Early American Literature discussion
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The Country of the Pointed Firs
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Joanna
(new)
Sep 01, 2020 05:38AM
Our first-ever buddy read is The Country of the Pointed Firs, by Sarah Orne Jewett! Please remember to use the hide spoilers link if possible. 😊
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Started reading...not very far in, but I'm wondering if Mrs. Todd is completely lovable or slightly "teched!" I guess time will tell!
Dorothy wrote: "Started reading...not very far in, but I'm wondering if Mrs. Todd is completely lovable or slightly "teched!" I guess time will tell!"I was sorta wondering that too... 😂
Emma wrote: "Dorothy wrote: "Started reading...not very far in, but I'm wondering if Mrs. Todd is completely lovable or slightly "teched!" I guess time will tell!"I was sorta wondering that too... 😂"
😉I guess we'll just have to keep reading and find out!
😉I guess we'll just have to keep reading and find out!Yep! 😄
Dorothy wrote: "Started reading...not very far in, but I'm wondering if Mrs. Todd is completely lovable or slightly "teched!" I guess time will tell!"Whatever gave you that idea?! 😂
Meg wrote: "Emma wrote: "Sarcasm. 🤣"Really?"
What? You were being serious?
Emma wrote: "Meg wrote: "Emma wrote: "Sarcasm. 🤣"Really?"
What? You were being serious?"
I was never more serious in my life! 😂 She's maybe slightly eccentric - New Englanders usually are - but she's a wonderful sweet lady!
Meg wrote: "Emma wrote: "Meg wrote: "Emma wrote: "Sarcasm. 🤣"Really?"
What? You were being serious?"
I was never more serious in my life! 😂 She's maybe slightly eccentric - New Englanders usually are - but..."
Mmhmmm.......
"New Englanders usually are..." 🤔🤔
Emma wrote: ""New Englanders usually are..." 🤔🤔"You haven't noticed that yet? 🤣
Meg wrote: "Emma wrote: ""New Englanders usually are..." 🤔🤔"You haven't noticed that yet? 🤣"
Yes, I've noticed that, I was just thinking...aren't YOU a New Englander? 🤣
Emma wrote: "Meg wrote: "Emma wrote: ""New Englanders usually are..." 🤔🤔"You haven't noticed that yet? 🤣"
Yes, I've noticed that, I was just thinking...aren't YOU a New Englander? 🤣"
Not a native, but I suppose 11 years has taken its effect...🤣🤣🤣
Meg wrote: "Emma wrote: "Meg wrote: "Emma wrote: ""New Englanders usually are..." 🤔🤔"You haven't noticed that yet? 🤣"
Yes, I've noticed that, I was just thinking...aren't YOU a New Englander? 🤣"
Not a nati..."
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Choosing this thread to jump back in to the group! It looks like we are reading three books this month, but this is the one I will read as it has been on my TBR list for awhile - mainly because I love the title! Missing my annual trips to Maine very much. Perhaps this book will help relieve my homesickness? I have been scanning through through Chat By the Wayside this morning and see all that I missed in a busy few months! Then, when I was interrupted From reading that thread by the antics of two chihuahuas, I found I would have to scroll through from the beginning again to reach the latest posts and comment! Perhaps I should try my laptop next time rather than my IPad? —Thinking of you all and praying everyone stays well during COVID? I would welcome emails (Margaret.bienert@gmail.com) any time, as I can’t be here as often as I would like!
I'm so glad you're reading this this month, Margaret! And glad you're joining back up in the group! I've missed you on here! Can't wait to here what you think about this book-I am reading it this month as well. 😄🤗❤️
Thanks, Emma! I am realizing I should always use my laptop for Goodreads. The iPad access is just not adequate, and this has been part of my not staying current! Good to be back again!
Margaret wrote: "Choosing this thread to jump back in to the group! It looks like we are reading three books this month, but this is the one I will read as it has been on my TBR list for awhile - mainly because I l..."Good to hear from you, Margaret! 🤗 I love this book, it's very relaxing and sweet. Actually the title puzzles me slightly...well I've really only passed through parts of coastal Maine so I'm not really an authority, but the areas I've seen have been more pine trees rather than firs. My area of Maine seems to eligible for that title! 😄
Hmm! Now I wonder about those pointed firs myself, Meg! I haven't noted whether she had more of the northern (Down East) or southern part of the coast in mind as the setting for this novel, and don't have a good enough memory of the trees I have seen along the areas of the coastline that I am familiar with. (More towards the southern part of the state.) Something to investigate!I know there a re pine trees everywhere it seems! :)
I am interested that the author describes a walking funeral processions. I hadn't thought about this before as a custom that migrated from the British Isles to New England, and a not sure I have read accounts of New England funeral processions before.Also very interested in the "ghost story" here! The way it us described makes me think that the author was basing this on tales she had heard tied bya local seafarer.
I know someone else who will be interested in that ghost story as well! 😉🤣
Ahh, I think you all are coming up on one of my favorite parts of the book! 😄
Margaret wrote: "Hmm! Now I wonder about those pointed firs myself, Meg! I haven't noted whether she had more of the northern (Down East) or southern part of the coast in mind as the setting for this novel, and don..."I actually might be going down to the Bar Harbor area this coming week so if I do I'll be sure to keep my eyes open! 😉
Emma wrote: "I know someone else who will be interested in that ghost story as well! 😉🤣"😝
Mod
Werner wrote: "Even though I'm not joining in on this read, I read the story back in the mid-90s, as part of the Jewett collection The Country of the Pointed Firs and Other Stories. I've never revi..."I just saw your review yesterday and really enjoyed it!
Mod
Dorothy wrote: "Wow! That was really something! [spoilers removed]"Hmmm I wonder if I'm not to that part yet...🤔 I don't remember that...
You're past it, if you're at page 80. I think it's the ghost story you were talking about 😹
Dorothy wrote: "You're past it, if you're at page 80. I think it's the ghost story you were talking about 😹"Oh okay. 😂 I wondered...
Was the chapter called Green Island?
Emma wrote: "Was the chapter called Green Island?"No it's 2 chapters earlier...'The Waiting Place'.
Meg wrote: "Emma wrote: "Was the chapter called Green Island?"No it's 2 chapters earlier...'The Waiting Place'."
Oh dear...I'll go look at that...
Emma wrote: "Meg wrote: "Emma wrote: "Was the chapter called Green Island?"No it's 2 chapters earlier...'The Waiting Place'."
Oh dear...I'll go look at that..."
🤔What did you do, skip it?!
Meg wrote: "Emma wrote: "Meg wrote: "Emma wrote: "Was the chapter called Green Island?"No it's 2 chapters earlier...'The Waiting Place'."
Oh dear...I'll go look at that..."
🤔What did you do, skip it?!"
I just took your advice and ran through the house to get my book. 🤣 Yes, I read it!! 😂😂
Emma wrote: "I just took your advice and ran through the house to get my book. 🤣 Yes, I read it!! 😂😂"🤣 Ok good, now I can talk about it!
Meg wrote: "Emma wrote: "I just took your advice and ran through the house to get my book. 🤣 Yes, I read it!! 😂😂"🤣 Ok good, now I can talk about it!"
Yeah, please do!! 🤣
Oh! I just re-read some of it, I remember that now!!
I think it's probably my favorite chapter in the whole book. 😂 I've always been interested in early polar exploration. Of course this was written about 13 years before the north pole was discovered. Before that there were all sorts of theories about what would be found at the poles, and one theory was actually that they would find a sort of "waiting place" for souls.
And this was one of my favorite quotes from the book. The blessing of poetry...“Then I had the good of my reading,” he explained presently. “I had no books; the pastor spoke but little English, and all his books were foreign; but I used to say over all I could remember. The old poets little knew what comfort they could be to a man. I was well acquainted with the works of Milton, but up there it did seem to me as if Shakespeare was the king; he has his sea terms very accurate, and some beautiful passages were calming to the mind. I could say them over until I shed tears; there was nothing beautiful to me in that place but the stars above and those passages of verse."
I'm really enjoying the book...I'm just having a hard time focusing on it. And I did really enjoy that chapter. That's a beautiful poem. 😄
Emma wrote: "I'm really enjoying the book...I'm just having a hard time focusing on it. And I did really enjoy that chapter. That's a beautiful poem. 😄"It's not a poem! 🤣
Meg wrote: "Emma wrote: "I'm really enjoying the book...I'm just having a hard time focusing on it. And I did really enjoy that chapter. That's a beautiful poem. 😄"It's not a poem! 🤣"
🙄 You said it was!!! 🤣
Emma wrote: "Meg wrote: "Emma wrote: "I'm really enjoying the book...I'm just having a hard time focusing on it. And I did really enjoy that chapter. That's a beautiful poem. 😄"It's not a poem! 🤣"
🙄 You said..."
Nooo! I meant that it's an illustration of what a blessing poetry can be! 😄
Nooo! I meant that it's an illustration of what a blessing poetry can be! 😄🤦🏻♀️
Emma wrote: "Nooo! I meant that it's an illustration of what a blessing poetry can be! 😄🤦🏻♀️"
What?!
Early American Literature
Books mentioned in this topic
The Country of the Pointed Firs and Other Stories (other topics)The Country of the Pointed Firs and Other Stories (other topics)
The Country of the Pointed Firs (other topics)
