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

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

Just a thought ladies, but if you want once a month (or once in a while) a buddy read of something off your shelf, please post a photo of one such shelf and we can have a poll of something on there :) I love seeing other people's books..

Haaze wrote: "Congratulations, Tracey! That is a really great list of 19th century classics!"

Thanks Haaze. I try. I have loved reading my whole life but until the past few years haven't been able to do any real studying of it. Never too late as they say :)

Discussion by Rosemarie

Late 1700-1809: A Vindication of the Rights of Womanby Mary Wollstonecraft 1792 English author READ 01/18

1810-19: Rip Van Winkle read 10/18

1820-29: The Betrothed by Walter Scott Scottish author 1825 READ 01/18

1830-39 : The Queen of Spades and Other Stories by Alexander Pushkin READ 02/18

1840-49: Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë READ 01/18

1850-59: Moby-Dick or, The Whale by Herman Melville READ 01/18

1860-69: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky READ 02/18
1870-79: Middlemarch by George Eliot READ 02/18
1880-89: Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace
1890-99: Stories of God by Rainer Maria Rilke READ 03/18

Challenge completed

I think The Woodlanders and Mansfield Park were my favourites last year in this challenge.

Sounds great. I will put a thread up for both.

This will be our January group read. Please post below if you intend to join in the group discussion.

completed Dec 18th 2017.

The Black Tulip was my first Dumas and I also enjoyed it but didn't enjoy The Three Musketeers

What was your favourite book out of the list?

Deborah wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "I noticed that this poor woman was married to a physician and sister to another. Poor thing. The patronizing attitude of her husband ..."

You are correct that a holistic approach is needed as mind body spirit are all connected and affected for good or ill together. I too am on a very specific diet and it is helping me a lot with my health. I have no gluten or added sugar or nightshades and very little dairy. No artificial additives but that is what everyone should be doing. An illness crisis can bring us to a journey of health.

My favourite :)

I have my book all ready to go, an early birthday present for me from my son :)

Background info to be posted

Deborah wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "I noticed that this poor woman was married to a physician and sister to another. Poor thing. The patronizing attitude of her husband has made life hell for her."

I..."
Reading your comments I want to weep. "Nothing new under the sun' comes to mind. There are good men out there, great men even. But in far too many cases the majority rule in an unkind way. It is worse I believe in other countries. I once worked with a pharmacist from a middle eastern country. He was doing an exchange program. I went up to him the first day to welcome him and say if he was unsure about anything to give me a shout. He NEVER spoke to me again. Apparently, I had offended him by speaking to him first and then assuming I could help him.
At times I feel like we are still in the dark ages.
I try not to let it bother me but when I come right up against it, it makes me sad.
I hope things are better for you Deborah.

Rosemarie wrote: "I bought it as an ibook(ebook) at a reasonable price. The book is extremely hard to find as an actual book. I really enjoyed it."

Seems to be the case. What will the world do if there few real books and limited or no power/electricity? If I read a book that I feel has real merit I am trying to track down a hard copy. This might sound strange but I am a great believer that we don't know what we have until we lose it and the power of the written word is too important to leave in the hands of a few. Just a bit of the world according to Tracey there :)

Rosemarie wrote: "The Misfortunes of Elphin by Thomas Love Peacock was a delightful trip back to the time of King Arthur and the Welsh Bard Taliesin.
This book was light and entertaining..."

I have never heard of this one. Looks interesting.

Rosemarie wrote: "I noticed that this poor woman was married to a physician and sister to another. Poor thing. The patronizing attitude of her husband has made life hell for her."

I can relate as my ex-husband wanted me to just pull myself together. He wasn't a doctor though and since the doctors were not taking my situation seriously then I can understand it would be harder for him to. I still feel that there is a lot of prejudice in the medical world; sadly. Both as a patient and as a healthcare practioner I have seen it too many times. This story is still very relevant today.

Deborah wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I read this stories, and many other in her collection a long time ago. I'm glad I reread it. It had the same punch as it did the first ..."

It was more than just trapped, I think she felt she had no voice. A lot of women who have been abused or oppressed in some way feel this. I thought the wallpaper was an excellent symbol of this feeling; to be trapped behind something that allows no voice of the one trapped to come through (a symbolic covering or smothering of the face and expression)

Deborah wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I read this stories, and many other in her collection a long time ago. I'm glad I reread it. It had the same punch as it did the first time around. Her writing is rea..."

I saw the woman beneath the wallpaper as 'smothered' and unable to express herself. Entombed and covered over...out of sight and out of mind. I am not surprised that the wife identified herself with the wallpaper woman.

Rosemarie wrote: "My younger daughter's father-in-law has fibromyalgia, and they probably took him seriously. I am glad you are finally getting some treatment that works for you.
You may know this already, but the h..."

I thought the children were innocent of everything and that they reacted to what the governess was suggesting rather than be the cause of it.