tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post2013811835193347747..comments2024-03-24T08:30:43.258+01:00Comments on FLY HIGH!: VILLETTE - MY REVIEW FOR THE ALL ABOUT THE BRONTES CHALLENGEMaria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-29896797836436005122011-09-22T21:45:37.645+02:002011-09-22T21:45:37.645+02:00What a thoughtful review, thank for for linking me...What a thoughtful review, thank for for linking me to it :)<br /><br />I remember being annoyed with Lucy for not telling me who Doctor John was for a long time. But I like how hard she is to pin down and how complex she is.<br /><br />One thing I didn't like was the whole business with the phantom nun. Other gothic elements I enjoyed, but not that one.Sam (Tiny Library)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16375434438465319913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-51956007309336637772010-10-04T09:13:53.300+02:002010-10-04T09:13:53.300+02:00I do like intellectual and meaningful appraisals, ...I do like intellectual and meaningful appraisals, as yours is!<br />I've only ever read Villette once, last year I think it was. I must say my impression of it is gloomy. I saw Lucy Snowe as the girl who could never really have what she wanted, and that made a big impression on me. The kind of person who woudl never set the world aflame - whether she wasn't to or not was not clear either - who passed by like a living shadow, who had the great capacity to love but was never given opportunity to exercise it, who loved where she should not have, as so many of us do. I found it utterly complex and probing to read. I think these characteristics are intrinsic in females to some degree. Not all of these, but they are scattered sparsely?<br />What I found riveting was that Lucy Snowe, for all she has not, is too strong to be pitied. I could never patronise her like that. She couldn't even have her little foreign man, despite the relationship they cultivate in the end. It is tragic, she seems to invite tragedy, but not lose herself in it. Am I making sense?<br />Though my favourite character of Bronte's is Caroline Helstone (I was to pet her, like a soft, adorable, unobtrusive kitten guarding the fireside) I identify best with Lucy Snowe.Connoisseuresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16546346288580791980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-85007098289906999612010-06-23T00:13:19.873+02:002010-06-23T00:13:19.873+02:00Wonderful review-I think the scenes set in the sch...Wonderful review-I think the scenes set in the school are the best written parts of all her work-Mel uhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714473754458914681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-68706948585128194082010-06-22T10:44:32.101+02:002010-06-22T10:44:32.101+02:00Aww, shucks, now I know the ending. :( My own faul...Aww, shucks, now I know the ending. :( My own fault, I did see the spoiler warning! I’m only on chapter 29 (Monsieur’s Fête) at the moment, and I’ve been wondering if Lucy’s ever going to end up with someone, and if so, with whom. I expected Dr. John and Pauline to end up together – that seemed obvious! There’s a very strong attraction between them.<br /><br />Monsieur Paul I love as a character. Every time he makes an appearance I get all giddy because I think he’s hilarious, and there’s obviously more to him than being a scornful, angry “little man”. The problem with listening to an audio book is that it doesn’t have the footnotes that the book has (I’ve got the same one as you :)), which explains what all the French bits mean, so a lot of it passes way over my head. Ah well, next time, when I’m not under a time constraint to finish it, I’ll read it with my eyes and not my ears! It’s good to have audio books though. Shame I didn’t think of it sooner – been thinking it’s such a waste of time to drive to/from work, because I can’t do anything while I’m driving. If I were on a train or bus instead, I could be reading or writing. So audio books are great: now the commuting time to/from work is actually useful, even if I’m driving!<br /><br />Great review and as always a wonderfully insightful analysis! :)Traxyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13249884092846934427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-91500264921437374772010-06-22T08:25:02.639+02:002010-06-22T08:25:02.639+02:00ElleJay, WOW, thanks for letting us know about tha...ElleJay, WOW, thanks for letting us know about that audio adaptation! I will definitely look into it!The Editrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01184804847476554759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-48474860077655155142010-06-21T21:55:53.481+02:002010-06-21T21:55:53.481+02:00@JaneGS
Thanks, Jane! I hope you'll enjoy your...@JaneGS<br />Thanks, Jane! I hope you'll enjoy your October read. Autumn may be the perfect season for this melancholic novel. Perfect choice. Big hug.MGMaria Graziahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-43918563245418830662010-06-21T21:46:44.366+02:002010-06-21T21:46:44.366+02:00You have given me reason to read Villete, which I ...You have given me reason to read Villete, which I have been putting off for some time now. It sounds like a psychological study, and I actually like the ambiguity and shifting sands of unreliable narrators. Sounds like a good October read. Great review--well done.JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-47262462610245999782010-06-21T18:17:54.041+02:002010-06-21T18:17:54.041+02:00@Alexa Adams
Yes, I liked the complexity of this w...@Alexa Adams<br />Yes, I liked the complexity of this work, though I couldn't anyway sympathize with its characters. It was a really interesting study reading but not a very involving one. I mean, emotionally involving. <br />Thanks for your contribution, Alexa. Hugs.<br /><br />@NovembersAutumn<br />Hi, Katherine! It seems I'm the last one, among all of you, to read this beautiful novel but I am also sure this is a novel difficult to appreciate for a young person. I think I would have hated it if I had had to read it as a teenageror! I agree with you that all those happy coincindences are rather unbelievable, Dickensian or not. But it was nice to have all of them reunited as adults after a long time: Lucy, Polly and Graham. <br />Thanks for dropping by and commenting. MGMaria Graziahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-75738035006436984002010-06-21T18:05:49.392+02:002010-06-21T18:05:49.392+02:00Wonderful post Maria Grazia!
I read Villette four...Wonderful post Maria Grazia!<br /><br />I read <i>Villette</i> four or so years ago. <br /><br />I had difficulty finding the Dickensian coincidences she used believable mainly the fact that she, Dr. John, and Polly all happen to be in Brussels at the same time and that Dr. John didn't recognize her. No matter how much of a shadow poor Lucy was he should have at least found her familiar or thought she looked a little like someone he knew.<br /><br />While I empathized with Lucy Snowe there were times I'd wish she'd make more of an effort in trying to be cheerful. I remember one quote very well, perhaps because I agree with it, Dr. John Bretton said , "You must cultivate happiness" and Lucy's passionate answer was something like "Happiness isn't like a potato that you can grow" <br /><br />But it's interesting to see her development and the banter between her and the professor. It's such a shame that when she finally overcomes the failings of her temperament a tragedy occurs and to know that more than likely she will sink into her old melancholy habits.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-66256646925757515552010-06-21T17:46:57.231+02:002010-06-21T17:46:57.231+02:00Maria - I am so pleased you enjoyed Villette, as i...Maria - I am so pleased you enjoyed Villette, as it is the book that most inspired me to seriously study literature. While it's dizzying depths of depression do not hold the same fascination for me that they once did, I continue to think it is the book that best displays the poetic qualities of Bronte's work. I think it is also her best, but most people would only agree that it is her most difficult novel. This was a beautiful summary and review - no easy feat.Alexa Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10086472405632748174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-79374188273744734112010-06-21T15:55:24.718+02:002010-06-21T15:55:24.718+02:00@lunarossa @Mo
Thanks for commenting, girls! Is En...@lunarossa @Mo<br />Thanks for commenting, girls! Is England warmer and drier than Italy these days? Summer has come and we need raincots and umbrellas!<br />It's quite cold, too! Incrdible. <br />Villette is a great book and deserve all the attention it gets.Maria Graziahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-17894300593456636112010-06-21T15:44:26.335+02:002010-06-21T15:44:26.335+02:00You do inspire one to read these booksYou do inspire one to read these booksMohttp://aglimpseoflondon.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-5304716780390020842010-06-21T14:15:14.911+02:002010-06-21T14:15:14.911+02:00What a wonderful review, MG! I love Villette, I di...What a wonderful review, MG! I love Villette, I did it in depth during my first year at Uni, whilst I was struggling with Lazarillo de Tormes and Rainer Maria Rilke and it was so refreshing t hide inbetween Bronte's pages! Didn;t know about the BBC radio drama and with Joseph Fiennes too! I learn something new every day here in your blog, MG, thanks! Cuai. A.lunarossahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15231055955991137579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-67967444190556347382010-06-21T13:49:47.108+02:002010-06-21T13:49:47.108+02:00@The Editrix @Marie
I too join your crying to the ...@The Editrix @Marie<br />I too join your crying to the BBC!!! I'd love a Villette adaptation!<br />@ElleJay<br />Hi! I'm so glad you've found some time to stop by and comment. I'll try to look for the radio drama you mention,thank you. And, yes, you can find some are RA blogs on Fly High, especially on Fridays. Take care. Hugs. <br />MGMaria Graziahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-32157582754420709172010-06-21T10:49:22.067+02:002010-06-21T10:49:22.067+02:00Hi Maria,
Sorry I have not been on your blog for a...Hi Maria,<br />Sorry I have not been on your blog for a while as I have been so busy. I just wanted to add to your blog about Villette that the BBC did a wonderful radio drama of it. Joseph Fiennes is one of the voices along with a very early showing of Keira Knightley. I think it is available on Audible as a download.<br />Love your blogs. Especially RA. LJ xXxElleJayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03501213129484773599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-18222129677169598282010-06-21T09:59:50.133+02:002010-06-21T09:59:50.133+02:00I fully agree with Elise et your review. Villette ...I fully agree with Elise et your review. Villette is my favourite book by Charlotte Brontë (Oh yes, I prefer Villette to Jane Eyre), as it is powerful, complex, full of that particular humour of Charlotte Brontë, and so many other things!<br />Moreover, as I am French, I loved reading French written by the end of Charlotte Brontë: it make me feel a little dizzy, think: she wrote in MY tongue!!<br />OOh well, such a great book! <br />@Elise: I join you crying to the BBC!Mariehttp://brontefrance.hautetfort.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-59690012841737937292010-06-21T07:29:11.662+02:002010-06-21T07:29:11.662+02:00Excellent review!! You succeeded where I utterly f...Excellent review!! You succeeded where I utterly <a href="http://ribbonsoflight.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-unsuccessful-review-of-villette.html" rel="nofollow">failed</a>. :-) Makes me want to re-read Villette. . . I think it is definitely a book that would require a second or third reading to even scratch the surface of its many layers.<br /><br />BBC, PLEASE make a miniseries adaptation of Villette!!!<br /><br />~EliseThe Editrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01184804847476554759noreply@blogger.com