Sandra’s Comments (group member since Jan 21, 2020)

Sandra’s comments from the The Obscure Reading Group group.

And Sara, my mother’s side of the family came from Cornwall!! Small world and fun connections.

Oh yes, Jean. Fascinating! Thank you, and I hope you will comment on the setting of Anne Brontë’s book as we read. I love exploring settings in novels.

Welcome Stacey. Any friend of Jan’s is a friend of ours❤️

Jean, thanks for sharing information about the Brontë family. I’m very interested in hearing about your youth in Yorkshire!!

I was thinking the same thing, Dianne. I’m just going to read whichever one I find. They can’t be all that different, can they?

Recently my cousin sent me some ancestry information about my maternal grandfather. I discovered that my great-great grandfather was from Whaw, England, in Yorkshire. Apparently this is generally the area where the Brontës lived. “Wuthering Heights”has long been a favorite book. I have always identified with the English moors. So of course I an interested in all the links you are sharing! I can almost believe in ancestral memory.

I’m so excited! I am such a fan of Emily Brontë’s work. I can’t believe I have never read Anne’s book.

Ahhh, Ken. Such “whispering humbleness...” but alas, no thanks. And Darrin & Kathleen—that is funny!

Waiting with bated breath.... Thanks, Ken, for being a wonderful organizer and moderator!

To you too, Jan. I look forward to talking with you again and hearing all about how you’ve managed through these challenging times!

Thanks Ken and Kathleen for your reassurance. I have so many books I want to read that I’m sure whatever we choose will be great. Here’s to a swift end to 2020! Happy Holidays.

I have had several ideas for our next book, but Kathleen seems to have read every one!

Thanks, Kathleen. I am enjoying the comments here as much as the book!

Thanks, Sara and Cindy!

Well, I am very late to this discussion but I finally finished chapters 1-5. Your insights and comments are all so interesting! I don’t know if any of you will be reading these new comments, so I won’t respond to each comment. I agree with what most of you have said. I will add that I read many of Toni Morrison’s books. The character of Jones reminds me of Cholly Breedlove. Both are void of a moral responsibility. I highly recommend reading The Bluest Eye as a comparison to The Street. Because what strikes me with Morrison’s more contemporary novel is how she uses back story, not to excuse Cholly’s immoral behavior but to help the reader at least understand why he is so “evil.” I do hope that Petrey will develop her characters in a way that enlightens us about the role racism has resulted in Jones’s perverse behavior.

As far as race relations in the 1950s in the midwest while I was growing up—I wrote about this in my own memoir. I joined the Peace Corps and taught in Africa from 1969-71. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next section! Thanks for all your insights!

Hey! Sorry I missed the latest discussion. I will weigh in though on Hardy. Definitely read Tess, Darrin. It’s my favorite Hardy novel!

I bought the kindle book but I haven’t had time to even think about reading. I may have to skip this discussion. Life is getting in the way. My hope is to join in but I am not sure if I will be able to!

I prefer three weeks.

Those books are a true gift to yourself!!

Well, gosh. This thread is getting more lively every day! Love reading the introductions of new members as well as the welcomes by established members! Good to see such people still exist. Hi, Jan. I was thinking of you as I posted one of my poems on Facebook to all my teacher friends.