María’s Comments (group member since Apr 02, 2017)

María’s comments from the Never too Late to Read Classics group.

I've just got a copy from my online library, hope to start soon and get back on track with the classics :)

I've just started Anna Karenina. I was between this one and The brothers Karamazov, but Anna won, so let's see how it goes. I've been meaning to read a Russian classic for a while; the only one of these I've read is War and Peace around four years ago and I don't remember much - I read it too quickly, it wasn't the right time I suppose.

Just started! The beginning sounds promising, let's see what happens.

Rosemarie wrote: "Good to hear that, Maria. We have a whole month to read the book, and even longer if you need to, since the discussion threads stay open.
Happy reading."

Thanks! Finally starting it today!

Lesle wrote: "Anyone in on either of these reads?"

I'm in on Effi Briest, but I'm reading two other books at the moment and I don't know when I'll be able to start with it, maybe in one or even two weeks. I reckon it'll be the first German classic I read.

Trisha wrote: "Lesle wrote: "I found this, maybe a reason why:

Anne Brontë’s goal was not to amuse or to entertain but, as Agnes Grey says, to benefit those whom it might concern—governesses themselves, whose nu..."

I found the ending a little rushed too, but maybe you're right and that was Anne's intention. It was very nice anyway.

PS. That awkward moment when everybody's in love with Mr Darcy or Mr Rochester and I'm in love with Mr Weston (sighs)

Kathy, it wasn't easy to be a woman in that period for sure! ;)

Patrick, Anne really knew what it's like to work on education! :)

(Currently on chapter 11, the comment contains spoilers)


I'm enjoying it so far, as in the first time. It's been really helpful to read the introduction (I've got the Penguin Classics edition) to get more of the story; sometimes I see the parallels with Anne's life everywhere. Moreover, as a teacher, I sympathize with Agnes, specially while reading her 'little hell' with those horrible Bloomfields, I've kind of suffered with her. I'm glad things are getting better now.

I also love Anne's ability to describe the society she lived in; I think some things haven't changed much (sadly).

Happy reading!

I want to re-read it in a week or so, when I finish with my current book. I remember liking it a lot, Anne may be known as 'the other sister' but she's just as great as her sisters, I wish she was given more credit.

Did you know Agnes Grey was written before Jane Eyre though it was published later? (I'm sure you do ;))

By the way, happy new year!

Samantha wrote: "Rachana - While I have seen at least a couple film versions of "A Christmas Carol" in the past, I have never read the original story until now, either. Do not feel bad. "

Same here! I think most of us have watched one film or story at least based on this book, but I'd never bothered to read the original story, until now. I'm glad I've done it! Maybe reading Dickens' stories will become a new Christmas tradition for me, who knows...

By the way, I remember watching the Scrooge McDuck version a couple of years ago, but in Spanish (it's still on youtube if any of you speak/understand Spanish; I'll leave the link here, just in case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YWyp... ) It's cute!

You're welcome!
Thanks to you too, I'm glad you've enjoyed the book!

Just finished it!

I've really enjoyed it though scene four had its ups and downs for me: sometimes I found myself reading without understanding what was going on because of boredom. Luckily, the fifth scene got interesting again.

--SPOILERS FROM THE ENDING--

I agree with you both, I've loved Norah and the fact that, by staying in the 'good side' has achieved what her sister failed to by taking those bad decisions. I'm glad she and George got together in the end. At some point, I thought Magdalen would ruin their potential relationship somehow.

I've also liked Collins' writing and how he managed to keep me intrigued until almost the very end. I didn't know how Magdalen would end up and I always kept making theories about her ending as I read. In the end, I'm happy with her ending (it's been soooo cute!) but I have mixed feelings about her character and everything she's done.

By the way, I never thought I would say this, but I prefer Captain Wragge over Frank! What an idiot!

In conclusion (this sounds like a High School essay ;P) I'm glad I've read this book and surely I'll repeat with the author in the future.

PS. If you want to comment anything about the novel, you know what to do!

Trisha wrote: "María wrote: "Trisha wrote: "I think her husband makes her worse. He seems to bully her & get her very flustered. She responds better when people are kind to her. "

"

Absolutely.

Trisha wrote: "Mrs Wragge makes me laugh & I'm wondering if she really is as silly as she seems to be or if some of her behaviour is just a reaction to her husband's treatment."

The 'omelette' moment was epic!

I'm currently in the middle of scene 3 and my impression about her is that she's got some kind of mental disability (maybe I'm wrong or maybe Collins never specifies that, I'll have to wait and see) it's caught my attention how she talks about herself in plural.

I've got the feeling that captain Wragge is going to become an obstacle for Magdalen somehow.

And about the sisters, I've liked the little moment when Magdalen finds Norah and the two little girls in the park. Poor Norah!

Trisha wrote: "Finished it today. I enjoyed the book on the whole, but thought parts of the story, particularly towards the end, were implausible & too melodramatic. But perhaps that was the fashion when it was w..."

Wow Trisha! That's impressive!

I'm glad you've enjoyed it. I'm still on the Second Scene so I'll tell you about the ending when I come to it ;)

(End of first scene/between the scenes)

Trisha wrote: "End of First Scene:
Well, whatever next?? I'm really enjoying this book.

Between the Scenes:
Another different way to make the story progress - he's such a clever writer.

Captain Wragge has been ..."

Clever indeed!

It's so touching to see how the sisters deal with the tragedy they've lived and the future that lies ahead...

I've liked this quote from Norah:

"What change can the world, and the world's cruel laws make in our memory of the kindest father, the kindest mother, that children ever had!"

Those laws were so terrible, the girls are literally nobody!

About Captain Wragge: I'm intrigued about what his role in this story will be. I don't think I'll like him, but who knows?

CHAPTER 4.

I actually feel sorry for Frank. The way I see it, since his father is always mistreating him, he's ended up believing he's unable to perform any job. I think he just needs to find one he really likes and then he'll show himself and his father that he's not the incompetent everyone (including him) believe he is.

What do you think?

On CHAPTER 3:

Tell me I'm not the only one who needed a while to understand the relationship between Captain Wragge and the sisters. I needed to read that part several times until I got it!

General comment:

Hi!

I've just realized that my last message doesn't appear in the discussion! I remember having problems with GR that day and maybe it wasn't uploaded because of that.

Anyway, there it goes:

Trisha wrote: "A query - if we read the free Goodreads version of the book, does anyone know how we can see the page numbers? The original suggestion was to read about 100 pages each week, but reading online I'm ..."

I don't know how, but maybe someone does?

If it helps, in the edition I've got, chapter 9 ends on page 99.
I can post the index as an orientation.

On CHAPTER 1:

The style has caught my attention, it reminds me of theater somehow, it's as if he were describing a piece he's actually seeing together with the reader.

Trisha, I agree with you, I don't think I've ever read an introduction like this one.

Also, I like how the most important characters (the two sisters) are introduced last and how, from the very beginning, we can see the huge difference between Norah and Magdalen: while Norah is calm and shy, even a little distant, Magdalen is just a force of nature.