A.Ham Book Club discussion
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The Marquis
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Chapter 1
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I'm going to go ahead and make a couple of brief comments (yes, brief, Patti, BRIEF) since I seem to start out active and then fall behind. I'll try to keep up this time.I love the opening of the book... why should there be a bust of Lafayette? --the question being asked of the author in France. This introduction sets a great conversational tone. One thing I'm impressed with is the easy, readable style (so far). I feel like I'm sitting down with the author with a glass (bottle?) of wine after dinner and she is sharing a story.
Chapter One: loved all the insights into Lafayette's background and youth, and his personality. I love the story of the Beast! In fact, although it's obviously all factual, this chapter sounds almost like a fairy tale... a poor prince in a faraway ancient castle meets with almost unbelievable good fortune and is transformed. Great stuff. It also offers some fabulous insight into aristocratic life in the 18th century. (Family legend/history has it that my maternal ancestors were of the French nobility but that my I-don't-know-how-many-great greats?-grandmother ran off with a sea captain to the Caribbean sometime in the 18th century, so this is of particular interest to me.) Anyway, so far this is a very enjoyable read and promises to add much to my knowledge of Lafayette. It would be interesting, at some point, to compare with another Laf bio.... Vowell's perhaps?
For now, I'm good with the one chapter a week pace, as I have worked myself into an avalanche of books I'm behind with. But I see that if we stay the course we finish around Thanksgiving... so maybe later on could speed up? Or whatever is good for everyone.
This no longer qualifies as brief, so .... ciao!
I will definitely read faster than a chapter a week, perhaps we can set a number of pages per week instead. I have this out from the library so I cannot read at my leisure :)I loved the intro and ch 1. It was so interesting to read about Lafayette's family and his upbringing, what was expected of the nobility, how his life was planned out for him in a way, which is what makes it so amazing what he ended up doing with that life. I was rather intrigued to read that his height was 5' 9"? I have always heard taller, six feet or more.
I am very much looking forward to reading further! May not be able to put it down. Despite my visits to France and study of French language, I do not know nearly enough about their history, which makes this book all the more compelling to me.
The height tidbit surprised me as well; also, "large for his time," or whatever the exact comment.
That could have been considered tall for France. When I visited Grenoble years ago I was taken to a tiny medieval room in the back of a pub and the ceilings seemed incredibly low to me, and I am short. The tall English boys I was with all had to duck their heads.
There are a lot of tiny doors in England too! But then I have a lot of French in me, and I'm ridiculously short. ;)
Mod
Also, Laura Auricchio offered to do a discussion with us if you are interested.
Let me know...
I could probably do 2. And how fabulous to have the author discuss! Would that be after we finish?
Two would work fine for me :) A discussion would be rad! Here or on Twitter? (My vote is Twitter)
I'll be starting this week. Not sure if I can do more than one chapter per week with my work and home schedules, plus other books currently being read. However, if you want to do 2 per week, go ahead, I'll tag along even if behind.
I also enjoyed how the book opened with the question regarding why Lafayette should have a bust in his honor, and I loved the answer. Not one that I would necessarily have come to on my own, but fully agree. Because he was human, he was imperfect but he never stopped believing he could change the world. The story of the Beast of Gevaudon is fascinating, reminds me of the tales of the Jersey Devil. I agree that here is fairy tale quality to his childhood. Living in this far away French province reminds me in some ways of Beauty and the Beast. Lafayette's own story does take a different turn although he did have his beloved Adrienne in his life. Speaking of which, that was an odd story about her parents arguing over their engagement to the point of living separately until they struck an agreement.
Just one last comment on Chapter 1, reading about his schooling in Versailles to ensure he could speak, act, dance, etc as required by the Court must have been very hard on a young boy so far from home. And while there was nothing good about the French aristocracy, hearing all these noble titles is a bit sad knowing they will face some horrific deaths.
Beauty and the Beast was exactly what came to mind, Nancy! a lot of great fairy tales came from France!
Ok, on to questions! Well, I don't have many questions yet, so it'll just be my discussion for now.
Initial thoughts: the story of the Beast of Gevaudun seems so telling of Lafayett's later life (and almost comically so).
That's all I have time for right now, but discuss away!