Reading the Classics discussion

Discuss chapters 18-36

I feel this is my main view of the book so far, and i'll probably write it more than once: a very enjoyable read, but one needs a lot of patience. Each chapter or telling of a story couldn't have been any shorter, it's a very concise and quick narration, which is remarkable. But I feel some parts could have been cut, if i was the editor. Yet with patience, nothing is boring, and one always gets to little gems, like the sea fishing trip that Johnny absolutely messes up, hilarious:

Finally, one of the fish worked its way out of the sodden newspaper and fell on the floor where it lay slimily in the dust. It was too much for Little Tilly. She looked into the fish’s glazed eye, said nothing but vomited silently and thoroughly all over Johnny’s tuxedo jacket . Francie and Neeley, as if waiting for that cue, also threw up. Johnny sat there with two exposed fish in his lap, one at his feet and kept staring at the ad. He didn’t know what else to do.
(p. 227, end of chapter 29)

Or this beautiful way to put the initial and lasting joy of reading:

OH, MAGIC HOUR WHEN A CHILD FIRST KNOWS IT CAN READ PRINTED WORDS! For quite a while, Francie had been spelling out letters, sounding them and then putting the sounds together to mean a word. But one day, she looked at a page and the word “mouse” had instantaneous meaning.
(...)
The barrier between the individual sound of each letter and the whole meaning of the word was removed and the printed word meant a thing at one quickglance. She read a few pages rapidly and almost became ill with excitement . She wanted to shout it out. She could read! She could read! From that time on, the world was hers for the reading. She would never be lonely again, never miss the lack of intimate friends. Books became her friends and there was one for every mood.
(p. 166)

I also love Francie's diary entries starting from chapter 32, short and sweet, often humourous.

What do the others think? (i guess i'm ahead of schedule, but to each his own!)

I am loving this book so far. When I pick it I can't drop it for hours, I don't think it's slow or anything should be cut. And I love the Rommely women, all so strong and wise in their own way, with a great sense of humour even if their life is not the easiest. And also that we get to witness Francie's amazing growth from an innocent child to a woman.

Some of the parts I enjoyed most were the fishing trip Simon talked about, and the part about their neighbour Joanna and her baby.

The part I liked was about Aunt Evy and the horse.