Litsy

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Widowed Kate has married the younger, much less well off & apparently alcoholic Dermot, to general disapproval. Her young adult son is more interested in seducing girls than doing his job in his grandfather‘s business, her teenage daughter is infatuated with the local curate who is flirting with Rome, & live-in Aunt Ethel reports her slightly salacious interpretations of events in letters to a friend. A juicy slice middle class life in the 1960s.

Ruthiella Sounds good! To date I‘ve only read one Taylor novel and I need to rectify that. 1w

LeahBergen Fab edition! I haven‘t read this one yet. 1w

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Litsi

Diary of a Provincial Lady | E.M. Delafield

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Always in print since 1930, this novel details a year in the life of a lady who lunches and is now and then amongst ladies who lunch better. It's different than the usual English novel about class because it's set in the English countryside rather than London, and in a upper class house instead of a manor. It's a glimpse into the past about tea things but also the calm with which parents intentionally drown kittens while the kids are away.

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Graywacke

The Gods Arrive | Edith Wharton

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Not sure exactly what Wharton was doing here as her artist wanders through all sorts of writing and social circumstances, and his one time muse, now lover, gets neglected, left behind, forgotten. I waited for her seek independence, but Wharton wasn‘t writing for me. I merely got a wink. Still, it‘s pleasant reading. #whartonbuddyread @Lcsmcat

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merelybookish

Afternoon of a Good Woman | Nina Bawden

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Penelope sits in her role as magistrate while a man is tried for theft. At the same time, she puts her own life on trial as she reflects on her decision to leave her husband for her lover. A taut, well-written account of how we show up in relationships and what it means to be a 'good' person. Maude would approve. 😆
Published in 1976, it means I've completed my first decade for the #192025 challenge! @Librarybelle

Librarybelle Hooray!! I still have a bit to go for the 1970s. 2mo

BarbaraBB Wow impressive, finishing the 70s! 2mo

merelybookish @Librarybelle I have a bit to go in all the other decades! 😁 2mo

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merelybookish @BarbaraBB Thanks! It feels like progress! Are you doing the challenge? 2mo

BarbaraBB Yes I am but I am not doing good. After a decade of reading the classics (obsessed by the #1001books list) I now mainly read contemporary books. The #192025 challenge came a bit too late for me 😉 2mo

merelybookish @BarbaraBB Interesting! I think I've gone The other way. For a long time I mostly read contemporary fiction and was obsessed with the #tob. Now I am more drawn to the old and obscure. 2mo

BarbaraBB That is interesting indeed. I think I‘ll be going there again too. I notice I am often annoyed by US contemporary fiction and am shifting my focus to the rest of the world. 2mo

merelybookish @BarbaraBB I think I started to find contemporary fiction limited in its scope. But I still read a few things but am maybe more selective 2mo

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Lcsmcat

The Gods Arrive | Edith Wharton

Searching for analysis of our novel, this poem popped up. If you can‘t read it here it‘s available online here https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50464/give-all-to-love
Wow. Once again Wharton expects us to be well read, as well as well travelled, and it all makes so much more sense. I still don‘t like V and think Halo deserves better, but we all make stupid choices sometimes. 😂 #whartonbuddyread

Graywacke

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

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

Lcsmcat Now the quotes “He had thought he loved her, and he had failed her; she had accepted the fact, and faced it with her usual ironic courage; and the one service his unstable heart could do her now was to leave her in peace and go his way.” (I almost liked Vance here.) 2mo

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Lcsmcat ‘Some books fail slowly, imperceptibly, as though an insidious disease had undermined them; others plunge from the heights with a crash, and thus it was with “Colossus”‘ (The voice of experience?) 2mo

Lcsmcat “Like most artistic coteries they preferred a poor work executed according to their own formula to a good one achieved without it;” (Definitely the voice of experience!) 2mo

Lcsmcat “They were not used to death at the Westons‘, it did not seem to belong to the general plan of life at Euphoria, it had no language, no ritual, no softening conventions to envelop it.” 2mo

Currey @Lcsmcat As usual great quotes. 2mo

Currey @Graywacke @Lcsmcat It was an extraordinarily rich two books, clearly full of life experiences, deeper and more subtle understanding of the human heart, but Vance is still a selfish, childish man. Did Wharton hope to win me over just a touch? Or was this her way of crafting a damning portrait of a failed artist? Ah, yes. I wish Halo had some hope of better. 2mo

Lcsmcat I think that Halo is one spoken to in the poem, so you have to flip the gender. But it‘s almost like Wharton followed the narrative arc of the poem across the two novels. My head‘s spinning a bit. 2mo

Lcsmcat @Currey I wonder why I hoped for a less-flawed character in these 2 books. It‘s not like Wharton ever gave us one before. But I really wanted Vance to be better. 2mo

Currey @Lcsmcat Yes, I certainly was not expecting a happy ending or a complete turn around of Vance‘s character. Have read too many Wharton‘s for that. 2mo

jewright It‘s sort of a happy ending? I was honestly surprised by Lewis‘s offer at the end. 2mo

Graywacke Halo was too good for Vance. Thanks for the poem. It explains things a bit. I was really puzzled by the title. 2mo

Lcsmcat @jewright Me too. As a matter of fact I also marked this quote “He had been prepared—perhaps—to regret his offer; but not to have it refused. It had never occurred to him that such an extreme of magnanimity could defeat itself.” 2mo

Lcsmcat @Graywacke The title puzzled me too. And none of the things I read addressed it, until the poem popped up. I find knowing the source of a title can be helpful, especially from an author as widely read as Wharton. 2mo

Graywacke Two quotes from me. First the awkward departure from Lewis: "They stood by each other in silence, miles of distance already between them, while they waited for the preliminary rattle and rumble from below; then the mirror-lined box shot up, opened its door, and took her in.” 2mo

Graywacke Halo‘s best line ?: “Did you really come all the way to Paul's Landing just to tell me that you were going away again?" (edited) 2mo

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Halo sees right through him, doesn‘t she? The line about having 2 children to raise also rang true to me. 2mo

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Re your first quote - Wharton is very good at describing the uncomfortable between people, isn‘t she? 2mo

Graywacke I‘m puzzled on the purpose of this book. Vance‘s WI soul searching is brief at best. A seasonal vacation. (About as deep as Thor‘s in the Avengers movies?) Halo‘s affirmation to Tarrant doesn‘t hold up to Vance. Yes, she establishes control on the relationship - she‘s read her Age of Innocence. But, you know, why not be free? And this is just this last section. We have two books of V & H the lead to - ?? Hmm. 2mo

Graywacke @Lcsmcat Tarrant as Hades returning Persephone? 2mo

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I‘ve not seen any of the Avengers movies so I can‘t speak to that, but, Vance is being true to character. He hasn‘t stuck with anything long. I was hopeful when I read “these weeks outside of time gave him his first understanding of the magic power of continuity.” But he didn‘t stick with it. So bye-bye magic power? 2mo

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Tarrant as Hades I can see (you‘re exposing my lopsided cultural knowledge here) but I can‘t decide quite that he acted. It was more like he knew he couldn‘t stop it, so he would let it happen with the least fuss possible. Hard on his pride, but true to character as far as his propensity to avoid exertion. 2mo

Graywacke @Lcsmcat i think Halo just knew how to manage Tarrant. And she‘s the moment. Vance gone and can‘t undermine or stand for anything, she‘s pregnant. Cards were in her favor when she made that move. 2mo

Graywacke @Lcsmcat in the Avengers movies Thor occasionally can‘t pick up his hammer. He‘s not pure enough - always this is plot friendly. But then the movie needs a snap-quick convincing purification scene so can finally pick it up. 🙂 2mo

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Thanks. Now I won‘t look so stupid in front of my son-in-law. 😂🔨 2mo

CarolynM Another abrupt ending that left me a bit puzzled. Thanks for the poem, I think it throws light on what EW was doing here. There‘s no doubt H deserves better than V, but for whatever reason she actually does love him, faults and all, so she‘ll accept whatever he offers. This is in stark contrast to V‘s “love” for F which collapsed as soon as he recognised her true character. Very interesting pair of books. Thanks for all your insights. 2mo

Lcsmcat @CarolynM Good observation about the difference in V‘s infatuation with F and H‘s more mature love! 2mo

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Kristelh

The Thinking Reed | Rebecca West

#bookspinbingo 4
#bookspin Sidetracked
#doublespin The Thinking Reed
#october2024

TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fantastic month!!! 2mo

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merelybookish

Afternoon of a Good Woman | Nina Bawden

Methinks Bea Arthurs as Maude inspired the cover art for this 1970s novel.

Ruthiella Definitely! 😂 2mo

LeahBergen Ha! 😆 2mo

sarahbarnes Oh definitely. 😁 2mo

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Lcsmcat

The Gods Arrive | Edith Wharton

Wow. This was a brutal section for me. Vance has sacrificed any sympathy I ever had for him. He‘s not young and impulsive anymore. He‘s selfish and cruel. I wish Halo had better options, but she needs to be shed of V.! Thoughts about either V or H‘s behavior? #whartonbuddyread

Graywacke

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

Lcsmcat Quotes coming, but I‘ll be out of pocket most of today for my grandson‘s birthday, so talk among yourselves as they used to say on SNL. 😀 2mo

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Lcsmcat “But it is almost unbearable to be forgotten. The victim invents a thousand pretexts rather than admit that one fact.” 2mo

Lcsmcat “This man whom she could no longer make happy, who needed her so little that he could disappear for weeks without giving her a sign—how much longer was she going to burden him with her unwanted devotion?” 2mo

Lcsmcat “Ah, happy artists! No wonder they were careless of other people‘s wounds, when they were born with the power to heal their own so easily…” 2mo

Lcsmcat And I won‘t quote it, but the cruel words V used when telling H that F had dumped him but he still wanted her and the way he dismissed H‘s intelligence and contributions to his work make me think Wharton must have had some wrenching scenes with her lover! 2mo

Currey @Lcsmcat it was so painful to watch Halo twisting herself into a pretzel 🥨 really appearing to believe that her love for Vance wasn‘t worthy and leaving him would be the best thing she could do for him. Meanwhile I‘m thinking “get out of there Halo, you deserve so much better” 2mo

Lcsmcat @Currey If everything else hadn‘t done it, his “do I have to use words of one syllable” dig pushed him past redemption in my eyes. Run, Halo, run! 2mo

Currey @Lcsmcat I agree that much of the writing appears to come from personal experience but I suspect her sympathy (as a writer) to Vance is that at some point in her life she had played both parts 2mo

Lcsmcat @Currey Yes, she is much more understanding of him than I can be. But how she could write him that clearly and see herself in that behavior- wow. That‘s a tough self-reflection. 2mo

Graywacke Happy birthday to your grandson! 2mo

Graywacke I wonder what drove this Wharton take on jealousy and unrequited devotion. Vance hurt me most when he called Hale an amateur critic. And she handled all his bitter lines so gracefully. He‘s not worthy 2mo

Graywacke Why does Frenside always offer such inadequate advice that never helps anyone? 2mo

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Frenside is a puzzle. He seems intelligent and caring, but always at a remove. Like he can‘t quite connect. I wonder if that‘s why his advice doesn‘t quite work? 2mo

Graywacke @Lcsmcat he is a puzzle. He‘s so nice, though. 2mo

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Yes, he is one of the likable ones in this story. 2mo

Lcsmcat @Graywacke As to why these themes now, what makes a 70 year old tackle doomed love. It seems like a subject for a young romantic, doesn‘t it? Was she looking back at her relationship with Walter Berry? Maybe trying to justify to herself why it went the way it did? I‘m not sure. 2mo

Graywacke @Lcsmcat i think about Berry a lot. Of course, she‘s the Vance artistically. He‘s the Halo. 2mo

CarolynM You have summed up my response to this part perfectly. As an aside, I think it was a bit mean of EW to take a swipe at Belgium😆 2mo

Lcsmcat @CarolynM 😂 Everyone mistreats Belgium! 2mo

jewright Vance is so self-absorbed. My word. In a sense, Flossy treats him just like he treats everyone else in his life. I do wonder if his new book is any good, or if Halo is right. 2mo

Lcsmcat @jewright I so want Halo to be right! 2mo

Graywacke @Lcsmcat 🙂 ( @jewright ) 2mo

Graywacke @Currey @CarolynM @jewright - just, a bit random, but I‘m really proud of Halo in chapter 34. Not sure how it will play out, but, for now, thank goodness 2mo

Lcsmcat @Graywacke 😀 Me too. 2mo

Currey @Graywacke @Lcsmcat @jewright @CarolynM Me too! 2mo

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JenlovesJT47

Elizabeth and Her German Garden | Elizabeth Von Arnim

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I see that the rest of my group who read this for the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead had mixed feelings about this one & I totally understand where you all are coming from. I didn‘t love this book but found it oddly enjoyable. Elizabeth & her friend Irais were pretty funny imo & I love how she calls her husband the Man of Wrath 😆 & we don‘t even know his name (he was an ass lol). I can totally see why LMM loved it because she was absolutely crazy ⬇️

BarbaraJean

JenlovesJT47 About flowers and her garden & I‘m sure she could relate to Elizabeth as a kindred spirit. Does she talk about this book in her journals? I haven‘t gotten around to reading them yet. So like I said, I enjoyed this more than I thought I would but can understand everyone‘s complaints about it. 🤓 4⭐️ #HauntedShelf #FrightClub #TBRread #LMM @Jadams89 (edited) 2mo

BarbaraJean Yes, LMM does talk about it in her journals! (That's the main reason I added it to our buddy read) She loved it and said Elizabeth was her “twin soul“ when it came to gardening 😊 2mo

JenlovesJT47 @BarbaraJean awesome, I had a feeling! I‘ve read a bunch of books about LMM and she was obsessed with flowers & gardening & was an amateur photographer as well. If you haven‘t read this one I‘d highly recommend it

The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables: The Enchanting Island that Inspired L. M. Montgomery

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BarbaraJean I've had that one on my list!! I think I've seen it on Hoopla. Maybe we'll have to add it into the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead sometime in 2025! 2mo

JenlovesJT47 @BarbaraJean awesome! They have a bunch of LMM‘s photographs in this book, the ones she took of her gardens. 2mo

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