tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post3624337145298991190..comments2024-03-29T03:04:00.853-05:00Comments on Wuthering <br>Expectations: Misery was being prepared for someone - Trollope, The Duke's Children, and the last bit of the horseAmateur Reader (Tom)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-19761713135060754872017-04-24T09:18:06.475-05:002017-04-24T09:18:06.475-05:00I loved Clarel. That was a good readalong. I'...I loved <i>Clarel</i>. That was a good readalong. I'll have to try it again someday.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-35632422264269292652017-04-23T23:02:59.027-05:002017-04-23T23:02:59.027-05:00Now that I've read virtually all of Hardy (exc...Now that I've read virtually all of Hardy (except The Dynasts and some of the other poems) and Melville (except the minor poetry), I can say that I've never read a word of either of these two that wasn't at least interestingly infuriating (The Hand of Ethelberta and Clarel come to mind).cwilson284https://www.blogger.com/profile/01095943424268993611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-37139732624205817752017-04-22T17:33:23.749-05:002017-04-22T17:33:23.749-05:00I suppose all of these writers, except for Dickens...I suppose all of these writers, except for Dickens and let's say Eliot, are now in the category, whatever great writing they have all done, of "you can have too much." Hugo's very essence is an experiment in "too much."Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-79449016431255606242017-04-22T13:06:41.352-05:002017-04-22T13:06:41.352-05:00As I learned when I finished the interminable &quo...As I learned when I finished the interminable "The Newcomes," you CAN have too much Thackeray.<br />cwilson284https://www.blogger.com/profile/01095943424268993611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-84928197590959920052017-04-21T14:08:32.527-05:002017-04-21T14:08:32.527-05:00Ninety-Three is a lot more tempting than The Virgi...<i>Ninety-Three</i> is a lot more tempting than <i>The Virginians</i>, although I was so impressed by <i>Henry Esmond</i>.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-28616430588600204132017-04-21T13:21:39.910-05:002017-04-21T13:21:39.910-05:00Hugo's Ninety-Three is definitely an underrate...Hugo's Ninety-Three is definitely an underrated Scott-style novel, set in Brittany like Les Chouans. I should read Les Chouans, as I'm sure there's some influence.mayareadsbookshttp://mayareadsbooks.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-25428078363657390612017-04-21T13:12:53.242-05:002017-04-21T13:12:53.242-05:00I've sometimes been tempted by Thackeray's...I've sometimes been tempted by Thackeray's The Virginians, a sort of sequel to Esmond. Anthony Powell in his diaries speaks of trying the novel, and breaking down after fifty pages.Tom Sabinehttp://www.brooknerian.blogspot.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-35521849366681273412017-04-21T11:43:37.667-05:002017-04-21T11:43:37.667-05:00You all sound brave to me.You all sound brave to me.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-4282504217793215502017-04-21T11:40:58.030-05:002017-04-21T11:40:58.030-05:00You're braver than I am--I couldn't get pa...You're braver than I am--I couldn't get past chapter 1 of La Vendee, and I'll read most anything with the French Revolution in it.mayareadsbookshttp://mayareadsbooks.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-69666259410484081782017-04-21T11:40:07.832-05:002017-04-21T11:40:07.832-05:00The "Gordon Riots" section of Barnaby Ru...The "Gordon Riots" section of <i>Barnaby Rudge</i> is outstanding, and that's a big chunk of the novel. The romance and mystery sections are terribly thin, but eh. Plus there's Grip the raven. Easily worth reading.<br /><br />I've wondered how the Trollope novel relates to Balzac's <i>Les Chouans</i> (1829). In subject, it seems like a cousin. That's another Scott-ish historical novel that is, like the Dickens book, a mess, but excellent in its best scenes.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-71136451722396614992017-04-21T11:29:07.911-05:002017-04-21T11:29:07.911-05:00I very much agree with Maya on Romola. Its forbidd...I very much agree with Maya on Romola. Its forbidding reputation is justified in places, but the human story is very powerful. I like to read great authors' supposed turkeys. I loved Barnaby Rudge, another 'historical'. Maybe I'll brave Trollope's La Vendee one of these days.Tom Sabinehttp://www.brooknerian.blogspot.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-60749171241292010882017-04-19T21:51:14.572-05:002017-04-19T21:51:14.572-05:00I mean, I just read the dang thing!I mean, I just read the dang thing!Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-88192619062333351502017-04-19T21:19:29.139-05:002017-04-19T21:19:29.139-05:00Ah. I am still not quite fluent in Amateur Tom.Ah. I am still not quite fluent in Amateur Tom.dorian stuberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10069923023770087626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-31713542589458839782017-04-19T20:20:48.945-05:002017-04-19T20:20:48.945-05:00"wonder" means "wish I could read s..."wonder" means "wish I could read someone else's piece."Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-23639896014433209982017-04-19T20:11:42.066-05:002017-04-19T20:11:42.066-05:00You wondered about the complete edition. Here is y...You wondered about the complete edition. Here is your chance: <br /><br />https://www.amazon.com/Dukes-Children-Complete-Everymans-Library/dp/1101907819/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492650680&sr=8-1&keywords=9781101907818<br /><br />dorian stuberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10069923023770087626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-46481040202424022942017-04-19T13:11:03.052-05:002017-04-19T13:11:03.052-05:00Waverley was full of enormous conceptual innovatio...<i>Waverley</i> was full of enormous conceptual innovations. that were extremely easy to detach from Scott's work itself. Thus, the Scott boom. Thus, the novel as people mostly still write it.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-52905540347182445252017-04-19T12:58:53.320-05:002017-04-19T12:58:53.320-05:00Mantel is a much superior stylist to Scott (I ador...Mantel is a much superior stylist to Scott (I adored A Place of Greater Safety), but she has the advantage of working in a genre that's already been established--Scott deserves credit as a genius for his innovation in subject matter.<br /><br />Romola is quite good, actually. I didn't find the research obtrusive (except a bit the later Savonarola parts) and it has some brilliant moments and a husband as repulsive (in a different way) as Grandcourt.mayareadsbookshttp://mayareadsbooks.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-7582487663901587582017-04-12T13:01:44.602-05:002017-04-12T13:01:44.602-05:00I hope nothing here is taken as anti-Scott. I hav...I hope nothing here is taken as anti-Scott. I have been talking up Scott since the beginning of Wuthering Expectations. This <a href="https://wutheringexpectations.blogspot.com/2010/05/it-would-be-impossible-to-mention-any.html" rel="nofollow">2010 post</a> shows that up above I am just repeating myself.<br /><br />How sad that none of my ideas have changed in seven years. After reading 700 more books, have I learned <i>nothing</i>?Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-9712437491645570872017-04-12T12:57:25.713-05:002017-04-12T12:57:25.713-05:00One day Hilary Mantel will seem as dated.
If you ...<i>One day Hilary Mantel will seem as dated.</i><br /><br />If you mean that in a millennium or two literary culture will have changed to the point that all writers before, say, the 24th century will seem much of a muchness, yes, I suppose so. If you are in any way implying that the amiable Scott and the brilliant Mantel are on the same plane aesthetically, I take strong exception.Languagehathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13285708503881129380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-1775683993909255372017-04-12T12:48:59.290-05:002017-04-12T12:48:59.290-05:00Scott has his merits still. I dutifully read him a...Scott has his merits still. I dutifully read him at uni, but have since read him for pleasure. Love Ivanhoe and Kenilworth. His approach to the genre is no more or less authentic than modern novelists' efforts. One day Hilary Mantel will seem as dated.<br /><br />Prince Albert was reading Scott's Peveril of the Peak when he died. Queen Victoria later had a black border inscribed on to the page he'd reached.Tom Sabinehttp://www.brooknerian.blogspot.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-17540531485261507782017-04-12T11:53:09.690-05:002017-04-12T11:53:09.690-05:00The Tale of Two Cities, too. By "Scott novel...<i>The Tale of Two Cities</i>, too. By "Scott novel," I just mean "historical novel." Not getting too fancy here.<br /><br />By the end of the 19th century, Scott was already fading, and fast. I suppose Dickens was thought of as more important then. He certainly is more important now, and has been for a long time. But not for most of the 19th century.<br /><br />The Scott boom was a curious international phenomenon.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-20269975419236685752017-04-12T11:36:55.060-05:002017-04-12T11:36:55.060-05:00Re: your comment about "important" novel...Re: your comment about "important" novelists: <br /><br />Dickens. <br /><br />Dickens. <br /><br />Dickens. <br /><br />All (except Scott) fall before the Inimitable, whose Scott novel is, I suppose, Barnaby Rudge, although one could argue that it owes as much to Smollett. <br /><br />(Hardy would turn over in his grave if he could but, being cremated and in two places, would have a tough time).cwilson284https://www.blogger.com/profile/01095943424268993611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-87417394439690027642017-04-12T09:14:37.020-05:002017-04-12T09:14:37.020-05:00It's just a cheerful, breezy, "ain't ...It's just a cheerful, breezy, "ain't this fun" kind of post. It ought to match your mood when you return to it.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-2209659907980443172017-04-12T08:27:23.548-05:002017-04-12T08:27:23.548-05:00I'm not going to read the post or the comments...I'm not going to read the post or the comments, yet, because my wife and I haven't gotten to the novel yet and I want to avoid spoilers, but I wanted to say that I'm very much looking forward to coming back to it when circumstances permit!Languagehathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13285708503881129380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-26155651967273008602017-04-12T00:06:57.202-05:002017-04-12T00:06:57.202-05:00Always read the comments, as I always say.Always read the comments, as I always say.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.com