Victorians! discussion
Archived Group Reads 2016
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The Black Tulip; week 3
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Christa wrote: "Warning it might be a SPOILER!Before reading the last two pages of the book I thought there was a deeper context to the light story. I thought about the "child" of Bearle and Rosa and what remains..."
See my answer in week 4 thread.
I am a little bit behind for this section of the book. My house was filed of guests last week end and had barely time reading. Each time I am all set ready to read for there someone knocking at my door or the phone starts ringing. Is it only happen to me or I am the only who struggle to find the perfect time to read without being disrupted?
Marie-vicky wrote: "I am a little bit behind for this section of the book. My house was filed of guests last week end and had barely time reading. Each time I am all set ready to read for there someone knocking at my ..."I struggle with that too, and am behind in one of my other groups. Life sometimes is not very accomidating
I am glad to hear that I am not the only one. I have to say that I made some progresses today . I read two chapters. It is the best I could.
I agree. The groups are here I believe to encourage and give extra thought and views to what we are reading but sometimes we have to come back to the discussion thread after the end date. And that's ok too. I don't read every book in all the groups I am in and like you both said, even when I start I don't always finish on time because the world comes knocking.
Marie-vicky wrote: "I am glad to hear that I am not the only one. I have to say that I made some progresses today . I read two chapters. It is the best I could."That's more chapters than I got done today :)
I have just finished chapter chapter 23. I am completely amazed with Rosa 's confidence. But in other hand I think she is really naive and she is not fully aware of the danger that surrounding her.
Loved all these chapters between C and Rosa. He is learning his lesson! Fancy the fight between the rose and the tulip for/in his heart :0)Jacob/B is so devious. Yes, the telescope was very creepy. And his affront! Rosa proves herself the brilliant person we believed her to be. I think her naivety makes her more believable. From the very beginning of the book, we have seen how quick-thinking and courageous she can be. As for the reading, if she hadn't been able to, she wouldn't have understood the message on the paper, and in turn proven the innocence of C and the validity of the tulip claim.
Now, how is all this going to get sorted? Rosa's father (nasty piece - how can be pleased at seeing his daughter suffer?! - I could have forgiven his uneducated opinion but this is pure nastiness) is still in charge at the prison...
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Renee wrote: "I was also able to do some reading last night to catch up tinge group. It really was a fun section in terms of the romance and the rivalry between (as Veronique said) rose and tulip. Yes, Rose is p..."It was me and yes, Rosa is so the hero of the novel :0) Having visions of her in a zorro costume and mask lol
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(I mean if we were going to go all Hollywood on our movie version.)
It is always interesting seeing strong female characters in older novels as so often I see films/tv shows advertising themselves as being the first portrayal of feisty and capable women. Hundreds of years before these modern characters though, Rosa is teaching herself to read and write in a matter of weeks, learning horticulture, finding out that love isn't the answer to all romantic whims (your man might be as devoted to a tulip as much as to you!), taking some control in the relationship by forcing her lover not to talk about the tulip and concentrate on her instead. Then when things look disastrous she chases down a thief with no concern of her own safety or what her tyrannical father will do. What a gal!
Clari wrote: "It is always interesting seeing strong female characters in older novels as so often I see films/tv shows advertising themselves as being the first portrayal of feisty and capable women. Hundreds o..."I love everyone's responses and thoughts on this book. I am so pleased that it has been so well received as it was a chance pick for me having never read Dumas before. They say it takes a village to raise a child and maybe it takes a group to truly appreciate a book :)
Tracey wrote: "Clari wrote: "It is always interesting seeing strong female characters in older novels as so often I see films/tv shows advertising themselves as being the first portrayal of feisty and capable wom..."would you read more Dumas, Tracey? I haven't read any for a while, but I remember the Musketeer novels being a little sadder, whereas this (beside the horrific beginning) feels like an adventurous romp?
Clari wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Clari wrote: "It is always interesting seeing strong female characters in older novels as so often I see films/tv shows advertising themselves as being the first portrayal of feisty ..."Yes I think I would. I definitely think I will give Queen Margot, or Marguerite de Valois a try as recommended by Renee.
My thoughts and questions for chapters 19-27:
1. Who does Cornelius love the most? Rosa or the tulip? With a tear, a pearl of love (what a wonderful expression) she believes that he loves the tulip more.
2. How does Cornelius realise where his heart is? How does he feel when he doesn't see Rosa for awhile? How do they communicate with one another?
3. I enjoyed chapter 20 with the amusing narrative between Cornelius and Rosa and in chapter 21, Cornelius defines love but his love is not perfect except in his dream. Again Dumas is witty and realistic in the spat/interaction of these two.
4. What happens to the second offset?
5. Chapter 23, The Envious man shows the devious and even creepy thinking and behaviour of Jacob/Isaac. He employs a telescope and sees all that is happening in Rosa's bedroom. Did anyone else feel repulsed by this?
6. What is the' child of the love' of Rosa and Cornelius and what happens to it? How does Cornelius respond? How does Rosa?
7. William of Orange comes back into the story in chapter 26. How does he respond to Rosa's story of the tulip and of Cornelius?
8. Who did Rosa thank for the turn of events brought about by the fact that she can now read.?