Lisa’s Comments (group member since Sep 23, 2009)

Lisa’s comments from the Should have read classics group.

http://www.famousdead.com/category/wr...

Barbara Mertz (aka Elizabeth Peters & Barbara Michaels) died peacefully at home early in the morning of Aug. 8, 2013. She had put up a very tough battle against cancer for over a decade, in a style worthy of Amelia. She preferred not to be fussed over, and so did not make her illness public. She died as she had told everyone she wanted to – unexpectedly, in her sleep. Shortly before her death, she had written a line to be posted on this webpage: “At 85, Elizabeth Peters (aka Barbara Michaels) is enjoying her cats, her garden, lots of chocolate, and not nearly enough gin.”

Maeve Binchy (One of my favorite): 1940-2012

My favorite part of the Academy Awards is the "In Memoriam" segment that lists the actors that have died during the previous year. Rather gruesome, I know. I wanted to do this for authors because many authors become like "far away" friends, especially those that write series.

This is the discussion for chapters 16 and 17 in Martin Chuzzlewitt.

This is the discussion for chapters 14 and 15 of Martin Chuzzlewitt.

This new set of characters at the boarding house is interesting. I did enjoy when Pecksniff got his just due at the house of Pinch's sister. That, I must admit made me smile!

I enjoyed the description of Todger's at the beginning of this chapter. I wonder if there are still places in London that baffle the GPS?

Mo wrote: "When my kids were young, I read many classics, such as The Wizard of Oz, Stuart Little, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, aloud to them. This book made me wonder if younger kids today would ap..."

I recommended this one to my nine year old daughter and she got about a 1/4 of the way through it and then informed me that it was too sad and she didn't want to read it any more.

Some more Jane Austen news, funny how she keeps popping up in the news.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/0...

What was everyone's favorite part? Did you have a character that you enjoy?

Samantha wrote: "Pecksniff praying for the poor and the almighty to care for them as they are certainly only His concern...I am enjoying how his true character is discreetly revealed."

It does seem that with every new chapter, little bits of his true self emerge. I rather hope that he drowns in the wet, English weather with his nose stuck so high in the air.

Benjamin wrote: "Yes, he is becoming one of Pecksniff's apprentices."

Thank you.

I do not like how Mr. Pecksniff behaves toward Pinch. I'm really not enjoying this man and his two daughters.

I'm rather confused about how the younger Chuzzlewitt came into the story. Was his arrival mentioned earlier and I missed it? He is coming as a student of Picksniff correct? I was just puzzled by his sudden appearance in the story.

I have not gotten to the actual revealing of the girl, but the hints about Pinch's encounter with a beautiful girl while playing the organ and Martin talking about his love for his grandfather's companion left me thinking that they were the same girl.

The images in these chapters are rather like vultures circling an almost dead carcass. Rather grim group of assembled family and others at Pecksniff's house. The names in this book just make me chuckle. They either seem to personify the person's character or make fun of them ironically.
I never noticed that Dickens had such subtle humor before, plus a touch of the risque.

I'm looking forward to it also!

Everyman wrote: "I was amused by the daughters' names and nicknames. Charity and Mercy are good, solid, sober, responsible, Christian names.

Cherry and Merry are decidedly not.

I am, however, unclear whether t..."

That actually made me laugh! I never noticed the choice of nicknames, although I did figure that having two daughters named Charity and Mercy, was just in line for Mr. Pecksniff and his character. Who knew that Dickens could be so risque!

This is the discussion thread for chapters 12 and 13.