********************
What happened in these chapters?
Topaz and Rose go to London to buy Rose's trousseau. Cassandra writes letters back and forth and Cassandra learns that Stephen's photographs are hot and Rose is spending tons of money on clothes. Cassandra misses her sister. Cassandra is all alone in the castle (!) when she starts doing rites for Midsummer Eve (!) and Simon appears and before the end of the night, Simon kisses her.
Meanwhile, Cassandra has all the feelings. She goes to visit the Vicar for a very boring scene. Meanwhile, it turns out that Stephen has been saving up all his money to buy Cassandra a gramophone for her birthday and Simon one-ups him with a gramophone/wireless combined. Stephen and Cassandra make out in the woods.
Cassandra goes to see Rose in London. Neil is going back to California. Rose tells Cassandra that she's not in love with Simon, but she's still going to marry him because she doesn't want to be poor. R&C have a tiff, C storms off, and Stephen rescues her when she's on a train with no money. He declares her love for her, but she doesn't love him.
********************
Hat mentions (why hats?):
...not when you think of all the hats and shoes and underclothes. (Chapter 11, page 193)
When she came downstairs she was wearing a beautiful black dress and hat, with dark red gloves and antique ruby necklace; buy she still looked quite a bit greasy. (Chapter 14, page 265)
But I didn't have anything of value; no watch of jewelry, my bag was almost worn out, I hadn't even a coat or a hat - for a wild minute I wondered if I could leave my shoes. (Chapter 14, page 283)
********************
Last week's homework:
What was your scavenger hunt word? Did you find it in the reading? Where?
********************
Lines of note:
I go backwards and forwards, recapturing the past, wondering about the future - and, most unreasonably, I find myself longing for the past more than for the future. I remind myself of how often we were cold and hungry with barely a rag to our backs, and then I count the blessings that have descended on us; but I still seem to fancy the past most. (Chapter 11, page 187)
So much romanticizing of poverty in this book!
She turned a faintly outraged stare on me and murmured foggily: "Let the dead bury their dead." As far as I know, Everard is alive and kicking and I never have seen how the dead can go burying anyone. (Chapter 11, page 189)
I have never heard this expression before. I understand the meaning, though. Have you heard it before?
...perhaps dear Mrs. Cotton will prove to be the teeniest fly in the ointment. (I should like to know what fly was originally in what ointment.) (Chapter 12, page 196)
I literally guffawed out loud at this line. There's a running theme in the J.D. Robb's In Death books that the main character doesn't understand idioms and she messes them up all the time and this made me think the entire series is an homage to Cassandra Mortmain.
The one Bach piece I learnt made me feel I was being repeatedly hit on the head with a teaspoon. (Chapter 12, page 218)
What does this even mean?!
I thought: "I am a restlessness inside a stillness inside a restlessness." (Chapter 12, page 237)
Maybe this is the most famous quote from the book?
********************
Things I looked up:
...copy of the Scout. (Chapter 12, page 198) - The Scout, a weekly magazine for boys, was first published by Cyril Arthur Pearson in April 1908, only weeks after Scouting for Boys, the book which Robert Baden-Powell and Pearson had used to promote the Scout Movement. The editor's office of The Scout initially provided a focus for both adults and boys seeking assistance with starting and running a Scout Troop. In August 1933, falling sales prompted a change of title to Every Boy's Weekly with a reduction of content relating directly to Scouting, in an effort to broaden its appeal. [I think this is what it's a reference to. I might be entirely wrong. Feel free to correct me.]
murrain (Chapter 12, page 214) - an infectious disease, especially babesiosis, affecting cattle or other animals
********************
Questions to ponder (as always, feel free to answer as many or few of these as you'd like - talk about what you want to talk about!):
1. I have so many questions about Cassandra's behavior. What is even up with these Midsummer Even rites? What is up with macking on both Simon AND Stephen? What is up with picking a fight with Rose over her own bad behavior? WHAT IS UP, CASSANDRA?
2. Speaking of what is up, what is Father even doing? Back and forth to London, taking a cracked willow-pattern plate? WHAT IS HE DOING?
3. Which character do you find yourself agreeing with in this book? I actually feel like Rose is pretty fair in her priorities and actions. I mean, what are her other options? If she just broke up with Simon, where would her family be? But I also understand Cassandra's romanticism that somehow true love will make everything all right, even though she just has to look and see how unhappy Topaz is to see that's not true.
4. How does this book make you feel? Do you think it's a comedy? A dark look at a sad family? A recounting of a bull terrier's confusing life?
********************
Homework for you:
Let's do a close reading practice! Sacred imagination is adapted from St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit sect of Christianity. I've adapted these instructions from this source.
This practice asks us to imagine ourselves into the text and wonder about the sensual elements of the text: what would we experience with our 5 senses if we were in the scene, on the page? The five senses are taste, touch, sight, hearing, smell.
Example: Consider the scene on Midsummer Eve when Cassandra is lighting the bonfire getting ready to do the rites and before Simon arrives on page. I'm going to be Cassandra is this scene. (Chapter 12)
What would you taste? The smoky ash from the bonfire. The crispness of the air in the fields.
What would you touch? The rough bark on the twigs as you place them in the fire, the feel of the linen of the green dress on your skin.
What would you see? The blazing bonfire, the moon in the clear sky, the darkening blue twilit sky, and the backlit fields.
What would you hear? The crackling of the flames, the pop pop popping and rustling when sticks and twigs settle, my own breath as I breathe deeply.
What would you smell? The bluebell garland in my hair, the earthy smell of the bonfire, the sulphuric smell of a lit match.
********************
Upcoming CBBC schedule:
August 26: Chapters 15-16
September 2: Wrap-up
I liked the part about the Midsummer Eve ritual, I do like an interesting and completely unforeseen event in a book. The kissing of Simon AND Stephen was pretty strange and unsettling, and speaking of unsettling, I have zero patience for that father.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm being honest, other than irritation about the father, I don't feel much about this book. I'm not really moved by it, and I *whispers* feel very disengaged from the characters and the story line.
You don't have to love it, Nicole. You just have to talk about it! LOL.
DeleteI think I have a lot more patience for the father than you do. He's clearly going through something. Tobia suggested that perhaps his first wife had really written the book and now he's just stuck. What do you think of this theory? That could explain some of his behavior, right?
I really liked this book at first, but I don’t know what to make of it now. Maybe I am an upholder who tips rebel and can’t hang in a book club? Like, is it just my nature to not like a book club book— even one that I do like in other circumstances? I will say, you are an awesome book discussion leader. You should think about joining/spearheading a common read for your campus.
ReplyDeleteSarah, I thought I adored this book, but those scene with the Vicar and when she got drunk by herself were so snoozeworthy that I almost regretted picking it because I was struggling to get through them. But I persevered and I'm sure you will, too!
DeleteI appreciate the compliment about being a good discussion leader. I feel Very Underqualified for this because while I am happy to discuss academic articles and their pros and cons because I was trained to do that, my training for discussing fiction consists of high school and a single literature class in college. So that's a very kind thing to say and I'll be floating off of that compliment for the rest of the week!
You do a splendid job leading our discussion. I am thinking so much on this book and what it means and therefore have a totally different connection to it.
DeleteI'm... behind. Sigh. I keep falling asleep while reading at night and really need to fix this. Or, you know, read before I get in bed. I am persevering, though yes omg that scene was boring.
DeleteI love these chapters! I'm 100% team Cassandra. She did nothing wrong- she's a young, inexperienced girl, and Simon had no business acting the way he did. You don't kiss you fiance's sister!!! Cassandra was so happy leading up to that incident- and then he messed everything up.
ReplyDeleteI loved the part- before the kiss that ruined everything- where Cassandra does some soul searching and comes to the conclusion that she's not jealous of Rose. She realizes that wanting things is better than having them- and that now Rose "won't have the fun of hoping something wonderful and exciting may be just round the corner." i laughed at the line "What I'd really hate would be the settled feeling, with nothing but happiness to look forward to." But I know what she means.
I also liked the part with the Vicar and Miss Marcy- they can both see she's sad, and try to help her in their own ways. And then Cassandra realizes they've both managed to by-pass suffering through religion and charitable works- and Cassandra thinks "if one does that, one is liable to miss too much along with the suffering- perhaps, in a way, life itself."
Yes, I guess Cassandra really shouldn't have kissed Stephen! But she's in a confused and unhappy state. Once again, she's very young and she has no one to guide at all- her mother is dead and her father is.... well, absent? I guess the best you could say is he doesn't abuse her. So she's trying to figure everything out on her own.
I have to confess that, once again, I was frantically reading the chapters, trying to catch up to where the book club is, and I only made it through chapter 13. Now that I've finished my other book (Fall of Giants, which was what was preventing me from focusing on ICTC as much as I wanted) I can't wait to sit down and finish this one! But I'll be upset if it's not a happy ending for Cassandra.
SHE DID NOTHING WRONG?! Jenny, WHAT?!?! We are going to have to agree to disagree. She's young, sure, but she KNOWS that she shouldn't be putting her lips anywhere near her sister's fiancé's lips! She did nothing wrong. *shaking my head* Even if you think the kiss is entirely Simon's fault, then she should have owned up to what happened to poor Rose IMMEDIATELY.
DeleteI also though the scenes with the vicar and Miss Marcy were super snoozy, so I think we're reading this book differently, Jenny. I think I'd probably enjoy your reading more than my own!
I DO think the kiss is entirely Simon's fault!!! She didn't plan that in any way- he initiated everything, from horning in on her Midsummer's Eve celebration, to the music, to the kiss.
DeleteOkay- she probably should have told Rose, because Rose should know what kind of man she's marrying. But remember Cassandra loves Rose and thinks she loves Simon- she's young and very confused.
And, I'll agree the scenes with the vicar and MM were kind of strange and not as riveting as some other parts, but it did lead to Cassandra's epiphany about not wanting to miss any parts of life, including the suffering, and I liked that.
I disagree with Nance (below) that this isn't a good book club book- we seem to have plenty to discuss!
I agree with Jenny. He came to her castle. Alone! He bugged in on her ritual. She was too nice to tell him to leave her alone. He kissed her. She didnt encourage him – and even then she is underage (did that count back then? Probably no). However Cassandra is to blame on account of Stephan because she obviously manipulates and uses him.
DeleteI can see both sides of this debate. I think Cassandra has to have some sort of agency in this - yes, she's young and impressionable and Simon SURELY should know better, but she knows what she's doing is wrong but seems to think she doesn't have to abide by the same code of morals/ethics as her sister (aka, marrying a man she doesn't love) because SHE is in love with him. Of course, Simon is the one majorly at fault here and HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING, but Cassandra can't get off scot free. After all, isn't she sort of doing something similar with the way she treats Stephen?!
DeleteI think this book is hilarious, but it's probably not a really good Book Club Book in that it doesn't lend itself to very much deep discussion of anything. It's basically a romp, a fluffy dessert sort of thing. It's like trying to get very lofty about a Chris Farley movie.
ReplyDeleteIt's a huge lot of silliness, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Is Mortmain completely senile? Is he turning to painting still lifes, hence his need for the willow plate? Will Stephen get discovered and become jaded by Hollywood? Will Cassandra sell the radio he got her for bundles of cash on Ebay? LOL.
There are lots of pieces of classical music that make me feel irritated. Some truly get on my nerves. Some sound like the piano is nagging at me. Others sound like the orchestra is throwing their instruments down a staircase. Still others sound like the violins are screeching at me. So, I get what Cassandra said about the Bach piece. (And I dislike Debussy. Greatly.)
*"Let the dead bury the dead" is an approximation of a line from the Bible. It's also a famous line from To Kill a Mockingbird. So, yes, I've heard it.
Mortmain's trips to London and need for that plate are fascinating to me. What is going on? I need to know. Do you think maybe his IS painting? Why is he hiding that?
DeleteStephen is for sure going to take off for Hollywood and become famous and give a giant middle finger to the Mortmain family. Even if that's not how the books ends, that's how I'm going to imagine it in my head forever.
YES!! Why are violins screeching so much in some classical music?!?! Okay, but what did Cassandra mean by the being hit in the head by a teaspoon? That it's causing her a headache? Or that there's a rhythm that's nice? I honestly can't tell. I feel like sometimes I'm too literal for this world.
Nance! I am Facebook friends with Veronica (V-Grrl) and she posted TODAY that she just read this book! I sent her to this blog post, we'll see if she comes and comments. (I doubt it, but wouldn't that be a wonderful happenstance? What if she started blogging again?)
DeleteJ--Oh, lovely. How is she? I'd love to hear from her again and to read her thoughts here.
DeleteMeh, I don't necessarily think we need to have super hoity-toity literary discussions about book club books. Sometimes the best discussions I have at my in-person book club are from romances or thrillers. There is always something interesting to discuss about a book (well, most books - maybe not Harlequin romances, HA). I think we're finding plenty to discuss in these chapters!
DeleteYou know as much as I liked this novel when I read it I never thought about the lack of a famous quote from it. "I am a restlessness inside a stillness inside a restlessness." That could be it, of course, but I don't remember it at all.
ReplyDeleteI think the most famous part of this book is the first line "I write this sitting in the kitchen sink." But maybe it's this one. I don't know. Maybe I'll do a poll in the last week of this book's discussion where we vote on what the most iconic line in the book is.
DeleteYes please do. I did scribble down some good ones. Not sure I could decide.
DeleteI loved that quote so much! Now I have yet another tattoo idea argh.
DeleteI'm still enjoying the book. I think Cassandra is being a typical seventeen year old. (that is her age, right?) I mean, the hormones alone will do you in at that time, but put yourself in a castle, hungry, no real parenting and what can we expect?
ReplyDeleteI find myself laughing quite a lot; one bit in particular where Cassandra was pining away and mourning over Simon and she said something like "I find a great luxury in crying, but I have to time it in the day where no one will notice my red eyes/puffy face". HA. This girl! Then later one we find out that Simon really isn't that great looking, not like Stephen who she has no interest in. Isn't that how life is though when you're young and naive? You want what you can't have and ignore what is right in front of your face.
I still have ZERO clue about the father. What the hell is happening?
Sorry, but I can't see/hear Midsummers Eve without thinking of the Summer's Eve douche from the 80's. I know. I'm 12.
I guess she's being a typical seventeen-year-old. But she's really being stupid about it. LOL. I guess you're right, though, and I should give her a little slack because she really has not been appropriately parented. But I'm so annoyed that she's hurting her sister, who really has done nothing but try to her best to get Cassandra out of the mess that their family is in.
DeleteThe father is a big mystery. I can't wait until it's revealed!
I think this book is a comedy/romance. The romances really ramped up in these chapters, with everyone feeling hurt and confused – does he/she love me – father and Topaz, Rose and Simon, Simon/Stephen and Cassandra. Along with the humour was despair. I was sad and shocked when Topaz described her marriage, “Heaven knows I didn’t expect an easy life when I married him – I was prepared even for violence.” (p.215) It was unfortunately the plight of many women at the time. My heart broke for Stephen when Cassandra tries to be tactful when telling him about Simon’s gramophone, but his reaction says it all, “the light went out of his eyes.” (p. 284) Ugh!
ReplyDeleteI liked Cassandra’s introspection – trying to work out her feelings for Simon, Stephen, discovering her love of being in the castle by herself for 2 days and her talks with the Vicar and Miss Marcy. Realizing she’s not envious of Rose, and this line, “finishing a line with a brick-wall happy ending – I mean the kind of ending when you never think any more about the characters.” I loved that line!
Back to the comedy, I laughed out loud when Thomas said to Cassandra, “He(Simon) mentioned Rose’s name forty-two times while we were walking round the stables – I counted. The horses must have been sick of the sound of her. Thomas doesn’t say much, but when he does it packs a punch LOL.
And speaking of counting, my word was “photograph”(s, ed, er). I chose it because I think one of my favourite characters is Stephen. I’m rooting for him to have a positive outcome. The word came up 18 times.
I also looked up “Scout” and came up with the same information you did, so we must be right!!
I don’t know what’s up with the father, and care about him less and less. Maybe the last couple of chapters will have a big reveal.
Yes!! That line about even being prepared for violence. So harsh. But I guess it's still a reality for many people today, so maybe I shouldn't have been so shocked by that line.
DeleteI sometimes wonder why Smith included Thomas as a character because he doesn't do much. I guess when he convinced Stephen to lurk outside Scoutney when they were having dinner he was important enough to include? But the line about the horses was so funny. There are so many hilarious lines in this book!
Interesting that you care about the father less and less. I care less and less about idiot Cassandra and just want Rose and Stephen to be okay and I'm really invested in the mystery of what the father is doing!
I reeeeeeeealy like Cassandra. My two cents are that she doesn't know who/what she wants so she's trying everything out. I totally get why she picked the fight with Rose.
ReplyDeleteOooooh I am obsessed with Tobia's theory that the first wife wrote the book! I am here for this!!!! Of course I have no clue what's up with him.
I am dying to see how this plays out - will Cassandra chose one of the guys or will she decide that she wants none of them. I can see this going either way! I predict that Rose and Simon will break up. Just two chapters to go!!!
I'm reeeeeeeealy annoyed with Cassandra. Her romanticizing of poverty makes me want to just suggest she continue to live in the crumbling castle with no food!
DeleteI'm (obviously) Team Rose and Team Stephen.
I'm (obviously) also obsessed with Tobia's theory that the wife wrote the book. It would explain So Much of his behavior!!
I feel so vindicated in my off-hand remark last week that Cassandra was going to be with all of the men in her lusty youth. Now she just needs to kiss Neil. Go Cassandra, live that life! Of course, she should NOT have kissed Simon. And Simon is an adult and should CLEARLY NOT have kissed her. And she should have told Rose after it happened, so Rose could decide what to do about it. Rose is trying the only way she knows to pull the family out of starvation level poverty, so I suspect she would have married him anyway. (Reminds me a bit of Scarlett O'Hara marrying Frank Kennedy to save Tara.)
ReplyDeleteMy heart sank for poor Stephen when Simon sent the wireless/gramophone for C's birthday. I love Stephen and his dignity. He knows what is best for himself, and once he gets the chance to leave and make a better life for himself, he does it. I do feel badly that he is being taken advantage of by the photographer, and worry that he is going to become a kept man (like Holly's neighbor, Paul, in Breakfast at Tiffany's). I hope not. I hope he makes it big and has a wonderful life in Hollywood.
The father...what is going on with him? Is he finding some spark of creativity? Did his wife indeed write the first book, as was suggested by Tobia? Will he ever be able to support himself again, or will he have to live off of whatever money his daughters can bring in until Thomas is of age and figures out a career?
My word was tooth/teeth, and I haven't seen any instances of it.
Line of note for me:
"We slept for hours - I don't think I ever slept so long in the day-time; I felt terribly guilty when I woke up and found it was nearly four o'clock. Hel thumped her tail as if I had just come back from somewhere and Ab gave us a look as if he had never seen either of us before in his life."
I actually enjoyed the interludes with the vicar and Miss Marcy. I'm enjoying this book quite a bit, and am looking forward to seeing how it all ends. I'm distressed to be so close to the end already.
I did see the word teeth somewhere and thought of you that you lucked out in having in there once. Sorry don't remember when and where.
DeleteIt will be interesting to see what the father is up too. If we ever find out...
Oh! Teeth! I looked again with a search that Engie posted in a comment last week, and found toothache and toothbrush. It didn't occur to me to count those, though of course I should have.
DeleteYou are right! Cassandra's playing the field and I'm annoyed with her for it. LOL. I think I'm maybe being unfair to Cassandra. Team Rose over here.
DeleteHa ha ha. Ab is such a cat. They are always so disdainful, aren't they?
The scene with Stephen finding out that Simon had bought Cassandra a bigger wireless was DEVASTATING. I just want to wrap him up and protect his sweet heart. He is so in love with Cassandra and she just doesn't feel the same way BUT I think she's stringing him along at times. But also, she's 17. Her brain is still developing, lol. Team Stephen all the way!
DeleteThis is where I admit that I'm not reading along. I have read the book before (it's a favorite of my mother's), and don't love it, so this time I re-read the first chapter and realized I remember just enough about it to be irritated, so I chose not to read it! but I am reading the blog posts on it, and I wanted to weigh in on a few things:
ReplyDelete* Having been younger when I read it, I was appalled that Rose was being so mercenary, but I have more sympathy for her choices now. What was she to do? She's older and more practical than Cassandra, but she's still so young, and in such a tough situation.
* I thought the expression was "Let the dead past bury their dead" and I don't know where I got that.
* I don't think that being hit on the head with a teaspoon is a good thing, more like she found the music, or the rhythm of it, as annoying as being hit.
I am 100% Team Rose. She's just being practical and trying to save the entire family. Yeah, maybe she is a bit of a gold digger, to use Neil's phrase, but what else is she supposed to do?
DeleteI guess you're right. Being hit with a teaspoon wouldn't hurt necessarily, but it would be annoying. That makes sense. Thanks for explaining like I'm five.
I have so much sympathy for Rose! What else is she supposed to do?!?! She's doing what she thinks is best and during that time, it wasn't really out of the ordinary to marry for something other than love. Team Rose!
DeleteI have caught up wit everyone. It did cost me three hours of sleep last night but you gotta do what you gotta do.
ReplyDelete1) I dont know about Cassandra. The moment Simon and her kissed the book lost a bit of appeal fro me. I just hate these kind of tropes. Two guys, girl can’t decided, everyone runner after her and making google eyes.Sigh… It’s not original but I guess its more common then not. The shift in the atmosphere of the book was very interesting. Wihile in the first ten chapters its all about happiness its a total turn around and now no happiness at all. Lots of depressed thoughts. Guilt and Jealousy. I did enjoy the scenes about Midsummer Rites. It tells about of the British history, no?
I was so annoyed by Simon giving Cassandra a gramophone&wireless. Poor Stephan.
2) I am wondering if the father I into art now and creates some sort of pieces, using dicarded objects and such. But who really knows. It’s a black box with that fathers.
3) I am not sure I can agree with agree with any character. Maybe most of all Neil as he is saying out of it. But I do wonder if Rose and he actually have a thing for one another and that is why there are so mean and distant… But Rose is a gold digger and Neil doesn’t have a fortune.
4) I find it amusing at ties. I think there are some really nice quotes in this book. But then it has stretches that are bit more boring.
My scavenger hunt word was shape and happy/happiness.
As the second one was used excessively I stopped recording all quotes. Here is the best one (my opinion) I could find
The thought came to me that perhaps it is the loving that counts not being loved, and that perhaps true loving can never know anything but happiness. For a moment, I felt that I had discovered a great truth.
I Capture the Castle, Dodie Smith, p. 221
As for the word Shape and can quote this:
And suddenly the memory of the colossal shape came back, terrifying that a very nearly screamed.
I Capture the Castle, Dodie Smith, p. 211
The moment Simon and Cassandra kissed is when Cassandra lost me. *sigh* I'm with you, I guess. I'm uncomfortable with love triangles. It is common in books, but is it common in real life? I don't know. Maybe. I guess adultery is fairly common.
Delete"It's a black box with that father." LOLOLOL. Tobia, you're so smart about the father. You're right. Why and how would Cassandra know anything? If we're using her journal as a framing device (and we are!), of course it would be mysterious to Cassandra, too.
I'm with you, Tobia! I was all about this novel until Simon and Cassandra kissed. NO NO NO. This is NOT the turn I wanted the book to take. Argh!
DeleteI thought these chapters were kind of a wild ride. What is everyone up to?????
ReplyDeleteI actually really liked the scene with the Vicar in the church, and the whole discussion of being worthy of going to church. I'm not particularly religious myself, but the idea that when one doesn't don't think one deserves God's grace is when one needs it the most, is particularly powerful to me.
That bit about Bach - I love Bach's piano music, but I do see what Cassandra means about being hit on the head with a teaspoon - there is something unrelentingly persistent and bright about his piano music.
Oh my goodness, Cassandra! Making all sorts of questionable choices. That whole bit where she fights with Rose then stubbornly runs off with no money and no plan, but *with the dog* - gave me all sorts of anxiety. I was just waiting for something bad to happen to her. (Which, I guess if this were a different book, something bad would probably had happened to her.) And the Midsummers rites - it took me a while to figure out what was going on with all that. I think she's kind of bored, to be honest - that bored restlessness that comes with being on the brink of adulthood. When she says, "One can't call misery dull, exactly" (p. 243, Chapter 13) - I thought, well, why are you so miserable? Maybe it's chicken and egg and she's miserable because life is dull so she invites all sorts of drama?
I am DYING to know what the deal is with Father and the willow patterned plate. I'm going to be VERY disappointed if that is never explained.
I think I agree the most with Miss Marcy - these people need to find something to do with their lives. It's almost comical how rudderless Cassandra and Rose are. I love this line, when Cassandra says to Miss Blossom: "Well, I can't drown my sorrows in it [cherry brandy] often," I told her, "It's too expensive. Good works are cheaper."
4) when Heloise shows up and goes with Cassandra and Stephen to London.... that was amazing. I do think this book is a comedy - there is something almost satirical in Cassandra's lack of self awareness, even though she is trying really really hard to be more self aware (That whole "am I envious of Rose" exercise and all that...). And Mrs. Fox-Cotton and her photographs of Stephen - there's definitely something being skewered in that.
Oh, man, I am not religious at all and when people start talking about religion, I honestly just check out. I find that scene interminable.
DeletePoor, poor Heloise. She must have the most confusing life ever. I just want to adopt her and take her somewhere safe where people give her routine and don't feed her chocolate!
If the father storyline isn't completed, I will lose my mind. I find it the most intriguing part of the novel right now.
CASSANDRA GIRL WHAT ARE YOU DOING
ReplyDeleteThese chapters annoyed me a lot but not in a "I hate this book" way. More in a "these characters are NOT ACTING APPROPRIATELY" way. But that's why it's a book and has a character arc. I think we're supposed to start feeling very conflicted about Cassandra right now. She is making some very bad choices and I am trying to give her grace because she's 17 and motherless and essentially fatherless and her hormones are crazy and her brain is still developing. But the moment she and Simon had a night alone and then they kissed... oh, the book took a turn I was not happy with. I had a feeling it was coming - there were definitely some lovey-dovey feelings Cassandra expressed when talking about Simon, but I was hoping I was just reading into things wrong.
I'm also heartbroken for Stephen. What a stand-up guy. He's really doing his best. Saving up to buy the wireless for Cassandra and then finding out Simon got a BIGGER one... ahhh. It's so sad. He loves her so much and he needs to move on. Move away, Stephen! Find your happiness in Hollywood!
I have to say that I didn't hate the scenes with the vicar - I found them poignant and I really enjoyed the way they slowed down the novel a bit. I loved Cassandra just going fully nude for her ritual - yassss. And I am so curious about what the father is up to. Here's my wild guess: He's working on some sort of creative project (maybe a book, maybe something else) that he'll unveil but it'll be a massive flop. I WANT BAD THINGS FOR THIS FATHER. He's not a good person.
Oh! And I just loved the scenes with Heloise running to catch up with Cassandra for the train and then the person working at the station giving them string to fashion a leash. The animals are the stars of this book, as they should be.
Cassandra is having a mental breakdown. Or she's an unparented teenager, I guess.
DeleteWe are 100% in agreement about Stephen. He needs to get out of dodge and save himself.
I think the book should be rewritten to be told from Heloise's point of view. Imagine what that dog has seen.
I know where this book is going from reading it before and I understand everyone's dismay...
ReplyDeleteMy dismay is more about having been so busy I didn't do the assigned reading... I'll be back for the final installment, promise!!
You're welcome whenever you have time!
DeleteAll I can say is AAAAAARG! Simon, shame on you! He gave her alcohol, danced her around, and kissed her - I see him as the total villain here. He betrayed Rose. I feel like Cassandra was badly taken advantage of by Simon. And poor Stephen. He's just pooped on by everyone!
ReplyDeleteI was so disappointed in Simon for kissing Cassandra, and in her for kissing him back. But also? Reading through these comments makes me realize that I am a 40-something woman who is reading a book written from the perspective of someone 30 years younger. She's 17. He's...not. She actually seems like a very developmentally-on-target late teenager despite the heavy responsibilities she carries. I wonder what a teen would think of her behavior? My niblings are too old - and not readers, *heavy sigh* - but it would be fascinating to find out.
ReplyDelete