'Excellent women' - Chapters 10 - 18

I wonder whether Barbara Pym inspired Loriot to write his "Sagen Sie jetzt nichts, Fräulein Hildegard" sketch?

Chapter 10 (p 96): "Surely many a romance must have been nipped in the bud by sitting opposite somebody eating spaghetti?"

Last night, when I was reading chapters 10-15, I realized that I was humming all the time "Nothing ever happens, nothing ever happens at all!"
This book is a bit of a yawn to me, I really had to fight to go on with it...

Sometimes it is a problem for me to differ the women, they all talk and behave alike.
I really do hope that the planned marriage will make things a bit more entertaining

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Original von kahlan
Last night, when I was reading chapters 10-15, I realized that I was humming all the time "Nothing ever happens, nothing ever happens at all!"
This book is a bit of a yawn to me, I really had to fight to go on with it...

Same here It reminds me a little of the Seinfeld TV shows who actually managed to make a show about nothing work for 10 years straight !!! because we can identify with those situations he makes fun of. In this book, though, it doesn't work for me because I don't really care that much about the characters.

So do we want to do a guessing game about what might happen? Since everybody was introducing this book as another Jane Austen I think the only way the comparison might be justified is if Mildred falls in love with Everard Bone.

I have a very hard time not to skip to the end ...

(I don't mind books without much happening provided I like the style and the general flow of things, and I do here, apart from chapter 8 so far. Some "action" would be nice nevertheless. )

At the beginning Mildred clearly has a crush on Rocky, doesn't she, and she is not too keen on Everard. But the fact that Everard goes to church certainly helps her change her mind, and when she learns that he is not really in love with Helena Napier - anything can happen!

I have now resigned myself to the fact that nothing much is going to "happen" in this book, and I'm quite enjoying the little ups and downs of Mildred's life, especially since she seems to attach far too much importance to the little things and ignoring the big ones.

Some flags from this section:

Chapter 13
p 119 - "the Oxford Group movement" - Mrs Gray's deceased husband is said to have "tendencies that way". Does anyone know what this is? I haven't looked it up yet.

p 122 - "a willowy young man of a type that does not look as if it would marry". Mildred seems to divide men into those that are the marrying kind and those that are not. I wonder - is this a euphemism for "probably gay"?? Or am I just too narrow-minded that way?

Chapter 14
p 125 - "I'm like the young ladies in Crome Yellow" - Apparently Crome Yellow is a book by Aldous Huxley. No idea what it's about, but if you go to Google there are several places where you can read it online.

p 128 - This Allegra Gray is really one impertinent woman! Expecting Mildred to do her curtains, expecting Mildred to let Winifred live with her, "there's a dear". At least this time Mildred doesn't let Mrs Gray walk all over her.

Chapter 16
p 145 "it must have been like having something like a large white rabbit thrust into your arms and not knowing what to do with it" I loved the comparison. But of course Everard, typical man that he is, doesn't get it, and Mildred is far too impatient/intimidated (I can't quite figure out which) to explain.

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I wonder - is this a euphemism for "probably gay"?? Or am I just too narrow-minded that way?

me too.

edit: hey mary, it isn't fair to edit while I 'm writing and going to quote your post about the excellent women

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Original von Muffin
edit: hey mary, it isn't fair to edit while I 'm writing and going to quote your post about the excellent women

I'm sorry! I've moved it to the third thread because I added a quote from a later chapter.

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Original von MaryRead
p 128 - This Allegra Gray is really one impertinent woman! Expecting Mildred to do her curtains, expecting Mildred to let Winifred live with her, "there's a dear". At least this time Mildred doesn't let Mrs Gray walk all over her.

This part was actually quite interesting because Mildred showed herself as a very assertive women. Up to that moment it appeared that she might be someone who could easily be used. I like her much better this way!

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Chapter 16
p 145 "it must have been like having something like a large white rabbit thrust into your arms and not knowing what to do with it" I loved the comparison. But of course Everard, typical man that he is, doesn't get it, and Mildred is far too impatient/intimidated (I can't quite figure out which) to explain.

I liked this, too, had to laugh outloud

I have another question: what does Rocky do all day? Did he get a job after coming home from Italy and I missed that? Or is he just sitting at home all day waiting for Helen to clean house???

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Original von MaryRead
I have now resigned myself to the fact that nothing much is going to "happen" in this book, and I'm quite enjoying the little ups and downs of Mildred's life, especially since she seems to attach far too much importance to the little things and ignoring the big ones.

Yup - me too. I really do like the way it is written and even though I would have normally not read more about it, I am enjoying it this time. Somehow the book just hits a nerve and it is nice reading - even though not much is happening

I am now in Chapter 12 and I am afraid that I am not really an enrichment for this book discussion.

I only have time and leisure to read in the subway ... that's not enough for a well-founded and active discussion. Please be assured that I follow the discussion with lively interest although I am more passive this time. Sorry @ all!

Concerning the book I did not yet come to a final decision whether it just is an unspectacular book or already a little bit boring. I will come to a conclusion :-).

I already remarked that I haven't any problems in understanding when I read with regular speed. Whenever I slow down my reading speed I come across words where I am not sure about their exact meaning.

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Original von Batcat
I already remarked that I haven't any problems in understanding when I read with regular speed. Whenever I slow down my reading speed I come across words where I am not sure about their exact meaning.

I don't think you've "remarked" (=mentioned) it Batty , but it seems that you've noticed something very interesting there. It's like driving on a bumpy road - the faster you go, the more you seem to fly and don't notice all the potholes.

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Original von MaryRead
It's like driving on a bumpy road - the faster you go, the more you seem to fly and don't notice all the potholes.

Love that one!!! Maybe I can use that as an excuse for all my speeding tickets

Hmmmm, I meant "remarked"... but maybe I already "mentioned" that, too. I'm getting old and maybe I write some things twice...

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Original von Beatrix
I have another question: what does Rocky do all day? Did he get a job after coming home from Italy and I missed that? Or is he just sitting at home all day waiting for Helen to clean house???

I think I have assumed that he is still a military officer and does whatever military officers "do"... Or perhaps that he is on some kind of leave after coming home from the war. I guess I didn't really think about it. But it's true that it's never mentioned that he "works".

If he was rich and just lived off his own income, like many people in Jane Austen's novels do, surely he would be living in a more expensive house.