I wrote this last night and pressed “save” but not “publish.” Evidence that my brain is on overload?
My school quarter is drawing to a speedy close and two large projects are coming due in addition to the regular day-to-day work of class. So If things get spotty around here that’s why.
I finally finished the last 20 pages of Carlyle’s Sartor Resartus but have not the focus or time in the evening to think about it and put together a coherent post or two. I will make an attempt over the weekend to sort it all out so I suppose that is something to look forward to.
Mansfield Park moves apace. What a curious book it is. I am not loving it but I am not hating it either, I feel rather neutral about it while at the same time I appreciate how different and interesting in it. So that is an improvement over how I felt about it previously. I am jut over halfway. Fanny’s brother William is visiting and Henry Crawford is falling in love with Fanny but Fanny only has eyes for Edmund but Edmund only has eyes for Mary Crawford who does have eyes for Edmund but is very disappointed in her inability to change his mind about his second son profession of clergyman. He will soon be taking orders and she is doing her best to make him change his mind because he loves her and she could never marry him if he is a clergyman with only 700 a year. Poor Miss Crawford.
I haven’t had much time to read anything else these last few days. We get Time Magazine at work and I plan on reading the Jonathan Franzen article in it at lunch tomorrow. I would have read it today but I was distracted by the cover article from last week about animal intelligence.
I should be free from school in about two weeks. I get a short break of only a week (though I hope I am wrong and it is actually two weeks) before the fall quarter starts up and I am daydreaming in idle moments about what books I might be able to cram in during my brief freedom. So many to dream about!
Off to go work on my thesaurus project.
First, congratulations on finishing Carlyle. I’ll write something, too, for Monday. Outstanding. Now the real work begins. Produce! Produce! And so on.
Second, I see that your description of Mansfield Park is all character, all soap opera. I’m not saying that’s not in the book. But the art of the novel lies elsewhere, in the apricots and eggshells.
Well, at least you didn’t do what I have done more times than I care to admit and that is press PUBLISH when I meant to press SAVE and have had to quickly retrieve the very “drafty” post before too many people see it. So embarrassing!
Oh, and listen to Amateur Reading about MP. She’s right! But, your summary I’m guessing was a little tongue in cheek – well, it gave me a chuckle anyhow! (I manage a little blog for my JA group – http://jasact.wordpress.com/ – this year we are focusing on MP so there are various bits and pieces on the blog from our meetings, and pointers to other sites/blogs. You may like to have a look – when you’ve finished the book).
I have to admit I feel “ish” about Mansfield Park. Fanny annoyed me. I’ll be interested to see what you think in the end.
I’m just amazed that you (and others) are reading Carlyle. I live in Kirkcaldy, where he taught for a few years. I don’t know of anyone who has actually read anything by him, so I’m really interested in your thoughts on the subject.
Midweek is the hardest time. No one likes Wednesdays. Can not get Bille Piper playing Fanny out of my head, so desperately annoying, so I applaud you going on with it.
Amateur Reader, thanks! It was a carzy book. And MP isn’t a soap opera?
Whisperinggums, I have done the same thing you have too. It’s usually when I’m in a hurry. Thanks for you JA group link. Who says I have to wait until I finish the book? I poked around a bit and was really impressed with all the information your group has.
Mary-Frances, it is hard to like a character that is so meek even when you understand why.
Katrina, heh, you live in a Carlyle town and haven’t read him? But I understand, he isn’t exactly an easy read.
bookgazing, Billie Piper played Fanny? I somehow can’t picture that, she seems too energetic for the role.
I seriously admire your reading choices while you are in the thick of things at school. If it were me I think I’d only be able to manage mysteries and thrillers. Then again I’m not in school and that’s the bulk of my reading lately anyway. Oops.
Oh you sound so busy with school work! I’ve said it before but I admire you so much for managing to juggle work and study – and blogging too! I tried once to combine it all and failed ignominiously! Reading your posts about MP have reminded me that I’ve actually never read Emma. I’ve seen it on tv so many times I feel I’ve read it, but that’s not the case. I might pick that up in the next week or two. Good luck with your assignments!
Nice job with Carlyle! I’m looking forward to hearing more, and perhaps you will inspire me to read him? I agree with you about MP — I didn’t love it either, but I did admire it. Nabokov has an interesting chapter on the book in his Lectures on Literature, if you are interested.
Mansfield Park is a funny book. It’s so different from other Austen books. I read it, found it slightly on the preachy side. I think it’s probably the only one of her books that doesn’t stand the test of time
Just noticed this comment … how did I miss it. I’m not sure I totally agree but it does depend on how you define “universality”. I’ve know the odd Mrs Norris in my life, and there are probably quite a few Tom Bertram’s around … and so on. I think if we look past the particularities of the “seemingly” narrow “morality” we do find a lot that resonates still.