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Buddy Read Trackers > Hailee's Buddy Read Tracker

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message 251: by Zaara (new)

Zaara | 4273 comments Haven't done anymore, sorry, spent the last couple days trying to find my way round updating my nonexistent tech skills to cope with online learning/lesson delivery + give some feedback on someone else's lesson plans...I feel like the top of my head has been blown off but gotta learn this sometime.

Me while watching the 1995 clips (esp the opening): how DO they manage to keep them tophats on while riding? :D

All the best for the minireadathon, Hay + I know you'll start planning you tbr for July (gosh is it July already?) sometime next week and you did ask me to give you a headsup so... the Outlander group is gonna start Book 3 BR on July 1 and Book 4 BR on Aug 1...and it's literally the only BR I have for July, unless we plan more Kendare Blake.

I'm hugely enjoying this reread tho and I'll reply to all the other posts soon...❤️
Thanks for all the recos, and for finding the book abt Charlotte, yep that's the one. I hear the rest in the series are not that great.

How many editions of P&P do you own, Hay? There are so many lovely ones...


message 252: by Katie (new)

Katie K | 2636 comments Heyyy! So I tots forgot that we're starting Crooked Kingdom ^^; I'm just finishing up some other tomes, so I should be starting soon myself. Quick question though. Where did we say we were gonna post thoughts and stuff? The old thread??


message 253: by Hailee (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments Don't worry I haven't started myself yet lol! I'll start either tonight or tomorrow. Yeah the Six of Crows thread makes the most sense to comment on 😊


message 254: by Katie (new)

Katie K | 2636 comments Phew! I feel less bad then. Lol. Okay okay!


message 255: by Mel (new)

Mel | 2367 comments My apologies for the long absence on P&P.

So I admit I went though several rounds of falling asleep while listening to Jennifer, and having to rewind back to the last point of consciousness. Or my mind would wander, and I'd replay the same paragraph 5 or 6 times before latching on well enough to progress. But now I believe am finally on track, and think I may have at last found my listening groove, continuing several chapters in a row. (Owing perhaps in part to my nervous energy being defused by occupying my fingers de-pilling bedsheets.)


message 256: by Mel (new)

Mel | 2367 comments It would be so much faster to read, but I've never completed an audiobook before, and now I'm stubbornly bent on continuing the challenge.

Finished Chapter 18
On Ehle's videos -
I'm absolutely enchanted by her dog Violet. I've lately been swept up in a fresh obsession with wanting a dog, watching endless dog training videos, and whimpering in despair at my lonely dog-less future. Oh, and when Jennifer turns to talk to her dog her American accent comes back. Somewhat reminiscent of Helen Hunt.

On the Netherfield Ball -
Mr. Collins assuring Elizabeth that he trusts her judgement, while completely ignoring it is a mood for Every Woman Everywhere and Everywhen.

OMG so much cringe! How painful it is to read the family antics. Especially Mrs. Bennett sitting at the table talking loudly of the imminent match. And then trying to hush her, only to proclaim all the louder-! (>_<;;)

Do you have any any similarly mortifying experiences with family? I at least had such a wholly despicable one that I could more easily divorce myself and consign them all to the fire, but poor Elizabeth has such affection for Jane, and is forced into their constant company, I have such sympathy for having to endure it.

Speaking of enduring family, and the ending: (view spoiler)


message 257: by Mel (new)

Mel | 2367 comments Zaara wrote: "+ NB this was the only time Miss Bingley (accidentally and incompletely) gave Elizabeth good, sound womanly advice, but she had run on so far ahead in her dislike that she disregarded it completely. So true! I had forgotten about this point. It's so clever how the evidence is misleading through the somewhat unreliable narrator of Elizabeth, bent against her advice.


message 258: by Mel (new)

Mel | 2367 comments At Mr. Collins's Proposal Scene

Hahaha! Okay I legit broke out in laughter at this line of Mr. Collins's, and her delivery of it.
"Twice has she condescended to give me her opinion (unasked too!) on this subject"

I love Jennifer's little asides during Mr. Collins's proposal. *Violet barks* (Violet doesn't believe him.)(God he's awful, isn't he?)(Time's up, Mr. Collin's!)

Goodness, I'd forgotten just how. many. times. in. a. row. she rejects him and just how. many. times. he insists on being obtuse and disbelieves her.

Chapter 21
Another laugh-out-loud moment, on Caroline Bingley, and her brother's obvious affections for Jane:
Could she have seen half as much love in Mr. Darcy for herself, she would have ordered her wedding clothes.

Chapter 22
And this bit too. Partly because Jennifer's laughter in reading it is infectious.
In as short a time as Mr. Collins’s long speeches would allow, everything was settled between them to the satisfaction of both

Chapter 27
Ooh, I love this chapter, really showing the wisdom of Mrs. Gardiner, and how Elizabeth is quite stubborn in heeding advice, not just from an untrustworthy Miss Bingley, or naive Jane, but from a sound source as her aunt. She's insistent on defending Mr. Wickham and forgiving him out of hand. I think if I were reading with fresh eyes, I could have been led by the protagonist's bias to think well of Wickham until now. But now little niggling ideas of how ungentlemanly it was to so quickly speak ill and spread rumors, added to his quickly transferred affections, and Mrs. Gardiner's warnings, would probably be setting off alarm bells.


message 259: by Mel (new)

Mel | 2367 comments Hailee wrote: "I've owned this for years!! I once started it but then Elizabeth started getting stalked by this creey guy near the beginning and I was too scared of where it was leading so I abandoned it and I've never been brave enough to pick it back up. But I've not been able to commit to getting rid of the book either."

I mostly remember the bit that my friend read aloud to me, which was some comedic Mr. Collins buffoonery on a horseback outing. We wildly laughed aloud as he humble-boasted of his horsemanship, and then made a fool of himself.

The rest of it I only remember as an absurd soap opera, taking wild liberty with the characters. Lots of torrid sex scenes, to be sure, but also a great deal of melodramatic affairs and twists and uncharacteristic violence, so that it no longer came close to the feeling of an Austen novel.

My goodness though. So many other sequels and titles to peruse. I'll have to come back to your lists when I'm in the mood for more.


message 260: by Zaara (new)

Zaara | 4273 comments So many messages, sorry I was awol for a few days, visiting relatives who live beyond the burbs and bad weather killed the net.

Good show, Mel...it's nice to think of you sticking it out with me far away in Japan, tho audio isn't your thing.

No progress on anything save Outlander, but I'm planning to listen to some tonight.


message 261: by Zaara (new)

Zaara | 4273 comments Katie wrote: "Heyyy! So I tots forgot that we're starting Crooked Kingdom ^^; I'm just finishing up some other tomes, so I should be starting soon myself. Quick question though. Where did we say ..."

I really liked this duology, Katie. Haven't read the rest of the grishaverse tho.

And how are you going with the mini-readathon Hay?


message 262: by Mel (new)

Mel | 2367 comments Zaara wrote: "It is so nice that the girls had a sensible adult mother figure to talk/listen once in a while abt stuff like this... even if that help was unsolicited, they weren't neglected when it mattered bcuz it is good to have someone who is just quietly THERE for you in your corner and truly cares, tho not always effusive. Sometimes the quiet + silent sympathy is what is soothing/needed when you are feeling that frazzled, esp with a mother like Mrs Bennet in the post Collins days and those twittering sisters...😂."

Oh I completely agree! With so many silly family members, the counsel of Mrs. Gardiner is like a breath of fresh air!

Hope you enjoyed your visit with family, Zaara!


message 263: by Mel (new)

Mel | 2367 comments Hailee wrote: "The first meeting with Lady Catherine de Bourgh is such fun and completely ridiculous. I can't help but think of Lady C as therine as the woman Mrs Bennet would be if she were rich with a title. Anyone else think that?"

Haha, I see what you mean. Although, they are tedious in different ways. Mostly in terms of energy levels, prattering vs. droning, both heedless of their company.

Urgh I'm getting nervous lol. My least favourite scene in the book approaches 😱 cough*firstproposal*cough

Your least favorite scene, really? Why is that? I mean... it's so juicy!


message 264: by Mel (new)

Mel | 2367 comments Chapter 33
“He likes to have his own way very well,” replied Colonel Fitzwilliam. “But so we all do. It is only that he has better means of having it than many others, because he is rich, and many others are poor."
*Violet barks*
Jennifer: Violet's a Socialist
Hahahaha!

Chapter 34: THE PROPOSAL!
I listened, then immediately went back and listened to it all over again. Oh, it's such a beautiful train wreck!

Chapter 35
Jennifer: *reads haltingly*
I'm gonna go back, cause I didn't make any sense of that at all. ... Not that it needs me to make sense of it. It does on its own. But!
...
*whispers* My pride!

Chapter 36
Such a good bit. Elizabeth realizes her folly!

“How despicably I have acted!” she cried; “I, who have prided myself on my discernment! I, who have valued myself on my abilities! who have often disdained the generous candour of my sister, and gratified my vanity in useless or blameable mistrust! How humiliating is this discovery! Yet, how just a humiliation! Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind! But vanity, not love, has been my folly. Pleased with the preference of one, and offended by the neglect of the other, on the very beginning of our acquaintance, I have courted prepossession and ignorance, and driven reason away, where either were concerned. Till this moment I never knew myself.”


message 265: by Mel (new)

Mel | 2367 comments Chapter 40
Oh Austen, you just can't help yourself, can you?
Next up! On this installment of Words That Will Come Back to Haunt Me!
Wickham will soon be gone; and therefore it will not signify to anyone here what he really is. Some time hence it will be all found out, and then we may laugh at their stupidity in not knowing it before. At present I will say nothing about it.

Chapter 43
“If your master would marry, you might see more of him.”
“Yes, sir; but I do not know when that will be. I do not know who is good enough for him.”

Violet: *whines*
Jennifer: *consoling* I know. Well, he'll find out.

Ah~ What a delightful chapter. The entrance of attentive Darcy! I couldn't help but also watch a few clips from the series to punctuate the readings.

Chapter 47
"Every girl in or near Meryton was out of her senses about him for the first two months"
Jennifer: Except for you Violet. You knew.

So in Lydia's letter, I'd never given this line any consequence, except as Lydia being flighty and selfish, but I saw a bunch of comments on it.
"I shall send for my clothes when I get to Longbourn; but I wish you would tell Sally to mend a great slit in my worked muslin gown before they are packed up."
Austen seems rather too innocent for it to signify anything, but who knows?

Chapter 48
Sorry Hailee for half of my comments being random dog reactions from the videos. But this way you can share in Ehle's little asides. I love her bursts of giggle-reading as Violet attacks her face with kisses.

Zaara, I don't want to put you too much on your guard, but... the first couple minutes of this chapter (part 34) were so random! And then... nothing. As if it were a fever dream...


message 266: by Hailee (last edited Jun 26, 2020 11:05AM) (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments Zaara wrote: "How many editions of P&P do you own, Hay? There are so many lovely ones. ..."

Only about 4 at the moment. The penguin classic that I originally read: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (this is put away to be kept for sentimental reasons. If I read it anymore it'll probably fall apart.

This one Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen for obvious reasons 😉

And these two: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen .

I think these are two I want to get next: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen


message 267: by Hailee (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments Zaara wrote: "And how are you going with the mini-readathon Hay?..."

Not particularly well to be honest. Since J.K Rowling opened her trap on twitter the host has decided to rethink the readathon and rake away its Harry Potter theme in future. Since she had already announced this mini round its still going on but it not really being hosted actively. It kind of ruined the fun a little so I haven't been putting much effort into it 🤷‍♀️


message 268: by Hailee (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments Melissa wrote: "Your least favorite scene, really? Why is that? I mean... it's so juicy..."

While I objectively know that Elizabeth dod the right thing refusing him the first time since he would always have expected her to be grateful for condescending to marry her part of me always want to scream at her to just say yes. It makes me angsty 😅😅


message 269: by Hailee (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments Melissa wrote: "Chapter 34: THE PROPOSAL!
I listened, then immediately went back and listened to it all over again. Oh, it's such a beautiful train wreck!..."


What an appropriate way to describe it. You don't wznt to look but at the same time you just can't look away 🤣


message 270: by Hailee (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments I finished it a couple of days ago. As usual the last part just makes me so happy. I can't think wgat else to say besides it wss as perfect as ever.

What are peoples opinions on Wickham's "punishment"? I think marriage to someone who spends almost as much as he does is quite fitting for him since money is the most important thing to him


message 271: by Zaara (last edited Jun 29, 2020 03:01PM) (new)

Zaara | 4273 comments First of all, gotta say thanks for the posts and spoilers, felt they greatly expanded my understanding... and I really APPRECIATED it.

Question: do you not find when you love books/ideas they contain sincerely, they love you back and turn up when you need?

😂😂 ehehe Collins and then The Darce in All His Stateliness. Poor Elizabeth 😅 got a brace of such epic ghastly proposals (not to mention that manipulative sleazebag Wickham), heck even from the dude she eventually ended up with...
And then the only one that was acceptable happened offpage from the scrutiny of our ghoulish reader's eyes.
NO FAIR!!
I'd cry foul...but with these two chapter/scenes, I'm just.too.damn.happy.

What I had been trying to convey ()and came out so horribly is that
(view spoiler)


message 272: by Zaara (new)

Zaara | 4273 comments Hailee wrote: "Bless how oblivious Elizabeth is to the fact that Darcy is ... 🙈. And Darcy is completely oblivious ... You were right when you sais that they are well matched lol."

DAMN but I had totally forgotten they went thru this oblivious phase + awkward Hunsford stage of repeatedly trying to make conversation and failing several times, 😂 Darce really had absolutely nothing to say and she just too pissed to talk/help him... I'm were actually glad for that respite, when you think of the explosions that are going to come bcuz one of my favourite scenes of all time is the letter...

+
Video updates for Mel:
(view spoiler)


message 273: by Zaara (new)

Zaara | 4273 comments Hailee wrote: "Urgh I'm getting nervous lol. My least favourite scene in the book approaches 😱 cough*firstproposal*cough"

Melissa wrote: "Your least favorite scene, really? Why is that? I mean... it's so juicy!

Nooo Hay (you little peacemaker you) why dreading Chapter 34? That (view spoiler) was needed to be this explicit and equally matched or else how would she/they have understood what the other was thinking? God, Elizabeth was literally running blind with no clue and only her own one window/somewhat correct but not wholly justified and in some cases completely erroneous judgement into the scene. Everything else was contained and obfuscated behind the large fog storm that is Fitzwilliam Darcy. So thanks be that he said something or they would've jezzt fumed and let #burn fireworks off at random ballroom dances and then drifted coldly apart. What would have been the point?

He was downright insulting, no? And not just to her...dragged her family into it and abused them roundly, 😂

Melissa wrote: "Ooh, I love this chapter, really showing the wisdom of Mrs. Gardiner, and how Elizabeth is quite stubborn..."

O yea @Mel, she's stubborn. I actually got the opposite from that aunt scene, she listened, agreed cordially but said she will make up her own mind.
Ok, so...she's just as stubborn as he is 😜
Heck I love how well matched they are, tho from completely different worlds, mindset/experiences.
And she gives no less in the proposal scene!


message 274: by Zaara (new)

Zaara | 4273 comments Hailee wrote: "Ah I alway feel like I can relax more after the first proposal and letter has been read. I alway admire the way Elizabeth handles that. She is so quick to see the error of her judgements and admit her mistakes."

Melissa wrote: "Chapter 36
Such a good bit. Elizabeth realizes her folly!"


Excellent quote selection, Meissa. But uuuuuhh re Elizabeth's char growth...actually the only other thing that quote proved to me was that Darcy was correct in part of his surmise - his creepy behaviour and coldness/neglect had hurt her and made her more barbed /harmed them more than they even know or understood.
She told him very clearly, no?
You have a selfish disdain for the feelings of others.
And HE told her (ages ago, really!) that she has a propensity to wilfully misunderstand ppl.

But.., sorry Mel, I don't fully agree...that it was instant remorse or anything. That's NOT our stubborn mulehead Elizabeth :D after all, no?
It took time xcuz she won't give an inch until it's internally vetted and validated.
So...so...I love that she takes time even AFTER the letter to consider everything he said very carefully (the whole of Chapter 36+ some of 37) Elizabeth is really rather sincere in the way she considers everything so carefully... and goes over her memories agn and agn in light of each new info...she even reconsiders the whole Wickham angle agn, I like that she's a classic analytical overthinker-y type. It's good to consider every scenario. And the way she behave seem authentic to me, so you know it's for sure.

Yep she is certainly very wretched over him immediately, and very conscious of his hurt and supermiffed at her mistake.
But true understanding came later and in pieces and stages. And when she was talking with Jane:
"But the misfortune of speaking with bitterness is a most natural consequence of the prejudices I had been encouraging."
There! When she reached that point...NOW that's some real growth, I felt...💪

And more, *rueful face* the actuals exhibited came when he saw that she was trying to say sorry + thank you at Longbourn, tho she couldn't even say it properly and it came out all rubbish... it was mostly silently conveyed or couldn't even be properly shown, until Lady Catherine interfere and blow it all in the open, bless her nosy ways. And when he saw (much before, even while at Pemberley) that Elizabeth was sad/remorseful and genuinely making attempts to meet/include Georgiana & make amends for her earlier misguided feels, perhaps he suddenly realised she had been trying for a very long time... immediately after the Hunsford/Rosings departures.

That scene with the Bingleys, huh! I dunno if I am remembering it correctly?? I'll reach it soon, you'll know the one, Ms Rewatched It Zillion Times Hailee...in the 1995 version she says "I am neglecting you" and goes to the piano when Caroline is putting her foot in it + he is helpless/paralysed to deal with. She really changed.

+ it's sweet everyone gives Elizabeth so much credit bcuz sure the novel is mostly about her internal journey but both of them changed their behaviour, no? I love that he realised that she too had valid reasons and went first, stopped with the harshness + didn't hold a grudge (how unlike Mr Collins!!) + welcomed her and the Gardiners and went out of the way to just be nice. This is coming...soon...next few chapters...another of my fave parts, not to mention the 1995 pool scene...😜


message 275: by Zaara (new)

Zaara | 4273 comments I like letters so did you expect anything different for Chapter 35 than a dedicated spoiler??

LETTER SCENE 😍😍😍

I love that he wrote that letter, so brutally clear and explicit because
(view spoiler)


message 276: by Zaara (last edited Jun 29, 2020 03:32PM) (new)

Zaara | 4273 comments Hailee wrote:"On the way to Pemberley *happy dance* 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

I expect I'll devour this section quite quickly. I always read the 2nd half quicker than the first.
I also watch the last three episodes of the 1995 adaptation at least twice as often as the first three lol. If I'm feeling lazy I just skip to episode 4 and watch it from there lol."


Yeah... I'm done with two voulumes and on my way to Pemberley...soon I'll join you in your happy dance...

And sorry if I were in danger of falling a little in love with this imaginary char and leching all over this thread.
But have you (re)met Edward Fairfax Rochester yet?
;) that one...that one's mine. Such blatant...disregard for...everything. Almost.
We three should read that one together sometime...😈
But after that ancient Villette thread, I remember Charlotte Brontë is best served when Beste and I were jamming together, really wish she were still arnd. Yanique too, if she will come read with us that'll be nice.

I am positiev there are couple more spoilers I have left unanswered on this thread but I have workd hard for your favourite book and typed more than enough for y'all and I answer next time. Is goes especially for you Mel. I heard you when you shared abt family...*hug*

EDIT Abysmal grammar and spelling alert


message 277: by Mel (new)

Mel | 2367 comments I also finished a few days ago, but completely forgot to take notes on the last few chapters as I whizzed through them! I'll have to make do by responding to your thoughts and comments.

As a side note, I finally found a successful activity for audio! Mask making! I tried knitting, but even counting stitches distracted me too much. However, hand sewing edges is the perfect tactile task to keep my hands busy but mind clear for listening. I've actually never sewn anything besides a button or ripped seam before, but there is this fabric store I love to walk through filled with gorgeous Japanese prints, and I was so pleased to finally have an excuse to buy some of it.


message 278: by Mel (new)

Mel | 2367 comments Hailee wrote: "What are peoples opinions on Wickham's "punishment"? I think marriage to someone who spends almost as much as he does is quite fitting for him since money is the most important thing to him."

Hm, on one hand I hate to think of being bound to anyone in a forced relationship as a punishment. It's much more satisfying, for example, to see Kitty improved by the influence of her new society. However, I think it's also good showing different boundaries and tactics for different family members. I'm glad that Elizabeth shut down appeals from Lydia for money, nipping that in the bud. But yes, you could say it is "fitting" at least.


message 279: by Mel (new)

Mel | 2367 comments Zaara! Your reams of commentary! You supply so much material to reply to, which makes it such fun to read together. I'll do my best to reply to at least a fraction of it. :)

Zaara wrote: "Question: do you not find when you love books/ideas they contain sincerely, they love you back and turn up when you need?"

Mm, I know that there are certain books and passages that stay with me, to be sure. Sometimes just thinking of a passage can be heartening. I think also when I come back to those books that embody core ideas and values, I'm recentered and grounded having reread them. Especially after a bad spate of books, it's reassuring to remember, "No, this... this is what I love about reading, who I am, what speaks to me.

This was needed for Elizabeth; to meet a *yerk* Collins, a Wickham and a Colonel and for Darcy to go thru an Anne and a Caroline so when they chose each other, they knew it was A CHOOSING and that nothing else would quite do.
I have to disagree with you here I'm afraid. Not that I don't think that experience doesn't better define your wants and needs in relationships. It's just that... I don't think that's what those others did for them. I mean... Elizabeth already knew whole-heartedly that she didn't want Mr. Collins. We see nothing really of Darcy and Anne together. Perhaps the closest to redefining desires was with Wickham. But even then it wasn't that she thought his pleasing manners made up for a lack of integrity, and then later reevaluated her position. It was that new information was made available which revealed their characters.


message 280: by Zaara (last edited Jul 09, 2020 01:05PM) (new)

Zaara | 4273 comments Ya sorry Mel, my original intention was to make dedicated spoilers for my Top 3 scenes as a present for Hay but do admit I'd rambled into a strange mood... 😂 yeesh, those fearsom walls of text.

Loved what you said about books, you always put these things so well...💪

I finished.

Ending Log
(view spoiler)


message 281: by Zaara (new)

Zaara | 4273 comments I have to disagree with you here I'm afraid. Not that I don't think that experience doesn't better define your wants and needs in relationships. (...)

Great point, wasn't intending a generalism, was just saying these two chars were so stunningly oblivious in their disparate ways + (big air quotes) "hated" each other so much that they really needed to meet selections of very contrasting ppl (either onpage or off) to facilitate each in the realisation of the innate worthiness of the other. But o gosh 😂 was Collins irksome to her from the get go!! Reckon that rubbed off on Ehle too. :D


message 282: by Zaara (new)

Zaara | 4273 comments Hailee wrote: "Zaara wrote: "How many editions of P&P do you own, Hay? There are so many lovely ones. ..."

Only about 4 at the moment. The penguin classic that I originally read: [bookcover:Pride and Prejudice|1..."


I only own the one P&P since before I knew how to read but I am tempted now to get another hardbound, I will want a copy one with the original Thomson illustrations to match my copy of Mansfield.
Until last year, I had this hideous mmp of Emma that my Mom'd used in college and it was literally crumling more to pieces everytime I read but last year I got the Penguin Clothbound. Yike my set of Austen is so mismatched. I have the beautiful Oxford edition of S&S, it really is something.

I also want another copy of Jane Eyre, tho I do love my WW hardbound, I'd like to not have to cringeread my teenage swoonings (mostly expressed in the form of heavy underlines) or A level notes splashed all over the margins nor my writing Edward Fairfax Rochester over and over to test my various fountain pens/ (yes, 🙈 I did that instead of making ink swatches).


message 283: by Zaara (last edited Jul 09, 2020 01:17PM) (new)

Zaara | 4273 comments Hailee wrote: "Not particularly well to be honest. Since J.K Rowling opened her trap on twitter the host has decided to rethink the readathon ..."

RE JKR

(view spoiler)

And...after all this, I dunno that I can ever read the series without being affected, wish I hadn't known any of this, wish I had been able to stay safe inside my bubble... heck, it was as if Little House were being ruined.

EDIT fix spoiler tags


message 284: by Zaara (new)

Zaara | 4273 comments @Hailee, re Mr Bennet...

Hmm, I agree...I think he says so himself (near end of Chapter 48) "let me regret it will pass quickly enough"
And it does. I think with a wife like Mrs Bennet he quickly learned to wash his hands off everything and escape into the library and be mocking (poor Kitty!!)/philosophic. He shut the feeling parts of himself off from everyone except Lizzy and Jane, and even with them is mostly rather offhand.

And I very much liked the start of Ch 42, its shockingly progressive that Austen even discusses how an ill-suited marriage can scar the children + how much they observe. And that one line of Mr Bennet at the end where he says, you don't marry like I did Lizzy bcuz you will only be able to stay with a man you respect.

With this, I'll just say you have to read Longbourn, soooooon. :)

Hailee wrote: "What are peoples opinions on Wickham's "punishment"?"

He got off easy. Charm is a currency that sells, after all. I liked the 1995 portrayal of Lydia, so annoyingly flighty in all the ways but you can see she is still a baby,the actress evokes that sense of protectiveness...

@Mel Video updates:

Ch 47 (video): @27.30 ish...she had a brain freeze and actually worried abt Mrs Philips and Lady Lucas visiting during "quarantine" awww she is the sweetest.

Melissa wrote: "Zaara, I don't want to put you too much on your guard, but... the first couple minutes of this chapter (part 34) were so random! And then... nothing. As if it were a fever dream..."

Re the surreal video... was it this one? O Mel I loved the random glitch and sudden Spaceman Spiff avatar, it was so farout unexpected and 😂 quirfunky. I'm very forgiving when it comes to general/xspecially tech ineptitude actually.


message 285: by Hailee (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments Zaara wrote: "Hailee wrote: "Not particularly well to be honest. Since J.K Rowling opened her trap on twitter the host has decided to rethink the readathon ..."

RE JKR


Hmmm. I saw. Tho I haven'5 watched the c..."


Yeah I don't think (view spoiler) Anyway rant over lol..

I think Book Roast made the only decision her conscience could live with. From what she said in her video and on her patreon she feels that even once these latest comments are less emotionally hurtful due to time and distance she would constantly be on edge waiting for her to say the next offensive as and hurtful thing. That is why she is going to create the next readathon based on her own made up world rather than choosing another author's world. That way it is not at the mercy of the morals and opinions of anyone outside of her control... she explained it better but that is the general gist.

I've decided to halt my current reread for now. I know that there are people who have gone so far as to get rid of all their books and merchandise completely.


message 286: by Hailee (last edited Jul 15, 2020 11:09PM) (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments Zaara wrote: "@Hailee, re Mr Bennet...

Hmm, I agree...I think he says so himself (near end of Chapter 48) "let me regret it will pass quickly enough"
And it does. I think with a wife like Mrs Bennet he quickly ..."


Yeah I think Mr Bennet and Mrs Bennet marriage was very much a "this is what not to do" example of marriage for Lizzy and Jane. Which I suppose benefited them in the end but still...

There are so many lovely hardback editions of P&P. But since I don't read hardbacks, like ever I have never bought one. Maybe I'll get the clothbound edition one day just to look pretty on my shelf but my main plan was to ensure I read every edition I own at least once.


message 287: by Hailee (last edited Jul 15, 2020 11:20PM) (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments Zaara, I saw you mention you were quite slumpy reading wise on Siobhan's tracker. I hope that changes soon for you. I find the best thing that helps me is to blow off all commitments and deadlines. I did that towards tge6 end of last year snd ot was like a weight had been lifted. Just being able to pick a book up on a whim and not have to start or finish at a certain time will hopefully reinvigorate your enjoyment in reading.


message 288: by Hailee (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments Zaara, I think you mentioned somewhere on this thread about the buddy read of Voyager. I think I've decided to give up on this series. I was planning on reading Voyager since I own it but when it comes down to it the only thing I want to read is one particular scene. It doesn't seem worth it to read an 800 pages book just for that so I just going to read that scene in isolation and then get rid of the book.


message 289: by Hailee (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments I've finally updated my tracker as I was starting to lose track of what I should be reading and when.


message 290: by Hailee (last edited Oct 26, 2021 08:34AM) (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments 2021 Buddy Read Tracker

January 2021
8th - Legendborn ✔️ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
11th - Sleeping Giants ✔️ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
15th - The Killing Moon ✔️ ⭐⭐⭐


February 2021
8th - SLAY ✔️ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
8th - The Shadowed Sun ✔️ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
15th - Red, White & Royal Blue ✔️ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


March 2021
1st - These Broken Stars ✔️ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
8th - Sanctuary ✔️ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
15th - Waking Gods ✔️ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
22nd - Temeraire ✔️ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


April 2021
10th - The Once and Future Witches ✔️ ⭐⭐⭐
22nd - Throne of Jade ✔️ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
30th - Only Human ✔️ ⭐⭐⭐⭐


message 291: by Hailee (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments Moved my most of my 2021 tracker so that I can update it with my planned 2022 reads.


message 292: by Hailee (last edited Oct 30, 2021 03:16AM) (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments For Zaara's perusal:

Page Breakdown of Sarum. 30th Anniversary Paperback ISBN: 9781787461406

OLD SARUM
Journey to Sarum - 56 pages
The Barrow - 44 pages
The Henge - 108 pages
Sorviodunum - 143 pages
Twilight - 70 pages
The Two Rivers - 69 pages
The Castle - 68 pages


NEW SARUM
The Founding - 191 pages
The Death - 88 pages
The Rose - 33 pages
A Journey From Sarum - 25 pages
New World - 94 pages
The Unrest - 93 pages
The Calm - 79 pages
Boney - 71 pages
Empire - 71 pages
The Henge II - 2 pages
The Encampment - 27 pages
The Spire - 10 pages


For the reading schedule I basically used the pace we read London on as our model. We started reading that in the beginning of January and I finished it on 25th March (presuming you finished around the same time)

For New Sarum I have just calculated how many days I think it would take us based on the pace I have set for Old Sarum. Just in case the pace isn't working for us or we fall behind. I'll set dates to them when we know when we know how our reading is going.

I set our start date as the 4th as I might be going away during Christmas/New Year and I don't fancy dragging a 1300 page brick with me especially when I won't be starting it till its nearly time to go home anyway.

Does this look OK to you? Is there anything you want me to alter?

Reading Schedule

OLD SARUM
Journey to Sarum - 4th-6th Jan
The Barrow - 7th-8th Jan
The Henge - 9th-13th Jan
Sorviodunum - 14th-20th Jan
Twilight - 23rd-26th Jan
The Two Rivers - 27th-30th Jan
The Castle - 1st-3rd Feb


NEW SARUM
The Founding - 9 days
The Death - 5 days
The Rose - 2 days
A Journey From Sarum - 2 days
New World - 5 days
The Unrest - 5 days
The Calm - 4 days
Boney - 4 days
Empire - 4 days
The Henge II, The Encampment and The Spire - 2 days


message 293: by Zaara (new)

Zaara | 4273 comments Hi Hay,

Wonderscape was just delivered. I’m about twothirds thru The Heroes and have nothing but City of Miracles slated for later, so I can start anytime in the next few days. Please lemme know when you finish your current BR. We can just chat about it here or what say we warm up the Feel Good Books thread that we had affection for?

Hailee wrote: "For Zaara's perusal:

Page Breakdown of Sarum. 30th Anniversary Paperback ISBN: 9781787461406"


Ya I looked thru it and this schedule for London seems fine, since we DID take that long. In any case, let's just see how we go. The 4th is fine. Thanks for doing this once again!

NB - Gardens of the Moon next month. Did you and Anni have a place already? Shall we just go there?


message 294: by Hailee (last edited Nov 13, 2021 03:32AM) (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments Zaara wrote: "Hi Hay,

Wonderscape was just delivered. I’m about twothirds thru The Heroes and have nothing but City of Miracles slated for later, so I can start anytime in the next few days. Please lemme know w..."


Hey, hope the move went well.

I'm currently in the middle of a Boss Battle for the year long Avengers reading challenge I'm doing. I just never know what the new challenge will be from day to day and and we have to read things fast so taking time to make comments about what we read just isn't practical. It finishes on the 20th so can we start Wonderscape on the 21st? I'm happy to talk about it on here but if we used the feel good thread it might gain more notice and other people might want to join in?

Glad you like the schedule. Like you said we can see how we go. If we are finding the pace too slow we can always condense it (which is why I didn't commit to setting actual dates for the 2nd half of the book) shall I request threads for Sarum and The Goblin Emperor?

I'm pretty sure Anni and I did have a thread for GotM. Just let me look it up. EDIT: Yes here is the link. I think it'd be ok to recycle this thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


message 295: by Zaara (new)

Zaara | 4273 comments Thanks!
Aaah sorry hon, it’s already the 21st. Gosh, you complete so many readathons…would you please do a post with all the readathons you plan to your readathon calendar for 2022. I did one in October put together by a starter outer that didn’t get much buzz but I really enjoyed it.

I hope you crushed your opponent in the boss battle. Me I finished the Abercrombie I was reading and was craving something different so I went and read a fascinating memoir. I like journo memoirs and I’ve always admired Fred Forsyth, he’s one of the authors whose entire backlist I’m caught up on. Some people just lead superlarge lives. Here is JUST the blurb:

BLURB FOR THE OUTSIDER:
(view spoiler)

Sure I can start Wonderscape tonight and shall post on Feel Good. I watched GavGav7’s top 20 middle grade of all time video…of course he added to the “things I will buy” list. That thing he wore looked fantastically snuggly and I think it might’ve come from a bookbox since I saw another YTber wearing it in one of her videos. The point being, do you get any bookboxes? I find it’s so easy to get caught up in all the trinkets and then they all pile up and there is this pressure to display stuff and collect ALL the things and so many are for YA fandoms/series that I haven’t really read. I don’t get YA series unless they’re vetted…but some of them boxes sure are pretty…intl shipping tho…


message 296: by Zaara (new)

Zaara | 4273 comments Re GoTM, noted and bookmarked, see you there Dec 1.


message 297: by Hailee (last edited Nov 21, 2021 08:51AM) (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments Zaara wrote: "Thanks!
Aaah sorry hon, it’s already the 21st. Gosh, you complete so many readathons…would you please do a post with all the readathons you plan to your readathon calendar for 2022. I did one in Oc..."


Sure I can! I've made one in message 4 on this thread. So far its only the ones I take part in that I know will be happening next year because they happen every year. I have given their twitter which is where most of the info can be found. But whenever they upload a YouTube announcement video I'll add that to the message. Most readathons I only find out a few weeks or so before so if any more catch my eye I'll update the message 😀


message 298: by Hailee (last edited Nov 21, 2021 08:52AM) (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments Hope you're enjoying the memoir. Its another genre I don't read. I really should read more non-fiction though. This year I have bought 3 or 4 non fiction books that I want to get to so that's a start at least.

The thing Gavin was wear in his top 50 video is called an Oodie (they're really popular in the UK at the moment). I doubt it was from a bookbox though (although I could be wrong) coz they are really expensive (at least £70). I have a cheaper non-brand version and even that was over £30 to buy.

I don't get any bookboxes. I love watching unboxings for them and definitely get a bit of bookbox envy when I see some of the things. But like you said it would be a nightmare trying to find places to display them all and since the books in them are always hardbacks which I hate, it just wouldn't be cost effective to buy them. I love Fairyloot unboxings though (G from Magical readthon works for them actually). Their books are always special editions and beautiful to look at with the sprayed/stencilled edges and embossed naked hardcovers.


message 299: by Hailee (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments Zaara wrote: "Re GoTM, noted and bookmarked, see you there Dec 1."

Looking forward to it!!


message 300: by Hailee (last edited Nov 24, 2021 03:27PM) (new)

Hailee | 2764 comments Zaara wrote: "I did one in October put together by a starter outer that didn’t get much buzz but I really enjoyed it."

Yeah you told me about that one and I did it to! Well 3 out of the 4. I did the Vampire path using A Worthy Opponent (Wicked Villains, #3) by Katee Robert Carry On (Simon Snow, #1) by Rainbow Rowell Wayward Son (Simon Snow, #2) by Rainbow Rowell and Any Way the Wind Blows (Simon Snow, #3) by Rainbow Rowell but I only read the first half of Any Way the Wind Blows by the end of October. I had fun with it though 😊


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