Posted by Jost on September 8, 2006, at 8:53:50
In reply to Re: Double Double Quotes... » Racer, posted by llrrrpp on September 8, 2006, at 7:47:38
I did like Villette when I first read it-- at the beginning of graduate school.
Then I read it right after I finished and I was really put off by the central character;s attitudes-- she seemed to be a really bitter, envious person, as opposed to this clear-eyed, and horribly denied, victim of cirumstances.
That was weird, because although I sometimes reread books (not often-- but I've reread Jane Austen and Proust, who are two of my favorites), but I've never felt so at odds from my original reading.
I read about 1/2 of Agnes Grey this year. What I liked about it was how easy, and unspectacular the style was-- it was a perfect voice--I mean even if there were occasional affectations or 19th centurism, it just was completely real as a voice. That was its weakenss too, I thought-- it never went in for fireworks, bon mots, turns of phrase, crescendos and decrescendos-- everything was steady, and delivered in this calm, simple tone.
I have to admit, that the heroine was also a bit of a bear. Always right and much better than everyone-- and cruelly beset by circumstances-- which I'm sure governesses were & all-- but at a certain point, I get contrary, and want to say-- oh, cut it out-- the self-righteous and insensitive boor who employed you did NOT do that! --- And the loud, cruel, disobedience, little ruffians did NOT not speak courteously to you, run amok in the garden,, hurt their hands (after having pulled the tail of long-suffering dog once too often), and then go running to their indifferent, but haughty parents screaming that it "was all Miss Agnes' fault..."
Then there was the weird-looking Lurch-like assistant preacher who obviously was going to be the love-interest and savior of our heroine, who would reject some more gaudy possiblity to lead a "small" life in the back country, where was she and the earnest Klutz (who would now be presented as much less klutzy and very good) undoubtedly would spread hope, industry, and light to all and sundry--- at least after they got together--which looked like it would take forever.
I mean I really felt bad that I couldn't finish it-- I think if Lurch had been good-looking I would have-- but the--" oh--what a strange and uncommonly plain, if not oafish man that assistant preacher is-- with his wall eye and pigeon toed limp," (this spoken, of course, by some more trifling acquaintance of dear Agnes) or whatever-- really did me in-- superificial twentieth-century creature that this reader is.
But the Bronte's all write so well.
I"ve never read War and Peace (aw....I also never read "The Brothers Karamazov", or so many things-- "Dead Souls", I never got through Dead Souls--- although I think the Russians novelists are great, if loony..) or "The Golden Bowl", actually.So many books, so little time.
Jost
poster:Jost
thread:681128
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/esteem/20060827/msgs/684209.html