tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220995767842596634.post1717073679733678508..comments2023-06-08T09:12:49.418-07:00Comments on A Good (Enough) Woman: Great Characterization and Setting, Iffy Plot and DialogueGood Enough Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531793545583712309noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220995767842596634.post-45190328299434651782012-01-20T17:07:04.241-08:002012-01-20T17:07:04.241-08:00fangs, I like your observation that we don't r...fangs, I like your observation that we don't really "know the rules" of Austen's writing. As for James's book, I'm not even sure I expected her to meet Austen on her own ground, but I did expect a good mystery. Your word "stilted" seems apt!<br /><br />QueSera, Ah, yes! That seems to be so! (The whole "good marriage concern.)Good Enough Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16531793545583712309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220995767842596634.post-58305283812785839652012-01-17T08:21:47.972-08:002012-01-17T08:21:47.972-08:00I felt like James was holding back with Elizabeth ...I felt like James was holding back with Elizabeth too because she wanted her to have a successful marriage which includes being a good mistress to Pemberley (which rendered her boring), but that approach just pissed me off in the end. I must confess I've read no James, so I'm curious to hear which is a good one to read.QueSerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10959663812711093395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220995767842596634.post-45474402643853135332012-01-17T06:29:43.854-08:002012-01-17T06:29:43.854-08:00Such an interesting review. I have read both Auste...Such an interesting review. I have read both Austen and James since I was in high school (thanks, Mom!). I've reread Austen a bunch of times since then both in school and out of it and adore her. I read James for years, but her last novel pre-Pemberly (can't remember the title and am too lazy to look it up, sorry) didn't impress me at all. One of my friends said it best "There's a difference between writing stilted characters and stilted writing style." We agreed that the novel itself was stilted<br /><br />In general I think it's too hard for us to reenter Austen's world to write about it. Few of us have her extraordinary grasp of craft. We don't even know half the rules and I'm convinced my theory as to why it's so hard to like "Mansfield Park.")Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220995767842596634.post-71233533963917238442012-01-16T20:35:16.998-08:002012-01-16T20:35:16.998-08:00Stacey, Great point abut Elizabeth. I agree.
nico...Stacey, Great point abut Elizabeth. I agree.<br /><br />nicoleandmaggie, I haven't thought a lot about those themes in Emma. I will do so during my next read!Good Enough Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16531793545583712309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220995767842596634.post-36202330870370247232012-01-16T14:25:19.079-08:002012-01-16T14:25:19.079-08:00Why did I get the title wrong? That's kind of ...Why did I get the title wrong? That's kind of embarrassing. I blame it on the Kindle. Didn't spend much time looking at a book cover.<br /><br />I have edited the post so that the title is now correct.Good Enough Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16531793545583712309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220995767842596634.post-80559025201312423782012-01-15T18:49:12.517-08:002012-01-15T18:49:12.517-08:00GEW, I think you'll like Sense & Sensibili...GEW, I think you'll like Sense & Sensibility, whenever you have a chance to read it. (No shame and no pressure, though!)<br /><br />Stacey, yes! I kept thinking "Wouldn't Elizabeth B. have been more determined about X?" or whatever since she was so..."spunky" doesn't seem like the right word but if there's a slightly refined version of spunky, that's what I mean. And I have been having trouble commenting on/reading feMOMhist's blog, too...it gives me a blank white page much of the time.<br /><br />Nicoleandmaggie, excellent point about the context in Emma (and re: Mansfield Park...that's def my least favorite, too).Inkhttp://inktopia.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220995767842596634.post-78836283698256039442012-01-15T15:50:05.628-08:002012-01-15T15:50:05.628-08:00I like Emma because it gets into the economic hist...I like Emma because it gets into the economic history of the time period. Listen to Harriet when she talks about farming-- she's so sensible! The agricultural revolution is full in force in the book. Things that will change the world are really happening in Emma, and that's mirrored in the characterization of the players.<br /><br />Mansfield park is similar in terms of economic history with how it treats British colonialism... but the characters are just so unlikeable. Emma's got a good story on top of everything else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220995767842596634.post-67527987307594170542012-01-15T15:40:12.652-08:002012-01-15T15:40:12.652-08:00Thanks for the review: you've captured most of...Thanks for the review: you've captured most of the problems I had with it. I was particularly annoyed with Elizabeth: she is a true namby pamby in the PD James book, without an ounce of Austen's spark!<br /><br />So yes, I read it quickly and eagerly and looked forward to reading it each evening, but more because I kept hoping for more, and never got it.<br /><br />I'm unable to comment on FeMOMhist's blog, but I also loved her Austenese!!Stacey Lee Donohuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11247602168205239028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220995767842596634.post-44962725054642968442012-01-15T15:33:56.094-08:002012-01-15T15:33:56.094-08:00Ink, Wow! You posted comments while I was still ed...Ink, Wow! You posted comments while I was still editing my post! (I always find mistakes after I hit "publish"). You're quick! And thanks for confirming my thoughts on the the "detection" thing. I really wondered if maybe I just had the wrong expectation for James.<br /><br />As for Sense and Sensibility, I will humble (read: embarrass) myself and admit that I'm not SURE I've read it. I also have not read Mansfield Park. <br /><br />*hangs head in shame*<br /><br />But they are both on my to-read list. (As are many other books that have taken a backseat to my dissertation work.)Good Enough Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16531793545583712309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220995767842596634.post-22940389330003713092012-01-15T15:26:24.632-08:002012-01-15T15:26:24.632-08:00Oh, and Emma (and, almost as much, Sense & Sen...Oh, and Emma (and, almost as much, Sense & Sensibility) = fave, too.Inkhttp://inktopia.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220995767842596634.post-71271934453920081332012-01-15T15:24:55.872-08:002012-01-15T15:24:55.872-08:00Brilliant! I expected Elizabeth and Darcy to be d...Brilliant! I expected Elizabeth and Darcy to be detecting too...at least Elizabeth. Thank you for putting your finger on the thing that I couldn't quite articulate but which bothered me. You are so smart.<br /><br />And I didn't read any Austen novels until grad school. Then I read all of them in a row.Inkhttp://inktopia.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com