Rose in Bloom discussion

Who do you think Rose should have chosen? I think she should have chosen Charlie cause he's one of my favorite characters.

I know it was inevitable she would marry one of the cousins because of the type of book it was. I just wish that getting married wasn't the ultimate goal of her life.

I liked Rose in Bloom, and the Eight Cousins mostly because they are so typical of this type of book. Very moral, very instructive, just a textbook on how to be a perfect 19th century 'good woman.'

I don't think Rose ever wanted marrying to be the goal of her life, its just that it's what the book is about.

What I meant was that when these books were written, marriage was the usual happy ending for a young lady in a book. Even though LM Alcott did not every marry, she had Jo, her alter ego in Little Women marry Dr. Baer.

Oh ok

When I finished Eight Cousins I thought maybe Archie would have been nice, but Mac was a favorite of mine (I think that's strange though). I am very happy with the way it came out though. :)

Mac! Despite being the bookworm, Mac had passion. I loved the thing about him not wanting to be like Uncle Alec -- made him more human.

I just finished reading "Rose" again for the umpteenth time and was happy that she ended up with Mac, again. He was always my favorite, even in the first book. Since this book was intended as a romance, Rose had to marry someone, but she stated herself she would be satisfied to not ever marry rather than to marry someone she didn't love and respect. Her feelings for Charlie were never like the ones she had for Mac, in may opinion.

I just found this group and am looking forward to fun discussions!

I always liked Mac best, and I thought it appropriate for Archie to marry Phebe because he was the leader of the boys and the leader in accepting her into the family. In fact, I am working on a tribute to these characters and others from my favorite books in the Alexander Legacy, a Victorian graphic novel Mystery/Suspense/Steampunk. Would anyone like to comment on concept art? https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...

When I first read the book when I was 12, I was disappointed that Rose married Mac. I was rooting for Charlie, but when I reread it as an adult, I realized that Mac was perfect for her and I really liked him. No, Mac was not the most glamorous cousin like Charlie or the most handsome cousin like Steve, but he had character which counts for the long run...

I agree that Mac was best for her, but I was SO sad when Charlie (view spoiler)[died right as they both began to love each other for the right reason :] BUT! If Charlie hadn't died, (hide spoiler)] I don't know who I would have preferred...

Charlie and Mac were both such interesting characters, so well-rounded. They both swung from self-centered to realizing their place and duties under Rose's influence. But in the end Charlie simply couldn't rise above his love of pleasure. Mac's pleasure in books and scruffiness and staying out of society was just as intense as Charlie's was for his desires, but Mac rose above them for Rose's sake. (I didn't intend the pun but it works, doesn't it?)

I loved Archie in Eight Cousins, but in Rose in Bloom he was a bit too cold for me. Mac is wonderful, and I'm glad she married him. Bookworms forever!

I didn't like Charlie. He was weak and selfish and stuck-up. I was sad about his fate, but only because of how Rose thought he could have been something truly great. I just don't think he would have.

Agreed, Toria.

I thought all along that Rose would end up with Mac - after she had a fling with Charlie. I didn't think that Charlie would make her a good husband because of his love of excitement and partying, whereas Mac was like a good,stable friend who she shared her thoughts with. Where Charlie was concerned I think Rose was attracted to the excitement, and even if (view spoiler)[Charlie hadn't died, (hide spoiler)] I don't think she would have married him.

Of all the cousins I think Archie was the one that changed the most between the two books. It seemed to me his whole personality was different with age.

MAC!

Mac was the one for her all along, and the author gave a few hints of that in Eight Cousins. The author wasn't a typical 19th century woman, and even the character most like her, Jo, in Little Women ends up married to a professor -- mainly someone she can talk to. Passion really never played a part in her heroine's choice of husbands.

Of course, Rose should have ended up with Mac, but Charlie had potential! Even though he was weak and selfish and stuck-up, there were some sides of him when he was with Rose that were beautiful and kind and loving. Which was a very big problem that could only be solved by his death. Because Rose was Charlie's anchor, when Rose saw that she didn't really love him, but Mac, that probably would have driven Charlie to do something even worse than over drinking and gambling, etc. Which would have also ultimately lead to his death. So either way, he'd be dead, just more of a question of sooner or later. Rose would probably have been forever bound (or until Charlie died) and wouldn't have married Mac when she did.

I felt disappointed because Rose in Bloom was not at all what I expected a sequel to Eight Cousins would be like. Of course, the outcome was tragic. I honestly wish she hadn't married, or if she did not to one of her cousins.

Of course, Mac and Charlie would both be good for her, but if I had to choose I think Mac would be a more stable person who would give Rose his all.

I would've liked to have seen Charlie survive, and Rose choose Mac... So that when she did, it would have been indisputable to them both that she would have chosen him, loved him and appreciated his depth of character, even standing next to his handsome and charming brother.

I was pretty much Team Mac all the way - his sheer love of books and intellectual conversation in the ballroom started it all (I could not stop laughing, reading that chapter), but Mac's ardent speech sealed it: “You said your love must be founded on respect, and that you have given me - why can I not earn the rest? I’m nothing now, but everything is possible when one loves with all his heart and soul and strength. I will be your hero if a mortal man can, even though I have to work and wait for years. I’ll make you love me, and be glad to do it. Don’t be frightened. I’ve not lost my wits, I’ve just found them. I don’t ask anything, I’ll never speak of my hope, but it is no use to stop me. I must try it, and I will succeed!”

although I thought charlie very interesting and "charming" as they put it. I truly thought mac suited Rose best and I love his character, especially since he really resembled Uncle Alic.
It was funny though cause I kinda always expected her to marry him, about half way through the book. And Trix that was exactly what I thought at the end of the book it would have been more interesting for charlie to survive, and then for Rose to choose Mac.

I did not like the prospect of Charlie being Rose's future husband, as in the beginning of the book he felt he had a claim on Rose. I grew to like him more as the book progressed, but I just could never get behind the idea of Rose marrying someone so arrogant as the Prince. I feel that Mac and Rose were perfectly suited to each other and would have ended up together even if Charlie hadn't died (which was, IMHO, a little bit of a "cheaty" way out of the painful love triangle LMA created.)

I think she should at least have given men, who is not her cousin, a chance.