Welcome to Litsy!

Another belated review: this was one of the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent picks in October—and it was the slowest burn ever. I‘d read that it was slow & wordy, but man… it was really slow and really wordy. It used lots of gothic tropes without actually feeling gothic, it talked about how creepy the house was but didn‘t feel creepy, and the sinister curse didn‘t feel all that sinister. Hawthorne‘s writing really is beautiful, ⤵️

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent

One of the themes in the novel is the conflict between external appearance and internal consciousness. What examples of this conflict do you see—in the central characters, or even in the house itself? How do appearances and consciousness change over the course of the novel?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent

Let‘s talk genre. Hawthorne is said to have considered this a romance—in literary terms: “a narrative, allegorical treatment of heroic fantastic or supernatural events.” I picked it for October because of the gothic elements: witchcraft/family curse/murder/creepy house. Other than “classic,” how would you classify this book, and why? “Romance” in a literary sense, gothic fiction, something else?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent
“…it is a weird, melancholy creation, and every few paragraphs I would stumble over a sentence that brought stinging, painful tears to my eyes… Once, tears over a book-woe were something sweetly, sadly pleasant…Still, I love the book and found pleasure in reading it…” (Journals Vol 2, p. 67)
Do you enjoy stories that prompt “tears over a book-woe”? Are there books that give you “sweetly, sadly pleasant” tears?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent

In Vol. 2 of LMM‘s journals, she comments: “The ‘Seven Gables‘ has the indefinable charm of all Hawthorne‘s books—that airy, fantastic, elusive fancy of his permeates every line of it” (pp. 67-8). However, many readers have criticized this book for being far too wordy & thin on plot. Did you enjoy Hawthorne‘s writing style? Did the slow pace, drawn-out descriptions, and slow-burn plot work for you in the end?

“I doubt whether even our public edifices—our capitols, state-houses, court-houses, city-halls, and churches—ought to be built of such permanent materials as stone or brick. It were better that they should crumble to ruin once in twenty years, or thereabouts, as a hint to the people to examine into and reform the institutions which they symbolize.”

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent

A quick check-in on this week‘s #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent reading, at the midpoint of House of the Seven Gables.

🏠 How is your reading going so far?
🏠 What are your initial impressions of the book?
🏠 Are you enjoying it? Why or why not?

Repost for @BarbaraJean

Next up in the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead: two #LMMAdjacent spooky(-ish?) reads!

The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne:
Oct. 13-19: Chapters 1-10
Oct. 20-26: Chapters 11-21
(LMM mentions this in her journals on April 12, 1903)

The Haunted and the Haunters by Edward Bulwer-Lytton: Oct. 27-Nov. 2
(LMM mentions this in her journals on June 2, 1902)

Next up in the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead: two #LMMAdjacent spooky(-ish?) reads!

The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne:
Oct. 13-19: Chapters 1-10
Oct. 20-26: Chapters 11-21
(LMM mentions this in her journals on April 12, 1903)

The Haunted and the Haunters by Edward Bulwer-Lytton: Oct. 27-Nov. 2
(LMM mentions this in her journals on June 2, 1902)

I read this in anticipation of visiting Salem. It was hard to get into, but there‘s one scene towards the end of the block that was written in such an original way. It will always stick with me. It‘s a description of all the things one character is supposed to be doing while he‘s sitting in a chair. Without any spoilers, it was such a fascinating way to move the plot forward.

“For what other dungeon is so dark as one‘s own heart?”

You guys remember these?

📚📚📚📚 There‘s something about mid-1800‘s horror - it hits differently. This was an 🎧 book + 📖 & I enjoyed its creepy innuendo. Hawthorne has a way of describing things to make your skin sort of crawl but never gets too graphic or gross

I am very pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this book so much. Such beautiful turns of phrases. He does write unnecessarily long sentences. Considering how little dialogue is in this novel, it still drew me in with its imagery and philosophical musings. I loved the almost fantastical qualities of the story, even though it never actually dipped into anything magical other than mesmerism.

🖤

The writing is so great! So thoughtful and poetic.

😔

🤪🪑

Hello from sunny Golden Gate Park! I think Hawthorne would approve of the location, reading this book has confirmed for me his being a writer with an impeccable eye for beauty in everyday nature, as well as humanity. “House” is Gothic to its core, an introspective, delicate study of a cursed house and its inhabitants. It‘s lighthearted (even humorous) for 3/4 of the plot before descending into some deliciously atmospheric creepiness.

Tried to read my #doublespin and got incredibly bored with it—just not for me!

I love Hawthorne because of the New England imagery it conjures in my mind.

Finally finished it (first goal of #20in4!)! It wasn‘t at all what I expected. I guess I thought it was a ghost story or similar, and while it has some elements of that it really isn‘t. Not a lot happens, and the story meanders through time, but I found the writing enjoyable and the story interesting. I was surprised to enjoy The Scarlet Letter on a reread several years ago, and this was also surprising. Hawthorne - who knew?

Very modest goals for #20in4 this time:

Finish tagged (finally)
Keep up with #SophiesWorld buddy read
(Maybe) start In the Shadow of the Moon

But we‘re starting our homeschool year on Monday so there‘s a fair bit to get ready; and there‘s a possibility of hurricane-related storms hitting us on Monday, too. It was a year ago today we had Laura come through and lost power for three days (as we tried to start school). 🤞🏻 for the next week!

[on reading books that make you cry, or rather on shutting them when they do]

And wisely, too! Is not the world sad enough, in genuine earnest, without making a pastime of mock-sorrows?

“Endowed with common-sense, as massive and hard as blocks of granite, fastened together by stern rigidity of purpose, as with iron clamps, he followed out his original design, probably without so much as imagining an objection to it.”

Wow, what a solid depiction! Also, hooray for slightly larger and better-spaced print!

Literary book stop!

Well, I‘ve been meaning to read this for ages, and it‘s good so far. But I have to put it aside until I can find another copy because OMG this print is killing me! Every time I got a few minutes to read today I had to stop because of eye strain and headache. So, back burner and move on to something else. Frustrating.

I‘m out in my favorite place today (Salem,Ma) which is the basis for so many stories, media, games, etc.

I thought I‘d share a bit of Salem‘s favorite son with those who might appreciate it.

Good weather for Nathaniel today!

I've got chills, they're multiplying...

"Shall we never never get rid of this Past? ... It lies upon the Present like a giant's dead body."

The style is too pompous to my taste;the author tried to make every sentence beautiful,but he fails and hundreds of pages go by without anything meaningful happening,going through repetitive examples of situations in order to define characters that are already clearly shaped.The sentences are too long (over 10 lines)and it fails to create a gothic atmosphere.I would have bailed if it wasn't for the enjoyment of reading this beautiful 1883 edition.

#flowersonthecover #magnificentmarch @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

Ohhh the things I find in old books. This lil jem was printed in 1901.

Finished another book on serial reader!

I picked this as a re-read, but the more I read the less I remembered of the story. Either it was a DNF the first time through or a selective memory block. 🤔

1- I have thrown 2 books. The tagged one and The Dark Tower VII. That was a hardcover too.
2- Mostly eat at home unless I'm at the museum
3- I puked in 3rd grade after an altercation with a tire swing 🤢
4- Boxwoods and honeysuckle
5- Final Camouflage 🤣
Once again, thanks @howjessreads!! This is extra fun with all the new followers we're getting! 💜

Winter is right around the corner here in New England.

I did enjoy this book, but I didn‘t connect with it as much as I hoped. I‘m not sure why as there wasn‘t much I actively disliked about it (sexist, and bizarre attitudes to children, but that‘s par for the course with 19th century novels). Part of me thinks I find it harder to connect with American classics, but that‘s not always the case and I‘m not sure why. I‘d like to read more pre-1900 US novels so I can work out what I think of them more.

Very much up for some wintry escapism right now - been wanting to read some proper old American gothic again for a while now!

#octoberputaspellonyou

One of these days I'd like to visit #Salem and The House of the Seven Gables.

Nathaniel Hawthorne's grave in the family plot! 😱

#NewEngland

1. Shopping with Mom and reading
2. EST
3. Don't usually read by season
4. Once in a while, will reread the tagged book eventually, probably next year
5. 🖑 @wanderinglynn @MirrorMask @LapReader @LazyDays

#friyayintro @howjessreads

8. Old favorite

Many years ago, I visited the actual house that sparked the story. I haven't visited Salem, MA, in a long time.

#31bookpics @howjessreads

This isn't the House of Seven Gables, but it is Max and Dani's home in Hocus Pocus. Salem is a weird place, and it takes on a new level in October. I realized during my visit yesterday that I don't think I've ever read Nathaniel Hawthorne. So today I'm beginning The House of the Seven Gables on #serialreader.

This book caught this Scarlet-Letter-hater by surprise. This should be the Hawthorne we force teenagers to read. Give it a listen #applepodcasts #googleplay #soundcloud #readtheclassics #1001books

After reading Moby Dick earlier this year, I've been dreading this contemporaneous novel, fearing it might be just as monotonous. But I was pleasantly surprised with the story and narrative. Doesn't hurt either that I'm a sucker for gothic fiction. Fifteen #litsyclassics done!! My finished stack so far!

I wanted to do book pairing this year. This one I paired with Ghostland by Colin Dickey since the house is mentioned in this book. May also pair with The Witches by Stacy Schiff as the Salem Witch trials are mentioned.

Read this story of the Pyncheon family in 8th grade - yes, I was one of those kids.

#ReadingResolutions | 14: #FictionalFamily