☯Emily ’s Comments (group member since Jul 27, 2011)

☯Emily ’s comments from the Classics for Beginners group.

This would be a good time to get volunteers for November and December. I'll continue to do the tri-monthly reads.

What did you think of Jos while he was near/on the battlefield?

It is appropriate that this book is being read and discussed now. The events take place during the Napoleonic wars and eventually the action will move to (view spoiler)[ Waterloo. The Waterloo battle took place in June 1815, 200 years ago. I am taking a course on Waterloo and Thackeray's book has come up several times. (hide spoiler)]

Definitely a satire.

Aw-w-w, Jos. I remember him. Yes, he is strange.

Arlene wrote: "Emily I do agree with you that Gone With The Wind is racist but I think you have to consider the years the story takes place and where Margaret lived (in the south) and also realize that there were..."

Do we have any written documentation from "house slaves" that promoted the ideas in GWTW? All I have found is whites stating these ideas "for" the slaves or former slaves.

I wouldn't recommend Moby Dick, the most overrated book ever written and Gone with the Wind, one of the most racist book ever written and idolized.

Welcome Marietta and Meghan. Marietta, the book we are reading in August is not very long.

I have read this book twice, but not recently. I will follow the discussions, but will not be reading it again.

Hi! I am one of the moderators and I have the same question. I was looking for a discussion from a book read a few years ago. It seems to have disappeared. Nicolle, do you have any idea where the old discussions are located? I don't see any archived threads.

Rita *wants a quick quotes quill* Skeeter wrote: "@Henry - if only Boldwood hadn't made the very big mistake of not telling her how beautiful she was!"

LOL!

Henry wrote: "I have been steadily but slowing working my way through it. I have got used to the over description and just tune out. [spoilers removed]

Oh regarding that over description. For those who read t..."

I loved the description of the storm in Chapter 37.

Henry wrote: "Chapter 37 Bathsheba tells Gabriel about her marriage to Troy
But I was coming away, when he suddenly said he had that day seen a woman more beautiful than I, and that his constancy could not be ..."



I thought this was the stupidest reason for marrying that I ever heard. I don't really like Bathsheba.

Rita *wants a quick quotes quill* Skeeter wrote: "Chapters are a little skewy across the editions, so it's chapter 19 in my edition;
"I can say that to them if you wish, Miss Everdene. And I could likewise give an opinion to you on what you have d..."

Gabriel never gave his opinion until she asked him, so he was not presumptuous. Bathsheba had no one else to give her advice and she needed his, whether she liked it or not.

I just finished chapter 22 and I wondered how many of us have seen sheep being sheared. Here are a few pictures of a recent event. http://danrouthphotography.blogspot.c...

Rita *wants a quick quotes quill* Skeeter wrote: "Yeah, I take all your points Emily and Kim, but I still don't like him. I think he's rather a prig actually. He's set himself up as Bathsheba's moral guardian/conscience, unasked for. Presumptuous."
"

In Chapter 20, Bathsheba does ask for his opinion. She says. "Well, what is your opinion of my conduct," she said quietly.

When he tells her, she gets angry and fires him. Why would he come back when she demands that he do so? Not any real man I know! He comes back when she is more polite.

Laurie wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "Maybe it's just me, but Gabriel is the world's biggest drip.
Poor sheep that suffered while he was busy making a point."

I feel very different about Gabriel. To me he is "the..."

I agree. He is the kind of person that gets overlooked, but is really the kind of person all of us need in our lives.

I am puzzled as to why Bathsheba is always so neat and clean if she is a hands-on farmer. Real farmers get dirty and smelly. The dirt is very hard to be removed. Hands get chapped and faces get sunburned. The one time we see her working, she is incompetent.

Rita *wants a quick quotes quill* Skeeter wrote: "Maybe it's just me, but Gabriel is the world's biggest drip.
Poor sheep that suffered while he was busy making a point."

I think that this is where Gabriel shows his strength. If Gabriel had already left town, there would have been more suffering and death, so that is a minor point against him.

Bathsheba needed to be taught that there are consequences to arrogant behavior and demands. If he had just rushed over to help, she would have learned nothing.

Henry wrote: "Gads I got to get moving on this. I got a little bogged down with it and have got behind."

I still on chapter 8, so I am probably the most behind.