"We read books, we talked books, argued over books and became dearer and dearer to one another." Amelia Maugery
I just loved this - and feel that same thing is happening to us in this discussion. It isn't at all surprising that Mrs. Maugery would not want her dear friends to be the subject of mockery in Juliet's article.
Does she understand that the story of the founding and the continuation of the literary society, would not, by itself bring mockery, at least puzzled smiles to the readers of the Times - but the name of the society itself? How did the society get its name?
I know Will Thisbee brought his potato peel pie to the meetings, but why put it in the title? Do you think this will be revealed in future letters? What did you think of his recipe? I thought it was much like the one I made a couple of weeks ago.
The focus of the article was supposed to be on books and reading and how they sustained the readers during the occupation. Another reason I think that Mrs. M. decided to go ahead with the interviews - when she read the letter from the Fire Warden, Bella Taunton, condemning Juliet for running into the burning Library to save books, she realized that Juliet was a real booklover, truly interested in the article she was writing.
Jude, yesterday you wrote of the ways the inhabitants of Guernsey coped with the hard times during the occupation. Mrs. Maubery writes of another way the members of the literary society coped, when she writes of the books and reading that kept spirits up.
"Evenings together became bright, lively times, we could almost forget, now and then, the darkness outside receded."
Isola Pribby writes to Juliet that "reading perked up spirits during the occupation" except for the time that Elizabeth was sent to prison.
Gum, you write that a month doesn't seem to be enough time to consider the many references to other works - I was thinking we hardly have enough time to consider the contents of the letters we are focusing on this week! Let's hope that the letters will continue to shed light on these same works in the coming three weeks. And while we ask you not go ahead into future letters, know that we can always go back and refer to whatever we want in earlier letters, okay?
Ella, thank you the message from
Ann. I know she has an interest in Anne Bronte...
Steph too. We hope you will both be with us, book in hand, on Monday.(I hope to read
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall before this discussion is over.)
It is Isola Pribby who adores the " passionate" encounters in Anne Bronte's work - "though she never had one of her own". I'm not sure what role Isola plays in the group. She is a dear friend and neighbor of Amelia Maugery - and as funny and lovable as can be. She is said to be the "Sergeant-at-Arms" in the group. Do you think that means she is the moderator?
Do you think Isola likes to read about passion she has never experienced herself (just as Anne Bronte wrote about passion she never knew?)
Hmmm...I'm thinking about this in connection with this question -
What do their reading choices reveal about the personalities of the members of the Society? What do your own choices reveal about you?
Maybe this is too personal a question?
The subject of
Elizabeth and her German Garden continues to fascinate. What is the parallel (if any) to Elizabeth McKenna. I did read in the link to Elizabeth and her German Garden that Eliz. von Arnim wrote 27 books in which she signed as " the author of Elizabeth and her German Garden." It is possible then that the German soldiers were familiar with this author.
Pedln - thanks for the continued input from Buntings,
Model Occupation. The occupation of Guernsey was intended to be something to emulate. It makes sense they placed educated soldiers -who could speak English, to mingle with the inhabitants.
