Aardvark Book Club Fan Club (Not Official) discussion

Eliza and Lister have never been this wide-awake in their lives, and the Slope, with its curtains drawn wide, is bright with starlight. They talk in whispers, not to disturb the maids who lie sleeping on the other side of the box room. The question Eliza’s been needing to ask swells like a great berry in her mouth, and all at once she’s not scared to let it out, not scared at all, not scared of anything . . .

In 1805, fourteen-year-old Eliza Raine is a school girl at the Manor School for Young Ladies in York. The daughter of an Indian mother and a British father, Eliza was banished to this unfamiliar country as a little girl. When she first stepped off the King George in Kent, Eliza was accompanied by her older sister, Jane, but now she boards alone at the Manor, with no one left to claim her. She spends her days avoiding the attention of her fellow pupils until, one day, a fearless and charismatic new student arrives at the school. The two girls are immediately thrown together and soon Eliza’s life is turned inside out by this strange and curious young woman.

Learned by Heart, Emma Donoghue’s mesmerising new novel, tells the heartbreaking story of the tangled lives of two women whose intense, and unlikely, relationship will change them for ever

Tentative buddy read set for 9/27!

Join us if you'd like to (or just follow along and click all our spoilers while we chat!)

It’s the 27th
You ready?

I am! I will be finishing up Shark heart and then ready to start!

K

Finally started!

through Close Quarters, August 1805 & Raine to Lister 1815
(through pg 78)

(view spoiler)[oof this school and their rules. it sounds hard to NOT get in trouble all the time.
I love how Eliza didn't realize how alone she was, not having someone else in her room.

I like Lister but she really goes against what others thing and with society. I wonder why, now in 1815, they are no longer talking. and why Eliza is still in some type of manor to get better.... (hide spoiler)]

I'm liking it so far

It’s dragging for me, I’m a little behind you.
I keep dozing off with this one. I might have to read just a little of this one and read one of my others in between if I continue to doze off. I’m hoping it picks up.

I agree with you, that she didn’t realize she was alone/lonely but I think it’s just because she is one of those individuals that is ok being in a group or alone. She makes the best of the situation. I like her.
Then here comes Lister storing things up.

And yes all them rules you probably get one for sneezing or passing gas! But it was Back in the 1800. So the girls must be loaded…. Will they have money left over by the time they are adults, and in the 1800 can women have money or will it go to their husbands?
If that all guardians do and get paid then I want to be one!

I’ve made it to Rain to Lister 1815
44%
Question
Is her sister a lighter shade than Eliza or is she the same? Because she acts like she is better than Eliza and isn’t very grateful towards her guardians.

I don’t want to think the Eliza is dependent on Lister but as I read the story she tends to focus a lot of her time on her.

Freaking side saddle!!! Not fair!!!! The man should have to ride the same way!!!!

Yes, I agree, this one is dragging for me as well. It's just slooooow, their day to day school life, and I can't say it's interesting.

Okay, through Rain to Lister 1815, page 147.

(view spoiler)[No, she's the exact shade as her sister. I know, it breaks my heart how much her sister pushes her away.

Yes, it's a little worrying that Eliza keeps saying Lister is her first true friend even though she had one when Lister arrived. I think it's because Lister is her first roommate.

I don't know the "true" story to this but it makes me sad that Eliza appears to be in an institution in 1815 when she's writing to Lister. And that they appear to have been separated - I assume because their attraction to each other is assumed to be an illness 😥 I hate how sad Eliza sounds, writing her.

and Yes! that race was so unfair but I love that everyone knew she would have won. (hide spoiler)]

Finished last night.

It got much better towards the end, but it took a while.

be ready because it a lot and long and everywhere and crazy confusing. Sorry

(view spoiler)[ Raine was really sprung on Leister.... I am head over heels for her to the point that she would have stock her if she was not in that hospital. It was sad but she made her crazy, broke her heart by leaving her and fooling around with other females (typical man).

I did not know this was based on true events and characters. They found a lot of the letters that Raine sent but those that Leister burnt because she was asked to, but she kept most and I believe a journal. But those that Leister sent to Raine , she burnt.

I love letter writing, but no one want to write letters anymore. I'm thinking of writing short letters to my hubby so when we pass the kids can read them. I know he won't write back. Maybe I can bribe him LOL.

Anyway back to the story. Do you think Leister was done with Raine when she left the school when she broke her ankle? Or do you think she really meant to mend and when they turned of age come for her.

In reality they did come together once they turned Raine would visit her at her farm and in fact Leister mom cared for Raine. Then Leister started to cheat and unbelievable, Raine forgave her, she thought as long as I allow her have her piece on the side she will never leave me, HA!! the joke was on her, not only did she cheated on her with that one but also with a friend, then several more until ultimately she placed herself in the hospital. The book kind of makes the reader believe that someone placed her there and t hat someone was her guardian, which makes the reader/me believe he did it for the money. But in real life her 4 what ever it was turned to 8 by the time she passed at 60 something.

Man with so much money she could have gone to Italy on her own and found herself another lover or hell married. Or gone back to school as a teacher and help other girls like herself. Also read that English gentlemen would conquer Indian females and sow their seeds them then send the child back to India, separating the mother from the child. I guess it was known but was really not accepted. or accepted by not acknowledged. IT went on a lot more than I would have thought, these gentlemen doing.

Reine always. thought her father loved her mother, but the truth was that she was his lover while he was stationed in India. She was not of his class therefore he did not marry her, but did he love her? Or was she just his piece while he was over there. Because in the story he didn't even try to relocate the girls mother. Now Jane was older, I wonder if she knew something about her parents, and if that's the reason she didn't really care for England or her guardian. (hide spoiler)]

60% / through Page 202 / through Rarities January 1806 & Raine to Lister 1815

I'm finding this book soooo slooow and sooo boring
I can't believe we get blow by blow of French lessons and dancing and music. this is so painful

(view spoiler)[ I don't feel like much happened here
a girl left
Lister said sweet things that made Eliza question how she feels.
a kiss (hide spoiler)]

I'm done

it's a shame this didn't get interesting until the last few pages. I liked the author note better than the whole story