tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post5191913285939817225..comments2024-03-29T03:04:00.853-05:00Comments on Wuthering <br>Expectations: The beautiful land of Portugal, so full of endearing charm - the party and the coda in Eça de QueirosAmateur Reader (Tom)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-86671611777325697702012-01-20T16:53:34.399-06:002012-01-20T16:53:34.399-06:00But that really is the Portuguese spirit, I'm ...But that really is the Portuguese spirit, I'm sad to admit. A lack of self-esteem and ability to accomplish great things, to even start things. Eça knew his people so well.LMRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08538873868140070018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-71257502931281502292012-01-20T13:07:41.678-06:002012-01-20T13:07:41.678-06:00Yes, Carlos and most of the characters in The Maia...Yes, Carlos and most of the characters in <i>The Maias</i>, are <i>wonderful</i> at parties. Sharp and alive. And then the rest of their lives sort of trickle along.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-64626807978125162122012-01-20T06:00:30.596-06:002012-01-20T06:00:30.596-06:00Ah, yes, the parties. Eça wrote mostly about worth...Ah, yes, the parties. Eça wrote mostly about worthless bohemians with delusions of grand projects that would make them famous and important, only they never accomplished anything. These parties served to stroke their egos, get together with their friends and admirers and have a chance to shine, utter a few intelligent quips. They were almost at their best in those parties, in closed rooms; but outside reality intruded on their dreams and projects.Miguelhttp://storberose.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-42034127838578012922011-11-20T14:19:56.516-06:002011-11-20T14:19:56.516-06:00A joyous study, says I!
The Party in the Novel: F...A joyous study, says I!<br /><br /><i>The Party in the Novel: From Petronius to Proust</i>. But make the main title kickier.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-60019477976147807372011-11-18T17:18:15.035-06:002011-11-18T17:18:15.035-06:00Someone needs to do a serious study of 18-century ...Someone needs to do a serious study of 18-century party scenes. Form and function, mood and exposition, &cet. <br /><br />~scott gf baileyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-67084728518192746262011-11-18T17:09:46.904-06:002011-11-18T17:09:46.904-06:00Good. I think that's right, that even if I am...Good. I think that's right, that even if I am not sure who each character is, I can pick up the norms quickly - what are the women doing, what are the servants doing, what kind of talk is allowed, what kind of entertainment. The author can pack in a lot of information quickly.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-46940343912328730742011-11-18T16:16:28.726-06:002011-11-18T16:16:28.726-06:00I haven't really read enough EdQ to comment, b...I haven't really read enough EdQ to comment, but I did love the 'party' scenes in Father Amaro. They provided perfect realist narrative - what are the codes and convention in this (micro) society, and how far do we dare to transgress them? Can we play the orthodox game to such an extent that it flips in on itself and actually favours us? And I suppose you could see the coda the same way - in the gap between two endings, all the subversive things that cannot be openly said get gestured towards, hinted it, implied. You are so whetting my appetite for more of his novels.litlovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10952927245186474480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-12477868221342050542011-11-18T16:13:31.234-06:002011-11-18T16:13:31.234-06:00There's a lot more food in Ramires, and the fo...There's a lot more food in <i>Ramires</i>, and the food is more Portuguese.<br /><br />The difference is clearer with the wines, actually. The urban rich in <i>The Maias</i> only drink French wine - expensive Burgundies and so on. The country rich drink Portuguese wine, vinho verde. I don't remember green wine being mentioned once in <i>The Maias</i>.<br /><br />For those who don't know, Portuguese green wine is one of the glories of the country, inexpensive, modest and light.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-90668678914227964752011-11-18T14:33:53.566-06:002011-11-18T14:33:53.566-06:00One element I thought curious in "The Maias&q...One element I thought curious in "The Maias" was a lack of much detailed description, such as that above, of the food (perhaps EdQ was more hungry when he wrote "Ramires"?). Having relished a different variety of bacalhau every day when I was in Portugal, I railed in frustration at the single reference to it in "The Maias," high praise of a particular recipe that EdQ mentions then - dammit - fails to provide.seraillonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17654593356535433945noreply@blogger.com