In February, we will be reading Villette by Charlotte Bronte.
Please post your comments and questions in this thread.
Free Online Copy
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In February, we will be reading Villette by Charlotte Bronte.
Please post your comments and questions in this thread.
Free Online Copy
:thumbs_upI shall be taking advantage of the on-line text for this one, a first for me! :)
Just downloaded my ecopy as well!
If anyone is interested: http://manybooks.net/titles/brontechetext058vill10.html
(With special thanks to Papaya, who has introduced me to this great site! :))
I have my book, but probably won't be able to start posting until after the 7th.
I look forward to reading this one.
Ouch! Just realised how long this one is! :goof:
I happen to have this book. I will try to read it, join in and comment. Heard it was a good book.
I also have this book, so I might read it and join in.
I do not find it is that long, but maybe it just seems that way to me compared to some of the other books I have recently been reading. 40 chapters seems reasonable compared to books that are nealy 70 or 80 chapters long.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
So, I have read 1/10 of the book; it is an easy going read so far. Was a little confused about how old Polly was initially and I am still wondering how old Lucy is.
Is Lucy going to fall in love with Graham to lose him to more interesting and exciting Polly when they grow up?
:lol: Gee, Scher, sounds like you have the book all figured out. I own a copy from Dover (on their sale once) so I will try to start reading it. It's long for me though. I have not delved into a long book in ages.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
Well, I am hoping that if someone confirms this, I may not have to read the whole thing! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Janine
I have not yet advanced that far, but I was a bit confused about Polly as well regarding her age. They walked about putting her in a crib but she walks around talking with a rather extensive vocabulary. Though I have to say I do find her to be a touch obnoxious thus far.
I'll give this a try too! I miss LitNet book club readings! Though, I for one will also have to take advantage of the online copy!
I think I can help you with this.:) Lucy is 14. 'Vilette' is based on Bronte's memories of Brussels. That makes the book interesting. I read it years ago in russian. It would be nice to read it in original now, but I don't think I'll do it. I'll just follow your discussion; in silence of course:D .Quote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
Somewhere at the end of the chapter it says that Polly is six years old.
Yes, I finally just got to that part where it states how old she is.Quote:
Originally Posted by papayahed
Also I was wondering, are Lucy's parents dead?
I do not recall the book making any mention of them, but it said she was living with kinfolk before she went to stay with Mrs. Bretton and after she leaves, she talks about being alone, and having no one she can depend upon and the fact that circumstances have forced her into a role a self-reliance.
One of the things I find interesting about the book thus far is the way in which Lucy seems to enjoy studying other people, particularly considering that the book is being told through the first person narrative. She does appear as this figure always sitting off quietly in a corner somewhere just watching what is going on around her. She likes to make her observations about the personality of Polly, and than one of the things she really enjoys about working for Miss Marchmont is the benefit she gets from finding out just who Miss Marchmont is and studying her character and personality.
I thought that scene right before the death of Marchmont was beautiful, and I found the prose work within that chapter to be particularly beautiful and remarkable. I loved the passage or Marchmont's speech about her beloved Frank and her belief that she was on her way to reunite with him.
I started this one a while ago, but lost interest while moving. I guess I'll finish it now. I like Polly so far, she's cute.
Which was why I was confused too. Initially she came across as a toddler but she sounded much maturer -both emotionally and intellectually- later on.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dark Muse
Thank you, Caspian, but please do not remain silent! It'd be great to read your comments :)Quote:
Originally Posted by caspian
Yes but till then I was quite wonder-full! :p :D :pQuote:
Originally Posted by papayahed
I get the impression that Lucy is far from being a reliable narrator; she likes to tell us her observations but everything we have read so far is exactly that: her observations. Also, she does not mention how she feels about anything, which I find very interesting (I still believe that she has a crush on Graham :p)Quote:
Originally Posted by Dark Muse
What did he die of? I did not quite catch that.Quote:
I thought that scene right before the death of Marchmont was beautiful, and I found the prose work within that chapter to be particularly beautiful and remarkable. I loved the passage or Marchmont's speech about her beloved Frank and her belief that she was on her way to reunite with him.
I just started to read this last night; I got through chapter two before going to bed. It reminds me slightly of Bronte's Jane Eyre in that the child seems similar to me; smart, somewhat strong willed and about the same age. Glad we determined her age; I was also confused about that at first. Age 6 would make more sense. In the beginning she did sound like a toddler with mention of crib and how they had her all bundled. I think the prose is well written so far and I am getting more interested as I got along. Hope to read more again tonight. Haven't read a book this length in awhile.
Ah, I got about halfway through this and then was forced to stop for uni stuff. I have been meaning to return to it as I dislike leaving books half-finished, so I'll try to place it higher up my list of priorities. I might be able to read it near the end of this month? My impression was that it was relatively solid enough for this sort of thing, but didn’t quite feel as competent as Jane Eyre, nevertheless readable though.
I have to say I personally do not think she is truly an unreliable narrator, it is true that all we have are her observations, and how she personally perceive things, but she does not appear to be someone thus far at least, who would be given to great fancies, exaggerations, or overtly emotional in a way which could alter her perception into misinterpreting things, or giving too much of her own imagination into events.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
In a way perhaps for me, the fact that she does not put her own personal feelings into her observations is what allows her to be more believable as a narrator. There is something about her which gives the impression of remaining detached so her own emotions will not influence what she observes.
I have not seen enough you to suspect anything regarding her and Graham. He came off as being a bit childish and immature in the way in which he made Polly his playmate and the fact that most the time if one did not know any better they could not distinguish any age difference between them when they were fooling around together.
They never really said what Franky dies of, one night he was just brought to the house dragged behind a his horse and then after being tended to by the surgeon died.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
I thought perhaps he died from a fall off his horse, because Miss Marchmont spoke about his reckless and fast riding.
The very fact that she does not share her exact thoughts and emotions is what makes me feel that she is not an honest and reliable observer; cannot help feeling that she is holding back an important part of what she actually she sees.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dark Muse
If she is really as detached as she sounds on the page (what a weird thing to say!), then, I am not sure I would like her personally, anyway.Oh, I did not mean that there was something concrete making me feel that way; it is just the usual thing to expect while reading such classics :DQuote:
I have not seen enough you to suspect anything regarding her and Graham.
That is what I thought as well but was wondering if I missed something.Quote:
I thought perhaps he died from a fall off his horse, because Miss Marchmont spoke about his reckless and fast riding.
LOL and it is probably because of her detachment that I am so drawn to her and that I like her so much. I could not help feeling sorry for her when she was stuck in Mrs. Breton's house with Polly and Graham and the way they carried on with each other.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
I could see myself like her, just sitting in a corner rolling my eyes, and trying to stay out of the whole thing.
Though she was a bit more sympathetic to Polly than I would have been. Maybe it is just because I don't like kids in general, but Polly just came off as a completely obnoxious spoiled brat to me.
If anyone is interested, this free public domain site has the book download for audio in zipdisk format; you can also choose to listen to it on the net without downloading:
LibriVox
Interesting thing about this reading is that every chapter is read by a different person. I sampled them all and liked what I heard. I think I will be listening to the book read, after I download it to my iPod or other MP3 player. I find reading at night, my eyes really hurt me in the winter months and thus they are blurry, so this might be very helpful.
I have just read the chapter where Lucy goes off to London, and I have to say I thought it seemed a bit unconventional for a young girl to go off completely on her own without a chaperone or a companion, and then to check into and stay at an inn all by herself. It does not strike me as a the sort of thing that would be commonly accepted within the society of the day.
Perhaps it has to do with her station in class, as she clearly does not come from a wealthy background since she is actively having to try and find a way to support herself and does not seem to have any family she can be depended upon.
Yes it is has everything to do with her class - only the middle/higher orders would be chaperoned. It is however, still quite a bold venture in the same way that Jane Eyre ventured forth quite independently into the world. Of course the trip to London is one thing, the trip further afield is quite another too, quite brave.
Agreed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Neely
What do you think of Isidore? Just started that chapter... Is he the guy who guided Lucy on her first night there?
Janine> I think it sort of makes sense why different chapters are read by different people; seems like different chapters are focusing on different people as well. First we had Polly, then Miss Marchmont, the spoilt girl on the ship, the school mistress and now Isidore...
Tomorrow, as an experiment, I'm going to start listening to the audio link that Janine supplied. :thumbs_up
After reading the comments on this thread - I'm not sure it's going to be the best book in the world!
Ok good; then, maybe that is an interesting idea and makes perfect sense; however, some of the chapters are read by men; most are read by women. I didn't find it interuptive at all; but rather enjoyed the parts I started to listen to. I am hoping I can figure out how to get the chapters into a MP3 player or my itunes for the iPod so I can listen on headphones. I concentrate better that way. I could also read the chapters and then next day review them by listening to the narration.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
Most characters introduced are women?Quote:
Originally Posted by Janine
I admire your dedication, Janine! :)Quote:
I could also read the chapters and then next day review them by listening to the narration.
I'd have to recap as most of my brain cells are devoted to Belgian beer, I'll get back to the question when I can. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
I wonder what the Bronte's own social standing was, as it seems all of them deal with characters on the lower rungs of the social ladder, and often women whom are left to their own devices and are outside of the typical conventions of society in someway.Quote:
Originally Posted by Neely
I haven't got there yet so I will get back to you on that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
Whooohoooo!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Dark Muse
You guys mean to tell me that I am ahead of everyone else???
Wow! Go me!!!!
:banana:
:p
At about the same level. The Brontes lived in Haworth (about 40 miles from where I live actually) in a vicarage within the same class range that she and Emily (and Anne) wrote about. In a similar way to Austen, they wrote about the class they knew well and not that much above or below it in all reality.Quote:
I wonder what the Bronte's own social standing was, as it seems all of them deal with characters on the lower rungs of the social ladder, and often women whom are left to their own devices and are outside of the typical conventions of society in someway
http://www.haworth-village.org.uk/
Nay. I am more than halfway through the novel, though I left it aside about six months ago (or so) and need to go back to it and refresh a little.Quote:
You guys mean to tell me that I am ahead of everyone else???
Haven't started yet - trying to decide between library or e-book...
Will start soon either way though ;)
Just checked library catalogue - they only have the recording available :eek: Looks like online version for me :)
hahah...sure thing...it sounded good in print...let's see just how dedicated I am when the book is finished. I am still stuck on listening up to chapter 2...Quote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
Scher, A few of the readers are men...that is what I meant. I am not sure what your question is.
I read it back in April 09, and I'm not sure if I want to read it all through again at present, but you've got me interested enough to pull out my copy and I'll be hanging around.
(A very ignorant question) But does anyone know if the 't's in "Vilette" are supposed to be left off when you say it? It is a French word, right?
I don't know if detachment is necessarily an attractive quality, but I do like the slightly sarcastic, slightly compassionate way she regards Polly and Graham. I don't think I could take her seriously if she were either completely dismissive of it or completely emotionally involved.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dark Muse
It's odd that she has so little to do in these opening chapters, though. This is quite a different heroine from the fiery, self-willed Jane Eyre who fights her way through the introductory chapters of her novel. Lucy seems to be able to only define herself through contradistinction to others. If everyone else is emotional, she is calm. If the city is crafty, she is simple. Even when she makes big decisions, it's not presented as though it were representative of her in any way. Instead, it's presented as though it were just necessity that were pushing her along. It's an odd way to build a heroine.
I think it should be pronounced Vee' yet, but in the US it's routinely called Vil let.Quote:
Originally Posted by L.M. The Third
Detachment is something that appeals to me in its own way. I have a tendency to find it an attractive characteristic. Perhaps because I can relate to it, being I am not all that socially interactive.Quote:
Originally Posted by Quark
It is interesting that way in which she is constructed within the story. It reminds me of something someone else said to me. In another discussion for The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, another Bronte book, someone said they had a teacher who criticized the Bronte's because they wrote in a way that was too "masculine" Because of their rather direct and no nonsense approach. I think that can be seen here with Lucy and the way she tell the story as well as the way she reflects upon herself and her situation. She doesn't bring a lot of emotion into the things that happen to her, or the choices she makes.
She looks the situation in the eye, and simply acts as she feels is necessary. She takes things in stride as they come in a very head on, direct sort of way.
I also find it interesting how in contrast to the fact that it seems she is guided more by this sense or rational necessity rather than letting herself be led by her emotions, is the way in which she does seem to be guided by fate in some way, or she seems to believe she is being led by Providence. There is more than one occasion in which she refers to hearing some voice within her, which particularly seems to appear when a favorable situation is presented to her.
She refers to this inner voice both when she acquired her situation with Miss Marchmont and than Madame Beck. In way it is as if she doesn't give herself credit for her own actions and choices.