Italian | Litsy

jenniferw88

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#letteri #alphabetgame @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Tagging all #PemberLittens @sprainedbrain

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 📚🙌🏻📚 2y

48 likes1 stack add1 comment

catsuit_mango

Italian | Ann Radcliffe

Since the Monty python I have a hard time reading stories with the inquisition without thinking about the rack and the comfy chair...

10 likes

catsuit_mango

Italian | Ann Radcliffe

Spend the week end emptying our bedroom for the repair to be started tomorrow... Now it is time for some Gothic story and a crêpe for quatre heure (afternoon snack) :)

9 likes1 stack add

Sungirl79

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

pick

This book took me awhile to get through but it was pretty good. Some spots were intense and some were slow. Overall a good read!

16 likes

Lcsmcat

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#heavy #quotsyfeb21 @TK-421

TK-421 Great quote! 4y

35 likes1 comment

sherri

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

Purchased this book used from my college bookstore around 1998 when I took a romance class for my English degree. Our professor had us read portions of The Italian to get a sense of early gothic novels, followed by the full Northanger Abbey.

After reading an article in Bella Grace Magazine last night about dark academia and the pull of classics in winter, I was drawn to pull this off my shelf.

9 likes

KVanRead

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#ItalianBuddyRead #Pemberlittens

I just realized what this illustration of Splatty has been reminding me of—one of my all-time favorite John Candy SCTV bits, Dr. Tongue‘s Evil 3D House of Pancakes 😂😂😂

https://youtu.be/1R3G_beQccA

34 likes

DebinHawaii

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

This post contains spoilers

show me

pick

Finito! What a book! So many thrills, chills & twists & who would have thought that nuns are really the mob?! Once you are in, just try getting out! We all need a loyal guy like Paulo in our lives-even if you can‘t shut him up, he‘s fun at parties. Ellena was a badass, just like her nun mom & I did get a grudging respect for Prison Vivaldi—although strength under threat of torture is not quite the same as under torture. Where was the torture?!⬇️

jenniferw88

DebinHawaii If brought to modern days, Radcliffe would be penning soaps or scripted reality shows. She was ahead of her time! A big MAHALO! to our #ItalianBuddyRead host @jenniferw88 for all of your insights & knowledge! Money well spent!🎓👍I wouldn‘t have pushed myself to finish it without the support of the group& now I‘m inspired to finally finish The Mysteries of Udolpho on Serial Reader!😱Thanks to all who stopped by to read my meme summaries too!😉🤪 (edited) 4y

jenniferw88 😊 I'm glad that you liked it & it's inspired you to finish Mysteries! 4y

eeclayton I loved your memes and haikus, Deb, thanks for the laughs! 😁 4y

Deblovestoread Your posts really helped get through the book! Thanks! 4y

16 likes4 comments

DebinHawaii

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#PemberLittens #ItalianBuddyRead

Our final Chapter! What a whirlwind! My review is coming tonight but let‘s end with some dancing & happy haiku!
Chap 34/Vol 3, Chap 13:

Now our Dear Couple
Call Vivaldi‘s Villa “home”🕍
Finally happy!💕

Fete and Jubilee!🎉
Paulo, master of revels🕺🏻
Ready to party!🥳

Watch his strange capers🕺🏻
Truly he‘s Lord of the Dance!
Frisking it away...🎩

Gesticulating,🕺🏻
“O! giorno felice O!”
Oh! Happy Day All! 🥰

jenniferw88

Chrissyreadit 🙌🙌🙌 4y

Palimpsest 😁 4y

59 likes2 comments

KVanRead

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#ItalianBuddyRead #Pemberlittens

And for @DebinHawaii , here‘s our old pal Splatty 😂

jenniferw88

Lcsmcat Your edition has great illustrations ! 4y

KVanRead @Lcsmcat Thanks, I‘m really glad I snagged it! 4y

DebinHawaii Splatty! 🤗 Looks like he is up to his poisoning tricks. Bad Splatty! 🤣🤣🤣 4y

DebinHawaii But yes, I agree with @Lcsmcat these illustrations are amazing! 4y

KVanRead @DebinHawaii Haha! This is actually from the part where he‘s holding Ellena prisoner and he brings her some food and she freaks out at how ugly his face is. 😱🤪 4y

33 likes5 comments

KVanRead

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#ItalianBuddyRead #Pemberlittens

The bad ass Abbess of San Stefano

jenniferw88

eeclayton Wow. She's terrifying! 4y

KVanRead @eeclayton Right?! I would not want to go toe to toe with her!😂 4y

DebinHawaii Definitely Nun Mafia material! 😉🤣 4y

batsy @DebinHawaii Oh yes 😂 4y

KVanRead @DebinHawaii @batsy Totally 😎 4y

34 likes5 comments

KVanRead

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#ItalianBuddyRead #Pemberlittens

The Marchesa in her closet with Schedoni.

jenniferw88

33 likes

KVanRead

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#ItalianBuddyRead #Pemberlittens

Now to swamp your feeds with some of my favorite wood engraving illustrations...

Here we have Ellena with her lute.

jenniferw88

30 likes

KVanRead

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

pick

#ItalianBuddyRead #Pemberlittens
In a month where my reading mojo has been MIA, this buddy read has been a lifesaver. I loved the chilling gothic vibes, the high drama, the soap operatics, the arch villains and villainesses, the sweeping natural vistas, and the hint of subversive political tension underlying it all. Great thanks to @jenniferw88 for hosting and sharing her scholarship and shout out @DebinHawaii for making me 😂 every day.

rubyslippersreads Great photo with the little brass hand. 😊 4y

LeahBergen The appearance of the little brass hand! 😆👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 4y

KVanRead @rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen A #litsymademedoit purchase (thx Leah) I wholeheartedly do not regret!☺️ 4y

See All 11 Comments

ValerieAndBooks These are great illustrations 😍 ! 4y

rubyslippersreads @KVanRead I blame @LeahBergen for the #littlebrasshand I bought too. 😄 4y

Moray_Reads Love the woodcuts. So atmospheric 4y

KVanRead @ValerieAndBooks @Moray_Reads aren‘t they cool? Just the right vibe for this book. 4y

DebinHawaii Back at you friend!!! 🤗 4y

batsy Really nice photo, edition, and review 😍 4y

KVanRead @DebinHawaii 🥰🥰🥰 4y

KVanRead @batsy thank you!😘 4y

41 likes11 comments

AnneCecilie

The Italian | Ann Ward Radcliffe

pick

What a ride. This book has it all: star-crossed lovers, the nun mafia, the evil mother, the evil monk and loyal servants. There was several of the twists I didn‘t see coming

I can definitely see how Catherine Morland could be influenced after reading some of Radcliffe‘s novel

Thank you for organizing this buddy read @jenniferw88

Thank you for your chapter summaries @DebinHawaii They has me laughing and/ or smiling everyday

#ItalianBuddyRead

AnneCecilie This was also my #DoubleSpin for January @TheAromaofBooks 4y

KVanRead Nun mafia 😂❤️😂 4y

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 4y

DebinHawaii Aww... thanks for always stopping by & laughing with me! 🤗 4y

batsy Great review! Will never forget the nun mafia 😂 4y

73 likes1 stack add5 comments

eeclayton

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

pick

First of all, thank you @jenniferw88 for this #Italianbuddyread. I'd probably never have picked this book up if it wasn't for you, which would have been a pity!
It was great to have a taste of what Catherine Morland was so passionate about, and I enjoyed the ride a lot. It sure was a bit over the top, so the chapter-a-day pace was perfect for me, making it easier to deal with the melodrama.

Now excuse me, I'm off to join the Paulo Fan Club 😂

Lcsmcat Team Paulo! 🇮🇹 4y

KVanRead @Lcsmcat Yes 🙌🏽 🇮🇹 4y

eeclayton @Lcsmcat @KVanRead He's the best! 🇮🇹 4y

DebinHawaii Paulo!!! 😍 4y

eeclayton @DebinHawaii O Giorno Felice! ❤️ 4y

24 likes5 comments

IndoorDame

The Italian | Ann Ward Radcliffe

pick

This was so much fun! I loved that in its day it was light reading, and that hasn‘t really changed. Once you get caught up in the story it‘s still all drama and suspense and romance and adventure. I‘m so glad that @jenniferw88 decided to lead a #buddyread. I totally want to read the Mysteries of Udolpho too now that I‘m done with this! #pemberlittens

44 likes1 stack add

Cuilin

The Italian | Ann Ward Radcliffe

pick

Despite the melodrama and evil characters reading Radcliffe is pure fun! It‘s like a guilty pleasure. You know the plot is a bit over the top but you relish in the absurdity. I feel the same way when I catch an episode of Eastenders or some reality tv show, my brain says “really, you‘re watching this” and the rest of me shouts out with glee “for sure!”
@jenniferw88 #pemberlittens

66 likes1 stack add

jenniferw88

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

pick

This book is losing half a star, but it's because I was reading it a chapter a day for the #ItalianBuddyRead #PemberLittens. 4 1/2 🌟

What did everyone think in the end?

#anauthorthatisdeceased #fiveofdiamonds @Clwojick

#letterV #LitsyAtoZ #abcedariantbr @BookishMarginalia

BINGO! #bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

jenniferw88 @eeclayton @4thhouseontheleft @katy4peas @daena @Beatlefan129 @mollyrotondo @sprainedbrain @cuilin @quietjenn @rubyslippersreads @Chrissyreadit @batsy @DebinHawaii @hilded @erzascarletbookgasm @SamAnne @bookwormjillk @ravenlee @mklong @annececilie @MaureenMC @wanderinglynn @Lcsmcat @sb3626 @JeffyRoo @kdgordon88 @palimpsest @moonwitch94 @inthegreensandblues @catebutler @KVanRead @IndoorDame @I.be.Stef @Blackink_whitepaper @Teresereading @Sungirl79 4y

jenniferw88 @kspenmoll @JenlovesJT47 4y

Teresereading Loved it. Buddy Read was a great way to approach my first Radcliffe. A Gothic Days of Our Lives! 4y

See All 23 Comments

batsy @Teresereading That's a good description of it 😁 4y

batsy I enjoyed it a lot. Love that it's very melodramatic and soap opera-ish, but with strong writing and a whole raft of social issues percolating underneath the Gothic tropes. 4y

Bookwormjillk I bailed after a hundred pages, but did get a taste of why our girl Catherine got so worked up in the Abbey. 4y

Cuilin I really liked it, fabulously gothic and dramatic. The prose is not as poetic as The Mysteries of Udolpho but still great writing. 4y

TheAromaofBooks I didn't end up reading along, but I've quite enjoyed all the posts about it!! 4y

ravenlee I enjoyed it, though it was frustrating at the beginning. I‘m curious to read some of the other Gothic novels I‘ve stacked but never gotten to. Thanks for hosting! 4y

IndoorDame I really enjoyed the gothic whole melodrama. But since it‘s my first Radcliffe buddy read actually enhanced it for me, helped me get into it at the beginning with all the paintings and historical tidbits. Thanks so much for hosting! 4y

Beatlefan129 It‘s definitely not something I would have picked up on my own, so I really appreciated the buddy read. It was actually very enjoyable and entertaining 4y

quietjenn I really enjoyed it! Similar to what others have said, I want sure at first and it's probably not something I would have read on my own. But I got very into it and hope to read more foundational gothics. 4y

eeclayton @Beatlefan129 This is exactly how I feel about it. Thanks for hosting @jenniferw88 and thanks everyone for the commentary and laughs! 😁 4y

Deblovestoread I enjoyed it quite a bit although parts dragged a bit for me. Glad we did it as a buddy read. Thanks for hosting! 4y

Palimpsest I love seeing everyone‘s comments. I agree with @Teresereading and @batsy about soap opera. I like to have a bit of info as to what is happening at the time to see if the book is making a commentary, as you @jenniferw88 mentioned the dislike of monks around this time etc or the revisit to gothic buildings and so forth to give more context. I like to read just to read too, but I‘m trained to think about those things. I‘ll definitely read Udolpho. 4y

KVanRead I doubt this would ever have been on my radar if not for Litsy and that I would ever have got around to reading it without the buddy read. I found it so interesting and loved imagining Jane Austen‘s characters or Jane and her sister reading it together. Thanks so much for hosting @jenniferw88 and I so enjoyed everyone‘s posts!! 4y

rubyslippersreads What @TheAromaofBooks said. 😊 4y

DebinHawaii This was fun! Thanks for hosting & sharing all your knowledge. I‘m going to start up again & Finnish Udolpho now! 🤗 4y

Teresereading It was great fun. Can‘t wait for Mansfield Park (which I have read before and love). Are there more Radcliffe buddy reads in planning? Thanks Jennifer and Deb for hosting 4y

jenniferw88 @Teresereading Not at the moment but maybe when we've finished Jane's books @sprainedbrain ? 4y

sprainedbrain @jenniferw88 any time you want to host another Radcliffe, I‘d be on board for it! 😉 4y

katy4peas Thanks so much Jennifer! 4y

jenniferw88 @sprainedbrain I've had an idea for april - how about a buddy read of this? It's the play they attempt to put on.

Lover's Vows

87 likes23 comments

DebinHawaii

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#PemberLittens #ItalianBuddyRead

And with this set of haiku I am caught up... until tomorrow‘s (final?) chapter.

Chap 33, Vol 3 Chap 12:

FINALLY he‘s free! 🎉
Paulo cries O, my Master👬🏻
Vivaldi hugs back! 👨‍❤️‍👨

Paulo weeps & laughs🤪
Getting a thousand sequins! (💰)
Dude needs a chill pill! 💊

Must stay with Master! 👨‍❤️‍👨
Vivaldi promotes Paulo
He‘s manager now! 👤

Back home to Naples
Vivaldi and Ellena💃🏻🕺🏻
Reunited now!👫🏻
⬇️

jenniferw88

DebinHawaii ...Must have awkward talk 😳
Just who is Elena‘s dad?!🤔
Not Schedoni! Whew! 😅

Asks nun for her hand
Not unless Marchese makes nice!
He does! Thank the Lord! 🙏🏼

She is eighteen now
Let‘s do this thing, FINALLY 💍
O happy day kids! 🎊 4y

AnneCecilie 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Oh God, that picture. I really needed a good laugh. 4y

KVanRead The PERFECT meme for Vivaldi 🙌🏽 4y

54 likes3 comments

DebinHawaii

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#PemberLittens #ItalianBuddyRead

Oh so behind! Catching up on 3 chaps tonight in my favorite way, haiku. Here‘s Chaps 31 & 32 or Vol 3, Chaps 10 & 11:

Paulo, most loyal
Escapes Inquisition Jail
Off to tell Marchese 🏃🏿

ROOF, ROOF, raise the ROOF!
Paulo is almost giddy!
MY MASTER, THE ROOF!

Marchese heads to Rome
Finally sees Vivaldi👁
All is forgiven!

Three weeks, son still jailed
Summoned to dungeon by Monk
Will hear his last tale
⬇️

jenniferw88

DebinHawaii ...Vivaldi spills tea
Monk is Ellena‘s daddy!😱
Marchese: “say what?!?!”🤯

Nicola declares
He slandered for Monk
Ellena‘s no hoe! 👰🏻‍♀️

The monk confesses
False charges to Vivaldi
A wild tale follows

Monk is dead! No, wait!
Nicola is dead! Poison! 🤢
Monk did it and dies! 😱 (edited) 4y

batsy The last haiku might be my fave 😂 4y

eeclayton 😂😂😂 4y

47 likes3 comments

KVanRead

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#ItalianBuddyRead #Pemberlittens

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: Okay using a pic of Paulo from Friends as a stand in here. Despite the fact that I‘m sure OUR Paulo would never cheat on Rachel, the Friends guy certainly seems to share the exuberance of my hands down favorite character in this book chock full of character. Oh happy day indeed to witness his reunion with Vivaldi. 😄

jenniferw88

DebinHawaii Perfect! 🤣🤣🤣 4y

37 likes1 stack add1 comment

Palimpsest

The Italian | Ann Ward Radcliffe

pick

Finished my first Radcliffe book with #Italianbuddyread and I really enjoyed it. Filled with intrigue, death, love, journeys, suspicions, sordid pasts, jealously, the Sublime, it was a riveting story. Paulo was entertaining! And my inkling about Olivia turned out to be true. Thanks @jenniferw88 for leading this group read this month!

Litsi I bet it was. I am reading Romance of the Forest and am pleasantly surprised by her skill. 4y

Teresereading My first Radcliffe too. So enjoyed the buddy read, a great way to do it. I had an inkling about Olivia too! But I didn‘t predict the Ellena daughter/niece workaround. 4y

Palimpsest @Teresereading I didn‘t know exactly the relationship, but when they were first getting to know each other I felt there would be some connection. I did not see the father/ uncle connection. I felt Schedoni seemed to change a little too quickly at the end. It‘s interesting that one didn‘t really have to be that devoted or felt called to God to be a man of God, same as in being a rector in Austen‘s works. Glad I read it as a group. 4y

Palimpsest @Litsi I‘m definitely going to read more of her novels in the future. 4y

65 likes4 comments

jenniferw88

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

Confession time: I thought today was the last chapter!

#ItalianBuddyRead #PemberLittens

jenniferw88 @TheAromaofBooks @eeclayton @4thhouseontheleft @katy4peas @daena @Beatlefan129 @mollyrotondo @sprainedbrain @cuilin @quietjenn @rubyslippersreads @Chrissyreadit @batsy @DebinHawaii @hilded @erzascarletbookgasm @SamAnne @bookwormjillk @ravenlee @mklong @annececilie @MaureenMC @wanderinglynn @Lcsmcat @sb3626 @JeffyRoo @kdgordon88 @palimpsest @moonwitch94 @inthegreensandblues @catebutler @KVanRead @IndoorDame @I.be.Stef @Blackink_whitepaper 4y

jenniferw88 @Teresereading @Sungirl79 @kspenmoll @JenlovesJT47 4y

eeclayton Well it did sound like an ending! 4y

Lcsmcat “O! Giorno fel‘ce!” 😀 4y

64 likes4 comments

AnneCecilie

The Italian | Ann Ward Radcliffe

#WondousWednesday

I. I‘m almost finished with the tagged book, and in my household at the moment there are two songs that are played on repeat both by Taylor Swift, “I Did Something Bad” and “Don‘t Blame Me”. Both fit this book.

II. Don‘t have that much. Maybe my HP LEGO or my P&P tot bag.

III. I don‘t care about their age as long as it‘s a good story

Thanks for tagging me

Eggs

Eggs Thanks for playing 📚🎶👍🏼🤗 4y

41 likes1 comment

KVanRead

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#ItalianBuddyRead #Pemberlittens

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: My neck is sore from all the head spinning back and forth. Was it Niccolo? Was it Schedoni? Who‘s alive? Who‘s dead? Who‘s on first?

😂😂😂

And brava Mrs. Radcliffe for that baddie resurrection jump scare - Fatal Attraction‘s got nothing on this 😂

jenniferw88

eeclayton What I don't understand about today's chapter is, if Schedoni says "OK, so I'm the dude who anonymously accused Vivaldi", then the Inquisition just accepts this and Vivaldi is free to go? If so, someone really should have come in earlier with a declaration like this! 4y

Lcsmcat @eeclayton It does seem like a system rife for “cheating,” but I figured Schedoni was naïve about that. 4y

KVanRead @eeclayton I thought that at the end of the chapter they took Vivaldi back to his cell to await their decision. But the whole Inquisition thing does seem pretty sketchy and arbitrary in general 🤷🏻‍♀️ 4y

See All 7 Comments

KVanRead @Lcsmcat Yes I think Radcliffe mentioned earlier that Schedoni thought he‘d be able to easily undo his accusation but he was overestimating his power over the Inquisition, cuz I mean it is um...The Inquisition 😂 4y

eeclayton @Lcsmcat @KVanRead Oh, I expected the Inquisition to work in a rational way, my bad 😂 4y

Lcsmcat @eeclayton 😂😂 4y

KVanRead @eeclayton 🤣 nice one! 4y

39 likes7 comments

Palimpsest

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

1. Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode for The Italian because of The Confessor both hearing La Marchesa and the horrible confession etc.
2. T-shirts I would be almost embarrassed to confess how many I have. (Another confession!)
3. As long as I can find some connection it doesn‘t matter. I loved Pumpkinheads with teens and kids books, I ❤️reading about older people too. Im in my 40s. Least appealing are romances about twenty-somethings. 🤷‍♀️

Palimpsest @Eggs #WonderousWednesday 4y

vivastory #2 I have an insane amount of bookish t-shirts. 😬 😂 4y

Palimpsest @vivastory Haha, I didn‘t think I‘d be the only one. I‘ve gotten most of mine from Out of Print. What are some of your favorites? 4y

See All 7 Comments

Eggs @vivastory @Palimpsest I would love to see these bookish tees collections! Thanks for playing 🎶📚👏🏻💕 4y

vivastory @Palimpsest The majority of mine are from Out of Print too. My favorites are IT, Book Nerd, Choose Your Own Adventure, Agatha Christie, American Gods, Master and Margarita. What are your favorites? 4y

Palimpsest @vivastory Also The Master and Margarita, Hamlet sweatshirt, Twelfth Night, The Raven, and I have two versions of Frankenstein. 😬I do have a Commit to Lit tee I really like from Storiarts as well. 4y

batsy Oh, the song choice is perfect for this book. (I adore DM so maybe I'm biased ;) 4y

27 likes7 comments

jenniferw88

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

Not really relevant to today's chapter, but wanted to share this - and yes, I'm quoting myself! 😂

#ItalianBuddyRead #PemberLittens

jenniferw88 @Teresereading @Sungirl79 @kspenmoll @JenlovesJT47 4y

KVanRead Excellent insights Jennifer! Thanks for sharing. In general, I‘m finding the female characters in The Italian to be more complex and interesting than their male counterparts and pretty subversive. Must read Udolpho now. 😊 (edited) 4y

62 likes3 comments

jenniferw88

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#ItalianBuddyRead #PemberLittens

Father & son reunion ❤

jenniferw88 @Teresereading @Sungirl79 @kspenmoll @JenlovesJT47
4y

80 likes2 comments

KVanRead

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#ItalianBuddyRead #Pemberlittens

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: I wish my edition had an illustration of the most excellent and faithful Paulo, who is shaping up to be my favorite character, but here‘s one of the Marchesa, from way back in chapter 14, before her deathbed conversion to loving mother, back when she was plotting murder, just in case there are any doubts about what a baddie she was. ☺️

jenniferw88

51 likes

erzascarletbookgasm

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

pick

This is an entertaining read, with true Gothic lit elements. Romance, mysteries, mysterious monks, secret passages and underground chambers...even has a comedic touch. Radcliffe brilliantly inspired terror with the chilling descriptions, suspense, anticipation, and hints of supernatural forces. Some twists and surprise events make the story more interesting. I enjoyed our #ItalianBuddyRead .

erzascarletbookgasm I started out slow but once I reached Volume Two, I had to pace myself for the chapter a day and couldn‘t help but finished ahead😄. Thanks for hosting Jenny. The chapter summary posts by @jenniferw88 @DebinHawaii and @KVanRead were informative and great fun! 4y

batsy Nice review! I appreciated the comedic touches :) 4y

Cathythoughts Great review 👍🏻 I have this one stacked 4y

KVanRead Aww, thank you! Great review!!! 4y

82 likes4 comments

Teresereading

The Italian | Ann Ward Radcliffe

Wow, I just finished Part 3 Ch 7 and my head is spinning. Who to believe? I think I am as clueless as Vivaldi at this stage. Accusations flying in all directions.
I also think I have fallen behind even though I am a day ahead, and so I have another chapter or two to read tonight.
@jenniferw88 @DebinHawaii

17 likes1 stack add

DebinHawaii

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#PemberLittens #ItalianBuddyRead

OK, sticking with the haikus for this soap opera!

Chap 30 / Vol 3, Chap 9:

Ellena is sad
No news about Vivaldi
Then, Olivia!

Got convent transfer
Old Abbess is heinous bitch!
Beatrice is here

There has been a death!
Takes WAY too long to tell tale!
Is it Vivaldi?

No! His evil mom!
Can‘t feel too sorry for her!
But where‘s Vivaldi?

Wait, there‘s more drama,
Olivia: Beatrice?
Hold up, I know you!

⬇️

jenniferw88

DebinHawaii Is it really true?
Wow! Holy soap opera! 😱
Nun friend is her mom!

And her new dad is
really murdering uncle!
Awkward reunions!?! 😬 (edited) 4y

KVanRead TFW your nun friend is your mom😅😂🤣🤪 4y

55 likes2 comments

KVanRead

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

Finally caught up again!!!
CHAPTER THIRTY: More twists and turns...and children, than an episode of All My Children! I love Beatrice‘s turn at the suspense-building servant “you shall hear!” schtick. Did these servants all happen to attend the same drama school?😂
#ItalianBuddyRead #Pemberlittens

jenniferw88

Lcsmcat I think that‘s the only way Radcliffe writes servants. She must have personally had some doozies! 4y

DebinHawaii Hah! It is total soap opera! 🤣🤣🤣 (edited) 4y

Teresereading Yes, Beatrice and Paolo are excellent at circumlocutions. I also thought Paolo‘s most recent appearance was reminiscent of Manuel from Faulty Towers! 4y

See All 7 Comments

eeclayton @Teresereading omg that is so spot on! 😂 4y

KVanRead @Lcsmcat I can only imagine they must have been quite entertaining, lol 😂 4y

KVanRead @DebinHawaii Yup! 🛁🧼🧽🧴😂 4y

KVanRead @Teresereading @eeclayton Ha! That‘s perfect 👏 (edited) 4y

45 likes7 comments

jenniferw88

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#ItalianBuddyRead #PemberLittens

For some reason this scene popped into my head for this chapter! 😂

jenniferw88 @Teresereading @Sungirl79 @kspenmoll @JenlovesJT47 4y

sprainedbrain 🤣🤣🤣 4y

See All 9 Comments

Lcsmcat 😂😂 Perfect! 4y

KVanRead 👏😂 4y

Cuilin Very good 🤣 4y

DebinHawaii 🤣🤣🤣 4y

batsy 😂😂 4y

Teresereading 🤣 4y

61 likes9 comments

DebinHawaii

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#PemberLittens #ItalianBuddyRead

Sorry friends, I kept up with the reading but not memes so here are 2 chaps combined & in haiku because it‘s all so much!🤣Today‘s chap coming later!

Chap 28 & 29 / Vol 3, Chap 7 & 8:

Schedoni accused👈🏻
He‘s Count who had brother killed!🥷🏻
Vivaldi is shocked!🤯

Schedoni on trial😱
🐶Paulo reunites with his
best maestro master! 👬🏻❤️

Monk is found guilty!⚖️
Tells Vivaldi that he is
Ellena‘s dad! What?!🤯

jenniferw88

KVanRead 👏😂🤩 4y

batsy This book is super hilarious in haiku form 😂😂 4y

50 likes2 comments

sprainedbrain

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

pick

I failed #ItalianBuddyRead, but in my defense the last month has been a very stressful decade for me. 😜Anyway, I started yesterday morning and finished today. Whoops.

I liked this book! It‘s a lot more reigned-in than Udolpho (I‘m not sure our dear Catherine would have found it horrid enough), but fascinating and gothic and romantic enough to keep my interest.

I had fun catching up on all of the posts—Jenny, Deb & Kristine are Litsy MVPs!😂

DebinHawaii, KVanRead, jenniferw88

sprainedbrain Thank you for hosting, Jenny! I promise to do better next time. @jenniferw88 4y

KVanRead Aww thank you!! I started strong but have been fumbling along for most of this decade of a month! I bow down to your 2 day readathon. Going to try to get caught up yet again today! 4y

DebinHawaii Thanks for the shout out! 🤗Kept up with the reading but not the posting so caught up a couple chapters just now & will get today‘s up later! 😉 4y

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eeclayton Wow, that was a quick catch-up! 😁 4y

jenniferw88 If I knew what an MVP was, I'd say thank you! 😂😘 4y

sprainedbrain @jenniferw88 Most Valuable Player, on this side of the pond. 😂 4y

jenniferw88 @sprainedbrain 😂 tbh, some of my chapter summaries are pretty rubbish as I didn't have ideas for them! 4y

sprainedbrain @jenniferw88 I think they are brilliant... and I speak from experience when I say it‘s not easy coming up with something clever to say every day! 😂 4y

Deblovestoread I was horrible at chapter a day this month. I‘d get behind, catch up and get behind again. Finally read the rest yesterday. It was a good read. I want to read Udolpho at some point. 4y

batsy Wow that was some catch up! 🙌🏽 4y

93 likes10 comments

ravenlee

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

pick

Well, that was a wild ride! I got behind last week, then I couldn‘t remember where I was supposed to be so I just finished it this morning. Thanks @jenniferw88 for hosting #ItalianBuddyRead - it was fascinating!

37 likes

batsy

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

pick

Monks! Monks with red eyes & a horrifying visage. Parents! Parents who plot dastardly deeds or suffer nobly. Lovers! Lovers who are kept apart by evil forces. Nature! Nature in all its sublime splendour. Servants! Servants with wit & a good heart & the talent to tell a story. These are some of Radcliffe's favourite things, & the way she weaves them together into a riveting, menacing Gothic tale makes it some of mine, too. #italianbuddyread

batsy While Udolpho is a sprawling, "wild" novel, the Italian is more compact & contained. What I did like about this one is the persistent sense of dread conveyed through claustrophobic, dark spaces & being imprisoned (literally). I enjoy how Radcliffe uses & subverts tropes. As with most Gothic fiction by British writers, there's an underlying xenophobia that suggests recurring social issues being worked out through the popular fiction of the day. 4y

batsy @jenniferw88 4y

youneverarrived Excellent review! This wasn‘t on my radar but you‘ve made me want to read it now. 4y

See All 33 Comments

Simona As @youneverarrived said ... Excellent review❣️👌 4y

Freespirit Sounds brilliant.. thank you 😊 4y

JennyM Fabulous review as always xx (edited) 4y

Graywacke Such a fun commentary. I want to ask, who is Ann Radcliffe. Off to look her up. 4y

AnneCecilie Love your review of this one😊 4y

erzascarletbookgasm Hahahaha I love your review! It‘s great, and fun, as what Dan said! Once I caught up, I couldn‘t put it down and finished ahead too. 4y

eeclayton And food! (Or the lack thereof) 😂 Excellent review! 4y

Tanisha_A @Graywacke Doing the same 4y

Tanisha_A Fab review! ❤️ 4y

batsy @youneverarrived Thank you! If you're in the mood for melodramatic Gothic lit that's also interesting on several levels, can't quite go wrong with Radcliffe 🙂💜 4y

batsy @Simona @Freespirit @JennyM @AnneCecilie @erzascarletbookgasm Thank you ❤️❤️ 4y

batsy @Graywacke @Tanisha_A Queen of GothLit 👑😁 4y

batsy @eeclayton Hahaha, thank you! It's true, after that shepherd's breakfast we only got oatcakes & a fish dish that never quite materialised ... Disappointing 😂 4y

Graywacke @batsy !! You‘re dangerous 4y

Lcsmcat This was so much more compact than Udolpho! And character growth/change was slightly more believable than Romance of the Forest. It may be my favorite Radcliffe. 4y

jenniferw88 @Lcsmcat it's definitely my favourite Radcliffe, mainly because if you read them in published order you can see the xenophobia (cos of french revolution) developing, main gothic tropes emerging & character growth. @batsy 4y

Lcsmcat @jenniferw88 She does definitely think all things English are superior. 😀 4y

readordierachel You make this sound well worth reading. What were you saying about being *distracted by all the books*? 😅 4y

DaveGreen7777 I love this review! 😀😁 4y

batsy @jenniferw88 It's interesting and I do want to read more Radcliffe, or as many as I can get my hands on! @Lcsmcat This one is definitely the more accomplished effort but I have a soft spot for how unruly Udolpho is; jam-packed with so many different styles 🙂 4y

batsy @readordierachel I'm glad! 😁 It's a lot of fun when you're in the mood for it 💀👻 4y

batsy @DaveGreen7777 Thank you! 😆 4y

jenniferw88 @batsy there's not that many... The Castles of Athlin and Dunblane, A Sicilian Romance, The Romance of the Forest, Mysteries of Udolpho, Italian, Gaston de Blondeville. I personally wouldn't bother with the first or last! 4y

batsy @jenniferw88 Noted 😆 The two Forests are the ones on my radar. 4y

Centique Well played! What ho! with this review. I think you just might be the #QueenofGothLit yourself 🙌 4y

batsy @Centique Thank you! I don't know if I deserve that title 😆💜 4y

KVanRead What a fabulous review!!! Spot on! 4y

batsy @KVanRead Thank you! 😊 4y

Suet624 Wow!!!! This sounds fantastic! Or rather your review of it is fantastic. Oh shoot, it's you! You're fantastic! 4y

batsy @Suet624 Thank you, lovely Sue 😆❤️ You're so sweet! 4y

106 likes8 stack adds33 comments

Deblovestoread

The Italian | Ann Ward Radcliffe

#JoyousJanuary final stats: I finished two of the three I planned on plus read Scythe and finished The Italian. I made a little progress on W & P but am still behind. I am going to read a bit more of Mapmaker‘s Daughter to see if I want to finish. Thanks for hosting @Andrew65 Hope you have a good week!

Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏🎉🥳🍾🥂😊 4y

39 likes1 stack add1 comment

jenniferw88

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

Not quite the right image but Vivaldi and Paulo! ❤

#ItalianBuddyRead #PemberLittens

jenniferw88 @Teresereading @Sungirl79 @kspenmoll @JenlovesJT47 4y

inthegreensandblues Paulo made quite the scene. 😳 4y

See All 6 Comments

Lcsmcat Paulo is my favorite! 4y

erzascarletbookgasm The dramatic but faithful Paulo! 🤍 4y

batsy Chiming in with more love for Paulo! He is a memorable character. 4y

67 likes6 comments

Lcsmcat

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

pick

It‘s Saturday morning and, only a few chapters from the end, I couldn‘t keep to just one. Without spoilers I can say that it was true to Radcliffe‘s style, and a very satisfying ending. Even though I read ahead, I‘ll still be following along with the #italianbuddyread @jenniferw88

jenniferw88 I think a lot of people will be reading ahead now as we're so close to the end! Glad you enjoyed it. 4y

Lcsmcat @jenniferw88 The pace of those last chapters pushes one to keep reading, doesn‘t it? (edited) 4y

batsy I'm racing ahead to the finish line, too! 😆 4y

erzascarletbookgasm I agree with you on the ending too 👍 4y

53 likes1 stack add4 comments

AnneCecilie

The Italian | Ann Ward Radcliffe

Thought it was finally time to read the introduction to this book, and found the first paragraph quit interesting.

#ItalianBuddyRead

60 likes

DebinHawaii

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#PemberLittens #ItalianBuddyRead

Chap 27 or Vol 3, Chap 6: The next night (I suppose it‘s fitting that inquisitions happen in the graveyard shift)😆Vivaldi is escorted again from his room, this time with an added veil covering his eyes, & taken on the ultimate “trust walk” through the tunnels & up & down stairs to the tribunal hall. He‘s asked about Father Schedoni & he reluctantly gives the report he was told but it takes a lot of threats &

jenniferw88

DebinHawaii ...(1/2) ghostly monk whispers in his ear & once again, no one seems to be hearing him but Vivaldi. He demands to have his veil removed & have a torturer line up to find him but when everybody is wearing the same outfit & masked, it‘s a bit tricky!🤷🏽 There are more questions & suggestions he‘s a bit cray-cray about this ghostly monk thing. He even gets his jailers in trouble when he tells them the monk hung out with him in his room last night.⬇️ 4y

DebinHawaii ...(2/2) So not cook bro! 😡He goes into detail about the monk (leaving out the whole bloody knife thing) & now his tribunal is fascinated—he‘s not your everyday heresy prisoner.🤯They are going to look into the matter & they send him back to his room with a “sleep tight, Buddy—we‘ll chat tomorrow!” Yeah, between the torture threats, scary ghost monk visits & all the other joys of inquisition prison life, that‘s not going to be easy! 😱🥷🏻👻🥷🏻 (edited) 4y

44 likes2 comments

DebinHawaii

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#PemberLittens #ItalianBuddyRead

Playing catch up from yesterday‘s chapter due to my crazy work week.

Chap 26 or Vol.3, Chap 5: We‘re back to the Prison of the Inquisition where Paulo is still loudly lamenting not being able to “go shares” with his maestro & bro Vivaldi. It is surprising they have not tortured him to keep him quiet!🤣So Vivaldi has gone through several interrogations & moves up to the major leagues after not confessing to ⬇️

jenniferw88

DebinHawaii (1/4)... He is going to be “put to the question” which is a very bad thing. And he sees the mysterious monk in the halls but no one else seems to see him! 😱Also he has a visitor in the form of another prisoner there to console with him who is an obvious plant & who apparently committed just a “slight degree of heresy”🤔& confessed, took his punishment & all is good & he‘ll be out soon! (hint, hint...just confess too, why don‘t you, Buddy?!)🙄⬇️ (edited) 4y

DebinHawaii ...(2/4) Vivaldi doesn‘t spill any tea to this guy. So he‘s scheduled for midnight inquisition, covered with a hood & taken to Torture Central where scary dudes in all-black balaclavas are ready to go & he‘s pretty much told that it‘s his own fault if he doesn‘t confess & makes them have to torture him to death—they accept no responsibility! Dr. Phil would have fun here! His new interview panel is the Grand Poobah Inquisitor, the tax/money guy ⬇️ 4y

DebinHawaii ...(3/4) & an “ordinary” Inquisitor who enjoys his job a bit too much. It‘s here he learns through their questions that his crime is really bullying a monk doing penance (Ahh, Schedoni). Then a familiar (or is it?) voice keeps asking him questions (Is that you, Monk Man?) Anyway, since he refuses to answer, they book him a time for torture later on & take him back to his cell. He has so many thoughts, but falls asleep & awakes to find the ⬇️ (edited) 4y

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DebinHawaii ghostly hooded monk in his room, with fiery eyes & a bloody knife😱(maybe it‘s Schedoni, but maybe it‘s a demon monk-so hard to tell!) He asks Vivaldi a bunch of questions about Schedoni, gives him a bunch of instructions about calling him out when they bring him to his torture treatment & Vivaldi is like WTF?!? Then drama monk is all “...you will meet me in the chamber of death!”& disappears! Oh, & when Vivaldi asks the guards, NO ONE SAW HIM!😱 (edited) 4y

batsy This might sound weird, but I do enjoy the mysterious demon(?) monk's appearance 😂 Radcliffe entertains me greatly with her villains or morally-ambiguous characters. 4y

DebinHawaii @batsy Not weird at all! 🤣She writes the villains & creepy scenes well! 😱 4y

44 likes6 comments

jenniferw88

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

More about Vivaldi's interrogation!

#ItalianBuddyRead #PemberLittens

jenniferw88 @Teresereading @Sungirl79 @kspenmoll @JenlovesJT47 4y

Cuilin Seems like he‘s been in there for weeks and not a hair has been disturbed??? What sort of Inquisition is this?? 😂 4y

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inthegreensandblues This stranger... could he be, as the narration puts it, not "an inhabitant of the Earth?" ? 4y

erzascarletbookgasm @Cuilin 🤣 4y

Lcsmcat @Cuilin I agree! Not that I wish him harm, but it‘s an odd sort of inquisition. 4y

ShelleyBooksie Is there a point sticking into.his bottom? Interesting illustration 4y

batsy @Cuilin Good point 😂 I wondered if there were so many people that some were imprisoned and had a long wait before they were interrogated. I read a history book on the inquisition a loooooong time ago, I'd forgotten everything, but Radcliffe has made me want to go down this rabbit hole again... 4y

Cuilin @batsy Speaking of rabbit holes the one I fell down since reading The Italian said the Roman inquisition was not as fierce as it‘s Spanish counterpart. Though they still killed thousands on charges of heresy and witchcraft. The astronomer Bruno was the first science martyr of the Inquisition but Galileo survived. 4y

batsy @Cuilin That's interesting about the Roman inquisition being a "softer" version, so to speak! I remember that bit about Galileo. I think I could spend months on a course on Radcliffe doing supplementary reading ? 4y

60 likes1 stack add10 comments

jenniferw88

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

Back to Vivaldi, and is Schedoni going to get revealed?

#ItalianBuddyRead #PemberLittens

jenniferw88 @Teresereading @Sungirl79 @kspenmoll @JenlovesJT47 4y

Beatlefan129 This chapter is so mysterious and spooky 👻 4y

58 likes3 comments

DebinHawaii

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#PemberLittens #ItalianBuddyRead

Chap 25 or Volume 3, Chap 4: It‘s late so I‘ll keep this short-ish.😉Ellena is at her nunnery in the ‘hood fretting about the fact she has a very creepy monk guy for a father, she would get a heinous, evil MIL who wants her DEAD if she marries Vivaldi, if she even could marry him?! Where is he?! She‘s heard nothing from Creepy Monk Daddy! On the bright side, her local convent has a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Yelp review! ⬇️

jenniferw88

DebinHawaii ...Beautiful grounds (Ellena loves her nature!) And also industrious nuns, a wise, well-loved, respected (& thankfully not-a-mob-boss!) abbess to lead the nuns who are like a big family, and these nuns, THEY SING TOO! 🎤🎼So beautifully that people come from all around to hear them! 🤔OMG! She‘s in Sister Act!!! 😱🤣😱 (edited) 4y

batsy I breathed a sigh of relief once we got to the convent with the 5-star Yelp review ... Hope this place doesn't let me down 😬😆 4y

48 likes2 comments

DebinHawaii

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

#PemberLittens #ItalianBuddyRead

I got behind & did the reading last night but not the posting, so I‘ll make this quick(er).

Chapter 24 or Vol 3, Chap 3: Schedoni is up bright & early to get his CYA plan in effect & convince Marchesa that marriage between Ellena & Vivaldi is a good thing. Marchesa has gone to her beach house (damn, Vivaldi is looking better all the time!😍🤑) because orchestrating evil machinations is so tiring! 🙄Or maybe ⬇️

jenniferw88

DebinHawaii ...(1/2) It‘s the battle with her conscience, Nah, she pretty much doesn‘t have those. Anyway, The Monk finds her laying back on a chaise, resting. I picture it like one of the top 2 photos & then I found the meme statement about Italian Renaissance art & all the people laying naked on couches & it made me snort!🤣🤣So basically Marchesa is not pleased to find out Ellena is NOT dead & instead, now a very worthy choice for a Vivaldi DIL.🧐⬇️ (edited) 4y

DebinHawaii ...(2/2) At least according to Schedoni. Marchesa does not agree & tries to find out where she is. They play a game of evil villain 🦹‍♀️ 🦹🏻‍♂️ mental chess with him trying to hide Ellena‘s whereabouts when she guesses & pretending like she wasn‘t correct, & she‘s trying to pretend she still has confidence in him & isn‘t going to try to get the deed done another way. Idk, but I think Marchesa might be winning this game.😱 (edited) 4y

jenniferw88 😂 ❤ this! 4y

erzascarletbookgasm 😂👍 4y

JenlovesJT47 😂😂😂 4y

51 likes5 comments

jenniferw88

The Italian | Ann Radcliffe

Is Ellena going to become a nun?!

#ItalianBuddyRead #PemberLittens

jenniferw88 @Teresereading @Sungirl79 @kspenmoll @JenlovesJT47 4y

Lcsmcat Nah, I can‘t see her becoming a nun full time. I‘d like it if she stopped the whole “respect your sperm-donor like he was a real dad” business though. 4y

batsy This convent seems nice and restful. I think she should, but I don't think she is 😂 4y

57 likes4 comments

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