Whitney’s Comments (group member since May 05, 2015)

Whitney’s comments from the Classics Without All the Class group.

Hi Leo! I see the answers to both sides of this question. Many cynical folks will say, "No, the melodrama does not work. Coincidences that lead to happy endings is the evidence of a cheap writer." Yes, Dickens wrote sensationally to bring more readers. He gave us the maudlin and the ridiculous.

However, personally I believe YES, the melodrama still works. Dickens tapped into the essential core of human nature. Humans crave love. We are maudlin and vulnerable and we feel like magical forces are at work when we simply get a glimpse of our loved ones. It's amazing that Dickens's writing still illustrates this for us hopeless romantics. :-D

@Lauren-- Yes, I agree with you! These characters are totally removed from reality. However, I love that they go on equal footing. Yes, the narrator goes on and on about himself, but Nastenka gets lots of space to tell her history too--and she even scolds him for interrupting! Narrator devotes himself to her happiness--whatever she wants! It's bittersweet.

This story has themes that still fixate people today: the girl who got away, and the dreaded "friend zone."

It is a curious and thought-provoking final sentence! Our narrator is so peculiar, it seems like he really has no idea how much happiness a man is entitled to have. He seems resigned to have no more, since in the closing chapter he imagines his own life exactly the same with his same old landlady, and Nastenka is gone from his life :(

I agree, Daniel! Heart of Darkness is so simple, in terms of "plot." Protagonist looks for Kurtz; Protagonist finds Kurtz; and then he deals with the aftermath of having found Kurtz, lol.

Alex wrote: "I too could not get apocolase now out of my mind. Did not really do anything for me. But our book club in Canberra studied the book and our discussion certainly opened up my mind a bit to bits I mi..."

Hi Alex. From my experience reading, the woman at the end serves as a contrast to the horrors of Marlow's travels. And I think she also is a sort of "victim" who suffered from Kurtz's downfall. (view spoiler)[He had installed some sort of reign of terror on an African village, and yet he had a meek little fiancee waiting at home. Now she intends to be a widow for the remainder of her life. (hide spoiler)]

Marlow's intent for telling this story is to show this man Kurtz as almost inhuman, but maybe also evil-godlike. At the time of writing, this story had blockbuster potential--the tension builds in a scary fashion as Marlow travels toward Kurtz. But the story also had the viewpoint written by a colonizing empire, which modern audiences cannot take at face-value anymore. The world is not like this anymore. Some aspects are universal still, but context is vital.

Ugh. This book could have been in the October reading list (and it is for me. I could not get through it all last month.) Gruesome. Mark Renton's unflinching accounts of self and everyone else are unmerciful and just plain gross. The slang is excellent. But all the events are turning my stomach. :(

This was a great quick read! However, I went through phases of hating nearly everyone except Mathis and the villain's henchmen. They were SO good at their jobs.

Bond, Le Chiffre, and Vesper were all slightly insufferable at times.

I was most intrigued by the possibility of Bond becoming an actual sympathetic human being when he falls in love with Vesper. (view spoiler)[But when it all ends horribly, he feels sorry for himself for a few minutes and calls in to report the result. The literal last words in the book are "The bitch is dead." (hide spoiler)] Ultimately we all know James Bond only looks out for himself. And he does sort of try to learn from his mistakes; he tries to become a better agent. He learns that true professionals do their work without fanfare, and they exercise caution.

This book is a very strong start to the series. But I do not anticipate Bond's character deepening. And I am deducting points because despite everything that happens in this book, he keeps himself weak by continually discounting women. If he would accept them as humans capable of action, he could save himself a lot of trouble. It takes a lot of energy to complain constantly about your co-workers, accomplices, etc. Thank goodness the movies are starting to catch on to this.

Martin wrote: "Really enjoying this, but there are some phrases that don't quite sound right to 21st Century ears:
"His landlady came to the door, loosely wrapped in dressing gown and shawl; her husband followed ..."

Exactly. While reading that passage, I had to self-edit: "husband followed SHOUTING! shouting."

And I have no idea what that means: to temper a nut with a cigarette. What?

I am putting the Margery Allingham mysteries on my list!

I am further in now, and it is getting gruesome! I know that Wells didn't pull any punches for the writing style of his time. (I am still recovering from the Island of Doctor Moreau.)

His way of portraying human instinct and mob mentalities are definitely still accurate!

Hi group! I've been here for several weeks, and I'm following the War of the worlds thread, but I don't think I've done an intro yet. (On WoW, I recently added a strange thread. Sorry. I have a degree in English Lit; I live and breathe lit crit, and I can read between the lines in my sleep :))

Whitney is my name. Favorite daily beverage is tap water. If I don't have a refillable bottle of water nearby at all times, I feel uncomfortable. But I do love a good mixed drink as well!

I read a lot of British authors. My two current favorites are P.G. Wodehouse and Dorothy Sayers.

Cookies!

Fayetteville, PA. Middle of nowhere and I love it.

Two points that actually made me laugh--but really I shouldn't because this book is supposed to scare people, right?

1. Chapter 2: The character Ogilvy tries to announce to passersby about the large object that fell from space. A "waggoner" avoids him; Ogilvy seems loony because Ogilvy is not wearing a hat. In a civilized land, we wear hats, understand! Also, a tavern owner tries to lock him in the taproom. (Great idea. Lock in the crazy guy with the booze.)

2. Chapter 4: The first appearance of the "Martians." Brown and "unspeakably nasty," according to our narrator. First thing the first Martian does upon exiting the ship? It falls out through the opening, lands with a big thud, and lets out a groaning sort of yell. In the following chapter, our narrator mentions to his wife that he's not sure how these creatures plan to kill all humans. The things aren't able to move in Earth's heavy gravity.

Has anyone else noticed any details perplexing/funny/non-scary? I'm not trying to insult this classic book, but I can't help reading it in this current day context. And after all, it's often the case that humor exists in the face of danger.

Lizbeth : Your paper topic seems interesting! I would read it. Thank goodness for this discussion thread! I was/am in the pretty firm conviction that Hardy is endless doom and gloom, but now I want to give Mayor another try.