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

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

Oh, and as you asked, I think that this school does not exist to assist with the students’ emotional or internal lives. At least from what we have seen so far, all emphasis is on scholarship and deportment. And without apparent concern or awareness of sincerity. A major lapse from my point of view. I wonder, is this cultural, or perhaps the author’s creation to drive home her ideas, or maybe a combination?

The teachers have limited views of their roles with the students but these seem to be dictated by the school too. In some ways the staff seem to lead equally restricted lives. Only Konig, who everyone sees as a patsy, including Gina, tries to be charitable to the girls, giving them breaks in various ways.

I am looking forward to the next chapter.

Thanks Jan. I’m glad I caught up with it.

I do wonder about the war itself, as both a reality in this story and as metaphor perhaps for the structure of the school. Considering that it is in Hungary, not Germany, it seems to espouse the same principles in its absolutist teaching methods.

I am looking forward to beginning the next section which I believe many have already begun or finished. I should finish more quickly this week.

I have finally completed the first third of the book as we are about to begin the next section. I’ve also been following the discussion with interest. My edition of Abigail has a forward or introduction that I did read which has affected my reading a bit so I want to be careful with some comments, at least for now.

I am enjoying this very much (my slowness a result of life not a reflection of my feelings for the book itself.) I have no experience of boarding school but plenty of being a teenager who is not part of the “in” group. Those years are difficult for even the in group, just in different ways. (I was surprised to be so warmly greeted by some of the former in crowd from high school at 50th reunion when I had felt unknown back in school. Perception is all. How this relates to Gina and the other girls? They are all out of their element, Gina more so as the school is new to her. They are all teens with new emotions and hormones as Kalmar is embarrassed to acknowledge when Gina goes to the infirmary. But none of this is dealt with by the school. We see it through Gina’s eyes and her interpretation of others and others’ words. It’s a soulless place for teenage girls. And, while the girls initially are acceptant of Gina, the structure of the school allows them to shun her with impunity, without being caught, unless Gina wants to be tattler again.

Thanks for that advice, Carol.

Well, I just got a surprise. I don’t have a current hold on Abigail anywhere and the best waitlist has 6 people waiting. Insert primal scream here! So now I have to decide about buying it. Don’t know what I did/didn’t do to mess this up.

I’m hoping my e-copy of the book will come by the end of May (of course it could come tomorrow) but I will probably have to read it right through as there were lots of holds before. I will check to see if the holds have faded. If so, I might return it and then request again too.

Me too, Diane. I’m very glad our governor is moving slowly. At least our cases appear to be slowing now but I don’t plan to do any shopping, etc, not that I expect stores in general to open soon. They keep having to close various branches of supermarkets when employees test positive. Today it was a Whole Foods, last week it was two or three different Walmart stores. And this is with a stay at home order and limited number of people in the stores. The mandatory face masks didn’t start until last Wednesday so hopefully that will help. If I lived in a state with rising cases, I would get everything delivered unless they were testing and could tell me cases weren’t near me.

I hear you about hurricanes. I remember them hitting Massachusetts when I was young. I feel like we’re due especially as the ocean has gotten warmer up here too. I know it doesn’t compare to your risk though.

It seems even the weather is freaked out by the virus! We had flurries in eastern MA too followed by very high winds. And today, good news (not), the hurricane advisory for this year since the season begins June first. Predictions aren’t great from the part I heard. Well, I’m sure we’ll all be ready (not).

Can’t really say a preference as I don’t know exactly when I will get the book.

Ken, that’s on my list to read but I’m too busy with other books right now to join you. I’ve only read House of Mirth.

Ken, it’s an ebook I put on hold. I’m not sure how many people are in front of me so I hope I get it by June.

I just put the book on hold but don’t know if there is a list. Hopefully it will come in a couple of weeks.

Found the link in my notifications.

Ken, I can’t find the poll on my iPad. Not sure why.

Hi, I’m Sue from Massachusetts. I live just north of Boston. I haven’t read Jude since either Freshman or Sophomore year of college. I am sure I had profound thoughts about this and other Hardy novels back then but I don’t recall the details of either. I’m looking forward to reading this. I will be late starting as I have some surgery scheduled on February 6th. I plan to join in when I can. I plan to read on my kindle too.