Connie ’s Comments (group member since Nov 11, 2013)

Connie ’s comments from the Reading with Style group.

20.2 Journalist

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens

Wine: Pg 173 "Flora had just said 'Mr Clennam, will you give me a glass of port for Mr F's Aunt?' "

"Little Dorrit" is a novel which was originally published in serial form in nineteen installments between 1855 and 1857. Charles Dickens was traumatized when he was sent out to work as a child during the time his father was in debtors' prison. Dickens incorporated the Marshalsea prison into this novel which has a strong theme of imprisonment. Mr Dorrit was a gentleman who had fallen on hard times. This resulted in a long stay in the prison where he was referred to as "The Father of the Marshalsea." Little Dorrit (Amy) had the distinction of being born in the Marshalsea, and was known for her warm, nurturing manner. There are many reversals of fortune during the events in the novel.

Other characters are emotionally imprisoned because they are bitter, or trying to meet the expectations of society. Some characters live for wealth and social position, but it does not make them happier. Deception is practiced to gain wealth or social status.

Another main character is Arthur Clennam who described himself as "the only child of parents who weighed, measured, and priced everything." His mother was a cold-hearted woman who lived in a Calvinistic manner. Arthur was still emotionally living under the shadow of his upbringing.

There is lots of humor in this novel, including the character names of the upper class Barnacles and Stiltstockings. They run the Circumlocution Office where there are mountains of red tape, citizens fill out multiple forms which only get filed away, and nothing gets done. Dickens does some wonderful satirical writing in the chapters about government bureaucracy.

"Little Dorrit" has many characters and multiple subplots. Although Dickens was writing the book in serial form, he managed to tie up most of the loose ends by the conclusion. He exposed some serious social problems while writing an entertaining story.

+20 task
+20 combo 10.4 Pilgrim, 10.8 Jetsetters (England, Switzerland, Italy), 20.3 Prolific, 20.5 Wine
+10 review
+15 oldie (1855)
+25 jumbo (1021 pages)

Task total: 90
Season total: 1365

I've got general goals in 2021 to:

1. Read a few biographies.

2. Continue reading Dickens' novels and short stories.

3. Continue my UK challenge by reading books set in some rural counties of Scotland.

4. Continue with the Mysteries Challenge.

5. Continue reading short stories with a group.

6. Continue with my two monthly library book groups that meet on Zoom.

7. Read some light books--ghost stories, romance, time-travel, beach reads, thrillers--to relax during this pandemic year.

✓ Mystery in White by J. Jefferson Farjeon
DIN-De Double trouble, Ic Title word "in", Ne New to you author

✓ The Memory of Old Jack by Wendell Berry
WHY-Wb Author's name begins with w, Hb Historical fiction, Yc Name ends in y

✓ Raven Black by Ann Cleeves
GET-Gb Author's name without g, Eb Authors name with two e, Tc Thriller

Ship Fever: Stories by Andrea Barrett
TIN- Te Title has no "the", Id Author's name without i, Nb Not a novel

The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen
TEN- Td Translated, Eb Author born in Europe, Nc Nordic noir

The Dry by Jane Harper
HAT- He Highly rated, Ab Set in a country beginning with A, Tc Title plus one word

The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison
HIT- Hc Name begins with h, Ie Author's name with initials, Tb Pub in the teens (2013)

The Blackwater Lightship by Colm Tóibín
GAL- Gd Guardian's list, Ac August birthday, Le LGBT

✓ The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
HID- Hd Hot off the press 2020, Ib Born in India, Db Debut novel

When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson
WRY- Wc When, Re Series, Yd Mystery

20.3 Prolific

The Mystery of Charles Dickens by A.N. Wilson

Scrabble: TMOCDANW Word: COD

"If Dickens remains immortal, it is, among other reasons, for his profound understanding of the inner child who remains with all of us until we die."

A.N. Wilson touches on key events in Charles Dickens' life by showing how Dickens incorporated his life experiences into his writing. "The Mystery of Charles Dickens" is not a birth to death biography. Instead, the chapters of the non-linear book are based on themes such as his death, his childhood, his marriage, charity, public readings, etc. Traumatic events from Dickens' childhood worked their way into many of his novels. Dickens was a strong advocate for the poor and the imprisoned, but he was far from charitable during his divorce from his wife. Wilson uses Dickens' letters and novels to show instances when he had a conflicted nature. In the last chapter, Wilson reflects on his own childhood in a boarding school with an abusive headmaster, and how Dickens' works helped him survive his own childhood traumas. Dickens wrote with a great combination of comedy and tragedy to emotionally engage his readers.

Since there are many references to Dickens' novels, a reader will appreciate Wilson's book more if they are familiar with a few of his works. I'm excited about reading more of Dickens' novels after reading "The Mystery of Charles Dickens." Wilson's writing would be very accessible to most readers. I enjoyed this portrait of an impressive writer and beloved entertainer.

+20 task (confirmed in help thread)
+15 combo 10.2 Scrabble; 10.8 Jetsetters (England, USA, Italy); 20.2 Journalist
+10 not a novel
+10 review

Task total: 55
Season total: 1275

Is it OK to use the same 3 or 4 letter word more than once, using different squares?

Looks like fun!

20.9 Initiated

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind

Scrabble: PTSOAMPS Word: SOAP

Wine: Pg 86 "And then he invited Grimal to the Tour d'Argent for a bottle of white wine."

"Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" tells the story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille who starts his life as an unwanted, abused orphan in 18th Century France. He has an exquisitely sensitive sense of smell, although his own body possesses no smell of its own. He becomes an apprentice parfumier who wants to possess the most perfect scent in the world. He had followed the alluring smell in the wind to discover a beautiful adolescent girl. The twisted fairy tale goes on from that disturbing day.

The premise behind the plot is that smells subconsciously play an extremely important influence on human behavior. The story mixes realistic events with the weird and fantastic. The book definitely is not for everyone since there are many descriptions of putrid smells, depraved infatuations, and a grotesque protagonist. But one can also feel a little bit of empathy toward the unloved foundling who has no emotional bond with other humans. Some readers might find "Perfume" to be too dark and twisted. But others will feel that the tale is clever, original, full of dark humor, and contains interesting information about perfume and the 18th Century. This was a best-seller in Germany, and has been translated into many languages.

+20 task
+20 combo 10.2 Scrabble; 10.4 Pilgrim; 20.5 Wine; 20.10 Another Birthday (author born in 1949)
+10 review
+ 5 oldie (pub 1985)

Task total: 55
RwS Completion Bonus: 100
Season Total: 1275

Thanks for the suggestions, Elizabeth and Valerie. I've heard good things about An Unsuitable Job for a Woman by P.D. James which was published in the 70s too. I've got ideas for every year, but I know my plans will go out the window when another book strikes my fancy!

I don't own any mysteries from the 1970s, but have a list of possibilities which also includes Ruth Rendell. I also might like to try one of Colin Dexter's books about a deaf character to see how he handles that situation. I would like some of my mysteries to include interesting locations, some history, or unusual characters.

Thanks, Elizabeth.

Could you please add A.N. Wilson to your list of journalists?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._N._W...

Could you please add A.N. Wilson to your list of prolific writers?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._N._W...

20.6 Civil War

The Second Mrs. Hockaday by Susan Rivers

Wine: Pg 55: "I rewarded him with a bottle of muscadine wine I had managed to put up the previous fall."

Inspired by true events, "The Second Mrs Hockaday" tells the story of a new wife who was left behind to manage a South Carolina farm while her husband fought in the American Civil War. Placidia was only 17 years old when she met Confederate Major Gryffth Hockaday. She married him after only knowing him for one day. Two days later, Gryffth had to leave with his troops. He eventually was captured by the Union soldiers so was unable to return home for two years. Shortly before his return, Placidia was pregnant with a baby who died mysteriously. Placidia was accused of infanticide, and taken into custody.

Told in letters, diary entries, and court documents, the truth comes out about the pregnancy. Women lived in constant danger of bandits, deserters, and scavengers. Soldiers, both Union and Confederate, would steal food to feed the troops which left the women, children, and farm hands in a precarious state. The book also included heartbreaking scenes of slaves being beaten, raped, and separated from their families.

This was an interesting historical mystery. Both Placida on the home front, and Gryffth as a soldier suffered through two hellish years. One wondered if their short relationship would be enough to sustain the love between Major Hockaday and his "darling girl" during those challenging times. The story started with Placidia under arrest, and the author keeps us in suspense as the events of two years are revealed.

+20 task
+10 combo 20.5 Wine; 10.8 Jetsetters (SC, VA, NC, OH)
+10 review

Task total: 40
Season total: 1120

30.1 Go for the Green

Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje

Scrabble: AGMO Word: GAM

"One village can speak for many villages. One victim can speak for many victims."

Anil Tissera, a forensic pathologist, returned to her native Sri Lanka after studying abroad. She is sponsored by a human rights group to investigate the mysterious deaths and disappearances during the civil war. The people were living in constant danger with atrocities committed by all three groups fighting in the 1980s war--the government, the separatists, and the insurgents.

Anil is paired with archaeologist Sarath Diyasena. They unearth four skeletons in a government-controlled area which they nickname Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, and Sailor. The first three skeletons are ancient, but Sailor is a recent victim who has been reburied. Sarath is immersed in history while his brother, a surgeon, deals with the victims of terrorism on a daily basis.

"Anil's Ghost" is partially a detective story as they work to identify Sailor. But this is literary fiction written in Michael Ondaatje's style with small glimpses or fragments of events, mixed with flashbacks, that all come together at the end. This is a story about identity, grief, and the futility of war. The characters are loners, devoted to their work, but often overwhelmed by tragedy. The beauty of the island of Sri Lanka, south of India, contrasts with the darkness of the story. Ondaatje, who is also a poet, wrote the book in beautiful prose. A glimmer of hope at the end kept the story from being relentlessly tragic.

+30 task (Set mostly in Sri Lanka)
+20 combo 10.2 Scrabble; 10. 5 Monster Redux; 10.8 Jetsetters (Sri Lanka, England, Guatemala, Oklahoma, Florida); 20.10 Another Birthday
+10 review

Task total: 60
Season total: 1080

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Post 666 Connie wrote: "20.2 Journalist

Miss Jane by Brad Watson

Wine: pg 245 "I've got half a mind to see if your father left any of his apple brandy down at his ..."

I don't have any other wine references, Elizabeth. I had thought that apple brandy was wine, and applejack was hard liquor, but it probably depends on who is making it. I'll subtract it in my notes.

20.2 Journalist

Miss Jane by Brad Watson

Wine: pg 245 "I've got half a mind to see if your father left any of his apple brandy down at his shed."

"She would always be the odd one, the one with the secret. Who hurried from company without a word, returned a while later, as if nothing were unusual about it."

Brad Watson was inspired by the life of his great-aunt to write the story of Jane Chisolm. The girl was born on a Mississippi farm with a birth defect. Medicine had not advanced enough in the early twentieth century to surgically repair it. It took a special kind of courage to find what the world offered her, instead of only dwelling on the things she was missing. "Miss Jane" shows her relationships with her parents, her sister, a compassionate doctor, and the young man on the next farm. Her mother consulted a fortune teller about her concerns for Jane's future and was told, "She is strong. Even stronger than you. . . . She may even be relatively happy in life. Unlike you."

The book is written beautifully, especially showing how nature can be exquisitely lovely or terribly cruel. I found myself rereading passages of gorgeous lyrical prose describing Jane's enjoyment of nature:

"She loved most being in the woods, with the diffused light and quiet there. Such a stillness, with just the pecking of ground birds and forest animals, the flutter of wings, the occasional skittering of squirrels playing up and down a tree. The silent, imperceptible unfurling of spring buds into blossom. She felt comfortable there. As if nothing could be unnatural in that place, within but apart from the world."

+20 task
+15 combo 10.4 Pilgrim, 10.8 Jetsetters (Mississippi, Tennessee, Maryland, Louisiana)
+10 review

Task total: 45
Season total: 1025

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Connie wrote: "Could you approve Brad Watson as a journalist please?

https://mississippiencyclopedia.org/e..."

You got him!"

Thanks, Elizabeth!

Could you approve Brad Watson as a journalist please?

https://mississippiencyclopedia.org/e...

20.10 Another Birthday?

Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler

Scrabble: NCAT Word: CAT

Wine: Pg 173 "Shall we order a bottle of wine?" he asked.

Liam Pennywell, a fifth grade teacher, is out of a job when his school downsizes. He's uncertain about what he wants to do in the next stage of his life. To conserve his savings, the sixty-one year old man moves to a smaller apartment. He goes to sleep in his new bedroom, and wakes up in a hospital after being knocked unconscious by an intruder. He can't remember anything about the incident.

While Liam is trying to recover the memory of the intruder breaking into his apartment, he's making connections and renewing relationships. The book has an understated plot with some sweet and humorous moments. There are no fireworks, but contentment seems to be what Liam needs at this point in his life.

+20 task (author born 1941)
+15 combo 10.2 Scrabble; 20.3 Prolific; 20.5 Wine
+10 review

Task total: 45
Season total: 980

20.8 Bedtime

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Scrabble: ACCCD Word: CAD

Wine: Stave Five "I'll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob!" (Smoking bishop is red wine, mulled with oranges, sugar, and spices.)

+20 task
+15 combo 10.2 Scrabble; 20.2 Journalist; 20.5 Wine
+15 oldie published 1843

Task total: 50
Season total: 935