And I‘ve had the same eye-rolling reactions to her. So much like teenager drama when my kids were that age. Do we know how old she is at this point? 2y

Lcsmcat @Currey For some reason I think Apex is in Indiana, but I can‘t say why. I think it‘s only described as “middle west.” 2y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat love the quotes and your post. I struggled with Undine for a bit. Entertaining satire, but pages and pages. But once she interacts more with others, she becomes a literary spark. She is so unstable inside, she becomes an unpredictable lightning rod. So since halfway through book 1 have taken to this novel like none of her previous ones, or any book in a while. I just never know how she will react. (edited) 2y

Graywacke Marvell is a nice mix. A detached realism, giving him a less biased eye, graceful and true to himself except that he isn‘t aware of his quiet spoiled laxity. I liked his aboriginal comment. I think that he puts on a good show for someone useless. I like that he has stepped into an unpredictable whirlwind and has no idea. 2y

Louise @lcsmcat @Graywacke Re: Undine‘s name, it was hovering there in the back of my mind and only “came to me” this morning about the elemental beings. Until then, the word “undulating” often came to mind, as U‘s ideas shift and move so regularly. 👇 (edited) 2y

Louise Here‘s a quote from Wikipedia re: Undines: “According to Paracelsus and his subsequent followers, there are four categories of elementals, which are gnomes, undines, sylphs, and salamanders. These correspond to the four Empedoclean elements of antiquity: earth, water, air, and fire, respectively.” 2y

Lcsmcat @Louise That‘s great! I hadn‘t gone beyond Mrs. Spragg‘s comment “Why, we called her after a hair-waver father put on the market the week she was born—” 2y

Louise @Graywacke Love your observations about Marvell! “Quiet spoiled laxity. . . puts on a good show for someone useless.” 😂 I must say, I loved the passages about words flying through the trees like birds and so on. One gets a picture of a world made of words, which might be how Edith Wharton saw it sometimes. 2y

Louise @lcsmcat How amazing that Wharton used the term “hair-waver”! She kept the water image in such a tiny detail! Thanks for reminding me of that. 2y

Louise Oh, sorry! The passages about words in the trees are in Book 2. 🤭🤦🏻‍♀️ 2y

Louise My brother mentioned that, in an interview about his adaptation of The Age Of Innocence, Martin Scorsese said it was the most violent film he‘d ever made. I think we‘re going to see quite a bit of that quiet violence in this book, too! 😳 😆 2y

arubabookwoman Oh my! This totally slipped my mind. I will catch up and join in next week. 2y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @louise hair-waver … water. 🙂 2y

Graywacke @Louise i was sad I thinking I had read and forgotten the words on trees lines. Now I have something to look for! 🙂 2y

Louise @Graywacke Thanks for putting a nice spin on my blunder! The passages about words are definitely something to look forward to! 2y

Graywacke @Louise some blunders are better than others. No worries here in this crew, regardless. (But I am now really excited to get to those passages! ☺️) 2y

AnnR In response to the question @Lcsmcat posted;
For the chapters I've read so far, Wharton seems more critical of the invaders, although she does show some sympathy for the Spragg's ignorance. (Wasn't Wharton from old money?) Maybe it would be more accurate for me to say Wharton puts the men Undine catches in her web, in a more sympathetic light. That's my initial impression, which might change later on.

2y

rubyslippersreads This is absolutely fascinating, although I‘m having a hard time finding anything to like about Undine. I feel sorry for her parents, but they made her what she is. 😏 2y

Lcsmcat @Ann_Reads Wharton was from old money. But she seems to cast a jaundiced eye on their way of life, so I wonder if her personal life was making her more sympathetic to the Invaders. 2y

Lcsmcat @rubyslippersreads They did kind of create a monster. Although as a parent I refuse to put the blame totally on them because I don‘t want to be blamed for my (grown) kids‘ behavior. 😂 2y

AnnR I'm really enjoying reading all the quotes and comments above. Actually, I haven't read any of Wharton books before because I'm generally put off by novels about the Gilded Age and the focus on elitism. (I think a lot of it hits too close to home now with what's happening in some parts of US 'big business' and political realm.) My reaction to Undine's personality isn't pleasant but I am enjoying Wharton's writing and characterization. 2y

sarahbellum Undine is giving me a lot of Veruca Salt vibes (“I want it now!” *stomp*) and I can‘t help but smile when those close to her call her Undie 😆. For all their superior feelings, I‘m surprised the Marvells haven‘t seen through Undine (yet?) and discovered that she aspires to be Queen of the Invaders 👸🏻 (edited) 2y

Lcsmcat @sarahbellum 😂😂Veruca Salt😂😂 2y

TEArificbooks I read book 1 a few days ago, and so already forgot everything I read. Not much happened. I had to flip through and read the thread to remember. Undine is definitely spoiled with her parents wrapped around her finger. I see some foreshadowing that Undine will have a unhappy marriage or despite the marriage not be accepted in the “set” she wants to be associated with. 2y

Currey @mdm139 I laughed when I read your comment. I have gotten foreshadowing of death and destruction…Undine seems ready to ignite at any moment. However, I agree that unhappy marriage will be in there somewhere also! 2y

Leftcoastzen I‘m with @rubyslippersreads the Spraggs spoiled that girl rotten! Undone is determined as she is clueless, when she gets to the dinner party & doesn‘t know what to talk about , she definitely applies herself by going out to look at the” pictures” there are many times I laughed about her antics.I also suspected there was something/someone lurking in her past in Apex. 2y

Leftcoastzen I love that quote about Mrs.Spragg watching the lighting of New York ! I could almost picture it. 2y

Leftcoastzen @Louise I think it‘s great you are reading it with your mother! If my mom lived closer , I would share it with her. 2y

Louise @Leftcoastzen It‘s so kind of you to mention that. I am my mom‘s caregiver, as she has some dementia. She has always been a big reader but finds reading a bit challenging right now, so I read to her everyday. It‘s a beautiful way to spend time together, and I am experiencing books in a different way by speaking them out loud. One hears the cadence and lyricism in a new way. 💗 2y

Lcsmcat @Leftcoastzen It‘s vivid, and very sad. She‘s stuck there with no friends. 2y

Leftcoastzen @Louise Wow , that‘s pretty hard .I‘m so glad you & your mom can find something to continue to bring some joy in a challenging situation.Bless you both. 2y

Leftcoastzen @Lcsmcat Yes, you can feel her sadness! 2y

Louise @Leftcoastzen Thank you so much for your kind words. Yes, reading together in this way really does add joy to our day. ❤️ 2y

CarolynM I haven't started yet. I will come back to these comments when I've read book 1 and hopefully catch up with you all next week. 2y

Graywacke @sarahbellum i had to Google Veruca Salt. 😊 (and had to figure out you didn‘t mean the band named after her) 2y

sarahbellum @Graywacke I read a lot of Roald Dahl growing up 🙃 2y

Cathythoughts @Louise That is interesting about Undines name ! .. @Lcsmcat I hadnt gone any further than the hair-waver either. 2y

Cathythoughts @Louise How lovely to read this to / with your Mother ♥️. Also your brothers mention of Scorsese and The Age Of Innocence … we must be in for some terrible heartbreak so 💔 2y

Louise @Cathythoughts Thanks for your comments. It really is lovely to read to/with my mom. It‘s probably therapeutic as well, as the brain creates pictures in response to the story; and this type of stimulation is very good for people with dementia. My mom is a long-time fan of Wharton. Re: the Scorsese anecdote, it‘s amazing how Wharton portrays the subtle “one-upsmanships”, manipulations, and quiet battles between people. Violence indeed! (edited) 2y

AnnR @sarahbellum LOL! We just watched the (1971) Charlie and Chocolate Factory movie Saturday evening. Undine definitely has a Veruca vibe to her. I suspect there isn't a bad egg Exicator in Wharton's novel though. 2y

sarahbellum @Ann_Reads if only! 🥚 2y

rubyslippersreads @Lcsmcat And her father does kind of try to rein her in (for all the good it does). 2y

rubyslippersreads @Louise I ❤️ that you‘re reading it with your mom. 2y

Louise @rubyslippersreads Thanks. We‘re enjoying reading it together and talking about it. 💗 2y

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