***Group Read: Middlemarch Prelude & Books 1-2
Conversazioni1001 Books to read before you die
Iscriviti a LibraryThing per pubblicare un messaggio.
Questa conversazione è attualmente segnalata come "addormentata"—l'ultimo messaggio è più vecchio di 90 giorni. Puoi rianimarla postando una risposta.
2george1295
I finished book one last night. I love the way Eliot writes. Her descriptions of characters, places and events bring the story to life. This is a much better book than I had imagined it would be. Looking forward to Book 2.
3Yells
That's encouraging! I remember trying to start this one years ago (in university) and I just couldn't get into it. I have had a mental block since then about this book but figured this group will finally get me over the hump. I am glad to hear that it's not as bad as I remembered (and to be fair, I have probably built it up in my head to be much worse than it is).
4ALWINN
Okay I started Middlemarch this weekend but reading some of the comment back from May of 08 I started all over last night. I am upto Chapter 6 I believe where Dorothea has just excepted Mr Casaubon proposal of marriage.
So far the main Characters. Dorothea is a very young girl that has all of these "ideas" on how life should be without experiencing life in general, which I think all of us have been guilty of at some point in our lives. She has alot of the old fashion attitudes of the day but also many that are years ahead of her time. One of her ideas about women being more then a pretty thing with no mind or ideas of her own is of course light years ahead but then trying to find a husband that is more of a teacher to educate is playing into the idea that men will always be superior in intellect. Celia Dorothea's younger sister is just a shallow girl that has no real thoughts of her own that will go with the popular ideas of the crowd. Mr Casaubon is a man that has spent most of his life in books never worried about developing the social skills in getting a wife. Where has Mr Chettan is basically a "good ol boy" that is has the idea that a woman is to be looked at and pampered. I havent really thought too much about Mr Brooks one way or the other except his main goals is to get these two young women off and married as soon as possible.
The only minor character so far is Mrs Cadwallader that is the areas "busybody" that has no business of her own and can not but help herself to being a gossip and sharing her personal views and values.
So tonight I am hoping to finish Book 1 and looking forwords to getting to know more about all of the characters.
So far the main Characters. Dorothea is a very young girl that has all of these "ideas" on how life should be without experiencing life in general, which I think all of us have been guilty of at some point in our lives. She has alot of the old fashion attitudes of the day but also many that are years ahead of her time. One of her ideas about women being more then a pretty thing with no mind or ideas of her own is of course light years ahead but then trying to find a husband that is more of a teacher to educate is playing into the idea that men will always be superior in intellect. Celia Dorothea's younger sister is just a shallow girl that has no real thoughts of her own that will go with the popular ideas of the crowd. Mr Casaubon is a man that has spent most of his life in books never worried about developing the social skills in getting a wife. Where has Mr Chettan is basically a "good ol boy" that is has the idea that a woman is to be looked at and pampered. I havent really thought too much about Mr Brooks one way or the other except his main goals is to get these two young women off and married as soon as possible.
The only minor character so far is Mrs Cadwallader that is the areas "busybody" that has no business of her own and can not but help herself to being a gossip and sharing her personal views and values.
So tonight I am hoping to finish Book 1 and looking forwords to getting to know more about all of the characters.
5ALWINN
I have finished Book 1 and I have to say very interesting. I have to feel almost sorry for poor Dorothea. At the very beginning she was just a very young girl that due to her inexperience of life had unreal ideas of the world, people and of marriage had some very harsh ideas. Now after her marriage to Mr Casaubon not only is she realizing the hard way that marriage and life is not going to be all rosy and not everyone is going to be concerned with her thoughts and feelings like she was use to with her sister Celia and her Uncle Mr Brooke, plus Mr Casaubon being a bachelor all his life was also adjusting to marriage as well. But to Dorothea's defense she was hoping to go into marriage and be of some use not only to her husband but also to others and when she discovers that not only is she really not needed by her husband for his life’s work but most of the things are in order for others she was hoping to help also. So now she is left with what is my purpose here.
Now Mr Casaubon 2nd cousin Ladislaw when he was first introduced as just a cousin that more or less layed around didnt really strike me has someone that really mattered one way or the other but when he sees Dorothea again in Rome and goes to visit now that is when things change with this character and makes us start to wonder what he has on his mind. With Ladislaw visit this is the first time that Mr Casaubon shows any human feelings when he some what upset and jealous about his cousin coming to visit his very young beautiful wife when he is not at home. Dorothea being so naive and lonely she doesnt see Ladislaw visits as anything more then but a cousin of her husbands paying a visit to relatives. So it will be very interesting to see how all of this plays out.
I have had several LOL moments about some comments made by Mrs Cadwallader about men in general and someone being a "shirt hair" and then when Sir James found out that Dorothea has chosen Mr Casaubon over him, I think he called him an old mummy that is just an old bladder where dried peas rattle around. And then when we were introduced to the Vincy's and the grilled bone thing. Im still like okay what is a grilled bone?
Now Mr Casaubon 2nd cousin Ladislaw when he was first introduced as just a cousin that more or less layed around didnt really strike me has someone that really mattered one way or the other but when he sees Dorothea again in Rome and goes to visit now that is when things change with this character and makes us start to wonder what he has on his mind. With Ladislaw visit this is the first time that Mr Casaubon shows any human feelings when he some what upset and jealous about his cousin coming to visit his very young beautiful wife when he is not at home. Dorothea being so naive and lonely she doesnt see Ladislaw visits as anything more then but a cousin of her husbands paying a visit to relatives. So it will be very interesting to see how all of this plays out.
I have had several LOL moments about some comments made by Mrs Cadwallader about men in general and someone being a "shirt hair" and then when Sir James found out that Dorothea has chosen Mr Casaubon over him, I think he called him an old mummy that is just an old bladder where dried peas rattle around. And then when we were introduced to the Vincy's and the grilled bone thing. Im still like okay what is a grilled bone?
6billiejean
Good comments, ALWINN! I just now finished Part 1, and still have Part 2 to read for this thread. I find that there is lots of humor in this book and I had several LOL moments, too. I think the grilled bone comment might have been in reference to a steak, but I am not sure. I am guessing that Rosy was complaining that he missed breakfast and when he arrived late, asked for something complicated to be made just for him. Like he is spoiled.
Seems like everyone here has marriage on the brain and they are rushing into things willy-nilly. Even Mr. Brooke asked Dodo to think things over for awhile. (Although that might have been because he knew Mrs. Cadwallader was going to be upset with him.) Mr. Casaubon was not that good at the romance, so looks like there might be some regret ahead. I can't wait to read the second part!
--BJ
Seems like everyone here has marriage on the brain and they are rushing into things willy-nilly. Even Mr. Brooke asked Dodo to think things over for awhile. (Although that might have been because he knew Mrs. Cadwallader was going to be upset with him.) Mr. Casaubon was not that good at the romance, so looks like there might be some regret ahead. I can't wait to read the second part!
--BJ
7billiejean
I finished Book 2 last night. It seems amazing how all the men are attracted to Dorothea, and she doesn't really see it. Casaubon is so lucky to get her and then works through the honeymoon -- what is he thinking? Also interesting was all the politics of Middlemarch. I am looking forward to the next part.
George1295, I think you are right that Eliot does a great job building up her characters. I will want to read more by her after this one, I think.
--BJ
George1295, I think you are right that Eliot does a great job building up her characters. I will want to read more by her after this one, I think.
--BJ
8billiejean
Here is the link to the thread for Books 3-4:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/96132
See you there!
--BJ
http://www.librarything.com/topic/96132
See you there!
--BJ
9annamorphic
Just finished Book 2.
The characters are so convincingly flawed. I feel as if I completely understand both Casaubon and Dorothea yet somehow almost wish that I did not, because their flaws are so unappealing, or in Dorothea's case more annoying. Lydgate, the other idealist here, is appealing but I can foresee him making some mistakes as we go along.
Actually, of the characters in general, it is interesting that their weaknesses seem to make them fall for the wrong person, and their strengths fail to protect them from pursuing those romantically wrong courses. But since this is a book that begins with a marriage (rather than, as in Jane Austin, only ending there) I suppose that marriage is the test of their strengths. Interesting.
The characters are so convincingly flawed. I feel as if I completely understand both Casaubon and Dorothea yet somehow almost wish that I did not, because their flaws are so unappealing, or in Dorothea's case more annoying. Lydgate, the other idealist here, is appealing but I can foresee him making some mistakes as we go along.
Actually, of the characters in general, it is interesting that their weaknesses seem to make them fall for the wrong person, and their strengths fail to protect them from pursuing those romantically wrong courses. But since this is a book that begins with a marriage (rather than, as in Jane Austin, only ending there) I suppose that marriage is the test of their strengths. Interesting.
10billiejean
It is an interesting mix of people with flaws.
--BJ
--BJ
