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There are plenty of books about the beautiful people of the early 20th century swanning about Europe from one fashionable location to another in a whirl of social engagements & entertainments & falling in and out of love with one another. This book is about the impact of that behaviour on their children. It is sad, infuriating and amusing in equal measure. Thanks #WhartonBuddyRead for getting me to read it.

Lcsmcat, Graywacke

batsy Nice review ❤️ "Sad, infuriating, and amusing" sums it up. 1d

Lcsmcat Have you noticed that none of the covers manage to show more than 5 children? It just goes to show how very many 7 were! 1d

CarolynM @Lcsmcat I deliberately chose a cover that showed children in action - the ones showing quiet, demure little darlings didn‘t seem at all right for the 7 little Wheaters. 10h

59 likes3 comments

Lcsmcat

The Children | Edith Wharton

Some preliminary thoughts. Rose is of the Old New York - staying in her unhappy marriage and arranging things, always calm and dignified. The elder Wheaters are the worst of the nouveau riche - marrying and divorcing on a whim and chasing the latest pleasure. Martin was born into Rose‘s world, but he doesn‘t live there. He runs off to make his fortune, loving an image of her (and an image of Joyce). Judith acts as a catalyst to reveal all this.

Graywacke

Lcsmcat All of them made me uncomfortable, for different reasons. And did we get the typical unhappy Wharton ending? #whartonbuddyread 2d

Lcsmcat @mdm139 @graywacke @jewright @AllDebooks @amysisson @Ann_Reads @arubabookwoman @batsy @BookishTrish @CarolynM @catebutler @Catherine_Willoughby @Cathythoughts @Crazeedi @Currey @dabbe @emilyhaldi @IMASLOWREADER 2d

Lcsmcat @KathyWheeler @kspenmoll @Leftcoastzen @LitStephanie @llwheeler @Louise @rubyslippersreads @SamAnne @sarahbellum @Sparklemn @Suet624 @TheBookHippie @cindyash
2d

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Lcsmcat Photo from an eBay listing for the 1928 edition. I just loved that dust jacket! 2d

Currey @Lcsmcat love the dust jacket: “In a world of easy divorce…” makes it sound like a pot boiler. 2d

Lcsmcat @Currey Doesn‘t it? I was highly amused. 2d

Currey @Lcsmcat In regards the ending, I was left believing that the children would be fine, they may never rise above their odd up bringing but they were resilient. Judith would probably marry although she was sure she would not. Joyce even seemed to have found a place that gave her some escape from the crazy world (of her own making). That leaves Rose and Martin. 2d

Lcsmcat @Currey I feel like Rose and Martin were just as damaged by their upbringing as the children were, but of course in a different way. Is Wharton suggesting how difficult it is to escape one‘s rearing? 2d

Currey @Lcsmcat Would Rose have married Dobree if she thought she was free? Dobree seemed vaguely interested in her between eyeing Judith and before courting Judith‘s mother. They would have made nice Old World New York partners. Although I think Rose really did care for Martin whereas Martin cared for some image he had of Rose not the person herself (edited) 2d

Currey @Lcsmcat Martin did escape somewhat when he was off building bridges or such things far away from New York. He was also good with the children as he took it on as a job. Wharton saying you can only escape so far and you will pay for it in the end? 2d

Lcsmcat @Currey I don‘t think Martin and Rose would have been happy, although Rose wouldn‘t admit it. But I‘m not sure how she and Dobree would have got on. He seemed to want more (as evidenced by his going for Joyce.) And Marin was definitely better at loving images he created than real people. All those conversations where he played both parts! 2d

batsy I'm mostly in agreement with your thoughts. I was so disturbed by how calm and unflappable Rose was, the cost of always maintaining tact and discretion. I think Wharton meant to show Old NY values as a prison of sorts, that Martin was running away from. The children left me feeling sad—although we do see Judith from Martin's melancholy POV, the fact that he catches a glimpse of sadness on her face makes me wonder if she's doomed to playing a role. 2d

Graywacke Sorry all. I finished, but i‘ve had no power since a storm wiped out part of Houston‘s power system Thursday evening. So, i‘ll come back later. Saving phone battery. 2d

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I wondered if that affected you. Stay safe! 2d

Lcsmcat @batsy I too think Martin was running away from the old NY prison, but his attraction to Rose and his ruminations on his Uncle‘s adventures makes me think he couldn‘t quite get away. 2d

Lcsmcat @batsy The book opens and closes with Martin alone, but I‘m not sure “lonely” equals “sad.” With the kids, though we don‘t get to know really how they turn out, I don‘t have high hopes. The dearth of any education for the girls limits them even more than the society of the time would. And the boys aren‘t much better. 2d

CarolynM I read it all at once so you‘re getting all my thoughts here. The children‘s plight was truly heartbreaking & I could sympathize with Martin wanting to help, but it was a doomed enterprise from the start. I particularly felt for Judith, forced to take on so much responsibility so young while her parents avoided all responsibility. Was the title intended to highlight the childishness of the parents too? ⬇️ 2d

CarolynM I liked the way Wharton dealt with the relationship between M & J. Given that it was not unusual at that time for teenage girls to marry much older men & she was only just short of marriageable age I could understand why he occasionally slipped into thinking of her that way, then felt bad about it. I also liked that she was so oblivious. ⬇️ 2d

CarolynM The end was so sad. The poor steps being subjected to the nutty child rearing theories of the Lohengrin College (Princess Buondelmonte was hilarious and infuriating all at once) & poor little Chip! (edited) 2d

Lcsmcat @CarolynM I loved that Judith was oblivious too. It made it better somehow. I hadn‘t thought of the title as referring to the parents too, but it makes sense. 2d

Lcsmcat @CarolynM The Princess was a hoot . I loved how the kids took her down a peg! 2d

cindyash @CarolynM Oh I thought the title definitly was for the parents as well. And Martin reminds me of the old chestnut “the road to hell is paved with good intentions. “ 2d

cindyash @Lcsmcat yes that was probably my fav part! also thought about giving parents advice not sure thats gotten any better 2d

batsy @CarolynM I liked that as I read it Martin became more complicated, and less of a creep as I first read him in the early section. A testament to Wharton's ability to shade her characters with nuance and complexity. 2d

Lcsmcat @batsy @CarolynM Wharton did an excellent job of showing Martin‘s inner state, especially in a book not told in first person. He did become more sympathetic. But so clueless! How did he think he could actually change those parents‘ behavior? 1d

jewright This was interesting to me because as a teacher I constantly see kids ripped in and out of homes and schools in parents‘ unstable relationships. I guess it sadly isn‘t only a recent problem. I really thought Martín and Judith would get married, so I was surprised by the ending. 1d

Graywacke (No power, but better internet connection) - @Lcsmcat I like your analysis a lot in the initial post. I hadn‘t thought of it that way. My 1st thought on finishing is that without Martin‘s attraction to a 15-yr-old, this book has not drive. That awkward tension makes the book work…and is really the only thing that makes it work. If i had that right, feels odd. 1d

Graywacke @batsy etc - for what it‘s worth, i grew to really appreciate Rose. Her unfeeling goddess of always correct judgement was clearly only on the outside. She had feelings, she tried. Martin was a mess. I think Rose handled it all with a lot of grace. 1d

Graywacke @Lcsmcat etc - I also found Martin‘s internal mental mess well done and interesting. He never understood what he wanted. Even at the end, he is as lost as he was in the beginning. His thoughts tell us what he couldn‘t understand. 1d

Graywacke @Currey @CarolynM etc - here is an alternate view of Judith - she managed Martin like she managed everything else. She knew all Rose knew, and she knew and worked Martin‘s attraction. And when he crossed the line, she knew exactly how to play to disarm him. And when he was off to London, she knew he was gone and that his usefulness has played out. So she went along with his promise to return. Just a thought. Could be (I imagine). 1d

Graywacke @cindyash were Martin‘s intentions always good? (He really was in a state of denial. Maybe several denials.) 1d

Graywacke @jewright Economics plays a role in these broken families. Wealthy families can be cruel (although it takes intent, like here). But poverty is a lot different. 1d

Currey @Graywacke I like thinking about your alternative take on Judith. Perhaps she did know all that was going on in Martin‘s mess of a mind and just played him. That is an even more cynical reading. (edited) 1d

Lcsmcat @Currey @Graywacke While I don‘t want Judith to be that cynical, it makes sense, given all she had been exposed to in her young life. And I do like to think of her taking control. Who among us women hasn‘t had to “manage” an older man at some point? And I know I did it by playing dumb (instead of reporting him like I wish I had!) (edited) 18h

CarolynM @Graywacke @Currey Um…I really don‘t think there‘s anything to suggest Judith is that calculating. I wouldn‘t have thought that laughing at Martin when he indicated he might be interested in her would be a good play if she were. 11h

CarolynM @batsy Yes, at first I was very unsure about Martin‘s intentions, but I think he was trying do the right thing by the children. 10h

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Taylor

As I Lay Dying | William Faulkner

That‘s what they mean by the womb of time: the agony and the despair of spreading bones, the hard girdle in which lie the outraged entrails of events

4 likes

batsy

The Children | Edith Wharton

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I didn't quite like this, but it's Wharton—the novel is interesting & unsettling. It seems like it takes the themes that were satirised in Twilight Sleep (irresponsible parents blown about by every wind) & gives it a darker turn. In this one we see the children as fully-fledged characters & the costs of bad parenting hit hard. The other thing is the character of Martin: predatory, genuine, or wayward Peter Pan? All very disturbing to think about.

batsy I suppose what made it bleak is the spectre of Doll Westway haunting this narrative. #WhartonBuddyRead @Lcsmcat 4d

Cathythoughts Great review! Wharton is Wharton indeed. 4d

BarbaraBB Wharton is Wharton. Love that. Also great edition 4d

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Lcsmcat Doll Westway really does haunt it. It made me wonder if Wharton experienced a child‘s suicide. Great review! 4d

batsy @Cathythoughts Thank you! There's something about Wharton—it's rarely a wasted moment. 3d

batsy @BarbaraBB Was very happy to find this Virago edition a few years back 🤩 3d

batsy @Lcsmcat Thank you! I was wondering the same re: her experience. Marilyn French in her intro says that this was one of Wharton's own favourites. 3d

cindyash @Lcsmcat I was shocked by this then shocked that her friend witnessed it, then shocked that her mother didn't seem to care two hoots about it. I wonder two if she experienced it 3d

CarolynM I‘ve just finished reading. Still processing. Looking forward to discussing it with you and the others. 2d

batsy @CarolynM Look forward to your thoughts, Carolyn. There's a lot to mull over. 2d

80 likes10 comments

lil1inblue

Wild Gratitude | Edward Hirsch

#poetrymatters #underhand

TheSpineView

dabbe 💙🩵💙 6d

TheSpineView 😍😍😍 6d

13 likes2 comments

AroundTheBookWorld

Robert Frost [Selected Poems] | Robert Frost

They were content to figure in the trees
As Leo, Orion, and the Pleiades.
And that was what the boughs were full of soon.
#SelectedPoems #RobertFrost #lastline #closingline #book #books #bookfeature #bookfeatures #bookfair #bookfan #bookfandom #bookfever #bookfanatic #bookfrenzy #bookgeek #bookgeeks #bookgeeky #bookgang #bookgasm #geek #geeks #geeky #Poetry #Classics #Fiction #Literature #Americans #Collections #ClassicLiterature #School #Poems 🖤

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TheSpineView

The Collected Poems of Robert Creeley | Robert Creeley

#PoetryMatters @TheSpineView
#Underground

IndoorDame ♥️♥️♥️♥️ 1w

TheSpineView @IndoorDame 🌞 7d

dabbe 💙🩵💙 7d

TheSpineView @dabbe 😊 7d

49 likes4 comments

Graywacke

The Sound and the Fury: Original | William Faulkner

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This was a nice step into Faulkner's best stuff. I loved the book, and was enraptured by the Benjy section.

He's mute and mentally compromised and can only moan. But he observes everything. He watches and feels, but can't interact or express his feelings. He's like a reader. And he floats through time, weaving the present and past in meaningful ways. He catches everything essential, and much that is beautiful and he senses all this.

Graywacke Note: When you open this book, you can vaguely sift out golf in the distance, but suddenly Luster, Bengy‘s caretaker, is gone and there are other people around and Benjy seems different. It's confusing and can be frustrating. Timelines are changing. Confused and intrigued I looked up some guidance online and got this very simple set of guidelines 👇 1w

Graywacke
1. Pay attention to Benjy's caretaker. When Versh is taking care of Benjy, he is around 3 to 5 years old. When it's T.P., Benjy is a teenager. When it's Luster, Benjy is 33
2. There are two Quentins - Benjy's suicidal brother and his promiscuous niece.
3. Bengy is named Maury at birth, after his uncle, but his mother insists that they change it after discovering his mental disability. 1w

Graywacke So I had read 30 pages, amused and confused. After finding these guidelines, I went back to the beginning, and what I got was magical. Some of the best reading I've ever had. 1w

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AmyG I read this-was SO confused-then read it again with sparknotes-and was blown away. 1w

Graywacke @AmyG yes! That‘s like the same experience i had. Once it clicks, it‘s really gorgeous 1w

sarahbarnes I remember being blown away by this in a class in college, and I‘m guessing I only grasped a fraction of it then. 1w

SamAnne I was glad to read this one in a Goodreads group with some Faulkner aficionados. 1w

Suet624 I own this and have put off reading it. So glad to get your notes. Clearly they‘ll be helpful. 1w

Graywacke @sarahbarnes I definitely only got some things, some impressions. Faulkner often isn‘t friendly to single readings. But i loved what i got. 1w

Graywacke @SamAnne nice. I want to read with that kind of group. Adds so much. 1w

Graywacke @Suet624 you know, you have to stumble through about 80 pages. There‘s no other way. Actually i stumbled through 30. Then googled and restarted. That worked nicely. But forgive yourself for that first lost attempt. The second time through (part 1) can get some magic 1w

56 likes11 comments

Anna40

The Short Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald: A New Collection | F. Scott Fitzgerald, Matthew J. Bruccoli

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This is a fine collection of about 40 short stories Fitzgerald wrote with a brief introduction when and where they were published and a few lines with fascinating facts about them. I loved Winter Dreams written while he was planning The Great Gatsby and The Swimmers which Fitzgerald described as “the hardest story I ever wrote.”

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