I'm here to read this book with the Love of My Life

[Weems]

I went back to all your references and I'll be damned, there it is! I thought of all the tests that were taken by me in hs English and I would have missed any questins about this and I thought I was right on! You are so observant! I really thought I was better than this than to miss the connexion between the Great House, the cottage and the Musgroves and Hayters. This is why it is good to read this book with someone!

I thought I would share with you what I hope to get out of reading this book. At first I was motivated to read it for the story and the experience. But because of my HS English teacher, things stand out in a good book that I can't help observing. Now I feel like picking it apart a little. When I went back and reread the places you referenced I was amazed at how clear the details are that I missed! And of course, I have the advantage of having already read those parts (and I'm reading them in a study mode so I see it differently).

Thank you SO much for your help and illumination on this!

[LizzyBennet]

You are too kind, sir!
I read EVERYTHING like I am studying for a test. I read very slow because of that, and I read most sentences more than once, ESPECIALLY Jane Austen! I am re-starting Chapter 11 today,and hope to complete it tonight. I won't be reading tomorrow (Thurs), but should have plenty of time to read Friday (but no computer access). I will try to come up with something illuminating or interesting over the weekend!
It is nice to have someone to read along with and discuss. I am ready for a love story! I can't help it! I AM a GIRL!

[Weems]

Now I have a better idea of how you read! I think I'll slow down a little and sink my teeth into this so I can keep abreast better with you!!

[LizzyBennet]

Let's just say I've had lots of school and too many tests!

I will be out of town starting Thursday night through mid-day Saturday--spending time with my brother.

I hope the Love of Your Life doesn't mind you reading this book with me....

[Weems]

Be safe out of town! And enjoy reading! I'll do the same!!

[Weems]

I started chatper 12 last night and got thru a few pages before I was passing out. Please keep me posted as to where you are this weekend and I'll try to stay with you. Fast read at this point, right? just get thru it and come back?...

[Weems]

Hi! I hope your reading is going well! I have done little but will get on it soon!...

[Weems]

It's late and I've been awaken by visiting relatives and heavy-footed children. Finding myself unable to go back to sleep I reflected on my veiwing (again) of Pride and Prejudice before turning out the light.

I wrote earlier about the use of names and that the name "Charles" has shown up in Persuaion four times by chapter 14. Each of the Charles named is not a main character and I realized that Charles Bingley in Pride and Prejudice is not a main character either.

So I took half an ambian to aid in my sleep and came down here to search all of Jane Austen's work for the name Charles. And guess what? I found nothing consistent. But I did find that all but two (Emma and Sense ans Sensability have characters named Charles that are not the main character. I also thought that maybe there was someone in her life named Charles who had some kind of impact on her so I searched her biographies too. I could not find a Charles listed anywhere, but that does not mean that there wasn't one in her life.

Lady Susan - Charles Vernon and Charles Smith
Mansfield Park - Charles Maddox and Charles Anderson
Northanger Abbey - Charles Hodges
Pride and Prejudice - Charles Bingley
Persuasion - Charles Sr, Jr, and III Musgrove and Charles Hayter

Truthfully, I think that's a lot of Charles! So my next question to research is when were Emma and S&S written and is there any chance that a Charles had influence on her after they were written. I need to research the order they were written. Emma was not the first written, but it was the first published.

[Weems]

Persuasion
I find Anne in Chapter 13 in an empty Mansion House. She does not want to say goodbye to it, the cottage or the village. This is the third time I have read this section as it is the place were Lizzy stopped last and I have two completely separate comments.

The first one is that I am drawn to the description of the cottage at the bottom of 89: "...with it's black, dripping, and comfortless veranda..." What is the meaning dehind this description? Her sister, Mary, lives there and might be considered having a personality to match. But does anyone really know what Austen intends when she writes? Or are we applying meaning to something that does not exist because we think we are so smart? What if it was just a description with no imagery or intended meaning?

The second requires no analysis because it is such a human trait and occurrence in the life of anyone who feels and has emotion. And I wonder if you noticed it and that is what caused you to pause at page 90! It starts at the last line of 89: ''Scenes had passed in Uppercross, which made it precious. It stood the record of many sensations of pain, once severe, but now softened; and of some instances of relenting feelings, some breathings of friendship and reconciliation, which could never be looked for again, and which would never cease to be dear.''

I do not know about you, but that paragraph may be the entire book for me! It may be what I remember for the rest of my life as to this story! I can tell you that it conjures up great emotion and causes my eyes to well. Tell me, Is it You?

[LizzyBennet]

You are right, again. That's me....

[Weems]

I'm on page 140.

[LizzyBennet]

It regards to the quote about the front of the cottage, I think it does describe Mary, even though she may not have intended that. Of course, it is raining, and I think she is describing a veranda with a black, dripping roof. What I noticed about that scene is the irony of the type of thoughts Anne is having despite the dreary weather. She is reminded of things "happy and gay, all that was glowing and bright in prosperous love," and it makes her sad to be leaving.
On the next page, I love what Anne feels about herself at the new attention she is receiving. I can SO relate! She hopes that she is being "blessed with a second spring of youth and beauty." Being admired by someone makes us all glow and become even more beautiful because it makes us radiate from the inside out!
Back-tracking to page 87... after Louisa's accident, Anne wonders about Wentworth "if it ever occurred to him now, to question the justness of his own previous opinion as to the universal felicity and advantage of firmness of character; and whether it might not strike him, that, like all other qualities of the mind, it should have its proportions and limits. She thought it could scarcely escape him to feel, that a persuadable temper might sometimes be as much in favour of happiness, as a very resolute character." The firmness she lacked that he wished for in Anne (page 64) turned out to be not the best thing for Louisa. Maybe this experience will change his opinion about being too firm, and he will see it as a negative trait in Louisa.
I am enjoying all the new attention Anne is getting. She may find she no longer thinks much about Wentworth. I think Benwick's shyness is a little unattractive. And I am hoping Mr. Elliot is interested in Anne, not Elizabeth.

I can't explain all the Charles'!!!!!!!

[Weems]

What exquisite observations and what excellent boiled potatoes!

I like what matters to you as you read! I have many things to discuss but it seems tough to know which! Benwick! What a surprising change in the plot! I do not know how it will develop but surely if the plot did not change then Wentworth would marry Louisa and that is not how we want it to be!

I also think that Mr.Elliott's interest in Anne is the right kind of motivation for Wentworth to pay attention to Anne. Anne is feeling a whole lot better about herself, her spring of youth, and it shows when Wentworth walks in and means to barely acknowledge Anne. Anne greets him and he immediately swerves to converse with her. Sir Walter and Elizabeth finally give the appropriate courtesies to Wentworth.

I understand how association and attention can make a person feel young and alive. It is human nature to feel that way. How much internal strength does it take to overcome human nature? Does nature control us or can we control it? All it takes is a little acknowledgement to put a person in the clouds. Anne is evidence of that.

I my life, I know that even the hint of an oasis, a mirage even, in a dessert is enough to fuel the well of energy and the youthful feelings associated with being IN love.

I fell in love with a girl once and now every single positive thing said or acknowledgement of emotional or physical attractiveness makes me feel like I'm on top of the world. Like Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice.

I read something I liked about friendship yesterday: A true friend stands by through the changing seasons of life and cheers you on not for your successes but for staying true to what matters most. Karen Kingsbury, acknowlegements to her book "Found".

[LizzyBennet]

I'm on page 111, so I haven't read where Elizabeth and Sir Elliot meet Wentworth yet, (or did you mean Mr. Elliot?)

That is a lovely quote about friendship. I am passing through the seasons of life rather roughly, I think! I cherish those few true friends I have that stick with me!

Elizabeth Bennet is a complex character. I like her. Alot. Duh. Maybe we could read that together when we are finished picking apart Persuasion. Interested? I opened my copy of P and P yesterday and thought I needed to tell you about the passage I saw there before me. Now I can't recall. I dog-eared the page. I will look it up again and let you know.

[Weems]

I would love that. Tell me which copy you have and I will get the same!...