Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:20 pm Post subject:
Ok I'm going to see if I can get hold of the book in the library tomorrow or maybe find it in a charity shop as I really want to take part in this readalong, having missed the last one. I might still do the last one actually.
Thanks Mark for organising this xx _________________ Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 630 Birthday: 6th October
Location: norwich,norfolk
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:12 am Post subject:
hey glynis- you started the ball rolling with wild swans- i just hijacked the bandwagon!!!!
have earmarked the first three chapters, will read tomorrow for defo and post initial thoughts... _________________ Read my Blog @ http://sparkymarky1973.blogspot.com/
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 4137 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Cumbria
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 6:20 pm Post subject:
I read the first chapter last night and the first thing that struck me was how things have changed. A 17inch waist!!!!!!!!!! I'd like a 17inch thigh never mind my waist. White skin that had to be preserved and kept out of the sun. Nowadays white skin is a big no no. Most of the women I work with spend a fortune and hours in the bathroom fake tanning, all year round. Dresses with yards of material - they must have got a bit whiffy. Can't imagine the dresses where washed that often.
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 630 Birthday: 6th October
Location: norwich,norfolk
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 7:26 pm Post subject:
halfway thru chapter 2 and scarlet strikes me as a dirty cock tease leading all the blokes on but not putting out! Finding this very heavy going to start with and the patois speak of the slaves especially hard to follow. It is soo funny to hear them referred to as "darkies"- imagine saying that now in this day and age!
I that it is interesting but think this is going to take A LOT more reading before I really get into this.... _________________ Read my Blog @ http://sparkymarky1973.blogspot.com/
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 4137 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Cumbria
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 7:37 pm Post subject:
Well yes, but I don't think it was expected that the plantation owners daughters would 'put out'! The boys would ride into town to the local whore house for that. I agree that the language is hard to read at times and I have to have one or two goes to make sense of it, which slows my reading down. I have just finished chapter two and I thought I would have got through all three chapters in one evening.
I did have a little laugh at myself as I realised I was reading in a southern accent! Not sure yet how I will get on with this book but it is early days yet. Chapter three tonight.
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 630 Birthday: 6th October
Location: norwich,norfolk
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:57 pm Post subject:
Yes well I didn't EXACTLY mean that she should put out but she does seem a devious little minx who likes to tease the boys but really has no intention of going anywhere else with them as her heart beats to a different tune. Just finished chapter three and maybe 3 chapters a week might be a bit ambitious. If ppl want to slow down I have no problem with that as don't want to leave anyone behind or put them off with how bogged down it gets!
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 4137 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Cumbria
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:26 pm Post subject:
Dare I say that's what most young teenage girls do (she says remembering flitting with all the boys at school - without always realising exactly what they are doing. But I think Scarlet forgets to grow up and spends the rest of her life trying to manipulate men. I did see the film years ago and have vague memories. I hadn't realise that at the start Scarlet was only 16. I think of Vivianne Leigh in the film as a grown woman right the way through.
Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 676 Birthday: 2nd November
Location: Watford, Herts
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:08 pm Post subject:
blueflower wrote:
I read the first chapter last night and the first thing that struck me was how things have changed. A 17inch waist!!!!!!!!!! I'd like a 17inch thigh never mind my waist. White skin that had to be preserved and kept out of the sun. Nowadays white skin is a big no no. Most of the women I work with spend a fortune and hours in the bathroom fake tanning, all year round. Dresses with yards of material - they must have got a bit whiffy. Can't imagine the dresses where washed that often.
I was thinking the same thing - preserving that lovely white skin and a 17" waist...! I measured my 4 year old sons waist today for comparative purposes, he's very skinny and below average on his weight however even his waist is 19 inches!!!
I'm just about to start chapter 3 and I too find myself reading in a southern accent, including mimicing the slaves accent in my head so I can picture what it all sounded like (if that makes sense). The idea of buying people and feeling that the Africans could be treated as commodities is quite uncomfortable for me. It's amazing how we've moved on since these times. _________________ Currently Reading:
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 4137 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Cumbria
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 7:28 pm Post subject:
Spoiler:
I didn't really take to the the flighty Scarlett but after finding out she had a paedophile father (a 43 year marrying a 15 year old ) and a saintly mother I not surprised she's turning out like she is.
Do you think that the Slaves were as dedicated to their owners as Miss Mitchell is portraying in her book? I suppose it is possible if these slaves were second or third generation and this life was all they knew. After all we are led to believe that in England some servants were totally dedicated to their employers. But it all seems quite cosy and friendly. Mrs O'Hara spending her nights tending the sick and playing midwife and during the day she is busy making the Slaves clothes while running the plantation, organizing the household having children etc - no wonder the she was considered middle-age in her early thirties, she must have been a wreck! By that reckoning I'm Methuselah (well a female version).
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
that it is interesting but think this is going to take A LOT more reading before I really get into this....
- without always realising exactly what they are doing. But I think Scarlet forgets to grow up and spends the rest of her life trying to manipulate men. I did see the film years ago and have vague memories. I hadn't realise that at the start Scarlet was only 16. I think of Vivianne Leigh in the film as a grown woman right the way through.