Greg’s Comments (group member since Jul 02, 2014)

Greg’s comments from the All About Books group.

I have my copy in hand, I plan to start next week!

Nidhi wrote: "It definitely reminded me of Tess, too and of Hardy's pessimistic way of treating his characters but book gets better.....at least its not gloomy all around.....I am on chapter 16."

Glad you're enjoying it Nidhi!

In chapter 7 now:

It's starting to remind me of Tess of the D'Urbervilles in that Ruth is harmed by her own innocence and by the set of social conventions that should protect her.

I like the book so far, but it's a bit melodramatic in a way that's typical for many books of the period, and it lacks humor. I wonder if this is typical of Gaskell . . . a question for those who have read her most famous works?

I'm curious about the kindly "deformed" dwarf that she meets on her hike - he's an interesting character. I suspect he'll be central to the story at some point.

Jade wrote: "I will take 22nd June."

Thanks Jade! :)

My plans for June:

finish up from last month:
in progress 26% 1. Ruth (Elizabeth Gaskell)
in progress 43% 2. Oliver Twist (Charles Dickens)

very likely:
✔ 1. The Housekeeper and the Professor (Yōko Ogawa) ★★★★★ (4.5)
2. The Magic Fish (Trung Le Nguyen)
in progress 36% 3. Nostromo (Joseph Conrad)
✔ 4. Noor (Nnedi Okorafor) ★★★★ (3.5)

probably:
✔ 1. White Tears (Hari Kunzru) ★★★★ (4.0)
✔ 2. Into the Wild (Jon Krakauer) ★★★★ (3.5)
in progress 3% 3. Wool Omnibus (Hugh Howey)
4. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi (Shannon Chakraborty)

possibly:
1. Lonely Castle in the Mirror (Mizuki Tsujimura)
2. Lolita (Vladimir Nabokov)
3. Moby-Dick or, the Whale (Herman Melville)
4. Queen of Sorcery (David Eddings)
5. Daisy Jones & The Six (Taylor Jenkins Reid)
6. The Weird of the White Wolf (Michael Moorcock)

unplanned:

Cleo wrote: "I love the opening line with it's strong statement, "I will arise and go now". The poet is going now but only in his imagination, or perhaps in his "heart's core" which he notes in the last line. I..."

Cleo, I like when you say that the poet is only going in his imagination! I hadn't focused on that part before, but I think it's really important.

Whether he's standing on the roads or pavements, he's there on Innisfree. His heart will always be there.

I apologize Alannah - it was a busy week and things just got away from me, but I did want to thank you for posting this lovely poem! The natural descriptions are lovely as Cleo says, as is the rhythm and the craft of this poem. It's one of my many of Yeats' poems that I love.

The "heart's core" for me is his heart's core, I think, as Cleo says.

I think though it is also at the core of the world; it's of primary importance; this intimate experience of the natural world is the most vital thing. It is something we are made for.

Still finishing up books from May, but I'll circle back and post here next week. :)

Steve wrote: "Thanks Antonio. Ezra Pound confuses me. I honestly don't know that much about him, but I have read some of his work. How could an intelligent, educated, sensitive person espouse and embrace fascism..."

I feel that way too Steve. His poetry has so much subtlety of thought, and it's hard for me to understand how he could believe things that seem so contrary to that complexity.

But I guess sometimes people have drives and obsessions that compel them and almost exist outside of the logical mind? Even very intelligent people often believe mutually incompatible things. Human beings are often wonderful but also often completely baffling!

I liked this quite a bit when I read it, though I liked Station Eleven better. I'll have to go back to the book to discuss intelligently - it's been a while.

I remember appreciating how timelines fit together, fairly clever.

I'll take a look at my copy and try to remember details. :)

I read the whole thing on an international plane trip. I think I remember books better when I spend more time with them and discuss them. :)

Nichole wrote: "Christine and Greg, your loved ones are in my prayers."

Thanks so much Nichole!

Nidhi wrote: "Villete inspired me to read the biography of Charlotte Bronte by Gaskell, of course it covers the life of all three sisters. I can't choose my favourite among these four ladies. I hope you would en..."

I've read Agnes Grey, and I liked that one; so Villette is for sure on my to-read list. It's really extraordinary that all three sisters should be so talented that they're still read and studied a century later! What a family!

Nidhi wrote: "Chapter 3. Ruth spends her sundays alone without dinner or fire facilities. This episode strongly reminded me of Lucy Snowe's solitude in residential school for young ladies in Villete by Charlotte..."

Vilette is one of those books I have always meant to read but haven't gotten around to yet.

Alannah wrote: "I'm in, looking forward to reading this one."

Looking forward to it too Alannah!

I'll move over to the spoiler thread and comment as I go, but I'll preface everything with chapter numbers.

If anyone else is still reading, please head over and join me! I'll be taking it slow.

I just finished Chapter 1 this morning:

I loved the vivid, odd description of the main street with the elaborate, opulent houses towering over cramped, dark, and dangerous streets below. It's so beautifully described with its metaphorical meaning and also the way it encapsulates the whole social situation of the town's heyday.

I have not read anything by Gaskell before, and I've been looking forward to it - I'm not disappointed! What a great beginning!

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "One of my favourites, acclaimed Irish author John Boyne never writes the same thing twice. The Absolutist is a powerful story of the boys who met in the army and fough..."

This one looks really good Patty! And great review!

I'm in too, definitely!

LauraT wrote: "I'm reading it now, and hope to finish it in a day or two.
I love Gaskell's novels, and this is no exception - even if I have to admit that Wives and Daughters or [book:North and Sout..."

I plan to start next week Laura! :)

Esther wrote: "I am about 30% into this and would be interested to hear other readers opinions.

I find it interesting that she makes it clear from the start that she has no intention of presenting a 'balanced' a..."

That's interesting Esther - how do you like the writing itself? Is it engaging?