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This may be an unpopular opinion, but I did not care for these poems. I remember liking his famous "The Road Not Taken" when I had to read it in school, but that was the only Robert Frost poem I knew until reading this collection. Aside from one or two, I found these poems very dry and boring, and I couldn't connect to anything in them. Just not my cup of tea.

TheBookHippie lol!!!! Finally someone else!!! I don‘t like his poetry AT ALL! 😅 2d

dabbe #fanofthepan! #betterbooksahead 🤩🤩🤩 2d

CaliforniaCay @TheBookHippie I'm so glad it's not just me! 😅 1h

45 likes3 comments

Graywacke

As I Lay Dying | William Faulkner

Whoa! Just getting going on this

BarbaraBB Such a fabulous read. 2d

Graywacke @BarbaraBB i really get lost in it. Goes really slow, but I‘m all in. 2d

Hooked_on_books I read this my senior year in high school and really liked it (and am reminded that was a very long time ago). 2d

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Graywacke @Hooked_on_books surreally long ago, right? Cool high school assignment (or voluntary reading?) 2d

Hooked_on_books I read it in AP English, which I think was a good thing, as we talked a lot about writing dialect. It added to the book for me, which was a little challenging to read because of how it‘s written. 1d

Graywacke @Hooked_on_books i finished late yesterday. Still processing. It is something absolutely fantastic. 16h

48 likes6 comments

LitsyEvents

Hudson River Bracketed | Edith Wharton

repost for @Graywacke

#whartonbuddyread

Thinking way way ahead on the book that has an architectural style names after it. I would like to hold off on our next Wharton novel until August.

#BuddyRead

original post:
https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2737306

24 likes

Graywacke

The Children | Edith Wharton

so-so

It‘s Wharton, so I should probably just give it a pick, but it‘s not my favorite of hers.

We spend this book waiting to see how Martin will manage his unacknowledged attraction to 15-yr-old Judith, while he tries to help her and her 6 siblings-plus-“steps”, stuck 👆 - Cortina, IT in the Dolomites. We might put it down wondering whether it was J who managed M. But the rest I found ok, but less interesting.

#whartonbuddyread

Lcsmcat

Ruthiella I‘m think it‘s ok to adjust your scale based on expectations. Makes sense to me. 3d

Lcsmcat Just because someone is a “great author” doesn‘t mean every try is a hit, or connects with every reader. I think she was trying to do something important, I‘m just not sure how successful it was in its day, nor how much staying power it has. 3d

Crazeedi This picture ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 3d

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Graywacke @Lcsmcat well, it was a bestseller. But i agree with you. And i don‘t sense much staying power. 3d

Graywacke @Ruthiella thanks. I‘m always hesitant to hit those Litsy percentages. 🙂 3d

Graywacke @Crazeedi yeah, right. Take me there! Please! 3d

46 likes6 comments

Graywacke

Hudson River Bracketed | Edith Wharton

#whartonbuddyread

Thinking way way ahead on the book that has an architectural style names after it. I would like to hold off on our next Wharton novel until August.

Lcsmcat

Graywacke @AllDebooks @amysisson @Ann_Reads @arubabookwoman @batsy @BookishTrish @CarolynM @catebutler @Catherine_Willoughby @Cathythoughts @cindyash @Crazeedi @Currey @dabbe 4d

Graywacke @Daisey @emilyhaldi @IMASLOWREADER @IndoorDame @jewright @KathyWheeler @kspenmoll @Leftcoastzen @LitStephanie @llwheeler @Louise 4d

CarolynM No problem. I might even be able to keep up with the reading schedule by then🙂 4d

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Graywacke @rubyslippersreads @SamAnne @sarahbellum @Sparklemn @Suet624 @Tamra @TheBookHippie @willaful 4d

Graywacke @CarolynM 👍 4d

TheBookHippie Perfect. 4d

Lcsmcat Works for me! (But I hope that it‘s not that long before your power comes back on. 😀) 4d

Graywacke @Lcsmcat we got it back Monday evening. Four days of no power. I‘m still in recovering. 😁 I committed to a group read on fb in June and one of Possession by AS Byatt here on Litsy in July. That‘s why i pushed to August. 4d

Graywacke @TheBookHippie 👍 perfect is good 🙂 4d

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Glad to know it‘s back! I read Possession decades ago (I feel so old!) and LOVED it. I hope you have a similar experience. 4d

Leftcoastzen Yay! 4d

Suet624 4 days feels endless. 4d

Graywacke @Leftcoastzen 🙂 4d

Graywacke @Suet624 it was endless 4d

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 4d

Currey Glad to hear your power is back and happy to push Wharton‘s next to August 4d

dabbe Just the thought of losing power at this time of year makes me like this: 😱. Glad you have it back, and August sounds doable. 3d

Graywacke @Currey thanks! I‘ll miss our group till then. 3d

Graywacke @dabbe i‘m kind of freaking out about an August in Houston without power. Hurricane season expected to be intense, so it‘s a real possibility. 3d

dabbe @Graywacke Oh, man, that is horrible to even remotely contemplate. Houston has certainly gone through some MAJOR weather fiascos. I'll keep my 🤞 for you! 3d

Graywacke @dabbe I appreciate that 3d

jewright Works for me. I‘m not ready to think about August though. School is just ending. 3d

Graywacke @jewright oh, i get that. Same for my wife. 3d

38 likes23 comments

Zoe-h

The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers | Adam Sass

pick

This book was so cute! I got it as a blind date with a book a few months ago from the Ripped Bodice, an it coincidentally was on my TBR. I loved the fairytale aspect of this book with Cinderella ties throughout. 5🌟

12 likes1 stack add

TheBookHippie

Complete Poems of Dorothy Parker | Dorothy Parker

pick

Apologizing to Dorothy for reading an awful opinion book about her 😅👀♥️

Bookwomble Love the reflection of the lamp in your brew 😍 6d

Daisey Lovely photo! 6d

62 likes2 comments

CarolynM

The Children | Edith Wharton

pick

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. 1w

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! 1w

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. 1w

66 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 2w

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

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

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

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

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

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. 2w

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? 2w

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) 2w

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? 2w

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! 2w

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. 1w

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. 1w

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I wondered if that affected you. Stay safe! 1w

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. 1w

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. 1w

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? ⬇️ 1w

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. ⬇️ 1w

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) 1w

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. 1w

Lcsmcat @CarolynM The Princess was a hoot . I loved how the kids took her down a peg! 1w

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. “ 1w

cindyash @Lcsmcat yes that was probably my fav part! also thought about giving parents advice not sure thats gotten any better 1w

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. 1w

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? 1w

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. 1w

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. 1w

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. 1w

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. 1w

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). 1w

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

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. 1w

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) 1w

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) 1w

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. 1w

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. 1w

Graywacke @CarolynM i was thinking laughing was the perfect defuser. No one gets insulted because it turns the proposal into funny suggestion. 1w

Lcsmcat @CarolynM @Graywacke I guess it depends on _what_ she was calculating. If the idea was to avoid marriage with Martin but not lose his friendship/protection, I think she did pretty well. 1w

Graywacke @Lcsmcat i think she was just using Martin for a while. I don‘t think she was mean or conniving, just taking advantage of his willingness to help. She handles the princess quite well and that was serious. She saw right through Rose‘s formality. Judith, to me, was a sharp one. 1w

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Never mean. Conniving maybe. Certainly clever - she couldn‘t have watched the adults around her without learning something of how to get her way. And stealing the money to run away is a character defining moment. 1w

Graywacke @Lcsmcat good point on the stealing! I hadn‘t connected that. 1w

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