Victorians! discussion

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Conversations in the Parlor > General chit-chat and information (part 2)

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Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (susannag) | 604 comments That's one of the Palliser novels, I think - The Eustace Diamonds.


message 152: by Gerald (last edited Nov 24, 2009 01:21PM) (new)

Gerald Camp (gerryc) | 12 comments Everyman wrote: "Gerald wrote: "Hey Everyman. Just joined this group. I am ashamed to admit that in 50 plus years of reading classics, I've never read Trollope. Would you have a suggestion for where to start?
Gerry..."
Hi Everyman,
Thanks a lot. This will head my list for the new year (after, of course, what we will read for the Classics group). I've been buying Trollope as I see him in used book stores when I visit the states, so I have many of these on my shelf. On top of the pile is a paperback with both The Warden and Barchester Towers, so I'm all set to go! Looking forward to getting started. I appreciate your taking the time to give me such a detailed answer.
Gerry




message 153: by Rebecca (new)

Rebecca Does anyone belong or can they suggest a good group for African American Lit. I want more exposure to it. Thank you.


message 154: by Paula (new)

Paula | 1001 comments Rebecca wrote: "Does anyone belong or can they suggest a good group for African American Lit. I want more exposure to it. Thank you."

Have you read anything by Chinua Achebe? I read Things Fall Apart for a world lit class once, and re-read it a few years ago. It's a fantastic book. He's written several other notables, but TFA tends to be the one people think of first with him.

I think one of the things I like most about his books is they focus on a lot of tradition, and then how those traditions are impacted by changes in society, changes in culture, changes in values, etc.




message 155: by Peregrine (last edited Nov 25, 2009 11:19AM) (new)

Peregrine | 91 comments Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill is *very* good. It came out in Canada under its original title of The Book of Negroes, referring to a list of black Loyalists drawn up by the British Army. I don't know which title is used in the UK. The story is the fictionalized life of a woman from that list, Aminata Diallo. It starts with her capture as a child in Africa, follows her to the Caribbean, the States, Canada, Africa again, and then England.


message 156: by [deleted user] (new)



Hi Susanna, Andrea, Everyman and everyone!
Indeed, Darwinism explored through the Victorian novel is daunting and yes, I do need to focus on one aspect and one novel Andrea, but which???? :)is my dilemma.
Suggestions most welcome!


message 157: by Rebecca (new)

Rebecca Thank you Paula and Peregrine for the recommends. They both look great.


message 158: by Peregrine (new)

Peregrine | 91 comments Rebecca wrote: "Thank you Paula and Peregrine for the recommends. They both look great."

You're welcome. If it would be useful, here's a list of some other authors:

Alice Walker
Toni Morrison (sp?)
Audre Lorde
Tessa McWatt (Guyanese Canadian)
J. California Cooper
Octavia E. Butler
Nalo Hopkinson (Caribbean Canadian)





message 159: by Kate (new)

Kate  | 23 comments Andrea wrote: "Welcome to Gerald and Windfall Apple!
Windfall, I love your name, although I'm not sure how to apply it to a person. Are you going to focus on a specific writer or maybe one or two novels?

G..."


Hi Andrea! I'm reading 'The Eustace Diamonds' as part of my Victorian Challenge for 2010 (along with the rest of the Palliser novels) - probably in March or April. Would love it if you joined in discussion!




message 160: by DJ (new)

DJ  (djdivaofjava) Paula wrote: "Yes, at the terminal - love my new blackberry! Thanks for the concern, dad, (used affectionately) I have traveled a bit so am usually pretty prepared :)"

Yea!!!
I can`t live without my STORM either.....
Safe Trip.


message 161: by DJ (new)

DJ  (djdivaofjava) Windfall Apple wrote: "

Hi Susanna, Andrea, Everyman and everyone!
Indeed, Darwinism explored through the Victorian novel is daunting and yes, I do need to focus on one aspect and one novel Andrea, but which???? :)is my..."



I recently got a biography of DARWIN but was unsure if it would fit the Parameters of our Challenge?

Lovely to meet you Windfall Apple....



message 162: by Paula (new)

Paula | 1001 comments DJ wrote: "I recently got a biography of DARWIN but was unsure if it would fit the Parameters of our Challenge?..."

There really are no parameters for the challenge :)




message 163: by DJ (new)

DJ  (djdivaofjava) Whee Here.
3 Books to add
THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE
DARWIN BIOGRAPHY
THE ORIGIN ON THE SPECIES!!


message 164: by [deleted user] (new)



Likin your thinkin DJ!:)


message 165: by Peregrine (new)

Peregrine | 91 comments There's also The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins An Illuminating History of Mr. Waterhouse Hawkins, Artist and Lecturer by Barbara Kerley. Kids' book, but useful info: the first life-size dinosaur models, a dinner party in the head of one of those models, menacing Boss Tweed. Waterhouse Hawkins is my four-times-great grandfather, too.


message 166: by [deleted user] (new)



Wow! thats amazing Peregrine.:)


message 167: by Rebecca (new)

Rebecca What do they mean by Palliser novels?



message 168: by DJ (new)

DJ  (djdivaofjava) Thank you Windfall Apple...


message 169: by Everyman (new)

Everyman | 2507 comments Rebecca wrote: "What do they mean by Palliser novels?
"


It's a series of six novels by Trollope which basically follow in a roundabout way the fortunes of Plantagenet Palliser, but are far more than that. They're Trollope's "political" novels since they are closely involved with English politics, intrigues, power struggles, social climbing, and the like.

The six novels, in order, are:

Can You Forgive Her?
Phineas Finn
The Eustace Diamonds
Phineas Redux
The Prime Minister
The Duke's Children

Some Trollope lovers consider them his finest work.






message 170: by Andrea (new)

Andrea | 83 comments Windfall Apple wrote: "

Hi Susanna, Andrea, Everyman and everyone!
Indeed, Darwinism explored through the Victorian novel is daunting and yes, I do need to focus on one aspect and one novel Andrea, but which???? :)is my..."


I have to say for some reason The Mill on the Floss seems intriguing for this.


message 171: by Andrea (new)

Andrea | 83 comments Kate wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Welcome to Gerald and Windfall Apple!
Windfall, I love your name, although I'm not sure how to apply it to a person. Are you going to focus on a specific writer or maybe one or t..."


I would love to read "The Eustace Diamonds" this spring. But will spring actually come? This is perhaps not the time of year to think of it.


message 172: by [deleted user] (last edited Dec 02, 2009 02:12PM) (new)

Andrea,
Eliot would indeed be an excellent choice but have now decided to make my life infinitely harder in the lead-up to Christmas and explore Darwinian 'Feminism' through Gothic Romanticism. 2 weeks to do it..oh Joy Unconfined!!
*peeps out from behind a stack of articles and journals for air*


message 173: by Paula (new)

Paula | 1001 comments Hello all - just want to apologize for my lack of involvement these last two weeks while I'm away for work. Love Ireland, but am honestly quite homesick as I'm now staying an extra week.

Can't wait to catch up on all the discussions I've missed!


The Book Whisperer (aka Boof) | 736 comments We've missed you, Paula. Great to see you back ☺


message 175: by [deleted user] (new)

Hi Paula! How do you like The Secret Scripture?


message 176: by Cathy (new)

Cathy | 36 comments Thought this might be of interest. This was posted to a State Library of NSW blog from a member of the rare books team - I thought it was heart-wrenching and loved how personal it was especially after seeing the film Young Victoria:

"Albert Prince Consort of Victoria, Queen of Great Britain died in 1861. The library received the books between 1864-1884. Some of the books were given to the Public Library of Sydney. At that time we were known as the "Australian Library and Literary Institution" before we became the Free Public Library.

The book that caught my eye was "The principal speeches and addresses of His Royal Highness the Prince Consort : with an introduction giving some outlines of his character." Which has this wonderful inscription:
"Presented to the Public Library of Sydney in memory of her great and good husband by his hollow hearted widow. Victoria, 1864".

This book is elegantly bound with gilt tooling.

Here is the web address of the blog: http://blog.sl.nsw.gov.au/erecords/in...



message 177: by Paula (new)

Paula | 1001 comments Lauren wrote: "Hi Paula! How do you like The Secret Scripture?"

I read it for awhile on the flight here, and am enjoying it so far but honestly haven't had a chance to pick it up again in the 2+ weeks since. May need to start from scratch on my flight home : )

It is a pretty gripping so far, though - I like the narrator.




message 178: by Andrea (new)

Andrea | 83 comments Cathy wrote: "Thought this might be of interest. This was posted to a State Library of NSW blog from a member of the rare books team - I thought it was heart-wrenching and loved how personal it was especially af..."
Oh, that is just tear jerking. "Hollow hearted" is very descriptive.



message 179: by Darcy (new)

Darcy | 215 comments That is a lovely inscription. What a cool blog! Thanks for posting it!


The Book Whisperer (aka Boof) | 736 comments Hello lovely people. I am flying out to NYC this weekend so I may not get a chance to pop on much this next week so just wanted to say bye and see you soon (just before Christmas). Paula is back this weekend (hurrah!) so she'll be reporting for duty as I leave (it's almost like we planned it!).

Happy reading everyone!


message 181: by Paula (new)

Paula | 1001 comments I am back, and officially in love with Ireland :) Safe travels, Boof - hope you have a great time in NYC and the weather stays decent for you!!


message 182: by [deleted user] (new)

Have a fantastic time, Boof. I loved New York - will it be your first time there?


The Book Whisperer (aka Boof) | 736 comments Thanks guys. It's actually about my 7th time - I love it and I have relatives in NJ too (about half an hour from Manhattan). I like going at Christmas time - last time we went it snowed.


message 184: by Paula (new)

Paula | 1001 comments Not sure if it's appropriate to post in this group or not... but have to share my news... I got engaged last night!! We've been together for almost 5 years but was still unexpected :) I'm all giddy today :)


Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (susannag) | 604 comments And so you should be!


message 186: by Cathy (new)

Cathy | 36 comments Paula wrote: "Not sure if it's appropriate to post in this group or not... but have to share my news... I got engaged last night!! We've been together for almost 5 years but was still unexpected :) I'm all giddy..."

I still remember how great that felt and it is over 20 years ago .. enjoy every moment of it, it's a special time. congratulations!


message 187: by Grace Tjan (new)

Grace Tjan Paula wrote: "Not sure if it's appropriate to post in this group or not... but have to share my news... I got engaged last night!! We've been together for almost 5 years but was still unexpected :) I'm all giddy..."

That's great! Congrats, Paula!



message 188: by Eliza (new)

Eliza (elizac) | 24 comments COngrats Paula!


message 189: by Paula (new)

Paula | 1001 comments Thanks everyone! It is still sinking in but I'm lovin' it!


message 190: by Andrea (new)

Andrea | 83 comments Congratulations to Paula! Now you need to start thinking about what book/s you will take to the wedding. (note earlier posts on this subject)


message 191: by Gabriele (new)

Gabriele Wills (muskoka) | 112 comments Congrats indeed, Paula! What a great Christmas present. : )


message 192: by SarahC (new)

SarahC (sarahcarmack) | 1418 comments Lovely news, Paula. Best wishes!


message 193: by Paula (new)

Paula | 1001 comments Thanks, Andrea, Gabriele and Sarah! I do need to think of which book will accompany me that day... even choosing which ones will come along on the trip will be an event!


message 194: by [deleted user] (new)

Brilliant news, Paula! What a lovely christmas you'll have xD


message 195: by Everyman (new)

Everyman | 2507 comments Paula wrote: "Not sure if it's appropriate to post in this group or not... but have to share my news... I got engaged last night!! We've been together for almost 5 years but was still unexpected :) I'm all giddy..."

Congratulations! I went through that adventure over 30 years ago and I've been joyful about it for every day of our life together. Hope the same for you.






The Book Whisperer (aka Boof) | 736 comments Paula, what fantastic news to come back to! I'm thrilled for you! Let us know your wedding plans etc; I'm a sucker for romance.


message 197: by Gabriele (new)

Gabriele Wills (muskoka) | 112 comments Just a heads up to those in North America who get PBS. Cranford is on tonight. It's a series set in the 1840s based on 3 Elizabeth Gaskell novels. I missed it first time around but shan't this time!


message 198: by Paula (new)

Paula | 1001 comments Thank you Lauren, Everyman and Boof! No plans yet, but the big traditional church wedding is not in the cards. Jamaica is sounding better and better!! Mike said it could be the courthouse in January, the wedding in Hawaii next December, or anywhere in between. :)

I'll keep you posted but let me know if it gets to be too much wedding talk!


message 199: by Paula (new)

Paula | 1001 comments I may have asked this before, but I'm curious again...

How many books do you each read at the same time? I just realized I have a whole shelf of books I'm currently reading (not a GR shelf, a 'real life' shelf). What I read is just so dependent on my mood that I have a hard time limiting myself to just one, although if it's an extremely captivating book I tend to spend more time with it.


message 200: by [deleted user] (new)

Gabriele, it's a good series isn't it? Actually, there was a Christmas special on last night but I missed it. Not sure how a Christmas special of a novel adaptation works though *shrugs*

Paula, that sounds absolutely lovely :-) It's my dream to visit the Caribbean.


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