The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion
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Croissants, Coffee & Tea -- Part the Eighth
MadgeUK wrote: "A vicereine isn't 'second only to the Queen',..."
I think it should have read: "In India it was the highest social and political position behind the Queen."
During my winter break, I've been addicted to The West Wing. Netflix made it available streaming around Christmas.Must add this to my list of show that I had as "quality" shows.
And reminded me how close I was to choosing political science rather than English Lit for a Master's when I was looking for my second career. I definitely think I made the right choice though...
Any other West Wing fans?
Rochelle wrote: "Lynnm wrote: "The guy who plays Thomas is so sweet in real life. "And he's a hunk, too."
Totally agree - Rob James-Collier is a hunk. :-)
Robin wrote: "I thought we might have more about Thomas' sexuality. It's sort of understandable how he could be resentful and isolated. It seemed he really cared about both the lord in the 1st season and the wounded soldier in the 2nd. If Thomas had been upper class, it might have been easier for him to find others who accepted him. (as long as he was discreet, of course!) "
Rob James-Collier was on Katie, and he talked about some of the things you brought up.
I can't say that I like Thomas, but I do feel sorry for him as well.
Lynnm wrote: "During my winter break, I've been addicted to The West Wing. Netflix made it available streaming around Christmas.Must add this to my list of show that I had as "quality" shows.
And reminded me ..."
I tried it during the first run, and I didn't understand a lot of the political lingo, although I had no doubt about its quality of writing and acting. I stuck with it anyway.
I don't have cable, so unfortunately I've missed Homeland, but I do remember Damien Lewis from The Forsyte Saga.
Lynnm wrote: "Robin wrote: "I thought we might have more about Thomas' sexuality. It's sort of understandable how he could be resentful and isolated. It seemed he really cared about both the lord in the 1st seas..."I feel sorry for him too. But it's incredible that he hasn't been fired by now for misdemeanors he couldn't hide, like theft of the wine bottles.
Anyone understand why that other footman, whose name excapes me, lied about O'Brien's leaving?
West Wing is very popular over here although, despite my interest in politics, I have never been very drawn to it.
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I'm quite annoyed with Julian Fellowes after the latest episode of Downton broadcast here, it is not believable that Granny Violet would prefer the scandal of Edith being left at the altar to marrying her to a perfectly respectable man. Men are not standing in line for her, and especially since the family thinks they are losing their money, they should be delighted to have her married off (plus wanting to get her out of the house!) The family almost ended up with a horrible newspaperman for Mary and already accepted a chauffeur for Sibyl, it just doesn't fit. Yes, Sir Anthony made the decision but after being hounded by the family.
True Edith was awful in the 1st season but so was Mary, and they both grew up quite a lot during the war. Edith has already been disappointed by cousin Patrick, Matthew, the fellow claiming to be Patrick, and even the local farmer. Maybe all her good luck has been eaten up by Matthew, who has now been chosen to inherit 2 fortunes! Ah well, we can't get too demanding about a TV show.
Robin wrote: "I'm quite annoyed with Julian Fellowes after the latest episode of Downton broadcast here..."What both Violet did and what Anthony did is out of character. The family has been disgraced, and it will be in the society pages of the all newspapers. Edith will be the butt of jokes. Could be Fellowes decided that with one daughter still unmarried, he could write more romantic episodes. Not everything in soap operas is plausible because the plotlines must be dragged out. This series was originally meant to run one season.
Thomas and O'Brien have not been allies for a long while, since she had an epiphany when Cora miscarried.
Lynnm wrote: "Any other West Wing fans? ..."I love The West Wing, Lynn. Our kids introduced us to the series about five years ago and we spent six months watching it from start to finish. Since then I've seen random episodes on television but I wouldn't mind watching all seven seasons again.
Kim wrote: "Lynnm wrote: "Any other West Wing fans? ..."I love The West Wing, Lynn. Our kids introduced us to the series about five years ago and we spent six months watching it from start to finish. Since t..."
I figure that it will take me about six months as well.
One of the great shows...and again, just love the Josh Lyman character.
Robin and Rochelle - It didn't hit me that it was out of character. Violet didn't like the newspaperman and definitely didn't like the chauffeur. But Violet wouldn't have stopped a wedding between Mary and the newspaperman because he was filthy rich and there was a scandal brewing because of the dead foreigner. They needed Mary married.
And if she could have, she would have stopped the wedding between Sybil and Branson.
Just my humble opinion though. :-)
Rochelle wrote: "I do remember Damien Lewis from The Forsyte Saga. "
I loved that mini-series. And I'm looking forward to our summer read of the book.
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"
I loved that mini-series. And I'm looking forward to our summer read of the book."
What a great book! I read it several years ago, and loved every moment of it. I'd love to watch the miniseries adaptation sometime too.
Christopher wrote: "Lynnm wrote: "Rochelle wrote: "I do remember Damien Lewis from The Forsyte Saga. "
I loved that mini-series. And I'm looking forward to our summer read of the book."
What a great book! I read ..."
3 books, but they're not very thick.
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"
I loved that mini-series. And I'm looking forward to our summer read of the book."
What a ..."
My copy had the three books and a couple of novellas all bound together, B&N edition as I recall.
Has anyone happened to notice that the leftmost volume on our header has this title:
The Rifle in America
by [Philip B.] Sharpe?
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The Rifle in America
by [Philip B.] Sharpe?"
Oh, that is just too funny for words! Speaks volumes, eh? [pun intended ;-)]
Lily wrote: "Has anyone happened to notice that the leftmost volume on our header has this title: The Rifle in America
by [Philip B.] Sharpe?"
Look again. They're all gun books. I noticed quite a while ago, and wondered if I should be disturbed by it, but they are nice-looking.
Okay, here's the link I incorrectly posted on "Part the Seventh:"http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs...
A New Yorker article on reading "repulsive writers." I found it rather fun to mentally joust or agree with Ms. Bustillos.
Denise wrote: "Lily wrote: "Has anyone happened to notice that the leftmost volume on our header has this title: The Rifle in America
by [Philip B.] Sharpe?"
Look again. They're all gun books. I noticed qu..."
I can't read most of the titles, between the resolution on my screen,the eyeglasses prescriptions, and the eyes that have been giving me fits this year! Thanks for the catch, Denise.
In case you haven't noticed it yet, a new poll went up yesterday soliciting a statement of interest in one of several authors for reads after the current ones by Collins.
While I know all of this, I still unrealistically persist in thinking that Victorian England would be a great place to live! ;)http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia...
And looking forward to watching Jack the Ripper tonight on BBC America.
After reading just one of Dickens' novels, I had NO desire to live in Victorian London.
☯Emily wrote: "After reading just one of Dickens' novels, I had NO desire to live in Victorian London."Yucch. And I don't think NYC or any urban area of that time was any better.
We've been influenced by beautiful Christmas cards, showing a snow-covered Victorian London all lit up for Christmas. It's a misinterpretation of Dickens Christmas Carol.
It might have been a nice place to live if you were wealthy but not if you were poor or even moderately rich. And even then, the Thames was like a sewer and water borne diseases affected everyone, as did loss of life in childbirth:(:(.
Folks here might be interested in this book of stories by a psychoanalyst:-A reviewer says:
'If I was pressed, I would say this book is a meeting of Jane Austen, Tolstoy and Hello magazine. What a treat.'
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Examined-...
MadgeUK wrote: "It might have been a nice place to live if you were wealthy but not if you were poor or even moderately rich. And even then, the Thames was like a sewer and water borne diseases affected everyone,..."That would probably go for any time or place, although in the West, more so before World War II. Now at least we have some safety nets.
Also, we tend to look at the good points of each era. That's especially true about our own pasts...I know that I am nostalgic for the 60s and 70s, but know full well that there were a lot of bad things about both of those decades.
As for the Victorian era, since much of the literature was written by people who were well off or relatively well off, we don't get an accurate perspective. With exceptions, of course.
Dickens was one of the exceptions, since it was his intention to expose the poverty and degradation in London. He became a journalist and a parliamentary Hansard writer to this end but found that his fiction reached more people. His experience of being a 12 year old factory boy, with a father in the Marshalsea prison, fuelled his desire to let people know about the bad things lurking beneath the prosperity of London. http://in.news.yahoo.com/dickens-used...
MadgeUK wrote: "Dickens was one of the exceptions, since it was his intention to expose the poverty and degradation in London. He became a journalist and a parliamentary Hansard writer to this end but found that h..."I agree - and I think he is definitely be on the top of exception list. And it is because he had a hard life in his younger years.
MadgeUK wrote: "Dickens was one of the exceptions, since it was his intention to expose the poverty and degradation in London. He became a journalist and a parliamentary Hansard writer to this end but found that h..."I'm wondering why a study had to be authorized (translation: financed)for this. It's common knowledge among his readers.
Did you notice this is the Indian version of Yahoo.com? :-)You mean the US is not the center of the universe?
I'd just as soon live in an age that fairly solidly supported the vote, property rights, and professional work opportunities for women, even though some of those were becoming available to women during the Victorian period. Likewise, antibiotics, electricity, even automobiles and airplanes are rather nice to have.
Lily wrote: "I'd just as soon live in an age that fairly solidly supported the vote, property rights, and professional work opportunities for women, even though some of those were becoming available to women du..."...and the internet, otherwise I'd be sitting here talking to myself, and they would come and take me away.
LOL. So very true Lily and Rochelle:).
POTUS mentioned climate change in his inaugural speech. Not just a brief nod, but extensively:"We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity. We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. (Applause.) Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires and crippling drought and more powerful storms.
The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition, we must lead it. We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries, we must claim its promise. That’s how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure - our forests and waterways, our crop lands and snow-capped peaks. That is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by God. That’s what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once declared."
Rochelle wrote: "...and the internet, otherwise I'd be sitting here talking to myself, and they would come and take me away. "
Haha!
I noted that Lynn and also his references to improved health care and gay rights. Let's hope for a fulfilled second term!
MadgeUK wrote: "I noted that Lynn and also his references to improved health care and gay rights. Let's hope for a fulfilled second term!"And women as well:
"For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts."
Lily wrote: "I'd just as soon live in an age that fairly solidly supported the vote, property rights, and professional work opportunities for women, even though some of those were becoming available to women du..."I agree.
But I get tired of the constant rush of modern life. Which is why I always think I would like it better in the past: less people, less of living life on a treadmill, more community. But I think the bad outweighs the good in the past (unless I was extremely rich), and I wouldn't last more than a day before I was begging to come back to the present.
MadgeUK wrote: "Folks here might be interested in this book of stories by a psychoanalyst:-A reviewer says:
'If I was pressed, I would say this book is a meeting of Jane Austen, Tolstoy and Hello magazine. Wha..."
Thank you, Madge. This looks fascinating. I will see if it's available through Amazon U.S.
Amazon U.S. will have this in May. It can be pre-ordered now.
Lynnm wrote: "MadgeUK wrote: "I noted that Lynn and also his references to improved health care and gay rights. Let's hope for a fulfilled second term!"And women as well:
"For our journey is not complete unti..."
The first mention of gay right ever in an inaugural address. I was at physical therapy today, and usually I drown out their TV with my Walkman tuned to Public Radio. Today I asked my PT to move some of my equipment facing the TV. First time ever that I've watched an entire inauguration.
Jeanne wrote: "MadgeUK wrote: "Folks here might be interested in this book of stories by a psychoanalyst:-A reviewer says:
'If I was pressed, I would say this book is a meeting of Jane Austen, Tolstoy and Hel..."
I can't find Madge's original post with the name of the book.
The book is The Examined Life by Stephen Grosz.
There were two reviews on Amazon U.S. One person loved the book, the other thought the stories of patients were too brief. I plan to buy it when it is available here.
A real-life Downton Abbey situation has arisen over inheritance which may interest you folks. (I'm linking to the Daily Mail because of the pics.)http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic...
The House of Commons is also about to debate changing the Act of Succession so that eldest daughters can inherit the throne and it is even being mooted that we allow catholics to become Prime Minister but not Kings and Queens!
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01...
Thank you, Madge. I hope he can get the law changed. Wonderful photos!
I thought that the Act of Succession had already been changed to allow daughters to become monarch, and also that monarchs are now allowed to marry Catholics. Everything I have heard since has implied it was a done deal. I guess I must just have heard that it was planned or proposed; I'm surprised that it hasn't been done yet.Madge, can you explain the concept of an entailed estate? In the first article, it did mention that although the title will pass to the cousin, the estate may not. I presume that the estate is not entailed. In the case of Downton Abbey, I assume that it is, so that both the title and the estate must be passed on together. This was also the problem in Pride and Prejudice (mentioned in the article), and also Persuasion. I think I have also read that entails could be broken (did that happen in Middlemarch?). Although of course it is fiction, I just read one of Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody mysteries in which an Earl died, and left the estate to his daughter, although a cousin inherited the title. How does an estate come to be entailed, or not entailed?
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The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910
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Don Quixote (other topics)
The Rifle in America (other topics)
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And he's a hunk, too."
I thought we might have more about Thomas' sexuality. It's sort of understandable how he could be resentful and isolated. It seemed he really cared about both the lord in the 1st season and the wounded soldier in the 2nd. If Thomas had been upper class, it might have been easier for him to find others who accepted him. (as long as he was discreet, of course!)