I loved those "grown-up" stories by Frances Hodgson Burnett that I have read so far (The Making of a Marchioness, The Shuttle, A Fair Barbarian), but I loved those "grown-up" stories by Frances Hodgson Burnett that I have read so far (The Making of a Marchioness, The Shuttle, A Fair Barbarian), but I almost dnf-ed this novella. Way too much melodrama and spoonfeeding the morale of it. MEH....more
I really enjoyed it into 1/3 of the book, but it was only as far as beautiful, atmospheric writing could take me with hardly any plot and weird3 stars
I really enjoyed it into 1/3 of the book, but it was only as far as beautiful, atmospheric writing could take me with hardly any plot and weird or farcical or grotesque characters.
Finishing it was a chore even with the excellent narration of Armando Duràn....more
I am not reading Thirkell's Barsetshire books in order, but for me this has been the weakest instalment so far (even disregarding the flippan2,5 stars
I am not reading Thirkell's Barsetshire books in order, but for me this has been the weakest instalment so far (even disregarding the flippant racism displayed by one of the characters)....more
Rounding my rating up to 4,5 stars upon rereading/re-listening to this delightfully breezy and ironic book, especially after recently reading Book 2 (Rounding my rating up to 4,5 stars upon rereading/re-listening to this delightfully breezy and ironic book, especially after recently reading Book 2 (Wild Strawberries) in the Barsetshire series which I found lacklustre and altogether weak.
I have only read 5 books from the series in a haphazard order and I find that it's better to leave some time between them. It lets you appreciate more the rehashing of characters and their behaviour in all these books, which would be just too much of a good thing otherwise.
This book is an obscure classic and undeservedly so, for it is humorous, entertaining and contains some keen observations of character and society, whThis book is an obscure classic and undeservedly so, for it is humorous, entertaining and contains some keen observations of character and society, which Frances Hodgson Burnett is so good at.
There is the very genteel, small, rather isolated and utterly English country town of Slowbridge where everything is done "just so" under the iron rule of Lady Theobald (if you think Lady Catherine de Bourgh from P&P, you are not far off).
The height of socialising are tea parties and frivolous London fashion is not allowed in.
[image]
Gentlemen are scarce and Lady Theobald has not got over the fact that a prosperous mill was established in the vicinity (with a Southern John Thornton, called John Burmistone, at the helm).
Into this small, self-contained and self-satisfied pond a stone is thrown with a big splash: an American heiress, Octavia Basset, niece to the gentle Miss Belinda, suddenly arrives from the wilds of Nevada to stay with her bewildered relative. And not only does she do everything wildly differently from the "just-so" rules of Lady Theobald and Society, she doesn't seem to care in the least about their opinion.
Some matrons fear for the innocence of their daughters: how are they to be preserved from such bad influence? Tis as bad as the French Revolution! This Barbarian may turn their cultivated parties from this
[image]
into THIS:
[image]
Lady Theobald is not happy as that splash is causing some waves.
[image]
Her own gentle, shy granddaughter, Lucia, is showing alarming signs of a silent revolution: changing her hairstyle and clothes and also finding her courage and true love in the process, which, BTW is the loveliest part of the book.
I was in two minds about Octavia. FHB, while constantly describing her looks and actions and the influence she exercises, never lets us in on her thoughts and feelings, so I felt a bit alienated from her. Also I found her actions in the final chapters -while I felt that something like this was coming- off-putting as they were rather in contrast to her supposed openness and directness. (view spoiler)[No matter how "American" she may have been, her behaviour towards Francis Barold (even though he was not a likeable character at all) was questionable to say the least and underhanded. To me all her actions seemed encouraging, so to suddenly throw in his face that she's already engaged was rather nasty. (hide spoiler)]
This is a novella, not a full-blown novel, like "The Shuttle", but very enjoyable.
"You could not shock her more than she shocks me; Beside her Joyce seems innocent as grass. It makes me most uncomfortable to see An English spinster of the middle class Describe the amorous effects of "brass," Reveal so frankly and with such sobriety The economic basis of society."
- W. H. Auden, Letter to Lord Byron (1936)
On this particular rerererererere....-read I actually did some counting and found that Miss Jane Austen and I are celebrating the 35th Anniversary of me reading Pride and Prejudice for the very first time!
This in turn brings happy memories and makes me feel so old, but of course I am heading her advice
[image]
and I am deeply grateful for all the pleasure, support, strength, experience and wisdom (ha!) JA gave me over those years.
So to be AUSTEN-tatious about it, I decided to throw a party and our star performer is Beyonce....more
I enjoyed the audiobook version of this novel as much as the printed/kindle titles.
As I am not a native speaker of English, I cannot comment on the vaI enjoyed the audiobook version of this novel as much as the printed/kindle titles.
As I am not a native speaker of English, I cannot comment on the validity of the narrator's Yorkshire accent, but she sounded convincing to me. :)...more
I am surprised how much Ienjoyed this, though some part was definitely owing to the great full-cast audiobook version. (The lady narrating Mina had soI am surprised how much Ienjoyed this, though some part was definitely owing to the great full-cast audiobook version. (The lady narrating Mina had some strange ideas about imitating Dutch & Hungarian accents. Both of them sounded the same and nothing like D or HU for sure, lol. But it's beside the point.)
The good thing was that while I can imagine that Victorian readers may have found the book scary, I only found it interesting and got really absorbed in it - no palpitating heart, heaving bosom, ready to scream. And I am the first to admit that I am a total ninny and possess the faintest of hearts when it comes to the horror genre (no Stephen King for me, thank you very much)....more
I enjoyed it, but towards the end the tone of the writing and the 1st-person narrator started grating.
In the beginI am a bit at a loss with this book.
I enjoyed it, but towards the end the tone of the writing and the 1st-person narrator started grating.
In the beginning I found her eccentric, but charming, but the more I read, the stronger was the feeling that her tone switched from funny to flippant and patronising either somewhere along the line or it had always been so. I simply could not decide and that made me feel uncomfortable.
Anyways, concerning the gardening and change of seasons part -for which I took up the book in the first place- I give it 3 stars and just try and ignore the rest. ...more
The 3 star rating does not reflect on Dickens's writing, but strictly reflects my enjoyment of it. And on my lPheeeewwww! I am finally done with this!
The 3 star rating does not reflect on Dickens's writing, but strictly reflects my enjoyment of it. And on my ladder of personal appreciation this is on one of the middle rungs. There were parts I absolutely loved and parts which I was absolutely bored with despite the excellent narration rendered by Richard Armitage.
Also, it is one of my idiosyncrasies that I prefer Dickens novels narrated in the third person (with the exception of my favourite, Bleak House where the 1st and 3rd person narrations are done to perfection).
My favourite characters from David Copperfield were Miss Betsey Trotwood, Mr Dick and Pegotty. :)
“I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it's very difficult to find anyone.' I should think so — in these parts! We“I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it's very difficult to find anyone.' I should think so — in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!”
Loading...
