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GatheringBooks

Poetical Works of Thomas Moore (Classic Reprint) | Thomas Moore

#PoetryMatters Day 29: #Wand

TheSpineView

25 likes

The_Penniless_Author

Lily in the Valley | Honor� de Balzac

so-so

One of my issues with 19th-century novels is how many of them began life as serialized publications. When you get paid by the word, you're going to use a lot of words, and while I don't begrudge anyone trying to make a living, even a writer of Balzac's level can't make me care about the topography of the Indre River valley for four whole pages. The first 50-75 pages of this were like literary Ambien, but there were enough compelling parts...

The_Penniless_Author ...(like Henriette's first letter to Felix) to keep me sticking with it, and it ends strongly (particularly the final letter from Natalie). 2d

Ruthiella I feel it was less “paid by the word” and more authors writing for what the medium, their audience, and their editors wanted and expected. 2d

Suet624 Haha. Love this review. 2d

36 likes3 comments

Cuilin

Hard Times | Charles Dickens

#WhatTheDickens @Cuilin @Texreader

Cuilin @texreader @CaitlinR @raelovestoread @fortifiedbybooks @BarbaraJean @Annececilie @LeeRharry @quietjenn @bookwormAHN @dabbe @alldebooks @Daisey @sparklemn @bcncookbookclub @TheAromaofBooks
@lcsmcat @bornareader @cogsofencouragement @thebookhippie @thearomaofbooks @bookwormjillk @Lin3han @wordslinger42 @curiouserandcuriouser 3d

AllDebooks I liked the characters and found them relatable. Gradgrind's change of heart and mind over how he raised his children was telling, particularly with how emotionally stunted they grew up to be after a diet of FACTS. 3d

AllDebooks Bounderby was a blustering, pantomime figure and I couldn't rrad about him without thinking about Monty Python's sketch of Yorkshiremen competing over who had this poorest childhood. https://youtu.be/VAdlkunflRs?si=45rddY_grpd-J2Wd 3d

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dabbe @AllDebooks 😂😂😂 Thanks for sharing that link! #perfection Plus, what a flippin' hypocrite who was finally exposed by his own mother! He was an absolute arse who deserved everything he got at the end. 3d

dabbe I think the characters were allegories. Examples:
Thomas GradGRIND: the embodiment of the cold, fact-based approach to education and life.
Mr. Bounderby: a symbol of the way industrialists of Dickens‘s time inflated their stories of achievement while ignoring the inequalities of the poor whose hard work allowed them to succeed.
Stephen Blackpool & Rachael: their personal struggles seem largely symbolic of the horrific plight of the working poor. 3d

Lcsmcat @AllDebooks ❤️ the Monty Python reference! 2d

Lcsmcat I felt the characters in HT were a little less realistic than some of Dickens‘ characters, but for the purposes of this story, they worked. And some of them showed growth and change, so not complete allegories or caricatures. 2d

32 likes7 comments

Cuilin

Hard Times | Charles Dickens

#WhatTheDickens @Cuilin @Texreader

I noticed a few connections myself, what say you?

AllDebooks Absolutely. I found it a mirror to contemporary issues. It's shameful that in a society of such wealth disparity, these same areas are still problematic. The prevailing environmental changes due to pollution, poor health, living/working conditions of the poor, economic growth dividing people more, education are all as relevant today as they were in Dickens time. 3d

dabbe Coketown exposed the environmental costs of industrialization: the pollution, the smog, and the disregard for the natural world in the pursuit of economic gain. Today, we face a global environmental crisis with climate change, deforestation, and pollution continuing to be major problems. Also, current technological advancements often come at the expense of the environment, and the call for sustainable practices echoes the concerns Dickens raised. 3d

Lcsmcat I agree with @dabbe and @AllDebooks and can only add that Dickens does an excellent job of showing how we imagine our own worst qualities actually belong to the other (I.e. Bounderbery and his gold spoon comments) 2d

29 likes4 comments

Cuilin

Hard Times | Charles Dickens

#WithTheDickens @Cuilin @Texreader

Are you finished?
Join in whenever.
What are we all thinking?

AllDebooks I wouldn't consider him an activist. He was a philanthropist through his charitable causes. He did use his profile for social criticism and reportage on poverty, housing, education, etc. 3d

curiouserandcurioser I just noticed i didnt get your tags-its curiouserandcurioser-i spell the last curiouser differently as my quirky nod to Alice:)💜 3d

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Cuilin @curiouserandcurioser got it!!! 🙏 I changed it on the tag list. 3d

dabbe I think Dickens wrote HARD TIMES as a critique of the industrial revolution and the social and economic systems that were shaping England during that period. The novel was both a social commentary and a call for reform. Dickens wanted to challenge the prevailing attitudes of the time and advocate for a more compassionate, humane society—one that balanced industrial progress with a respect for individual dignity and emotional well-being. 3d

curiouserandcurioser Thank you💜 3d

Lcsmcat I absolutely believe he was an activist, and like the best ones, he wrapped his message inside good stories so people would read them. 2d

25 likes7 comments

dabbe

Hard Times | Charles Dickens

#hyggehourreadathon @Alldebooks @Chrissyreadit @TheBookHippie

Hygge hour involved finishing HARD TIMES for #WhatTheDickens. Not the most relaxing of reads, but I had to see some beloved characters through to the end. What a reminder that life is full of hard times but that redemption and salvation is possible within ourselves and without a savior. Best part tonight? Taking a hygge break with Pip--who's better after her seizure this week. 🖤🐾🖤

TheBookHippie Pip ♥️ 3d

AllDebooks Aww Pip 💙🐾💙 3d

AnnCrystal 🙏😘💕🐕‍🦺💝. (edited) 3d

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dabbe @TheBookHippie 🩵🩶🩵 3d

dabbe @AllDebooks 🩵🩶🩵 3d

dabbe @AnnCrystal 🩵🩶🩵 3d

Gissy 🐶🖤🖤🖤 1d

dabbe @Gissy 🩵🩶🩵 22h

59 likes8 comments

dabbe

Hard Times | Charles Dickens

pick

#WhatTheDickens @Cuilin @Texreader
4/5 Through characters like Thomas Gradgrind and Mr. Bounderby, Dickens critiques the utilitarian philosophy that values efficiency over human emotion and compassion. He argues that such a worldview leads to a soulless, mechanical society where people are seen as a means to an end rather than individuals with inherent worth. Still, redemption is possible and does occur for those who are worthy. A heartfelt read.

Texreader Great review!! 3d

dabbe @Texreader TY, lovely leader! 🩵🩶🩵 3d

61 likes2 comments

mcctrish

Villete | Charlotte Bront�

Jumping ahead to February‘s #literarycrew read on audio and doing bags 5 & 6 #audiolegoing

Librarybelle Nice! 4d

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 4d

48 likes2 comments

bcncookbookclub

Modern Dutch Design | Silvia Barisione, Jonathan Mogul

#foodandlit 🇳🇱
Netherlands with mountains and ocean regions have a great variety of food and also have an interesting production of wine. Noorbeek has its winery village and St. Martinus vineyard has ones own pop restaurant.
Continue reading in the post Comer & Beber en Neetherlands, on my blog (in spanish), https://patriciabarbosa.substack.com

Netherlands travel blog , https://www.visitingthedutchcountryside.com

❤️ @Catsandbooks @Texreader

Texreader This is awesome!! Thanks! I‘m trying to learn Spanish on Duolingo so I‘ll see what I can understand on your blog. 4d

Catsandbooks ❤️🇳🇱 3d

bcncookbookclub @Texreader OMG! Well-done! Most of the content in my blog is in Spanish, I hope it can help you! I'm trying to improve my conversation in English, so I took part in English-speaking groups here in Barcelona, even in an English choir! It helps me a lot, so I advise you do the same 😉 2d

23 likes3 comments

Nebklvr

Yevgeny Onegin | Alexander Pushkin

pick

Bold and evocative. Pushkin immerses the reader in Russian life and a Russian winter with his lively words and biting wit. His hero left much to be desired but Russia was the heroine of the story.

37 likes1 stack add

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