Summer | Litsy

https://youtu.be/nfr88tCkaOk?si=vQa8FT1huiDYs6kD

Introduction

Mystery guest

A special literary reading

Week in Review

Summer by Edith Wharton

The Hearing Test by Eliza Barry Callahan

Johnny I Hardly Knew You by Edna O'Brien

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

22 likes

Nebklvr

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

so-so

Not my favorite. The writing in this misery fest is fantastic, of course.

34 likes

charl08

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

More (little) 🐧 classics. Temptation!

https://www.penguin.co.uk/series/LITLCLOTH/little-clothbound-classics

squirrelbrain ❤️🐧❤️🐧 14mo

41 likes1 comment

IndoorDame

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

1. The tagged book was definitely the longest of the last few months, but in a good way :)

2. ⭐️DNF
⭐️⭐️Grrrrr!
⭐️⭐️⭐️Meh
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Enjoyed
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Will reread, recommend, run out and buy, couldn‘t put it down…
(I use half stars a lot)

3. Basically no. If it‘s a book about music I‘ll pause to listen to specific songs mentioned, or have jazz or classical quietly on in the background…

Thanks for the tag @Eggs ! #WondrousWednesday

Eggs Well done 🤩❤️👏🏻 14mo

ImperfectCJ I do the same with books about music or books in which music features prominently but the songs mentioned I can't call to mind on my own. I like that some books have Spotify playlists already. 14mo

IndoorDame @ImperfectCJ I don‘t think I‘ve encountered a book with its own playlist yet. That would be super helpful! I‘m going to start checking for them in the future. 14mo

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ImperfectCJ @IndoorDame The two I've found recently are for The Violin Conspiracy (although I ended up making my own with different recordings) and Questlove's Music is History. They also help to freshen up the algorithm for me so I don't get only 90s alternative, which is my default. :-) 14mo

IndoorDame @ImperfectCJ ooh, I‘m so glad there‘s one for Questlove! There wasn‘t when I listened to it and eventually I gave up on searching for most of the songs, there were just so many mentioned really briefly 14mo

ImperfectCJ @IndoorDame I just saw there's one for A Little Devil in America, made by the author! I could have used that one when I read the book (and will probably go back to it now) 14mo

48 likes6 comments

IndoorDame

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

#BookMail makes any day happy! This lovely b&w illustrated paperback edition of Summer is still on sale at Amazon for just $4.39

JamieArc Oh my gosh that‘s gorgeous 😍 1y

IndoorDame @JamieArc I was so excited to find it! 1y

jlhammar Oooh, pretty! 1y

Leftcoastzen Beautiful edition! 1y

IndoorDame @Leftcoastzen @jlhammar ♥️♥️ 1y

56 likes5 comments

CarolynM

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

pick

Charity Royall, rescued from childhood poverty by a small town lawyer & his wife, begins the summer as a proud but fairly clueless (&, for me at least, not terribly sympathetic) girl on the brink of womanhood & ends it, much abused by the men in her life, with more knowledge but I‘m not sure how much more wisdom. The journey was a well worn path in some ways, but quite unexpected in others. There‘s a lot to think about. #WhartonBuddyRead

CarolynM Thanks for your insights @Graywacke @Lcsmcat and all the other buddy readers. 1y

Leftcoastzen Love your review! 1y

Graywacke Quite a journey. Enjoyed your comments and great review! 1y

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batsy Great review, Carolyn. I read this a long time and hope to revisit soon. 1y

Cathythoughts Great review! I read this a year or so ago , such a good book. 👍🏻♥️ 1y

LeahBergen Your review makes me want to pick up a Wharton soon. I read this years ago. 😊 1y

Cedar_and_Grapefruit That's how I feel after most of her novels... I always feel like I missed the point, somehow. 1y

CarolynM @Leftcoastzen @batsy @Cathythoughts Thank you 😊 (edited) 1y

CarolynM @LeahBergen I‘d not read her at all until I started with the buddy reads. I‘m enjoying her a lot. 1y

CarolynM @Cedar_and_Grapefruit I‘m not sure I get the points that some of the academic analyses claim for her novels, but I have found something interesting in all of them that I‘ve read so far. 1y

Rissreads Such a gorgeous cover 💛 1y

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Graywacke

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

pick

Summer, a novel of sexual awakening, but this is Wharton and it really goes its own way. It‘s uncomfortable, compelling, and powerful. A parallel, oddly, to Ethan Frome, this is a tightly crafted short novel on impoverished small town New England. We‘ve just moved from ice to flowers everywhere, and added a rogue mysterious community hiding in a hard-to-reach backwood mountain. I adore Wharton. This feels new, like fresh loosening of her work.

Graywacke And another rewarding and terrific set of chats with #whartonbuddyread 1y

CarolynM It does feel closer to Ethan Frome than to the other novels we‘ve read, doesn‘t it? But I agree, it feels odd to say that. I‘m struggling with how to review it. 1y

batsy Lovely review! That last sentence—great way to describe it. I read this awhile back but the point about it being a parallel to EF in a way is somehow accurate. 1y

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Graywacke

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

A possible inspiration for the North Dormer library.

Summer - chapters XV-XVIII - the end of the book
#whartonbuddyread

I finished a few days ago and I‘m still in the “what just happened?” mode. Charity seems to make a decision and it‘s not one any of us would have chose for her. But she has made her peace. Did she really make this decision freely? Why did W once say, of Judge, he‘s the book? Have you made your own peace? Share your thoughts.

Graywacke @Cathythoughts @leftcoastzen @Currey @CarolynM @jewright @Lcsmcat @sparklemn @Louise @sarahbellum @batsy @Hanna-B @Daisey @ann_reads @llwheeler @Suet624 @arubabookwoman @catebutler @Catherine_Willoughby @crazeedi @mdm139 @emilyhaldi @rubyslippersreads @KathyWheeler @BookishTrish @imaslowreader 1y

Graywacke One prominent thought on my mind - what did Lucius think when he got that last letter? 1y

Currey No, even on the second reading it is a strangely disconcerting ending. Did Charity have a choice? She had so few options and the fact that Mr Royall showed some goodness while getting what he always wanted, made me feel as if it was a better ending than Charity living on the mountain. It nevertheless left me feeling so sad for her. 1y

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Currey @Graywacke Lucius, not knowing of Charity‘s condition, probably thought she had simply succumbed. However, did he also feel relief? 1y

Aimeesue The pic threw me for a loop - my grandparents' house is across the street from that library. My cousins and I grew up climbing all over the war memorial cannon that sits in front of it. 😄 1y

Lcsmcat I‘ve been sitting with this book for days now, and I‘m still not sure how I feel about that ending. The cynic in me @currey says that Lucius was relieved. But he was probably sad too. Kind of like, “I couldn‘t marry her, but I want to think she‘s out there for me if I changed my mind” type of sad. My sympathies are with Charity and Royall. Both know the marriage is a “make the best of a bad situation” thing. 1y

Lcsmcat Charity has so few choices available to her, and none of them good. So to answer last week‘s question 😄 this does feel like a feminist novel to me. But why did Wharton feel the need to make the abortionist SO horrible! Taking all her money when it was four times the agreed rate was the final Salt in the wound for me. 1y

Graywacke @Aimeesue whoa. Wow. How cool? I‘m asking myself, what are the chances? Wharton had her home in Lennox, MA, and drove around looking for story ideas. So she took in a lot of stuff. This town is one of the small towns she probably spent time in. (edited) 1y

Graywacke @Aimeesue source: https://www.thesmartset.com/article10230701/ 1y

Graywacke @Currey I‘m feeling my way through the Judge‘s actions. I feel he found a way, but I‘m not sure how much of the web was woven by him. And I‘m simply not comfortable with his actions. He could support her as her dad, as he should. The rest is uncomfortable to me. My brain is asking, was Charity maneuvered into this decision or is it more like @Lcsmcat put it, the best move, all things considered. 1y

Graywacke @Currey @Lcsmcat on Lucius. If we assume his feelings for Charity were genuine, then…? Perhaps he first thought was, “goodness, so fast. You didn‘t give me enough time.” But if we imagine he had already turned away, still he knew the Judge was an improper creep. So, was he horrified? Was Charity salting her own wound on him? Of course, he doesn‘t know of his child. (edited) 1y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat I‘m not sure how I feel either. I admire Charity‘s strength of character, but not her solution. Oye. But anyway I cook it, i have to admire it was her conscious decision. It‘s hers to judge, not mine. (Is Judge judging anything here? Or only everything?) 1y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat I was right pissed over the practitioner. ☹️ 1y

Daisey @Lcsmcat @Graywacke I hated how the woman charged Charity so much, but at the same time, I felt it was more to make a point of how much Charity would still sacrifice to have the brooch back in her own possession. Even with the child, she wanted this other physical memento of their relationship. 1y

Graywacke @Daisey yes, I completely agree. It doesn‘t express how deeply she wanted the brooch and memory and how valuable that fling was to her. 1y

Aimeesue @Graywacke I've been to her home there, The Mount, several times. The Berkshires were pretty lit - heavy- Herman Melville's home there (Arrowhead) is now a museum, and he was supposedly inspired to write Moby Dick by his view of one of the hills. Hawthorne spent a lot of time there (music venue is Tanglewood.) Emily Dickinson, of course, was The Belle of Amherst, where I went to school. Thanks for the article! 1y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke @Currey I agree Royall is creepy. But _could_ he support Charity, with a child, as her dad? He might be thinking only that he would be assumed to be the father, but he might also be thinking of her being able to continue living in the town. And where else could she go? Not that the mountain was a good solution, but with her mother‘s death it ceased to even be a viable one. 1y

Lcsmcat I‘m angry with Lucius too because while he might not know about the baby, he knew that a baby was a possibility. And he gets off with no consequences. 😡 1y

Graywacke @Daisey oye. Sorry. It *does express… 1y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat yup, Lucius walks away free. And he never risked anything 1y

Leftcoastzen I ended up not commenting last week , finished the book soon after. I admired Whartons skill of letting us know what happened w/o running afoul of censors! Poor Charity had few choices, the fact she married that man makes me shudder. It was a nasty twist that the provider was an awful , greedy person, as if Charity‘s situation wasn‘t punishment enough.Yet , I can see why she wanted the brooch.Sometimes a fleeting moment of passion seems worth it. 1y

Graywacke @Aimeesue ❤️ Melville. The literary history in that area is special. 1y

Graywacke @Leftcoastzen Do you also feel a little abused by Wharton here? Or just me? She certainly makes her point quite powerfully (although I can‘t say exactly what that point is. There‘s a lot of nuance) … (I imagine Wharton had a love hate relationship with her readers… 🙂… mind you, I admire her. And this story leaves me admiring her more. I think she we went deeper here into uncharted territory, more than in any previous story) (edited) 1y

Currey @Graywacke @Leftcoastzen I do feel as if Wharton twisted my sympathies certainly. She has Charity being very clear that she does not want out of her situation, she came to it with eyes wide open, but she wants to bring her child up in a place where the child will not be ostracized and she herself be judged by a set of morals she does not subscribe to. The ending is one solution to that problem, but is it the only one? Moving away with “Dad”? 1y

Leftcoastzen It did seem a bit abrupt.Yet , if it is about the judge, he got what he wanted. Eeewww.I think in a way,by not making a more tidy ending it might signify how the adventure is over. Especially for women . Because using a goddess reference maiden , mother ,crone? 1y

Leftcoastzen Funny I‘m reading a book about Sedgwick family who‘s home in Stockbridge dates from 1785, there‘s comments about the Gilded age invasion of Lenox.Here is what Hawthorne said about Tanglewood weather.”This is a horrible,horrible, most hor-ri-ble climate;one knows not,for ten minutes together,whether he is too cool or too warm;but he is always one or the other,and the constant result is a miserable disturbance of the system.I detest it!” 1y

Louise @graywacke and our lovely group, I apologize for being absent these past two Saturday mornings. I‘m going through a rough time with new treatments for chronic pain while also caregiving. I‘ll try to catch up with comments before we move on to the next book! 🤦🏻‍♀️ Will try to be more consistently here. 😌 1y

Graywacke @Currey I think there are other solutions, but not any she could know. Certainly the mountain turned out poorly. Maybe she needed to give it more of a chance. But I think that rocked her confidence. Well, maybe. 1y

Graywacke @Leftcoastzen re Chastity: that‘s so sad. I have wondered if that‘s the theme. Poor Minerva. Re Hawthorne: this, on the other hand, was very entertaining. NH needed to discover layers for his clothing. 🙂Thanks. 1y

Graywacke @Louise I‘m really sorry to hear about all you‘re going through. Wish you well. And I hope you find more time, and physical peace, to read to your mom. 1y

Leftcoastzen @louise hugs to you ! Care giving is hard & having pain is such a struggle. Hope things improve. 1y

Louise @Graywacke Thanks so much for your kind words, Dan. 1y

Louise @Leftcoastzen Thank you, Linda. Much appreciated! 1y

CarolynM I was not expecting that conclusion and it actually made me feel slightly sick. I understand the point about making it ok for her to be pregnant in North Dormer, but surely any decent person would be revolted by what is, in effect, incest. Does anyone believe that he was never going to touch her? I‘m afraid I don‘t. I am equally appalled by Lucius‘s behaviour. His treatment of both Charity and his fiancée was abhorrent.? 1y

CarolynM 👆I understand C giving in to the situation considering the emotional & physical trials of early pregnancy & her trip up the Mountain, but I wonder how long it would be before her old spirit returned & what she might do then. I think it would be ugly. @Lcsmcat I believe some abortionists genuinely wanted to help, but there were plenty whose only motivation was exploiting the vulnerable. Dr Merkle adds to the feminism of the novel for me. 1y

CarolynM @Louise I‘m sorry you‘re having a difficult time. I hope you have the time and inclination to keep up with this group because you add so much to it. Sending love and hugs💕 1y

Lcsmcat @CarolynM No, I don‘t believe that Royall will never touch her. I think he will take full advantage of her vulnerability. And C may or may not return to her feistiness, but she won‘t be happy. It‘s such a recipe for disaster! And the poor child is in for a difficult life too. So yes, @Graywacke I feel a bit beat up by Wharton! 1y

Lcsmcat @Louise I‘m sorry you‘re dealing with so much! Hugs and prayers. 1y

Graywacke @CarolynM @Lcsmcat - I think we‘re all a little repulsed and feeling beat up by W … 🤕 … And yet I think we will persist on reading her 1y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Hey, the next one is set in WWI. How bad could it get? 😂 1y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat 🫣 1y

40 likes41 comments

Graywacke

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

Was there a movie? This image is from summerthemovie.com

Summer - chapters XI XIV #whartonbuddyread

Charity tries to run away to the mountain, and ends up in a romance in an abandoned mansion. She is in love and denial. It‘s such a blind beautiful tragic love of full abandon (and symbolisms). Thoughts? Anyone else seeing variations on (*gasp*) Undine? How about on Minerva (Athena)?

Graywacke “She understood now the case of girls like herself to whom this kind of thing happened. They gave all they had, but their all was not enough : it could not buy more than a few moments. . . .” 1y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke That quote! We all knew what was going on, but I enjoyed seeing how Wharton made sure the reader knew without falling afoul of the censors. 1y

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Lcsmcat This one also resonated with me: “The first fall of night after a day of radiance often gave her a sense of hidden menace: it was like looking out over the world as it would be when love had gone from it.” 1y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat that‘s a really powerful line 1y

Currey @Graywacke @Lcsmcat Yes, powerful quotes. I am seeing hints of Undine. I also understand now why on first rereading the book I felt as if Charity had lost all her charm. She was wild and raw and ignorant. Now I realize the masterful writing of Wharton is slowly evolving Charity into someone who can give her all and who can see through her ignorance to a place where her all is not going to be good enough but she will gain something… 1y

Currey @Graywacke @Lcsmcat I don‘t think she will gain charm, that is not the right word, but something that makes her more fully herself….clay in a kiln so to speak. 1y

Lcsmcat @Currey @Graywacke Yes, she‘s going to gain something more than “experience” from this. - character, maybe? 1y

arubabookwoman Agree about the quote.It was one I had marked too. I admit that I did not finish Custom of the Country--I was behind & too late for the discussion, and I really disliked Undine, so it looks like I've just abandoned it for now, but I'm not seeing Undine in Charity. Charity is naive, yet all too knowledgeable about the ways of the world at the same time. Deep down Charity knows the perils of her relationship with Lucius, but I think she's 👇🏻 1y

arubabookwoman willfully blinding herself to how badly this will probably end. I like and pity Charity at the same time. 1y

Graywacke @Currey ( @Lcsmcat ) I‘m really interested in your rereading perspective. For me, i don‘t see Charity gaining anything for herself other than experience and tough life lessons. She may be learning. i do think she‘s gaining reader sympathy. I like her better the more we see her. 1y

Graywacke @arubabookwoman I totally see that. The relationship I see with Undine is that each has an instinctual nature that‘s impervious to influence. The natures of each character is different, but each has a powerful sort of lower brain set that goes up against the world. In my head, Wharton winds them up (I mean creates them) and lets them go. 🙂 ( @Currey ) 1y

Graywacke Curious symbols i have in mind: white dress, Balch-used shoes, bicycles, abandoned mansion. Also interesting to me was the Evangelist and C‘s response (dropping all her stuff without realizing it. She was stunned) 1y

arubabookwoman @Graywacke Yes that is a good description of how they are alike (of what I read of Undine). both have a fairly strong sense of self (maybe even a very big ego), think they know better than anyone else as to how to handle matters. 1y

Currey @arubabookwoman @Graywacke And pride…they are both full of pride. “You say you don‘t care but you‘re the proudest girl I know…” 1y

Graywacke @arubabookwoman @Currey - huh, I hadn‘t thought about it that way - ego and curious versions of pride. (Terrific quote) Does that put a feminist tilt on each? The non-submissive women 1y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Yes, I think there is a feminist angle to both women. Charity isn‘t going to play by the rules, even if she ends up getting hurt, because on some level she sees that the rules aren‘t there to protect her, but to protect the patriarchy? 1y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat i see that. The social rules are ropes that tie her to 3rd class dependent isolated quiet misery or poverty. (But it‘s still funny that she started by taking out her frustrations on the library) 1y

CarolynM I completely agree with @arubabookwoman about Charity and I also agree about her pride @Currey I think Charity is a lot more realistic about the world than Undine, who seemed to think she could bend it to her will. I don‘t think it‘s going to end well for Charity. 1y

arubabookwoman @CarolynM @Graywacke Yes pride is a word I thought of in connection with Charity--maybe what I was thinking of when I said "big ego." And now I think of the old saying, "Pride goes before a fall." 1y

38 likes20 comments

Daisey

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

pick

I finished the chapters for this week early this morning and couldn‘t stop. I had an idea where the story was going, and I just wanted to get through the rest of it and know for sure. The more of Wharton‘s writing I read, the more I decide I appreciate her shorter works more. I really enjoyed the description in this one even as I watched the events unfolding with foreboding.

#WhartonBuddyRead #1001books #SerialReader

Graywacke So glad you enjoyed! 1y

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Graywacke

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

Eek, I just realized I had the dates wrong. I had originally listed our discussion for tomorrow. But I meant to keep the Saturday schedule. Corrected dates above. We‘ll discuss chapters XI - XIV on Saturday (Nov 5) #whartonbuddyread

Lcsmcat

Graywacke @Cathythoughts @leftcoastzen @Currey @CarolynM @jewright @Lcsmcat @sparklemn @Louise @sarahbellum @batsy @Hanna-B @Daisey @ann_reads @llwheeler @arubabookwoman @Suet624 @catebutler @Catherine_Willoughby @crazeedi @mdm139 @emilyhaldi @rubyslippersreads @KathyWheeler @BookishTrish @imaslowreader 1y

Currey Wonderful. I am ahead of schedule then. 1y

Graywacke @Currey well, something positive then. 👍 Sorry for the confusion. 1y

Leftcoastzen It‘s all good ! Life is confusing!😄 1y

Graywacke @Leftcoastzen thanks. Yeah. 😐 1y

22 likes5 comments

Graywacke

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

Summer: chapters VI-X #whartonbuddyread

Lucius and Charity are friends. It just happens that their friendship leads her creepy father to kick Lucius out of town (to protect her). But there‘s is a charged friendship that persists into a courtship, and explodes during 4th of July fireworks in Needleton. What your thoughts on this section? And on Charity‘s character, and her background?

Graywacke How much of what Charity is doing is sort of by planned intent, and how much innocence? 1y

llwheeler I didn't pick up that much on Charity as animal in the last section, until you brought it up in the discussion, but I definitely see that strongly now. So I might use instinct for her, rather than innocence or intent. 1y

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Currey @llwheeler Yes, I at first thought Lucius was interested in Charity as an “exotic” but now I am seeing how her swings from fierce pride to out of control crying would be very alluring. I do not think that he was intentionally out to snare her (animal) but I can also see how he would begin to think he does not have to treat her as he would treat a young lady of his class. (edited) 1y

Currey @Graywacke. If I had not read all the other Wharton‘s I would no doubt have missed the theme of communication. The two friends communicate without words. Mr Royall attempts to communicate with Charity and it causes her for the first time to see him as an actual human being rather than a force meant to constrain her, but she doesn‘t actually understand the message. She can barely communicate with herself. 1y

Graywacke @llwheeler oh, an enlightenment moment. Instinct! That‘s the word i was missing. Thanks! I noticed, but didn‘t note where, Wharton uses the word “animal” in one her descriptions of Charity in these chapters. 1y

Graywacke @Currey great point. So frustrating for them. A lot of miscommunication. And whatever is said, changes meaning for the hearer. 1y

Graywacke @Currey regarding classes - it struck me that $10 bought her a whole outfit with hat. And L spent &10 on a horse and buggy ride without hesitation. Such different order of magnitude on their financial perspectives 1y

Lcsmcat Instinct is a good word for it. And she was obviously right to not trust Royal! Talk about creepy! 1y

CarolynM I was really struck by the way everybody judged Charity for doing nothing more than spending time with Lucius. Why is the assumption that something improper is happening rather than assuming an innocent friendship? I sincerely hope they are not going to be forced into marriage. Julia Hawes and the house on the corner with the big black sign feel topical right now. 1y

Leftcoastzen I think instinct is a good word for her.Having to fend off her step father & the feelings she must have about the limitations of her current situation kind of open her up to the attention of an outsider & someone above the local class.For Lucius ,there is more temptation to maybe not be a gentleman, since he is away from his friends & social circle (what happens in the boonies stays in the boonies) 1y

Leftcoastzen And I agree with @CarolynM Everyone jumping to conclusions about Charity , so much a sign of the times , harder on the woman . I got so mad at Royall the obvious double standard , calling Charity a whore when he‘s clearly cavorting! 1y

Graywacke @Leftcoastzen double-standard extreme 1y

jewright I feel so sorry for Charity. She really hasn‘t done anything wrong, and yet everyone is accusing her. And she has another offer of marriage from Royall. Yuck. I did love the descriptions of the fireworks in this section. I can also empathize with how they felt at a festival in the summer. It‘s fun but so hot and loud and crowded, and then there are too many people trying to leave. 1y

Graywacke @jewright that festive crowd chaos is tangible. ( I‘m picturing something along the lines if Dante‘s circles) 1y

27 likes15 comments

Daisey

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

I‘m halfway through the book and caught up for tomorrow‘s discussion. A lot happened in these chapters, and I‘m curious to see what happens next. Having read a few other Wharton novels, I‘m also worried about what will happen next.

#WhartonBuddyRead #SerialReader

LitStephanie With Wharton, it will likely not be happy. 1y

Daisey @LitStephanie Exactly, that's what I keep telling myself. This is most likely not going to end well . . . 1y

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Leftcoastzen

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

#thewaywelivenow Fall asleep at 7:30 wake at 10:30 and read the way I can with the lights off .
#whartonbuddyread

Lcsmcat, Graywacke

Graywacke It‘s a way. 🙂 Wish you a full nights sleep! 1y

Leftcoastzen @Graywacke I‘m calling it the Wharton cure ! A full nights sleep just happened.👏 1y

Graywacke @Leftcoastzen hopefully Wharton therapy and not Wharton soporific. 🙂 1y

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Leftcoastzen @Graywacke it was therapy ! The great writing dislodged the checklists and worries of the day! 1y

Graywacke @Leftcoastzen good. And i love that. I‘m in a weird state of mind where it‘s hard for me to get lost in a book. But it happened oddly lately. I was reading through the references on the back of a book, and lost track of time, place, everything 🙂 1y

Leftcoastzen @Graywacke I love that feeling.I find it not happening as often as it used to. 1y

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Graywacke

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

Summer: Chapters I-VI

Welcome to tiny North Dormer, in the shadow of Eagle Mountain. Charity Royall is a terrible librarian and ready to bail, and outsider Lucius Harney may provide an opportunity. She recently rejected a marriage proposal from her adopted dad(!). She‘s from “up the mountain”, and doesn‘t know her parents. We‘re starting to learn what this all means. The mountain is a little spooky at this point. How are you getting along?

Graywacke #whartonbuddyread (i was actually worried about reading Summer in October. But, if it stays this spooky, maybe our timing is perfect) 1y

Graywacke @Cathythoughts @leftcoastzen @Currey @CarolynM @jewright @Lcsmcat @sparklemn @Louise @sarahbellum @batsy @Hanna-B @Daisey @ann_reads @llwheeler
@Sace @Suet624 @arubabookwoman @catebutler @Catherine_Willoughby @crazeedi @mdm139 @emilyhaldi @rubyslippersreads @KathyWheeler @BookishTrish @imaslowreader 1y

Currey This is my seconding reading but after having read so much other Wharton I am finding it to be more haunting. Also Charity is rawer and rougher than my recall. Where are her remembered charms? What does Lucius see in her? An exotic? Or is it “even the devil‘s daughter is beautiful at nineteen” and why did the elderly Royall save Charity from the mountain? For himself? Yuck!! Okay, all questions rather than answers. 1y

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Currey Really loved the whole page about smells at the beginning of V. 1y

Currey “…and wondered if he felt any deader in his grave than she felt in his library” 1y

arubabookwoman @Currey It's also my second rereading, and I also did not remember Charity being so raw, uneducated, and dare I say vulgar. I remember her having aspirations for a higher social status. 1y

arubabookwoman I don't really have much to say so far. It seems to be pretty much setting the scene for the main story. And I hadn't really remembered Lawyer Royall's attempted incursion into Charity's bedroom, tho' something like that seems to have been anticipated by (lady that owned library-forget the name) with the talk of sending Charity off to boarding school. 1y

Graywacke @Currey @arubabookwoman so interesting to see your reread perspectives. Your combined memory/revisits of Charity is a little different from my first time take. I see her as a bunch of conflicts and un-worked out deeper issues. She‘s as much animal as human - sheltered, selfish, uneducated, uncurious. Her lolling on the ground in grass or flowers is - well, a lot of things. Sexy, sensual, connected to nature, weird, and again, a little animal. 1y

Graywacke He dad is not a good guide, but Lucius (almost luscious) clearly is not revolted. I think he might like that she‘s a little wild. What a weird place and weird people. What weird names! 1y

Graywacke Wharton wrote this during WWI, where she was very active in support of the French (in the war where they were as Germany, and everyone else). I‘m curious about the relationship. To me, this seems like an escape from that, but maybe with elements of it. Like war reveals, she seems to be cutting down towards base humanity. 1y

Lcsmcat @curey @arubabookwoman My second reading too, and my memory of Charity was “softer” than she seems this time. 1y

Lcsmcat I wonder about her name. Was she always Charity, or did they change her name when they “adopted” her? 1y

Lcsmcat And did anyone else get hints that Lawyer Royall had a scandal behind him that was keeping him in this small town? (Not a spoiler - I honestly can‘t remember.) 1y

Louise @Lcsmcat I seem to recall a line about Charity‘s name and how it seemed to go well with their gesture in taking her in, but I can‘t find that passage at the moment. 1y

Louise Reading this book aloud to my mom, we often found passages we wanted to hear again. Sometimes, it‘s the use of a particular word; other times it‘s a whole passage. I‘ll just post a few here. 1y

Louise “Entering her prison-house [the library]…she took off her hat and hung it on the plaster bust of Minerva.” Did the evocation of Minerva strike you as symbolic? Goddess of “strategic war”, courage, justice, law, etc., as well as, oddly, poetry, the arts, trade. (edited) 1y

Louise In one passage, Lucian‘s indifference as he went about looking at books in the library “nettled her”, a clever reminder of Nettleton and how Lucian arrives as a kind of representative of the world beyond North Dormer. 1y

Louise The second paragraph of chapter five and another passage later on brought the beginning of The Canterbury Tales to mind. In both books, the burgeoning of Spring is described with desire and passion-filled beauty that mirrors the awakening of sensual/sexual desire in the people who observe and experience it. A small example from chapter 5, par. 2: “All this bubbling of sap and slipping of sheaths and bursting of calyxes was carried to her on… 1y

Louise “…mingled currents of fragrance.” 1y

Louise Compare to the Middle English of Chaucer: Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote,
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licóur
Of which vertú engendred is the flour;
Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
Hath in the Ram his halfe cours y-ronne,
And smale foweles maken melodye, That slepen al the nyght with open ye, … (edited) 1y

Louise …So priketh hem Natúre in hir corages,
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages… 1y

Louise @Currey @Graywacke Your comments earlier allude to this theme as well. Lucius/Luscious—interesting observation, Dan! Also interesting, your comment about Charity being part human/part animal in her connection to Nature when she rolls about in the grass. Perhaps not yet fully developed as a person. @Lcsmcat Your idea about a scandal in Lawyer Royall‘s past would explain a lot! (edited) 1y

Currey @Louise thank you for the comparison to Canterbury Tales. That was lovely. 1y

CarolynM I can‘t say I like Charity very much so far and I don‘t know what Lucius sees in her. I‘m interested to see where this is going, but hoping it‘s not the “promising young man ruined by obsession with unsuitable girl” trope. 1y

Lcsmcat @CarolynM 😂🤣 love it! 1y

Lcsmcat @Louise I love the quotes you posted! And the Canterbury Tales connection is spot on. Sometimes reading aloud really brings things out in the text, doesn‘t it? 1y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @Louise very interesting idea about a Royall scandal. Creepy guy. (edited) 1y

Graywacke @Louise i love that you‘re reading this out-loud to your mom. I know you have done that before. But especially nice with the Canterbury Tales. Chaucer will be a 2023 theme for me. I recognize that opening, but I haven‘t read Chaucer before. 1y

Lcsmcat I went looking for the passage that hinted of scandal and couldn‘t find it, but I did find the quote that shows they renamed Charity. 👇🏻 1y

Lcsmcat “She knew that she had been christened Charity (in the white church at the other end of the village) to commemorate Mr. Royall‘s disinterestedness in “bringing her down,” and to keep alive in her a becoming sense of her dependence;” 1y

Louise @CarolynM I have a bit of the opposite trepidation: small-town girl heartbroken after promising young man moves on from summer romance. Either way, we both know this is Edith Wharton, so sadness is on the way! 🙁 1y

Louise @Graywacke You will love Chaucer! I took a course at uni on The Canterbury Tales, and it was like attending a stand-up comedy show at every class, as the professor brought out Chaucer‘s humor so brilliantly! You‘ll soon get used to the Middle English. It‘s earthy and somehow charming. (edited) 1y

Louise @Lscmcat @Graywacke Yes, reading aloud to another person is a beautiful way to share a text. One becomes even more aware of the lyricism in Wharton‘s prose. It‘s so different from reading silently and simply hearing the story in one‘s head. Voicing it puts it “out in the world” and kind of tests the text‘s mettle. 1y

Louise @Lcsmcat Wow, that quote you found about naming Charity takes on a sinister tone in light of today‘s discussion. It‘s like Royall wants to control her from childhood onwards with a sense of obligation and inequality. Arrgh! 1y

Louise @Currey Glad you enjoyed the Chaucer connection! 1y

Leftcoastzen Wow such great comments, love referencing Canterbury tales @Louise 1y

Leftcoastzen Charity does seem rough around the edges , I love the foreshadowing. I feel that she‘s going to find disturbing facts up on the mountain! Stepdad just ewwww!😖 1y

Graywacke @CarolynM @Louise I‘m wondering where it‘s going too. @Lcsmcat that quote! Phew 1y

CarolynM @Louise Yes, I‘d prefer it to avoid that one too😆 1y

llwheeler I'm enjoying this one so far, and everyone's comments. I'm finding it a bit slower to start than some of her others, though maybe that's just me 1y

Daisey I just finished these chapters on a first read, and I‘m intrigued. The previous comments definitely got me thinking more about the names. Edith Wharton is a bit of a hit or miss author for me, but I‘m hopeful about this one as I tend to prefer her shorter works and think the group will give me a better appreciation of what I read. 1y

jewright Mr. Royall is just yucky. Unfortunately, everyone seems to acknowledge what‘s happening, but they plan to ignore it. Lucius seems intrigued with her because she‘s different, but he doesn‘t seem overly surprised she‘s from the mountain. Charity strikes me as smart and strong enough to force what she wants. She is a little manipulative. I‘m intrigued thus far. 1y

Graywacke @Louise the Minerva statue has me wondering. Does putting your hat on it mean you‘re like that, or your wearing that aspect? Putting your hat on a chaste warrior goddess famous for her shield. Hmm. Not sure what it means. But I won‘t take Charity lightly. 1y

Graywacke @Leftcoastzen the foreshadowing… I sense it too, but of what? I don‘t know. And what is up with that mountain? 1y

Graywacke @llwheeler Definitely slower than the longer Wharton novels. The style is a lot like Ethan Frome, carefully crafted and compact, with a heavily built-in subtext. 1y

Graywacke @Daisey Some of the weird names:
Miss Hatchard
Annabel Balch
Honorius Hatchard
Ally Hawes
Lucius Harney
Orma Fry
Eudora Skeff
Verena Marsh
Carrick Fry
Ida Targatt (hmm)
Bill Solas
Liff Hyatt
Dan Targatt
Bash Hyatt 1y

Graywacke @jewright Lawyer Royall is awful yucky - but Charity does control him. That‘s interesting. Something to her character. Perhaps a Minerva/warrior… Now that you mention it, how Lucius responded to learning Charity is of the mountain of note. Glad you highlighted it. He was curiously intrigued yet nonchalant. I wonder how that plays into who he is/what he‘s doing. 1y

Louise @Graywacke Seeing all those strange names in a list is really funny! Yes, the Minerva statue must mean something. . . I wonder if Charity‘s manner of tossing her hat on the goddess‘s head shows a disrespect or ignorance of the strong forces at work in her life. Minerva as goddess of law and justice could evoke Royall‘s profession, yet Charity knows her own strength regarding him (sometimes). So who can guess Wharton‘s purpose there! 🤔 (edited) 1y

36 likes48 comments

johncadams

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

She didn't just write about rich people. Summer takes the reader far from society New York. Not an easy read, but so well written.

Graywacke We‘re reading this now in the #whartonbuddyread 🙂 1y

Graywacke Also I really enjoyed your review. 1y

johncadams @Graywacke Thank you for reading it! 1y

See All 7 Comments

johncadams @Graywacke Excellent! What do you all think of it? 1y

Graywacke @johncadams I‘m only 6 chapters in. Got a touch spooky. Curious where it‘s going, and I‘m thoroughly enjoying the names. 1y

johncadams @Graywacke Her names are always fabulous! I hope you enjoy it. I was curious about the plot development, too.
1y

Graywacke @johncadams thanks. I hope so too. (I am, so far. A lot) 1y

34 likes7 comments

Leftcoastzen

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

Started my #whartonbuddyread Nacho feels he‘s being exploited. #catsofLitsy

Lcsmcat, Graywacke

Lcsmcat Sweet kitty! 😻 1y

Graywacke Gorgeous kitty. (He does look a little unsure about the metallic thingy. 🙂) 1y

Daisey I started chapter 1 last night and am looking forward to reading this one with a group! 1y

See All 14 Comments

IndoorDame He‘s beautiful 😻 1y

LeahBergen He‘s so cute! 1y

Leftcoastzen @Lcsmcat he‘s a bit of a curmudgeon! 1y

Leftcoastzen @Graywacke 😁drama king 1y

Leftcoastzen @LeahBergen he‘s very full of himself 1y

Leftcoastzen @Daisey I read the first 2 chapters , love her writing 1y

Leftcoastzen @IndoorDame and he knows it! 1y

jewright I need to get started! 1y

Simona Beautiful 😻 1y

Liz_M 😾I am notch-yo book rest 😸😂 1y

Leftcoastzen @Liz_M 😸👏 1y

58 likes1 stack add14 comments

Graywacke

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

Just a reminder - we‘ll discuss chapters I-V Saturday. (I‘m traveling but I think I can still host ok)
#whartonbuddyread

Lcsmcat

Graywacke @Cathythoughts @leftcoastzen @Currey @CarolynM @jewright @Lcsmcat @sparklemn @Louise @sarahbellum @batsy @Hanna-B @Daisey @ann_reads @llwheeler @Sace @Suet624 @arubabookwoman @catebutler @Catherine_Willoughby @crazeedi @mdm139 @emilyhaldi @rubyslippersreads @KathyWheeler @BookishTrish @imaslowreader 1y

Hanna-B Thanks. What time is the discussion? 1y

Leftcoastzen I need to get on it. 1y

See All 20 Comments

CarolynM All set🙂 1y

Daisey Thanks for the reminder! I had the 22nd in mind but as a start date rather than first discussion. I just downloaded the first issue/chapter on Serial Reader. 1y

Graywacke @Hanna-B um … well… 🙂😁☺️… I‘ve never promised a time before. I‘ll try for early (US Central time). 1y

Hanna-B @Graywacke ok cool. I may not be able to join in with the time difference 1y

batsy I was keen to join in until my mother's health issues flared up again 3 weeks ago. I loved this when I first read it but I'm too wiped out at the moment to do a sustained group read, unfortunately 😟 Hope to be able to join you for the next book. 1y

Graywacke @batsy oh, goodness. I‘m sorry about your mother and wish her well. (edited) 1y

Graywacke @Leftcoastzen you do! 🙂 @CarolynM 👍 @Daisey cool that you‘re using Serial Reader. I don‘t know much about it, but it always sounded like a nice way to read classics. 1y

Graywacke @Hanna-B you don‘t need to post at any specific time. Any time is fine. It‘s ok to wait a day or more. It‘s a somewhat global discussion group, so there are a variety of time zones to accommodate. We‘ll find your comments (you can tag specific people to whom you‘re directing your post so they get a notification.) 1y

CarolynM @batsy Sorry to hear that, hope your mother improves and you get some rest💕 1y

batsy @Graywacke @CarolynM Thank you. She's getting better bit by bit; your good thoughts mean a lot 💜 1y

Lcsmcat @batsy I‘m sorry to hear about your mother. I hope she continues to improve and you can also get some rest. 1y

batsy @Lcsmcat Thank you so much 💕 1y

MicheleinPhilly Sending you ❤️ Suba. @batsy 1y

batsy @MicheleinPhilly Thank you, Michele ❤️ 1y

Graywacke @Hanna-B hi. I thought it might help you to see an earlier discussion post, to get a sense how this works. If you would like to do that, try this link - which should go to the first post about The Custom of the Country - our previous book. Lcsmcat's post on Litsy https://litsy.com/p/M0RHYVNvVndv (note that it will pull you out of the App and into a browser). 1y

johncadams Hope you enjoy this one! 1y

Graywacke @johncadams thanks! It‘s good stuff so far. 1y

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Graywacke

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

Reminder - after a bit of a break, our next #whartonbuddyread is coming soon, two weeks away. ⛈ 🌈 ☀️ 🌷🌻🌼🌸🌺

Lcsmcat

Graywacke @Cathythoughts @leftcoastzen @Currey @CarolynM @jewright @Lcsmcat @sparklemn @Louise @sarahbellum @batsy @Hanna-B @Daisey 2y

Graywacke If you‘re tagged above, I have some sort of confirmation you wanted to be tagged for this specific buddy read 🙂 (certainly, let me know if that has changed) (edited) 2y

Lcsmcat I can‘t believe how fast this fall is going! 2y

See All 37 Comments

Graywacke @Lcsmcat yeah, zooming along! 🙂 2y

Graywacke @ann_reads @Sace @Suet624 @arubabookwoman @catebutler @Catherine_Willoughby @crazeedi @mdm139 @emilyhaldi @rubyslippersreads @KathyWheeler @llwheeler @BookishTrish @imaslowreader 2y

Graywacke If you‘re tagged immediately above, I _think_ you want to be tagged, but I‘m not sure. So if you have a preference, please let me know. 2y

Cathythoughts Thankyou! I‘ve read sumner. I might read again or wait till the next book. Thanks for the tag 👍🏻 2y

Leftcoastzen Yay! 2y

sarahbellum I‘m going to sit this one out, but will probably jump back in for Age of Innocence 2y

AnnR I'm also going to sit this one out but am very interested in reading The Age of Innocence in 2023. Thanks for the tag, Graywacke. 🙂 2y

Graywacke @sarahbellum @Ann_Reads yes, I remember you both mentioned that. I‘ll keep tagging you so you can follow. I think we‘ll do The Marne next and Age of Innocence after. 2y

Graywacke @Cathythoughts sounds good! 👍 @Leftcoastzen you sound ready! 💪 (I‘m excited too ☺️) 2y

llwheeler Thanks for the tag! I knew we were getting close to the next read but forgot exactly when it was 2y

jewright I was just thinking today we should be staring the next Wharton book soon! I‘m ready! 2y

Hanna-B I‘ll try and get a wriggle on. Been stuck on Crossroads 2y

CarolynM Looking forward to it 🙂 2y

Sparklemn This month is already getting away from me. I'm going to pass on Summer but may join you for the next! 2y

Graywacke @llwheeler @jewright @CarolynM oh good, sounds like we‘re ready. 2y

Graywacke @Hanna-B this should be somewhere around 3 hours a week (of course we all read a different speeds and Wharton usually slows down readers, so add time). But maybe you could use this as a Franzen break? 2y

Graywacke @Sparklemn no problem. Have a good October. Let me know if you want me to keep tagging you. 2y

arubabookwoman I read this (for 2nd time after reading it 1st in my 20's I think) within the last 5 years ir so (and reviewed it on LT. But it's one of my favorite Whartons, so I think I will try to read it again and join in. Are we going to do The Children, another of my favorite Whartons, which is devastating in a different way than her usual in that it focuses on the children of these high society people and how they are bounced about & ignored? 2y

arubabookwoman For some reason I'm still stuck about 3/4's through The Custom of the Country and having a hard time making myself keep reading. I dislike Undine so much! 2y

Graywacke @arubabookwoman so happy you‘re joining! The Children is a later book, 1928. There are 7 longer works of fiction between Summer and The Children. (We can always consider that we (or I) might be a little too stubbornly committed to reading in publication order, and adjust.) 2y

Graywacke @arubabookwoman I completely understand about disillusioning Undine. 2y

arubabookwoman I don't mind going in order. I've never read one author this systematically before. It's interesting to follow how the author develops over time. 2y

Hanna-B @Graywacke going to buy it on my iPad and get started. Finished the Franzen today. Started a non fiction read today too 2y

Lcsmcat I didn‘t even notice. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 1y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat i was have skipped to December 🤦🏻‍♂️ 1y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke An easy mistake. Once Halloween is past the retailers all think it‘s Christmas, so . . . 😂 1y

CarolynM I just assumed Saturdays (or Sunday my time) thanks for clarifying. I‘m going to be away this weekend so I‘ll probably be later than usual with my comments. 1y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat 🤣🤣 I‘m in tune with my inner Target. 1y

Graywacke @CarolynM enjoy your weekend (hopefully it‘s a good kind of traveling) 1y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke 😂🤣😂 1y

CarolynM Yep, it‘s wine bottling and Bendigo Blues Festival weekend. Can‘t wait to get started😁 1y

Graywacke @CarolynM I don‘t what Bendigo blues are, but enjoy! Drink great wine! 1y

CarolynM Bendigo is a city in central Victoria where there‘s a blues music festival on the weekend after Cup Day. Our wine is pretty good, but “great” might be stretching it😂 1y

36 likes37 comments

LitsyEvents

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

Summer is the next book for the #WhartonBuddyRead.
See @Graywacke ‘s post on Litsy https://litsy.com/p/ZEJ0UzFHbHdL

LitsyEvents #BuddyRead 2y

32 likes1 comment

Graywacke

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

Looking ahead a bit. For those who want to continue on with, or join the #whartonbuddyread , our next novel will be Summer, and we‘ll start mid-October.

Summer is a novel Edith Wharton liked a lot, but critics often overlook. It‘s an outside-New-York-leisure-class novel, that takes place in New England. Wharton apparently called it her “hot Ethan”.

Lcsmcat

Graywacke @jewright @Louise @Sace @Suet624 @arubabookwoman @Currey @catebutler @Catherine_Willoughby @crazeedi @mdm139 @emilyhaldi @rubyslippersreads @KathyWheeler @llwheeler @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @BookishTrish @graywacke @leftcoastzen @ann_reads @sparklemn @sarahbellum @imaslowreader 2y

Leftcoastzen Yay! I‘m in 2y

See All 33 Comments

batsy I might try to join in for this one 🙂 Do you happen to have a schedule of what's the next few books after Summer? 2y

Graywacke @Leftcoastzen 👏 2y

Graywacke @batsy a list, but not a schedule. Next five, maybe: - The Marne, 1918
- The Age of Innocence, 1920 (Pulitzer Prize winner)
- The Glimpses of the Moon, 1922
- A Son at the Front, 1923
- Old New York, 1924 2y

batsy @Graywacke Thank you! Going to try to acquire copies where possible and join in if I can; only have The Age of Innocence out of those. 2y

Graywacke @batsy the Marne isn‘t too hard to find (well, in the US). Those last three might be, though. 2y

Catsandbooks @LitsyEvents 2y

Cathythoughts Thankyou! I‘ve read this one , so I hope to reread. 2y

Hanna-B Sounds great! 2y

Graywacke @Catsandbooks thanks! Did you want to join? 2y

Currey @Graywacke @Cathythoughts I have read Summer, but I also will reread with everyone 2y

Graywacke @Hanna-B I‘ll add you to the list. 👍 2y

Graywacke @Cathythoughts @Currey i had never heard of Summer before we started this theme. Glad you‘re both joining! 2y

sarahbellum Probably won‘t join in again until Age of Innocence, but please continue to tag me. Thanks for organizing! 2y

CarolynM I‘m in. Looking forward to it. @batsy I downloaded a Complete Works from iBooks when we started because I knew wouldn‘t find them all in the shops. It only cost about $3 - the benefit of being out of copyright 😆 (edited) 2y

Graywacke @sarahbellum no worries. We‘ll keep you on. AoI might be January or later. 2y

Graywacke @CarolynM I‘ve thought of picking something like that up. The collected works are not my favorite format, but it will do. 2y

AnnR I'm going to take a little break from Wharton but do plan to join in for AoI in 2023. Thank you @Graywacke and @Lcsmcat for continuing to host these buddy reads. Much appreciated! 2y

CarolynM Not my favourite either, but it is convenient 2y

Hanna-B @Graywacke thanks 2y

jewright I bought the Kindle complete works for a couple of dollars. I would rather read a different format, but that way I don‘t have to remember to buy the books all the time. 2y

Lcsmcat @batsy You can find them on Project Gutenberg here for free https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=Edith+Wharton&submit_search=Searc... 2y

batsy @CarolynM @Lcsmcat Thank you for that! I totally forgot about out of copyright/Gutenberg 🙂 I love whatever Wharton I've read, so might try to get copies of certain books while using the free ebook for others. 2y

Catsandbooks No thank you, I just wanted to spread the word and have it posted on Litsy Events so others know about the group ☺️ 2y

Graywacke @Catsandbooks i thought so, but I wanted to be sure. Thanks! 2y

Sparklemn I‘m in! 2y

Louise Would love to participate and will do my best to make it happen. 2y

Graywacke @Sparklemn @Louise I‘m glad you‘re both joining. 2y

Daisey I‘m hoping to join in for this one as it‘s on the #1001books list. 2y

Graywacke @Daisey - whoops, I never responded. I‘m glad you‘re joining, and I added you to the list. Cool to know its on the 1001 list. 2y

Graywacke @Ann_Reads hi. Sorry, late response. Did you want me to keep tagging you about Summer? 2y

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johncadams

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

Summer by Edith Wharton takes the reader far from society New York.

#Summer #literature

31 likes

Centique

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

This lovely Edith Wharton just turned up in my letterbox - @Cathythoughts is this from you? I know you are an EW fan and I am very keen to become a fan too, she‘s certainly in my favourite era and genre, so this is a lovely gift 💕😍💕

TrishB Love mystery book mail ❤️ 2y

LeahBergen Lovely gift. 😊 And it‘s a good read, too! 2y

batsy Agree with @LeahBergen ! That's a lovely edition. 2y

Cathythoughts Oh great Paula! I‘m thrilled you received this ...I read it only last year and loved it. Happy Christmas X 2y

Centique @Cathythoughts thank you so much Cathy! You are so kind 💕 2y

75 likes5 comments

Cathythoughts

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

pick

Maybe my last book of summer, I planned to read it earlier.
Edith Wharton has created another unforgettable heroine. … Charity .. is brought down from the poor mountain as a baby and taken in by the Royall family. Set in New England in North Dormer.
Edith had me under her spell once again , Charity making tough choices in life when she is so young & her heart is so tender. The writing shimmers & shines.

TrishB Beautiful review and picture. 3y

Cathythoughts @TrishB Thanks Trish , I really loved it ❤️💔 3y

AlaMich That‘s a lovely edition. 3y

See All 17 Comments

Cathythoughts @AlaMich isn‘t it a beautiful cover 💫 3y

Tamra I could do a whole Wharton reread I love her so much! It‘s been a long time. 😊 3y

TrishB My vice chancellor is a Wharton expert 👍🏻 3y

AlaMich @TrishB @Tamra The hosts of a bookish podcast I listen to were talking about the reason why there were so few notable American women writers in the 19th century compared to England. A big reason was that American women had so much less time. The custom of having servants or some type of help, regardless of socio-economic status, in England never made it to the US. (edited) 3y

LeahBergen Ahh, I read this years ago and loved it, too. 😍 3y

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen It‘s a heartbreaker ❤️ so good .. She has another one set in New England, I must find that one 👍🏻 (edited) 3y

Cathythoughts @Tamra She is an exceptional writer .. I love her .. I loved Lily , and Charity , I must look back & remember the characters.. she goes straight to the heart 3y

Cathythoughts @Trishb I think you might like this one ?! Do you have it ? I think it may be your birthday soon 🤔 🤔 3y

Cathythoughts @TrishB Sorry , a rhetorical question 🙈 3y

TrishB 😂😂 I have to make a co cession that I haven‘t read any Wharton! 3y

batsy Gorgeous book and photo! I too read it years ago and really liked it. 3y

Cathythoughts @batsy She is such a good writer… I might try another one soon. I‘m thinking maybe ..

The Glimpses of the Moon

(edited) 3y

batsy @Cathythoughts She really is! I haven't read that one & I see I have it stacked 🙂 3y

Centique Beautiful review Cathy! I would stack it but I already have ☺️ 3y

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anniebannanie

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

so-so

Wow. Not the choice I would‘ve made, but go off Charity Royall.

1 like

ValerieAndBooks

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

pick

This had been TBR for years, amongst all my other already-read Wharton novels. Finally picked up for #authoramonth2020 & #1001books and am glad I did. While not Wharton‘s strongest work, this story of 18-yo Charity Royall falling into love and then falling into tough situations resonated with me. Published in 1917 — surely would be different for Charity today, but by how much?

Soubhiville

SamAnne Yes. Read Age of Innocence and House of Mirth last month. Women have more choices today but so much still resonates. And I‘m watching the excellent FX show Mrs. America about Phyllis Schlafly, Gloria Steinem and other feminists about the battle over the ERA and all I want to do is sing the Talking Heads song “Same as it ever was, same as it ever was! (edited) 4y

Cathythoughts Lovely picture ❤️ 4y

ValerieAndBooks @SamAnne I wish I had the FX channel. That show does look very good and informative. A while back I read a good book that in part covered this fight

When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present

ValerieAndBooks @Cathythoughts thank you 😊 4y

69 likes2 stack adds4 comments

Eggs

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

so-so

MC Charity Royall escaped her poor and drug-addled family on the mountain to live in town with her guardian. Her adolescence is restless in nature, then she falls in love with someone she shouldn‘t. There is hope for her, but not quite what she expected...

#authoramonth
@Soubhiville

BarbaraBB The only Wharton that I didn‘t thoroughly enjoy. (edited) 4y

Eggs Wow ! Have you read a lot by her? What others do you recommend? @BarbaraBB 4y

BarbaraBB

House of Mirth

BarbaraBB The above may be my favorite but I loved The Age of Innocence and Ethan Frome too. 4y

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TheBookHippie

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

#Wharton

Crazeedi Beautiful 💛💙💚 4y

54 likes1 comment

saresmoore

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

I love her descriptions and the effortless way she propels a story. Every sentence adds beauty and purpose to the narrative.

MicheleinPhilly Glad to “see” you. Hope you‘re all hanging in there! 5y

saresmoore @MicheleinPhilly Things are surprisingly okay here! No major damage and we still have power! 5y

MicheleinPhilly 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 5y

See All 11 Comments

LauraBeth That‘s beautiful ❤️ 5y

LeahBergen Glad you‘re safe! I liked this book (and now I feel like reading another Wharton). 5y

saresmoore @LeahBergen I really like it, too. She‘s a master at tone and pacing. 5y

Suet624 Glad to hear you‘re safe. 5y

ReadingEnvy When I googled blue-bottles it shows me blue bottles, literally, and a scary venemous jellyfish with that name. Any idea what she means? A bug? A bird? 5y

saresmoore @ReadingEnvy I‘ve seen them referenced in other books and I THINK they‘re those big fat sluggish flies. 5y

Centique @ReadingEnvy I think @saresmoore is right and they‘re a kind of fly. I‘ve heard them called blue-bottle flies by older people round here. ALSO we get the blue bottle jellyfish wash up here on the rare occasion - Not Nice At All 😮 5y

saresmoore @Centique Ooh, jellyfish give me the heebie jeebies! 😱 5y

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catebutler

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

pick

Read for my #SeasonsByTheBook club. Overall, ‘Summer‘ is a ‘coming of age‘ story. Charity matures from a naive, romantic, & inexperienced girl to a young adult who has learned difficult lessons & made realistic choices – all in the space of a few weeks. She has rebelled against her guardian, fallen in love, become sexually active, experienced emotional betrayal, & faced her problematic origins, before making a choice which will affect her future.

Cathythoughts Lovely review! I havnt read this one , but I do love this author 5y

catebutler @Cathythoughts Thank you, Kathy! She‘s a favourite of mine too. I hope you get to this down the road. 😊 5y

saresmoore Oh, I very much want to read this! Great review! 5y

See All 8 Comments

catebutler @saresmoore Thank you! Love to hear what you think, once you read it. 🤗 5y

erzascarletbookgasm Lovely review and pic! I hope to get to this soon. 👍 5y

batsy I enjoyed this one, too! But I suspect Wharton can do no wrong in my eyes 🙂 5y

catebutler @erzascarletbookgasm Thank you! Looking forward to you review of it. 💓 5y

catebutler @batsy I feel the same way about her. I‘ve loved everything of hers that I‘ve read. 5y

51 likes3 stack adds8 comments

sprainedbrain

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

pick

Another epic fail at trying to stick to one issue per day on @SerialReader but that‘s a sign of an enjoyable read for me. 😊

This is not my favorite Wharton so far (I loved Ethan Frome more than ‘hot Ethan‘ I guess), but it‘s still full of lovely writing and the descriptions of the natural world here are beautiful. Smart, witty, seductive, and ultimately sad, this was a perfect summer read for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#1001books

101 likes2 stack adds

catebutler

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

"I have only to break into the tightness of a strawberry, and I see summer — its dust and lowering skies." - Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eyes

Today marks the summer solstice, the longest day of the year and the official start of summer. This day brings forth images of fairy rings, a basket brimming with wildflowers, afternoon picnics, evening bonfires, and a whiff of magic.

#summersolstice #SeasonsByTheBook

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Love that photo 🌼 5y

catebutler @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Thank you!! Happy Friday! 5y

LeahBergen My favourite biscuits ❤️ 5y

See All 18 Comments

vumblereads Love those biscuits 😋 5y

Freespirit Winter solstice here Cate. Love your summery photo❤️ 5y

saresmoore Such a lovely picture! 5y

catebutler @LeahBergen They are so good! Of course, these were immediately eaten after taking the photo! 😉 5y

catebutler @vumblereads I know! It‘s been a little while since I last had them, when I ate these two, I kept thinking, “how did I forget how amazing these were!” 5y

catebutler @Freespirit A lovely time of year too! Enjoy snuggling in warm blankets, a crackling fire, and a cosy read! 🧦📖❄️ 5y

catebutler @saresmoore Thank you!! 🧡 5y

erzascarletbookgasm What a lovely photo! 💗👏 And what biscuits are those that everyone loves? 5y

Cathythoughts Lovely picture... will light fire outside ♥️ 5y

JazzFeathers Always love your photos 5y

catebutler @erzascarletbookgasm Thank you! These are the biscuits, they‘re so delicious!! Kind of like Speculoos cookies. http://www.biscoff.com/indulge/lotus-biscoff-cookies 5y

catebutler @Cathythoughts How lovely! I hope you had a wonderful time on the summer solstice! 🌿☀️ 5y

catebutler @JazzFeathers Thank you, Sarah! What a kind compliment!! 5y

BookBabe Gorgeous photo! 5y

catebutler @BookBabe Thank you!! 💓 5y

52 likes18 comments

Lcsmcat

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

A lovely #summer read. #30JuneBooks @howjessreads

Melissa_J What a pretty cover! 5y

Lcsmcat @Melissa_J I wish it were my edition. Mine‘s the free eBook version with no cover to speak of. 5y

Cathythoughts Oh I‘m definitely going to read this this summer ... beautiful cover ✨✨✨✨ 5y

53 likes3 comments

2BR02B

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

so-so

This book is something of an anti-romance.

The prose is very successful in juxtaposing the flowering romance between the protagonist, Charity Royall, and her dashing love interest, Lucius Harney, with picturesque scenes of pastoral splendor. However, even as the height of summer portends the autumn, the heights of Lucius and Charity's passion sow the seeds of loss.

This story was poignant, if a bit simple. I plan to read more by Wharton.

2BR02B #SerialReader 6y

62 likes1 comment

SaraBeagle

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

The perfect book to read on a perfect night for camping.

38 likes1 stack add

2BR02B

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

I'm really enjoying the naturalistic imagery in this one. #SerialReader

Crazeedi Beautiful 6y

64 likes1 comment

Samplergal

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

pick

Well written and enjoyable to read. I was anxious to get the next installment to see where it was leading. I‘d recommend reading this for a start to Edith Wharton.

DivaDiane I have loved her books that I‘ve read. 6y

Bklover Good to know! Just subscribed to this one on serial reader 6y

92 likes1 stack add2 comments

BarbaraBB

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

so-so

This started out as a romance and although this is of course Wharton and the characters are not-perfect people and the romance became less romantic in the end, this story was still a bit too sweet for my taste. My least favorite by her.

#1001books #audiowalk

youneverarrived Great photo! 6y

68 likes1 stack add1 comment

KellyHunsakerReads

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

So far I like Wharton‘s novellas better than her full-length novellas. #classics. #1001books

11 likes3 stack adds

ValerieAndBooks

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

#sweetsummerstack I'm an Edith Wharton fan but I have yet to read this one! Thanks @Liberty for all your generous giveaways.

ferskner I loved The Buccaneers adaptation when I was a teenager so much 7y

QuintusMarcus Do you like Henry James, too? 7y

ValerieAndBooks @ferskner I'll have to look into that! I thought the movie The Age of Innocence with Michelle Pfeiffer and Daniel Day-Lewis was very good (years ago!). 7y

See All 6 Comments

ValerieAndBooks @QuintusMarcus I read him years ago and I honestly don't remember what I thought 😱. Do you think I should pull him off my shelves again? Looks like I still have

Daisy Miller: A Study

SaraBeagle @ValerieAndBooks I love, love Edith Wharton, but Henry James makes me want to pull my hair out. 7y

QuintusMarcus Wharton and James were fellow New Yorkers and besties- their correspondence is a lot of fun to read. And yes, James takes a LOT of patience, but these days, I think patience as a reader is a quality well worth cultivating. 7y

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batsy

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

It's not just a #cruelsummer for Charity Royall but a lifetime of cruel circumstances. The jacket copy says that because of its parallels to Ethan Frome, Wharton refers to this as her "hot Ethan". #junetunz @Cinfhen

Suet624 😂😂🌹🌹🌹 7y

Abailliekaras Love her even more now! 7y

batsy @Abailliekaras Yes ❤️ 7y

See All 10 Comments

Tamra Love Wharton💜 7y

Leftcoastzen 🙂Love it ! Love Wharton but have not read that one . Love the cover 7y

zsuzsanna_reads I like Wharton in general, but did not like this one at all! 7y

batsy Me too @Tamra Yeah @Leftcoastzen I got it used and it's a bit worn but I love the cover too. 7y

batsy @zsuzsanna_reads I have to say I loved it ☺️ But it is different from her works set in NY 7y

ValerieAndBooks One of the few Whartons I have yet to read! It's on my shelf though. Maybe this year?! 7y

batsy @ValerieAndBooks Maybe? 😁 #toomanybooks 7y

61 likes3 stack adds10 comments

Nat_Reads

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

Halcyon days of Summer--lounging by the pool with a steamy classic ☄️🔥

batsy Really liked this one! 7y

Nat_Reads @batsy So did I! I loved the writing and dreaminess of it all. And the ending broke my heart in a good way... I will definitely reread this one! 7y

batsy @Nat_Reads Dreaminess, yes! I loved how she conveyed the disorientation of that relationship. It broke my heart too 💔 7y

49 likes6 stack adds3 comments

Aliking1986

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

pick

Beautifully written and ultimately devastating, Summer surprised me every step of the way. Charity is not the most relatable heroine to begin with but give her time and she will crawl under your skin. There's nothing typical about these characters, despite first appearances and the cleverly woven plot takes several unexpected turns.

6 likes

mrp27

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

#marchintoreading #aseasoninthetitle

Summer seems to rule my reading shelves.

RealLifeReading

22 likes1 stack add

HannaPolkadots

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

#marchintoreading day 20: #aseasoninthetitle. Didn't have too many of these, but at least I had one from each season - thanks mostly to Ebba Lind's old children's books about Belle in the spring and autumn. Also Summer by Edith Wharton and Winter's Heart by Robert Jordan.

10 likes

Qemorio

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

Got started on this one while waiting for the oil to get changed. Reading for the Book Published between 1900 and 1950 requirement for the @bookriot #readharder challenge. @SerialReader

23 likes

JackOBotts

Summer: A Novel | Edith Wharton

pick

Haven't read Edith Wharton since HS (Ethan Frome). Wowzers! Wharton tackles teen love/angst/coming-of-age marvelously. A novel ahead of its time. 👏🏼

8 likes

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