The Pickwick Club discussion

Mary Lou wrote: "Hilary wrote: "On a side note, I wonder if Mrs Blackpool was called so because either she, at one time, perceived herself to be too 'grand' for her first name to be known or used in public. "

Has ..."

Yes, I think it was we who introduced the name Mrs. Blackpool. Dickens himself does not give her any name at all. And this is in a different vein than Sherlock Holmes referring to Irene Adler as "the woman" :-)

Hilary wrote: "Hi Kim! I need to get another device to
see your illustrations. I'm sure that they're as fascinating as usual. You have taught me to
pay proper attention to illustrations, for the first time in my ..."

Okay, Hilary: I would definitely not want to be nursed by Mrs. Blackpool because she might spend more time looking for alcohol than looking after me, and I would fear for my house bar. Mrs. Sparsit would not make a good nurse, either, as she would probably make me feel awkward giving me the feeling that nursing me was a great sacrifice but that she had come down in the world enough to accept this sacrifice. This leaves me with Rachael indeed.

But ... ;-)

... just because I would prefer her as a nurse, this does not mean that reading about her makes me feel too interested. It's like a perfect Christmas or a picknick on a sunshiny day - it's actually brilliant to enjoy these experiences but they do not lend themselves too readily as subjects for suspenseful and gripping texts. In literature, I prefer conflict, strife, a dilemma, and sometimes even a dark and stormy night ;-)

... if I had the choice between Rachael and Louisa Gradgrind for a nurse, I would choose Louisa because I am sure she would take care of a patient and she would also be an interesting person to talk to.

Tristram wrote: "just because I would prefer her as a nurse, this does not mean that reading about her makes me feel too interested."

My only response to your perfectly reasonable arguments would be that we need a boring but good character, if only to contrast with those around her who aren't. We wouldn't care nearly so much about Mr. and Mrs. Blackpool if we weren't sympathetic to Stephen's wanting to be with Rachel. But you're entitled to not be riveted by her passages. :-)

Thanks, Mary Lou - in fact, I'm even less than not riveted :-) Rachael is another Little Knell for me ...

Tristram wrote: "It's like a perfect Christmas or a picknick on a sunshiny day - it's actually brilliant to enjoy these experiences but they do not lend themselves too readily as subjects for suspenseful and gripping texts."

1. Every Christmas is perfect.

2. Poor, poor Rachael.

3. Grump.

Kim,

ad 1: If you think every Christmas is perfect, you have never celebrated Christmas with some of my family - I'm not talking of my wife and children here.

ad 2: Pure, pure Rachael.

ad 3: :-)

Tristram wrote: "Kim,

ad 1: If you think every Christmas is perfect, you have never celebrated Christmas with some of my family - I'm not talking of my wife and children here.

ad 2: Pure, pure Rachael.

ad 3: :-)"

Christmas is supposed to be filled with annoying family members, yours can't be anything like mine - it's still perfect - it's Christmas. You have to start decorating more. Thinking of Rachael, how is Sylvia and her lovers going? I can't remember enough of it to know if I should start calling her poor, poor Sylvia. And last, just repeat from above.

Hilary wrote: "Oh so sorry, Everyman, it looks as though I've stolen something along the lines of your 'poison' anecdote, or to use Wodehouse's phrase 'stealing your nifties'. Neither your comment nor Kim's had a..."

It is an honor to have something stolen by you!

Oh my dear Sir, affectionately known to many here gathered as Everyman, if I may make so bold, I declare that I am all of a-flutter. 'Tis rare that such chivalrous gentlemen are to be found. Indeed, I almost imagine my skirts rustling in response. I curtsy, dear Sir, "and look" a scented handkerchief wafts its way to lie delicately on the marble floor.

Dearest Tristram, you, a gentleman among ladies, have caused me to cast my mind back to that favourite of yours, Little Nell. Was the nomenclature Little Knell deliberate on your part or was it in honour of that great man of science from whom we glean the term 'Freudian Slip?'

Kim wrote: "Tristram wrote: "Kim,

ad 1: If you think every Christmas is perfect, you have never celebrated Christmas with some of my family - I'm not talking of my wife and children here.

ad 2: Pure, pure Ra..."

I actually like Sylvia and Her Lovers because it is full of interesting characters - even the heroine is intriguing because she is not too goody-two-shoes. Then there is that sneaking nephew, who, however, is not completely drawn as a negative person. I'm really glad I started the book.

And you are right: Christmas is always perfect, but Christmas celebratrions aren't necessarily so ;-)

Hilary wrote: "Dearest Tristram, you, a gentleman among ladies, have caused me to cast my mind back to that favourite of yours, Little Nell. Was the nomenclature Little Knell deliberate on your part or was it in ..."

Most highly esteemed Hilary,

I must confess that the additional K was an intentional alteration of a name I have heard so often that I thought myself entitled to give it, for once, a different spelling at least. The similarity of that new spelling with another word and its associations rings true to my ears in that whenever that heroine made her appearance in the plot, methought I could hear a knell to my reading interest leaving the world to darkness and to "meh!"

Dearest Tristram, I like ... Indeed, let joy be unconfined: I like very much!