Genevieve
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Everything posted by Genevieve
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I find Plato to be very enchanting, something about the rythmn of his words, wonderful, oui, the best
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Jane Austen Book Group - Pride and Prejudice
Genevieve replied to Kell's topic in 2008 Jane Austen Book Group
Well, I love very much the rythmn and style and elegance of the era and Jane Austen is a master at putting all that forth in her works,oui, she is genious Me, I have mixed feelings always about Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy if it comes to it. Elizabeth, while totally charming and intelligent is too changeable in my opinion. She is passionate this way, condemming here and justifying there, and then , voila, she changes about face and is the very opposite. She never seems to stick to anything. And there is a scene that has always disturbed me. When aunt and uncle Gardener want her to tour Mr. Darcy's 'home' at first glance she is swept away and there is some conversation about the grandness of the place rendering the owner a little less objectionable and she, Elizabeth agrees. And later when the housekeeper is taking the trio for the grande tour she murmurs that she could have been mistress of all this. I know absolutely that those days were rather mercenary ones, one needed the best 'situation ' one could obtain to be 'happy' and to make one's family happy, but Elizabeth to me, seems to throw out the window some of her principles in this. Although Jane seems a little less 'feisty' I like her steadiness more, and Mr. Bingly too. But really I respect the annoying Mary, who believes what she believes and goes for it even though she can clear a room in seconds! And I am a little amazed by Charlotte Lucas who can say she is not romantic,and then take Mr. Collins and somehow carry on with a measure of quiet happiness. Me, I could not! But I do love the story . A family member bought me years ago a second edition copy and then the complete series in tape. And this year for Christmas he bought me the dvd set and the complete written works of Jane Austen. I am overwhelmed. -
Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Genevieve replied to Kell's topic in Previous Reading Circle Books
I read this story only when a very little girl in a British school I attended. I must say Charlie broke my heart and the cruelty of others was truly frightening to me. The teacher I did not like nor trust and I think maybe she had something wrong with her emotionally to even contemplate her relationship with Charlie. And I felt frightened for the poor little Alernon as well, he also had not the freedom to live, but must comply to what was done to him. I remember crying after for weeks and was greatly disturbed. I think we should never have read the story at such a young age and I could never bring myself to read this body of work again, non, not ever! However aside from that I think the author was a brilliant writer. -
Me, I am an ardant devotee to Hugo and having read his biography I think his actual life was even more adventurous than his books! For me the entire story was to show the inequality of the classes and the prejudices of people and how they dealt with them. Jean, having had such a terrible life chooses to do good,bring something noble out of something so ugly and despairing. He is treated with kindness one time and it changes his life, non? But others, feeding on their prejudices and their views on each of the classes choose cruelty , or putting a greater value on the law than on a human life and need for forgiveness and redemption. Some because of true and noble if misguided reasons, others because of anger and hate at the things that have happened in their own lives. It is stirring and makes you wonder what would have happened if different people chose different behaviours, how great would that have changed many many lives. Wonderful book.
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Charles Dickens totally fascinates me and because of some things in my life I can identify with certain characters. This gives me strenght and the courage, oui, to go on. And knowing that this man started off in life in uncertain and unkind circumstances and despite the odds became well known and admired in his own day is nothing short of miraculous, non? Therefore his words have great dignity and meaning to me. I must admit that Great Expectations gave me depression for weeks after-the class snobbery, the cruelty of man against man, the woman who was so cruel , the old insane self pitying woman. As if any man who ditches you is worth ruining your life for in the end. I was both fascinated and repulsed by the book. Little Dorit was despairing as well to my mind and such but still such a great and marvellous piece of the life and times of a people at that time. You can read any of Dicken's books and be swept right back to the time and see how the top,middle, chattering and poor classes of the people lived. Amazing.
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Ah me, how I envy mon ami to live in such a place. You must never ever get bored, so much to do and see and ....I have to lay down!
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I am wondering if any of you have tried using a kettle bell, it is not that expensive and seems to tone up and lose calories quickly. Also , don't laugh , but oh well. I belly dance. Of course I do the ballet and that is precious to me but the other is fun in private anyway and does eat up the calories. I hate the pm, I could scream.literally,I feel so unreal sometimes. But oh well.
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Why is that when it has been snowing for a week I long to wear just a small jacket oui, and go out and walk in plain shoes, no boots, and smell flowers, look at the blue sky and maybe go for a horseback ride in a quiet place. And when it has been hot one week I am teary eyed for snow and silent walks under the night sky, the snow falling in huge flakes. To go for a nice hot cup of tea?
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I had English nannies growing up, oui, so making tea was a solemn and lovely ceremony. The beautiful tea pot, mine now is an Alfred Sung, so lovely with tiny flowers on it; the swishing boiling water round and round in the pot to heat it up, then pouring it out. Next put either the loose leaf tea, expensive as possible, a little goes a very long way, into the little mesh holder and drop in, or add the right number of tea bags. Brew a good couple of minutes and then pour out and add what you like, cream or milk, honey or sugar dropped into your pretty cup with tiny tongs. And have with tiny crustless sandwhiches . I remember my grandmama, so Celtic but dressed so very proper English with her flowered dresses and hats and all the other ladies the same. I felt I was in heaven just being allowed to watch. I was little oui, so could not participate, but when the guests had gone there was always some tea left and petite sandwhiches and it was my time and my baby brother's time to have our share. It was heaven to me, a safe hiding place from all the worry and pain of our home. Now I do the same with my little one or even the older children and it is a quiet lovely moment in our hectic day. My favorite is Red Rose, I like the way it is dried and the taste is so clear and strong and perfect. I like ooh long as well and a good earl grey. Ooshie, I too feel strange in the tummy after green tea, so I like to make it into an iced tea with a good shot of fresh lemon or lime. mmmmmmmmmmmm. One thing I have taken to heart though, I heard from oriental doctors that it is not wise to drink hot tea alone with nothing to munch on, they said it brings coldness to the lungs. So I have maybe a cracker and piece of cheese with it or a tiny cookie.
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Even though it is breakfast time, I felt drained so I had a salad with broccoli, black beans, cashews and a dressing of extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar. It is doing the trick, I am feeling stronger.
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Non, that does not sound silly to me. Just as the time must be right to meet certain people in order to appreciate them, so too, books become friends or even enemies depending on the frame of mind we are in oui, and the circumstances. I like your opinion.
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Me, I hated Lord of the Flies, it made me emotionally and phsyically ill for weeks. shiver. And also I agree, the Great Gatsby was for me a waste of time. I despised The Big Sleep, I felt so upset at the ending and wondered why I ever bothered to open to the first page. horrible.
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Bonjour little one. I hope you are doing well.You are in my thoughts today, so I wish you well.
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I hope my dear ones, that you all had a lovely Christmas or holiday time, oui and that you found out that you are even more wonderful than you suspected! hugs to you all
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I received Northanger Abbey for Christmas and I loved it oui, and I did not love it! I liked very much the easy openess of Catherine and the fact she seemed to come from a normal if you will family and was neither too shy or too forward. But the novel thing and her taking the writings of the good Mrs. Radcliffe to such a limit that she thought such ridiculous things about Northanger and about Henry's papa was to me rather silly. It disappointed me. And perhaps Ifeel the novel ended too neatly , oui and well, that is my opinion. Would I read it once more. WEll, Jane wrote it and it is my permanent gift, so Okay , I will!
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I wish in a way I never had read the biography of the Bronte sisters and brother Bram. It was to me horrifying and almost sick and then when I read their works after I could not get that out of my mind. shiver. Also when I read To Kill A Mocking Bird I felt so and stressed out, bigotry is so evil non?
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The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Genevieve replied to lexiepiper's topic in Previous Reading Circle Books
I cannot agree that Edmund is a traitor, and I would say that because of his youth. A young person with little pracitcal experience in life is often self centred and does not think of the consequences of his or her actions, non? Edmund was without father at the time to counsel him and he missed papa and was probably resentful of having to be sent away. His causing trouble, his argumentativeness and his general being a water troubler I am thinking came from all the pent up emotions. When he was presented with the turkish delight this was a wonderful break from the rations that he had to endure oui, because of the war and the stringent rations being handed out. Coffee and tea were luxuries and chocolate or any kind of treats were so rare that people I have read nearly went mad for lack of a sweet. I take this into consideration. The white witch had many many thousands maybe or hundreds at least years in which to practise her deceit and she had frightening powers, she could easily lure a boy into betraying his family for a few mouth watering pieces of the turkish delight But you see, Aslan saw goodness in the boy and laid down his life for him as it were oui? He would not have done that for a true traitor. And later , Edmund grows and becomes loyal and brave. Well , that is how I see things oui.If I have revealed what I should not have, forgive me and by all means delete. -
Me, I love the classics, since a tiny girl. The richness of the words, descriptions of velvet and lace, of the real and the fantasy being combined into a rich saga, how wonderful. I cannot say I like the way of life in some of the eras, the continual struggle for place and money in society in order to have the happy life, but I very much admire the fine minds of many of the characters and like to read how they surmounted these obstacles.
