tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post6019790425283853019..comments2024-02-10T19:58:20.327+00:00Comments on Stuck in a Book: Cheerful Weather for the Wedding: ReadalongStuckInABookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-84666194753682247232013-02-18T16:14:15.256+00:002013-02-18T16:14:15.256+00:00Totally late to the party, Simon. My life has been...Totally late to the party, Simon. My life has been beyond hectic lately - a predicatable and temporary situation caused by the juxtaposition of both the start of the nursery year (plant nursery, that is - I operate a small perennial nursery), and my teenage daughter's dance festival/competition season. I'm in high speed mode, flitting here and there and trying to keep it all under control - I'm definitely reading in my spare moments, and am loving the book recommendations I find on Stuck-in-a-Book and other marvelous blogs, but solitary time to sit and develop decent book postings is in short supply.<br /><br />So - just in case anyone is still interested - here's my small contribution to the "Cheerful Weather" discussion.<br /><br />http://leavesandpages.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/review-cheerful-weather-for-the-wedding-by-julia-strachey/<br /><br />Ciao!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-53001217584323959332013-02-02T22:29:12.887+00:002013-02-02T22:29:12.887+00:00I've just posted about this here http://desper...I've just posted about this here http://desperatereader.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/cheerful-weather-for-wedding-julia.html <br /><br />but to add to the debate about the babies... I'm sure that Joseph is making these up, as the elderly aunt points out - it would have been quick work as she was only in Albania for 5 weeks. It's a curious passage because I think it takes the sting out of the rest of Joseph's attack on Mrs Thatcham - the babies are so unlikely that it makes it easy to dismiss the whole of his rant as nonsense. Had he stopped just before, or even declared they'd been lovers it would surely have been harder for her to shake it off? <br /><br />I still think this book is a bit patchy but a second read has been rewarding so thank you Simon. Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-81007525757362468402013-01-30T17:03:09.021+00:002013-01-30T17:03:09.021+00:00I read it a couple years ago I think done right it...I read it a couple years ago I think done right it would work at cinema ,all the best stustujallenhttp://winstonsdad.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-29031172859509506832013-01-30T13:27:54.756+00:002013-01-30T13:27:54.756+00:00Oh, I am glad it wasn't just me that read it t...Oh, I am glad it wasn't just me that read it that way! My initial reaction was a shocked "wha.....?" then I thought it just wasn't possible and as you say it was Joseph developing some backbone a bit too late!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-13154496596555048462013-01-30T11:03:21.890+00:002013-01-30T11:03:21.890+00:00How interesting to read all the comments so far, I...How interesting to read all the comments so far, I too had assumed the whole twins-in-Albania outburst was a lie as there'd been no hint beforehand, and I couldn't see how it would be possible given the timescales and constraints in Dolly's life. I read it as Joseph rallying far too late in the day and attempting some sort of protest at Dolly's marriage and the tyranny of Mrs Thatcham.<br /><br />My review is here<br /><br />http://claire-thinking.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/cheerful-weather-for-wedding.html<br /><br />(sorry for previous deletion, I wanted to amend my link!)Claire Thinkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07405745202810426972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-89064201944641116242013-01-30T10:54:54.197+00:002013-01-30T10:54:54.197+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Claire Thinkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07405745202810426972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-66458774226200477552013-01-29T22:34:35.476+00:002013-01-29T22:34:35.476+00:00Wow, I think you're right about Joseph winding...Wow, I think you're right about Joseph winding up Mrs T. and it totally changes the way I feel about the book. (I'm sitting here re-reading it now) He shifts, doesn't he? From "a child" to "it was twins" and then he's clearly so stirred up he's not thinking straight at all, just raving with misery.<br /> <br />My favourite quote this week isn't one of Strachey's at all but was written in Chasing Bawa's review: "Mrs. Thatcham’s ghastliness kept taut, shattered by Joseph and then rebuilt in a flash ..." This really is the most illuminating thing I've read about this story, I suddenly saw the dynamics of it. It's been a very illuminating week so far!Vanessa Laceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06303248849410753595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-46092986959486711562013-01-29T22:10:42.095+00:002013-01-29T22:10:42.095+00:00Thanks, Simon, I begin to see how it might work. I...Thanks, Simon, I begin to see how it might work. I'd really like to see what she was aiming to do. I've never read any Iris Murdoch - friends said she wouldn't be my cup of tea and they may be right - but I'm curious enough now to try her out.Vanessa Laceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06303248849410753595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-56384977118283148902013-01-29T17:19:39.529+00:002013-01-29T17:19:39.529+00:00I love all these ideas! My initial thought was Al...I love all these ideas! My initial thought was Alex's first theory - that she scurried away to have her babies quietly (and twins are, of course, often premature - so it would need less time - but I suppose she'd have looked enormous earlier!) But I'm coming round to Agnieszka's idea of Strachey just throwing it in to laugh at the confusion of her readers!<br /><br />I don't think we have an equivalent expression in English, Agnieszka, but people use the Latin 'in vino veritas'StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-81136197672723370442013-01-29T17:16:00.691+00:002013-01-29T17:16:00.691+00:00Yes, I’d also thought it came quite unexpectedly. ...Yes, I’d also thought it came quite unexpectedly. I hope Joseph only said it to annoy Mrs Thatcham otherwise the book gets too serious. But I don’t know... in Poland we say: “There is the truth in vodka” in other words: “Drunk people don’t lie” and Joseph was quite drunk. Nevertheless I want to believe he was lying about the children. Maybe Strachey wanted to confuse us? Or maybe she added the Albania bit without thinking about it too much and now she is enjoying herself watching us from above? ;)<br /><br />And yes, I like this game too ;)<br />Agnieszkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12033810414839540800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-5743570116849684952013-01-29T15:53:49.377+00:002013-01-29T15:53:49.377+00:00I've very much enjoyed seeing everyone's r...I've very much enjoyed seeing everyone's response to such a small, yet divisive text! I'm on the side of the underwhelmed, though I didn't outright hate it I didn't connect with it or really appreciate the humour.<br /><br />I'm not at all sure that Strachey had an final message she wanted to leave us with, other than it's a shame that Dolly's options are limited, her family is ghastly and she seems to be entirely without good friends or useful counsel. <br /><br />http://alexinleeds.com/2013/01/25/review-cheerful-weather-for-the-wedding-by-julia-strachey/Alex in Leedshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03581135303575274237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-44342787562652264682013-01-29T15:47:25.098+00:002013-01-29T15:47:25.098+00:00I've been thinking about this and have two the...I've been thinking about this and have two theories - 1)she went to Albania after transgressing, just in case there were any repercussions or 2)she went as a fire-break to get her away from Joseph who clearly wouldn't be a good match. I think Joseph is suggesting (rather nastily) that it might have been a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire and how would Mrs Thatcham ever know what Dolly did once out of sight... <br /><br />(I rather like this game. :))Alex in Leedshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03581135303575274237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-56082707406880905142013-01-29T14:58:57.575+00:002013-01-29T14:58:57.575+00:00I just would have enjoyed deeper characterisation ...I just would have enjoyed deeper characterisation and background - her nature descriptions were so lovely, I would have liked to see that quality of writing carried over to the people she was writing about so they were more developed. If she had allowed herself more space to elaborate on characterisation, I think the whole thing would have felt less jagged and frenzied and would have been a much stronger novel - and there would have been more chance to appreciate Strachey's writing which was so beautiful in places.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-49298330296974119952013-01-29T14:30:04.355+00:002013-01-29T14:30:04.355+00:00Yes it did, and there was Mrs. Thatcham's comm...Yes it did, and there was Mrs. Thatcham's comment about Dolly not being out there very long (will have to go back and check that one again) and it just seemed rather unlikely bearing in mind Dolly's youth and past and the fact that there was no hint of anything like that anywhere else in the story. I shall have another look after work and see what I think!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-31669238566545881162013-01-29T11:52:06.488+00:002013-01-29T11:52:06.488+00:00I had the opposite reaction to you, Simon! It'...I had the opposite reaction to you, Simon! It's the first book in a long time that I've read in which I felt that rereading it deepened my understanding in a favourable way. I feel like I've uncovered a gem and am looking foward to rereading it again as I don't think I fully understand it yet. I'm still unsure about the whole Albania thing too...<br /><br />http://chasingbawa.com/2013/01/29/cheerful-weather-for-the-wedding-by-julia-strachey/sakurahttp://www.chasingbawa.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-43074678202279281922013-01-29T10:47:41.124+00:002013-01-29T10:47:41.124+00:00As I commented on your post, I'm worried if th...As I commented on your post, I'm worried if the film has removed the cynicism - it's the central ingredient, but so difficult to convey on film.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-50676396846032495072013-01-29T10:47:05.435+00:002013-01-29T10:47:05.435+00:00I am very conflicted about this now! I'd assu...I am very conflicted about this now! I'd assumed it was the truth, and now I don't know... it just came out of nowhere, didn't it?StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-73808465991700004352013-01-29T10:46:04.313+00:002013-01-29T10:46:04.313+00:00Thanks for this! I never visualise characters in ...Thanks for this! I never visualise characters in books, but I definitely agree about the quick, perfect introductions of characters. Except Owen, significantly...<br /><br />I look forward to your full review!<br /><br />And the disclosure - so many questions! I assumed he was telling the truth when I read it, and didn't much care, but now people have thrown open the idea of lies, I'm very conflicted...StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-39408986152220775072013-01-29T10:42:09.339+00:002013-01-29T10:42:09.339+00:00Lovely review, Vicki, I really liked it.
The trai...Lovely review, Vicki, I really liked it.<br /><br />The trailer does look as if it might be meadows and rivers! In fact, it looks absolutely beautiful - but possibly not quite the feel of the book... I shall reserve judgement until I see it!StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-82527181614949117582013-01-29T10:41:20.923+00:002013-01-29T10:41:20.923+00:00How intriguing that you found the characters very ...How intriguing that you found the characters very real - when I thought the opposite! And still liked it - most people here have either thought them grotesques, or hated the callousness if they thought them real. Thanks for adding to the spectrum!<br /><br />I shall report back on the film in due course...StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-45393628604940297392013-01-29T10:40:11.955+00:002013-01-29T10:40:11.955+00:00Oh, the Malton Downs bit was a joy, wasn't it!...Oh, the Malton Downs bit was a joy, wasn't it! I'm so glad you liked it, Agnieszka.<br /><br />Your last bit - about reading it as a non-English reader - is interesting. Your response seems, to me, like you had exactly the right sensibility (that Strachey was hoping the reader would have, anyway) and I'd have thought it was a very British, cynical one. But clearly it's wider than that - or your mind is becoming British ;)StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-25800196208058806782013-01-29T10:38:26.952+00:002013-01-29T10:38:26.952+00:00This reminds me of my response to The Sea, The Sea...This reminds me of my response to The Sea, The Sea - I just couldn't get past the fact that it made no sense, and nobody acted consistently - whereas those who love Iris Murdoch told me that it didn't matter for her books. In the same way, I think the way Strachey draws hysterical scenes and near-grotesque characters means that treating them realistically doesn't quite work - so in a novel by, say, Elizabeth Taylor, the miserable marriage and (possible!) children would be heartbreaking - but here I found it just part of a mad tapestry that shouldn't be taken so seriously. But if one responds differently, as I did to Murdoch, then I can see how it wouldn't work at all!StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-28582093426028211422013-01-29T10:35:23.849+00:002013-01-29T10:35:23.849+00:00Oh dear! But you're right, the hopping from s...Oh dear! But you're right, the hopping from scene to scene could work well for a film (although not on the stage)StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-15993520691000938282013-01-29T08:53:12.563+00:002013-01-29T08:53:12.563+00:00Hi all,
I went about the book in a different manne...Hi all,<br />I went about the book in a different manner: I first watched the film and then read the book. I must admit I prefer the book, and I appreciate the cynicism throughout it. This is the reality in most cases, and I did not like that the film tried to put everyone under a kind light. I did not favour the majority of characters in the book, but I enjoyed their relationship during this one day. Great food for thought!<br /><br />http://talethreecities.blogspot.be/2013/01/cheerful-weather-for-wedding-by-j.html<br /> Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16118488336055805591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-72822913850709632542013-01-29T08:49:24.340+00:002013-01-29T08:49:24.340+00:00Ermmm - just a further thought - I had rather assu...Ermmm - just a further thought - I had rather assumed the bit about Albania to be Joseph winding up Mrs. Thatcham so I am going to have to go back and re-read to see what I make of this....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com