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The Genteel Reading Circle For Ladies

231 replies

EverySongbirdSays · 21/04/2016 14:36

In which like minds will discuss Jane Austen and other such 19th Century Classics sparked from an unhealthy interest in the sex life of one Mr Collins, parson to her ladyship Catherine De Bourgh of Rosings Park

First up : Sense And Sensibility

Bring your love of Dashwood, Brandon, Willoughby, Farrars, and Emma Thompson's weird crying noise here!!!

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Original poster
EverySongbirdSays · 22/04/2016 12:11

olivebranch all comers welcome - like the name

Unfortunately I think it was pretty de rigeur for young men not to marry until they were well established and then to choose 'fertile stock' - knightley is Emma's godfather which is the truly ick bit - overtones of Daddy issues with both her and Marianne

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VinceNoirLovesHowardMoon · 22/04/2016 11:42

Agree. Since when is it ok for 35+ men to fall for teenagers? Same wth knightley and Emma to be honest, though I do love the book too

gruffaloshmuffalo · 22/04/2016 11:17

I never thought Brandon and Marianne were a good mix, I thought Brandon and Eleanor were better.

absolutelynotfabulous · 22/04/2016 10:41

rosie I kind of agree that Brandon is a creep. Or maybe it's that voice of his (I mean AR's) voice, obvs.

However I think Marianne has made an excellent match, given the circumstances. Surely her reputation is in tatters given her gadding about unaccompanied with Willoughby. It's not completely her fault; both the Jennings and Mrs D enable the alliance, even though Brandon's already on the scene and is a much better match in practical terms.

She goes mooning after Willoughby, makes herself ill, revels in it and goes walkabout, makes herself even more ill, almost dies and ends up with the best catch in the book!

I suppose the irony is that it's probably not what she wanted.

glamorousgrandmother · 22/04/2016 08:46

Count me in although I've just started P&P thanks to the other thread. I will download S&S right away.

RosieTheQueenOfCorona · 22/04/2016 07:31

I'm in.

Phwoar at Alan Rickman and all, but isn't Colonel Brandon a bit of a creepy old fucker? Mid thirties and lusting after a silly young teenager who's only a couple of years older than his ward? The whole 'reminds him of a lost love' thing really icks me out as well ... surely Marianne deserves to be loved for who she is, not because she reminds him of someone else?

boldlygoingsomewhere · 22/04/2016 07:21

I'm currently in a re-reading classics frame of mind so would love to join in. There's a few Austen novels I haven't read so now I have an excuse.

OliveBranchCollins · 22/04/2016 07:16

Hi can I join too

FishWithABicycle · 22/04/2016 03:41

Ooh good thread. I shall find my copy of S&S and gather some thoughts.

CaptainWarbeck · 22/04/2016 03:33

Ah bugger it, must've missed pigs' request. Could we compromise and do ALL of Austen (I do love Austen so will be very happy with that) and THEN potentially tackle Wuthering Heights? Pretty please? My dark, fairly-passionate and not-all-that-brooding DH will be delighted if we do Grin

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EverySongbirdSays · 22/04/2016 03:02

Oh no Warbeck isn't that just Sod's Law ?! pigs has requested we delay Heights as long as possible because she hates it!!! The plan is to do all of Austen first but then yes requests. FWIW I am of the opinion that your DH has excellent taste and you are a philistine!!! Grin Is DH dark, brooding and passionate?

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CaptainWarbeck · 22/04/2016 02:47

Downloaded! I'm going to enjoy a good reread of this, although it's never gripped me quite as much as P&P.

Can I put in a request for Wuthering Heights to be the next subject for the Genteel Ladies Reading Club? It's DH's absolute favourite book and to his consternation I've never been able to get into it Blush With you lot posting interesting asides though I might just get through it and possibly even start enjoying it!

AcrossthePond55 · 22/04/2016 02:21

Oh NO, Every, they had 'special doctors' who did that for them! You know, to cure 'hysteria'. (Actually, I think that may have been a Victorian era thing).

Mr F was a wishy washy milquetoast. But Col Brandon….he can plant his well polished boots under my 4-poster any day!

Original poster
EverySongbirdSays · 22/04/2016 01:56

Aaaaaahhh but by the time she met Alan Rickman she was already being mercilessly teased over Mr F

LOWERING THE TONE

Do you suppose the ladies ever masturbated..................Blush

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AcrossthePond55 · 22/04/2016 01:45

My opinion of Mrs Dashwood (Snr) and Marianne is that they are two of a kind. Just as Marianne totally went with her emotions in her pursuit of Willoughby, so did Mrs Dashwood in not making sure that the late Mr D made provision for her and their daughters AND the fact that Mrs D also trusted in Mr Dashwood (Jnr)'s 'finer feelings' to provide for them. Elinor is shown (IMO) to be the only practical one of the Dashwood ladies. She knows what should be done but is unable to reach through her mother and sister's 'sensibility' to make them aware. Personally, I think she should have tried to nab Alan Rickman, errr, I mean Col Brandon for herself!

SurelyYoureJokingMrFeynman · 22/04/2016 01:08

Bottoms up!

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EverySongbirdSays · 22/04/2016 00:37

Brew in a proper builders mug made with no pot.

Classy

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SurelyYoureJokingMrFeynman · 21/04/2016 23:39

Good evening. Would it be rude to enquire if there is still a little tea in that pot?

Original poster
EverySongbirdSays · 21/04/2016 23:34

No, Lolly, it wouldn't work so we're doing post at your own pace, and spoilers at your peril.

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Lollydaydream · 21/04/2016 23:32

I'm in, fab idea, do we have a target date to read by, or just jump in wherever?

DrJuliaOgden · 21/04/2016 22:55

Marianne always annoys the hell out of me - I've always thought of her as a spoilt brat always wanting her own way. She strikes me that she was their fathers favourite & used to getting her own way IYSWIM.

AR as Colonel Brandon - OMG! Yum yum!!

raisedbyguineapigs · 21/04/2016 22:42

Good idea songbird. I do want to re read P &P, then I'll start S&S and join in.

Original poster
EverySongbirdSays · 21/04/2016 22:28

Margaret gets much more airtime in the film than the book and is a great little character. I wonder whether like Kitty presumably did, she got an assist in marriage from improved 'connections'

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Sadik · 21/04/2016 22:12

I don't think Elinor is extreme, either, she reminds me of friends I knew when I was a teenager who had - particularly a lone - parent that needed a lot of support whether through economic crisis, relationship circs or chronic illness/disability. So desperately feeling that they had to be more grown up than they really were in order to stop the family falling apart.

Elinor is trying to emotionally and practically support a mother who has just been widowed, and has unexpectedly had the financial rug pulled from out under her. No wonder she's a bit over serious.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 21/04/2016 22:12

I like Margaret - the few words she's allowed are great. I guess she doesn't appear much though because she's not really the 'bit of ivory' that Austen chose to focus on, just a bit of decorative trimming around the main event.

YY re spoilers - I think if anybody can't cope with spoilers, they're probably in the wrong place here. Grin

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