Tracey’s Comments (group member since Jul 17, 2016)

Tracey’s comments from the Sir Walter Scott Appreciation group.

Brian wrote: "On average, your 19th Century reads were not quite as satisfying as your 20th Century reads. I would note that again one of my favorites, Jude the Obscure, is your lowest rated book of the 5.
I do ..."

It could be that my ill health at the moment requires that I read books that are gentler. However I still would nominate Hardy for a posthumous Nobel because his writing is superb and many of his characters are wonderful. Jude and Tess should have married each other, but then that wouldn’t be Hardy would it! Overall I wouldn’t change his writing and much prefer him with his realism to Dickens. I may visit Jude another time.

Completed 5/10

Rosemarie wrote: "Daniel Deronda is an excellent choice, Tracey. I really enjoyed that one."

I have just started it and am enjoying it. It is very character filled.

Looking for books that are audio as much as possible due to eyesight problems,


✔ 1800-1809: Tales from Shakespeare by Charles Lamb 3.5 stars.

A retelling of several of Shakespeare's plays. Excellent for the first introduction of such to children. Some of the plays are better rendered than others.

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✔ 1810-19: Persuasion by Jane Austen READ 4.5 stars.

The heroine of the story is the quiet retiring Anne Eliott, nothing like the sassy heroines of some of Austen's books. A very enjoyable read. I still think Mansfield Park is my favourite but this comes a close second.

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✔ 1820-29: The Talisman by Walter Scott READ 4 stars

An interesting tale set towards the end of the Third Crusade. Many interesting characters including real-life ones; Richard the Lionheart and Saladin. I gave the book 3.5 stars and bumped it up to 4 stars for a sympathetic portrayal of a Muslim, Saladin. Scott is one of the most just of authors I have come across.
This is my 7th Scott novel, my favourite so far being The Heart of Midlothian. I think The Bride of Lammermoor will be my next Scott read.

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✔ 1830-39 : The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe READ 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Absolutely brilliant. Poe certainly was a wordsmith and knew how to use imagery and setting to build tension and cause a feeling of dread and horror.

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✔ 1840-49: Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens READ 3 stars
The story started out well and I enjoyed it up until about 1/3 way through. Then the story fell flat and so of fizzled out. Not my favourite Dickens.

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✔ 1850-59: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne READ 4 stars


Hester Prynne is a noble soul and I think Hawthorne depicted the 'fallen woman' in a sympathetic and nonjudgemental way. Interesting for the time in which it was written, and way ahead of Hardy and Tess, although Tess of the D'Urbervilles is the better work

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✔ 1860-69: The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins READ 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


This one is quite an investment in time but definitely worth it. Described as being among the first mystery novels and regarded as one of the first (and finest) in the genre of "sensation novels". I agree. What a story. Walter Hartright has been added to my list of fictional heroes.

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✔ 1870-79: A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review to follow for this most excellent play.

✔Daniel Deronda by George Eliot READ 4 stars

First off let me say that whilst this was not my favourite book by Eliot, it is still a good read.

The characterization was excellent with the two main ones being Daniel Deronda and Gwendolen Harleth. Deronda I found a little unbelievable. Gwendolen Harleth was a much more realistic character and I went from not liking her much at the beginning of the book to being really impressed with the growth she made and how she dealt with her experiences and their consequence.

The book I felt could have been at least 100 pages less; Eliot went off in long wordy discussions about several themes and issues that run through the book, which could have been shorter without loss. Maybe she knew this could be her last work and so was putting all her ideas on paper.

The Jewish theme that runs through the book is an interesting one especially in the time it was written. I did find Deronda's attitude towards all things Jewish strange and would have expected more of a struggle with its acceptance than was shown in the book. However, the fact that Eliot wrote on this theme is an interesting aspect which I think deserves more attention. Jewish Odyssey of George Eliot by Gertrude Himmelfarb is a book that I hope to read for further enlightenment.

I have read that some feel the book would be better called Gwendolen Harleth and focussing on her rather than Daniel Deronda. I disagree. Without Daniel, Gwen's story is only half told as she is greatly known and changed through him. I also feel Daniel's story is interesting and the two characters together with their intertwined lives is a great aid to the author to give each depth and complexity that would be missing otherwise.

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✔ 1880-89: The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy READ 4 stars.

Up to 3/4 of the way through the book I didn't really like any of the characters, which I am sure the author intended. Then, as Ivan's health declines and death approaches, he is cared for by a servant who's attitude towards him and seeming peace and patience causes him to ponder on why this was happening. Could it be he had not lived a good life after all? Is a life directed towards material wealth, status and ease a good life or not? And if not, what is?

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✔ 1890-99: Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy 3 STARS

The writing is superb and is worthy of 5 stars but I couldn't give it more than 3 because I found the story too harrowing. If the book had finished where the protagonists, Jude Fawley, and Sue Brideshead, were free to choose and either married or went their separate ways, then I would have given it 5 stars.

I have been reading Of Human Bondage at the same time and the parallels to this novel are noticeable. Humans not being able to control their emotions, are therefore not free to choose and thus in bondage. This is the main theme of both works. Both Jude Fawley and Philip Carey are orphans and are brought up by an aunt/ aunt and uncle, and having no firm foundation on which to stand they wander and become lost.

I agree that without purpose and understanding of what life is about, one is in bondage to one's emotions and that to live directed by them is to court disaster.

I greatly disliked Sue in this story and if Jude had been my son I would have wanted to slap her and tell her to leave my son alone. I felt that she was selfish and manipulative and brought grief to the two men who loved her, and no happiness for herself.

As for Jude, I loved him. If Tess in Tess of the D'Urbervilles is a pure woman then I would say Jude was her male counterpart.

✔ Liza of Lambeth by W. Somerset Maugham 3 stars.
The first novel by this author and the second of his I have read. W Somerset Maugham is on my list this year of authors I want to read.
In this book, he takes as his story the working class people of London with Liza as his main character. Their lives and doings of these people was very interesting and make the story one worthy of reading.
There are several Maugham books I hope to read this year.

✔ Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad 4 stars.

I am glad I finally read this book. The author explores several topics ultimately questioning whether the heart of darkness is not so much a physical place as it is a spiritual place within each man.

Rosemarie wrote: "Scott Novel #4

A Legend of Montrose

This was an entertaining tale set during the period of the English Civil War."

You completed the challenge with some great books. I am looking for Scott novels that are audio and will look out for the ones you read.

Rosemarie wrote: "I have finished the second novel by Scott, The Talisman. This is by far the best of the Crusader books. The plot is well-constructed, there is lots of interesting action and a good var..."

Who did you think Scott portrayed the best in the novel; Saladin or Richard the Lion-heart?
All of the events between Saladin and Richard are historically accurate.

Our second Sir Walter Scott novel for this year will be the second tale of the Crusades; The Talisman.

http://www.walterscott.lib.ed.ac.uk/w...

My review:

1.Tales of the Late Ivan Petrovich Belkin.
Funny and interesting stories. 4 stars.
2. The Queen of Spades.
A short story with a twist at the end. The secret of a winning 3 card game and a man who wants to know it at all costs.
I would rate this 3.5 stars.
3. The Captain's Daughter.
I thought this story started a little slow but then it really picked up. By far the best of the stories and a definite 5 star.
4. Peter the Great's Blackamoor.
Pushkin wanted to write an historical novel along the lines of Waverley by Sir Walter Scott. The result was the above story; using his ancestor, Ibrahim, as the main character. Peter the Great was the godfather of Ibrahim and had him educated in the European fashion. He went on to a great military career. Pushkin never completed the novel which is a pity as it had potential.
I would give this story 4 stars.

Peter the Great's Blackamoor.
Pushkin wanted to write an historical novel along the lines of Waverley by Sir Walter Scott. The result was the above story; using his ancestor, Ibrahim, as the main character. Peter the Great was the godfather of Ibrahim and had him educated in the European fashion. He went on to a great military career. Pushkin never completed the novel which is a pity as it had potential.
I would give this story 4 stars

Lori wrote: "I wanted to join this discussion and I downloaded the book.
But I doubt I'll get much time to read this month. Actually, I am ghostwriting my first book! It's on a topic I'm comfortable with, but i..."

Focus on what you have to do. The thread will stay up and when you get round to reading it post your comments. You can post on any of the 4 stories at any time :)

Contains the following stories:

1.Tales of the Late Ivan Petrovich Belkin
2. The Queen of Spades.
3. The Captain's Daughter.
4. Peter the Great's Blackamoor.

Rosemarie wrote: "I read these stories a couple of years ago. I hope you enjoy them."

I am actually getting The Collected Stories but will read the stories in the book from the above first and read further if I am enjoying them.

This is the February choice.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Que...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexand...

https://www.britannica.com/biography/...

Please post comments in this thread

Lori wrote: "I see that I gave it 5 stars, but I don't remember liking it too much. I suppose because it's Walter Scott and he must have 5 stars, except for St. Ronan's Well."

I agree that it being Scott tends to make me rate it higher than I would have if it had been written today. But I couldn't give this one 5 stars. Every author must have a bad day.

Rosemarie wrote: "The scene where Eveline had been placed in the ancient barrow was creepy. What a horrible experience."

The description of her afterwards was very well done. I would have looked a fright also.

Rosemarie wrote: "Book 1- The Waverly Novels: The Betrothed

I think this is one of Scott's weaker books because the plot did not flow smoothly. I did like the ending, which explained some of the earl..."

Yes, not my favourite. The later part of the book was more like him.

Troubles at home. A lot was happening in England during the late 1180's, most especially between Henry II and his sons. This unrest at the top caused civil unrest.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1180s_i...

Who was the falconer and who was behind the plot?

The type of falcon mentioned is a gyrfalcon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyrfalcon

Wilkin Flammock and his daughter are Flemings which means they are Dutch from the medieval county of Flanders

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_...

The Lay of Count of Gleichen is mentioned in this section, a tale of a husband with 2 wives. It is correctly called The Lay of Eliduc and was written by Marie de France and can be found in this work The Lais of Marie de France.

Here is a reference to the Lay

http://www.outremer.co.uk/eliduc.html