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message 51:
by
Marquise
(new)
Aug 29, 2014 09:18AM
Wonderful report, Michaela! I can't thank you enough for sharing the autograph and the photos with us.
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Oo! Thanks for letting us know how it went and sharing the photos :)
Wow Michaela how wonderful! I'd love to see RA in The Crucible. I'm from New England and my ancestors were Puritans related distantly related to Cotton Mather, one of the famous witch trial judge.
Qnpoohbear wrote: "Wow Michaela how wonderful! I'd love to see RA in The Crucible. I'm from New England and my ancestors were Puritans related distantly related to Cotton Mather, one of the famous witch trial judge."How interesting this must be! Did you follow the trial and your ancestor´s part in it? Wish you could see The Crucible, fingers crossed the Old Vic makes a DVD!
Mod
From what I've seen on Twitter lately, there aren't any plans to make a DVD. *cries into my pillow*
(I think it's to do with who has got the rights to produce what to do with the Crucible... :( )
Michaela wrote: "Qnpoohbear wrote: "Did you follow the trial and your ancestor´s part in it? Wish you could see The Crucible, fingers crossed the Old Vic makes a DVD! "I didn't know I was related until just now but I have studied the trial and the play. I'm glad Cotton Mather was a cousin of my ancestor and not my direct ancestor. I skipped the 1996 movie with Winona Ryder. It looked ... not accurate. I saw a college play once but would love to see a DVD with Richard Armitage. Too bad they can't release one.
Well, ladies! I have to say I really enjoyed this group read and I'm very glad that I managed to be a part of it this time. I loved the discussions and a lot of times found myself (and still find) eagerly expecting your comments. I have really come to appreciate each and every one of you. I know I sound overly ....( I can't remember the right jargon word at the moment :D) but I just thought you should know it (while I still feel like sharing :D).
Samanta wrote: "Well, ladies! I have to say I really enjoyed this group read and I'm very glad that I managed to be a part of it this time. I loved the discussions and a lot of times found myself (and still find) ..."Don't leave! At least not before we settle on a book and date for another group read! :D You and everyone else who's participated has made this an exceptionally enjoyable experience.
I'm not leaving....no way! I'm just being slightly emotional right now and you are my intended target :D
I have been a bit busy, I'm so behind :(
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Awww, thanks Samanta! :) I've really loved reading through North & South with you and the rest of our lovely members, it has been so very enjoyable.
...Perhaps the phrase you were looking for was "overly sentimental"? :D (Which you're not, by the way) But it's very nice of you to let us know that you enjoy talking with us. :)
Yeah, that could be an accurate expression and I did feel like that last night :D
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I've enjoyed the group read too, so much more than a classroom discussion. One or two people always dominated the discussion and went off on tangents. I'm shy about public speaking and never got a word in edgewise unless a) I was being a know-it-all (just call me Hermione) or b)class participation counted towards my grade. I have some comments to add from the Oxford World's Classics edition. Not many but it shows where the original serial and the book differ and tells who the models for Mr. Hale were.
Mod
("Just call me Hermione"... LOL)
As we finish the book and some of us write and post reviews, I'd like to know when your reviews post so we can see each other's reviews and "like" them where we feel the urge to do that. I can see the reviews for those of you who are my GR friends but anyone else's review get lost in the hundreds of N&S reviews that are already there.Hana, Qnpoohbear, Marquise and I all have reviews up. Mine is at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I would love to see anyone else's, so I suggest group members post links to their N&S reviews here. Or you can just send me a friendvite; I'd be happy to be friends with anyone in this group. :)
Becca, I can NOT believe you've never written a review for N&S! :D
Tadiana wrote: "As we finish the book and some of us write and post reviews, I'd like to know when your reviews post so we can see each other's reviews and "like" them where we feel the urge to do that. I can see ..."Good idea, Tadiana! I would very much want to read everyone's reviews to contrast opinions and see how each explains what they liked and what they didn't.
Mine is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
That's a great idea, Tadiana - I'll set up a thread (probably in the General folder) for everyone to post links to their reviews.
I know, it's shocking that I haven't written a review, isn't it? After this I'll only have read the book twice, though... and to be honest, I was never sure how to write one for such a beautiful novel. Everyone else writes such brilliant reviews that I wanted to make sure my contribution meant something. :)
I feel exactly like Becca....I'm lacking courage to write the review
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I don't know....I always have problem with writing a review for classics....I managed to write for Frankentein and Herland but for my beloved Austen and Gaskell, I'm just not sure.
I also used to feel like that towards reviewing, not just the Classics but other books that were well-known and well-appreciated, and looking round I wouldn't be sure if my reviews would be worth a thing. So for years I've gone along without reviewing my most loved books, most of my favourites don't have a review.But now, I regret not having registered my first thoughts. Partly, because I now don't recall how I reacted, but mainly because I need to have a reminder of why I liked a book, for recommending to others or just for myself. So now I devised a sort of method: I review only those books that have impressed me (sometimes negatively) and that I liked, because in the review I'm telling people what it made me feel, what I got from it, and that's my way. Other people write more "technical" reviews, on the literary merits and that can be intimidating under a comparative light, but others don't do more than an attractive summation of the plot with gorgeous gifs, and they are valued by the readership as well. So, I think it's the comparing ourselves to the "better" reviewers what's impacting negatively, when in theend all we need is just say what we have in mind clearly :).
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Samanta wrote: "I don't know....I always have problem with writing a review for classics....I managed to write for Frankentein and Herland but for my beloved Austen and Gaskell, I'm just not sure."It's a natural tendency--I do it all the time. It usually takes me several days to work up the gumption to write a review for a classic or a complex book that I really liked. But once I get it done, I'm always glad that I made myself do it.
Ladies, I´m shocked that you´re all ready with the book. I take my time to read it, hope you´ll be here for comments still. Is there a time it should be finished?
Michaela wrote: "Ladies, I´m shocked that you´re all ready with the book. I take my time to read it, hope you´ll be here for comments still. Is there a time it should be finished?"I don't think Becca ever set a finish date for the book. People are reading at all different speeds, and many or most aren't done yet. And I think those of us who are done are still commenting on the discussions, especially since GR notifies us when new comments are added to the threads. Carry on! ;)
I'm still reading, Michaela, I've had trouble finding reading time this week.Re. classic books, I completely agree that they are intimidating to review because I don't feel I'd do the techniques justice, but I suppose this is because part of me feels I should be doing an English essay on it instead, which is just silly. I don't approach my other reading this way! Added to this I find it hard to write reviews on books I've read before, because you don't interpret the book the same on a reread so books that I'd count as real favourites of mine I have never reviewed.
I'm still reading! Never fear! I'm only at about a chapter or two a day, the rest if my reading time being filled with books for work or other purposes. I post as I go and expect I'll post even more when I finish.
Mod
It's all right, Michaela, I'm still reading as well! :) I'm about two thirds of the way through, and hopefully I'll finish it sometime later this week. Tadiana is right, I didn't really set a specific end date - well, in the official group read set up I gave everyone a month in which to read it, but that's only because I had to choose an end date, it's not at all strict. :) And I sincerely hope that discussions will be going on for a very long time!
I'm trained in writing critical book reviews and essays, that's why mine are so long. I also write a lengthy summary so I remember what the book was about. Otherwise, ordinarily, I'd forget what I read. I usually write what I liked and didn't like about the plot and characters and what I thought of the writing. North and South is a complicated book and I found it hard to include everything without spoiling it for those who haven't read it or without writing an entire paper on it. (Which I'm sure I did in college but I just trashed all those after I hit the 10 year mark!)
Marquise wrote: "I also used to feel like that towards reviewing, not just the Classics but other books that were well-known and well-appreciated, and looking round I wouldn't be sure if my reviews would be worth a..."Oh that is so true! When I first joined GR I felt just as shy about writing as Qnpoohbear does about speaking up in class (I can relate to that one, too!). I just decided to write for myself as a way to remember and that turned out to be fine.
These days I'm not shy at all on GR. I love the group interactions and I always get a special thrill when my friends enjoy my updates and reviews!
But Becca--you've done such a marvelous job launching all these threads, getting us started with you summaries and commenting that we might just assume that Book Review assignment has already been handed in ;) A+ and thank you from me!!!!
Of course you could always just post some RA pictures. I guarantee we'd all like that :D
Hana wrote: "Of course you could always just post some RA pictures. I guarantee we'd all like that :D "Becca, that'd get you 20 or 25 likes for sure! ;)
RA, no beard, no top.... did I just lower the tone of a literary group there?! :-/
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@ Hana: Aww, thank you! You're welcome for setting everything up, I was really happy to do it. :) And RA pictures in a review is always going to be a good idea.
@ Tadiana: 20 or 25 likes? *scribbles note to self: 'must add as many RA pictures into review as humanly possible'* :D
@ Ceri: Haha, no, don't worry! Considering the level to which I stooped to win the 'Beard vs. No Beard' war on one of the other threads, it's safe to say I'd already managed to lower the tone pretty dramatically. :D And me a moderator too! I am shocked at myself. :P
Hahahaha! I've just decided to cast RA in the lead role in an obscure book French 1930's adventure story that I just finished (I was boasting to Anne that I actually read something in French). However, I solemnly swear that I am not fishing for votes LOL! RA really would be perfect--all tortured, conflicted on the inside and tough on the outside :D *heads over to Beard vs. No Beard thread*
Mod
Ho..."
Yes, I just saw that on Anne's 'Bleak House' thread. :) Richard would be perfect for the type of role you were describing, but I think I'd find Thornton in later years without Margaret just a teensy bit depressing.
LOL! I should make a specific thread, but I haven't yet. FYI, the War began on pages 3-4 of the 'Introductions' thread, and it continued a little while later on page 3 of the 'General Chitter Chatter' thread. I should probably add a warning about side effects... :D
Becca wrote: "Richard would be perfect for the type of role you were describing, but I think I'd find Thornton in later years without Margaret just a teensy bit depressing. ..."Oh it was--I almost knocked off a star because I kept thinking 'Oh, this is John with no Margaret, ever!' So sad!!!!
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Thanks Becca, Trudy and Soph for moderating the group read! I liked it very much, and I learnt a lot about the book. Although the discussion is still going on, I want to propose another group watch for the tenth birthday of the series in November.
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Watching it again with the book still fresh in our minds might be an interesting exercise actually.
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Very true! I'd actually probably be watching N&S in November anyway - much to my delight a new friend of mine has decided that it sounds like something she would like, so we're planning to watch it together (along with Robin Hood, Merlin and the Hobbit) once our exams are over. I suppose there would be no harm in sending out invitations! :) It's not like people have to join in if they feel it's too close to the last one. I'm only worried about exhausting discussion topics too quickly, though I know there will always be something to discuss if you look hard enough.
We just did a group watch but I don't mind watching again if the other person/people? in my area doesn't grab the DVD ahead of me. I don't know who you are or if it's just a coincidence the movie was checked out when I wanted it and then the book was checked out and the e-book was checked out? We can share the love.
Mod
Whoever that person is... yay for loving North & South so much, but come on, sharing is caring. Let Qnpoohbear have a turn. :) (Good to know you would also be up for another group watch)
Amazon have used copies starting at about £2... might be worth the investment :p
Louise Sparrow wrote: "Amazon have used copies starting at about £2... might be worth the investment :p"They're not quite so cheap on our side of the pond. ;) The lowest price I saw was $13 (plus shipping).
I'm curious: has anyone ever seen the 1975 version with Patrick Stewart? It's odd seeing him with hair . . .
I have seen the older one... unusually for me I prefer to watch the newer one :)I did start a thread a while ago...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Thanks for the link! *off to look at the comments*
