For the discussion of published Jane Austen-based novels and other books of interest to Dwiggies.http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/list.php?16Sat, 25 May 2013 21:44:57 +0100 Phorum 5.2.19 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,97133,97322#msg-97322 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,97133,97322#msg-97322 Suzanne O JAFF LibraryThu, 16 May 2013 14:52:29 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,97133,97170#msg-97170 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,97133,97170#msg-97170
Very cute first video. We've also seen Edward Denham and Mayor Tom Parker. I wonder what they'll do with Sidney Parker, if anything? Since JA didn't have the chance to develop him at all....]]> Carol P JAFF LibraryTue, 14 May 2013 13:35:16 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,97133,97134#msg-97134 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,97133,97134#msg-97134 Mari A. JAFF LibraryMon, 13 May 2013 21:38:24 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,97133,97133#msg-97133 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,97133,97133#msg-97133
Clara appears, and an ice-cream parlour!

[www.youtube.com]]]> Mari A. JAFF LibraryMon, 13 May 2013 21:37:48 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95884,96420#msg-96420 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95884,96420#msg-96420picture, where you can see that the seat appears to have springs in it. Presumably this would help you in the bouncing part. This chair also has posts that you could hold on to while you were bouncing. I can't imagine what you did with the other chairs. Just grabbed the arms maybe? Would your feet touch the floor? Really, trying to get this image of formally attired Regency men and women sitting on chair like that bouncing themselves up and down, I can't help but giggle. How they could do this and still retain their dignity I can't imagine.]]> Suzanne O JAFF LibraryThu, 02 May 2013 18:04:57 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95884,96386#msg-96386 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95884,96386#msg-96386
Just a balance thing, maybe?]]> Lise JAFF LibraryThu, 02 May 2013 06:53:45 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95884,96282#msg-96282 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95884,96282#msg-96282
I must admit that I read the last few chapters in a state of perpetual impatience for Sidney to appear. Each time there was a carriage pulling up somewhere I wanted it to be him, and was so disappointed that it was first the hypochondriac trio and then the girls' school, none of whom I cared a fig about. He does appear in chapter 11, the LAST CHAPTER, but then all we do is see him briefly, and then spend the rest of the book at Lady Denham's house, where I did not want to go.

Things I remember noting: Aurthur Parker making cocoa and toast over the fire. Interesting historical note for me. There also seems to be sort of an Anne-Benwick vibe going on between him and Charlotte. You know, she's giving him sensible advice, he looks like he's falling for her.

I was interesting in the reference to a half-mulatto girl too. Miss Lambe must be Austen's first mixed race or otherwise non-white character.

I would like to comment on chapter 11 too, if no one minds. Besides my bitter frustration over the brief appearance of Sidney (what one wouldn't give for a single scene of him talking with Charlotte), I did notice that Lady Denham, in the way she's always straightening everything, reminds me of an elderly lady I know. I was once over at her house, doing some cooking for her, when I got in trouble for drying my hands on a kitchen towel. It turns out that towel was only for show. She had very strict rules about how exactly she wanted everything done and where it could be put, for much the same reason as Lady Denham, because her need for order was increased by her old age and the various frailties that came with it.

Also, this is a chamber-horse: http://myparticularfriend.com/?p=3190. Who knew?]]> Suzanne O JAFF LibraryTue, 30 Apr 2013 05:47:23 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95884,95900#msg-95900 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95884,95900#msg-95900 Carol P JAFF LibraryWed, 24 Apr 2013 01:12:10 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95884,95884#msg-95884 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95884,95884#msg-95884
I've just read 9 and 10. Interesting how Miss Lambe is half mulatto (is that 1/2 or 1/4?) and still a desirable party, when origins were so all important. How was the black population in the West Indies viewed then? Was there a sort of gentry or even middle class?

The Miss Beauforts remind me of the Miss Musgroves.]]> Lise JAFF LibraryTue, 23 Apr 2013 19:44:24 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95404#msg-95404 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95404#msg-95404
And all these friends-of-friends-of-friends-of-friends who are very likely totally unaware of being expected at Sanditon!]]> Lise JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 18:49:36 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95403,95403#msg-95403 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95403,95403#msg-95403
What really struck me on this listen was how many servant were involved in the first chapter. Its not often we see them in JA's writing. The driver of the carriage is thought to have potentially overturned them on purpose. The men who came to assist were from the fields of Mr. Heywood. The fact that women and children were also working the fields was really striking to me!

And then, as I heard Mr. Parker wax on and on about Sanditon while his wife stands by and Mr. Heywood tries to get him to the house, I realized the men were all there listening, waiting to right the carriage!

Thoughts?]]> Debra Mc JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 18:43:25 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95402#msg-95402 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95402#msg-95402Udolpho ... it gets really, really tedious. It's downright ridiculous in places (such as when Valancourt, the "hero" is carving a poem into a rock (no comment)) but the number of times you want to run your head into a wall from Emily's sheer stupidity and from all the monologues about her superiority and the sheer sublime beauty of the Alps on the Mediterranean coast (don't ask) and the evils of Roman Catholic superstition far outweighs those. It has its merit for drinking games, I guess ... I never tried but I suppose if you drink every time Emily weeps or is citing poetry you'll be well and truly drunk about three pages in.

If you want to read some really fun 18th century literature, I'd recommend Tom Jones (that is just as much crack as Udolpho and the protagonist is a naive libidinous dork, but it's meant to be funny) or if you want something shorter, Smollett's Humphrey Clinker, a hilarious epistolary novel about a road-trip through Great Britain.]]> Mari A. JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 18:38:54 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95401#msg-95401 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95401#msg-95401
Sir Edward - what an idiot. I wonder, do we have guys nowadays who read that sort of thing? But quite dangerous too, because of what he perceives himself to be.

His sister - charming when there's something in it for her.

Lady Denham - showed some more of her true character, too.

Clara - I suppose it's in her favour that she wasn't too impressed with Sir Edward.]]> Lise JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 18:38:26 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95397#msg-95397 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95397#msg-95397 Suzanne O JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 18:28:24 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95396#msg-95396 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95396#msg-95396 Suzanne O JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 18:26:41 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95385#msg-95385 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95385#msg-95385bathe in that stuff, like certain Egyptian rulers?)]]> Mari A. JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 16:35:40 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95384#msg-95384 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95384#msg-95384 Mari A. JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 16:33:04 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95382#msg-95382 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95382#msg-95382
Well, I guess Sandpit is a little humorous, anyway. Is that what Sanditon really is? :-)]]> Carol P JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 16:24:05 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95349,95381#msg-95381 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95349,95381#msg-95381
I do wonder if they'll add some romance of Charlotte/Gigi (Chargi?) or if she'll stay purely an observer.

Also I can't wait until June to find out what's up next and I'm tickled pink at the half-promise of Darcy (and Mrs) visits!!]]> Mari A. JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 16:17:13 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95380#msg-95380 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95380#msg-95380 Mari A. JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 16:04:55 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95379#msg-95379 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95379#msg-95379 Amy I. JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 16:03:09 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95378#msg-95378 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95378#msg-95378Pamela: Or Virtue Rewarded yet, but it's Richardson's most well-known work, an epistolary novel describing the love affair between a gentleman (using this in the loosest meaning of the term) and his maid-servant. Basically, the "hero" tries to seduce his young servant girl because she's so pretty, she however refuses him because she values her virtue, this makes her even more interesting to him, he then abducts and captures her but she refuses to surrender to him and he falls more and more for her because of her moral fibre and then in the end he marries her and she takes the society by storm and basically everyone is happy. It does sound like fanfiction ;-) Henry Fielding has written two parodies of it, the short pamphlet Shamela, which is I gather rather sarcastic, and the more serious novel Joseph Andrews (which sounds far more interesting than Pamela, truth be told) - and I hang my head in shame and admit I haven't read either yet.

Actually, the description of the books Sir Edward loved best reminded me of The Mysteries of Udolpho - that one, I have read and it's quite horrid! The heroine too goes on and on about the sublimity of stuff (unfortunately, the narrator doesn't realise how ridiculous she is) and fancies herself so clever, but really she's just ... completely daft. And the novel is full of the stuff of cloak-and-dagger romances, true Gothic horror fare, all completely over-the-top. And Emily-the-heroine too goes on and on about poetry, only, as I said, the narrator rather likes her, which is why she isn't such a blundering fool in discussing (and indeed, writing, more's the horror) it.]]> Mari A. JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 16:02:19 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95375#msg-95375 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95375#msg-95375 Carol P JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 15:20:50 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95370#msg-95370 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95370#msg-95370
I found Sir Edmund funny in JA's usual biting, sarcastically funny way. My favorite parts were about his love for "fashionable hard words," and how his whole goal in life is to be seductive. Does anyone know who the Richardson is whose novels he loves?

Now, I may get in trouble for saying this, but look at Sir Edmund's description of the novels he prefers:

“Most willingly, fair questioner. The novels which I
approve are such as display human nature with
grandeur; such as show her in the sublimities of intense
feeling; such as exhibit the progress of strong passion
from the first germ of incipient susceptibility to the
utmost energies of reason half-dethroned; where we see
the strong spark of woman’s captivations elicit such fire
in the soul of man as leads him—though at the risk of
some aberration from the strict line of primitive
obligations—to hazard all, dare all, achieve all to obtain
her."

Tell me this doesn't sound like a lot of fanfiction, with Darcy as the chief subject!]]> Suzanne O JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 14:36:46 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95349,95368#msg-95368 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95349,95368#msg-95368 Suzanne O JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 14:26:19 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95365#msg-95365 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95365#msg-95365
Am joining those wishing for an edit function!]]> Carol P JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 13:25:26 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95364#msg-95364 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95364,95364#msg-95364
Diana Parker isn't quite as much of an invalid as she claims, if she could walk as swiftly as she did, catching up with Charlotte on the way to Trafalgar House! Don't know yet about Arthur and the other Parker sister (whose name escapes me at the moment). Will Sidney make an appearance before chapter 11 ends? I want to see him!

I thought the "short chain of connection" between Diana and the West Indies family was pretty funny -- had a few missing links after all, didn't it?!]]> Carol P JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 13:22:26 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95323,95362#msg-95362 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95323,95362#msg-95362
One first impression I got from 7&8 that I also got from the first time I started Persuasion (needed to restart that one a few times before I made it all the way through) is that, except for the main character/narrator, JA writes very few characters in her later years who are likeable at all. The only ones who aren't either unpleasant or quirky so far are Charlotte and Clara. This is why I want to reread before I talk more about these chapters -- make sure my first impression stands the test of time.]]> Carol P JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 12:19:55 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95349,95361#msg-95361 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95349,95361#msg-95361 Carol P JAFF LibrarySat, 13 Apr 2013 12:13:36 +0100 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95349,95349#msg-95349 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,95349,95349#msg-95349
Sanditon, etc]]> Debra Mc JAFF LibraryFri, 12 Apr 2013 23:05:59 +0100