Buddenbrooks - Part 2

[Silver]

Part 2

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7

[Silver]

Part 2 focuses a good deal on the younger Bunddenbrooks. I have to say that I had particularly enjoyed Tony and her antics and rebellious behavior. I find her to be an amusing and interesting character thus far.

And much like with the first part of the story I think we can see this moment of the Buddenrbook family teetering just upon the edge of possible disaster.

As it was discussed in the opening scene of the book we see the family at their peek but we are also given foreshadowing moments which reveal all is not well in the family.

Tony is sent to a bordering school which accepts girls only from the best of families, thus indicating that the Buddenbrooks family is still one of some prestige, as well one can imagine such a school most be a bit on the costly side.

Yet prior to that Consul attempts to explain to his wife the reasons why the family cannot afford to hire a butler.

In addition to the possibility of looming finical decline there is also a suggestion of a decline in what would have been viewed as proper moral behavior. In addition to Tony's high spirited and sassy behavior which is frowned upon by her teachers and parents, Christian creates a little bit of a scandal by his attempts to court an actress.

One thing I wondered about is "bishop's punch" some sort of alcoholic beverage? The way in which it said that with the help of the drink Tony was able to get to know the other girls seemed to suggest that it was alcoholic. But it seems odd that Sesame who is described as being rather stern and strict would serve alcohol to her students.

Just a random side note. I am currently reading The Bonfire of the Vanities and I find it interesting that both books place an emphasis on the way certain characters pronounce things.

[Harm]

I dreaded this group read a bit, because I had read The Magic Mountain and found it quite hard to get through that book. The Buddenbrooks so far turns out to be a lot more readable. I especially like the way Mann describes the people of the family. He makes them come alive with little details and so far the style of the book feels playful. And the different scenes are short, so the book has quite a good pace. This in sharp contrast to The Magic Mountain, which seemed to drag on forever :(.

The decline of the family seems to be far away at this point in the book. I'm looking forward to seeing how the story wil develop.

I do think that bishop's punch was a kind of alcohol beverage. Germany is more lenient regarding alcohol use than the USA. I visited Berlin a few weeks ago and the guide told me that it was quite acceptable for workers to drink 1 glass of beer during lunch.

[Silver]

I enjoyed The Magic Mountain but I agree with you that Buddenbrooks is a far easier and more accessible read than Magic Mountain was.

It did take me a long time to get through Magic Mountain as well, and though I did find it interesting it was a difficult book.

Buddenbroks reads much quicker, and I always very much appreciate the rather short chapters.

Also interesting about Germany's more liberal view upon drinking alcohol.

[Silver]

Ironically enough I perchance happened across something else which mentioned Bishop's "punch" and it is a mulled wine.

[Bonnie]

I like that at least Mr. B attempts to explain the numbers to his wife in the hopes she will understand their financial situation. That is better than some of the husbands in Edith Wharton books (The House of Mirth, Custom of the Country) who keep giving in until it's too late and they go bust.

And isn't there an F. Scott Fitzgerald book where their expectations of family money do not match up with the actual availability of money?

I hope the girl, Tony, doesn't go off the rails like Undine in "Custom of the Country" or George in "The Magnificent Ambersons" (both of which I highly recommend by the way). It sounds like she's feeling pretty entitled.

Is the boarding school in the same city as where the family lives? I don't know if that matters or not but I wonder.