BridesheadNostalgia

One of my goals this year is to try and reduce the number of unread books I own, because it‘s reaching epidemic proportions. This one has been hanging around for far too long, so the time has come to pick it up.

CarolynM I reread this one last year with some Litsy buddy readers. There's a lot to like about it and quite a bit to think about. You might be interested in some of the discussion under the tag #BridesheadNostalgia 6y

Asktheletters Ooooh, thanks! I‘ll definitely check that out. 6y

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saresmoore

Brideshead Revisited | Evelyn Waugh

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It took me much longer than I expected to read this. It‘s strangely dense, but I found it to be unexpectedly honest. Waugh‘s writing is lush and practiced and his characters are fascinating. I slogged through quite a bit of the story, but really ended up enjoying it for its excellent sense of place (between two wars) and unapologetic self-awareness. There‘s a lot of food for thought, even if I didn‘t love the conclusions—a true classic, I suppose.

Kalalalatja, erzascarletbookgasm, CarolynM, Leftcoastzen, TrishB, Cathythoughts

saresmoore #BridesheadNostalgia Thank you, friends for a great buddy read! ♥️ I was very late to the discussion threads, but really enjoyed all your brilliant insights, nonetheless. I‘m glad to have read this! 6y

Kalalalatja I‘m so glad you ended up liking it! Maybe there‘s hope for me another time 🤞 6y

TrishB I didn‘t like at first and then the writing drew me in and I decided to read ‘of its time‘ rather than from my time and expectations. I enjoyed it more then and really appreciated it by the end. 6y

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saresmoore @Kalalalatja Meh. Life is short, so many books! 6y

erzascarletbookgasm I‘m glad it‘s a pick for you too. Waugh‘s writing is beautiful. 6y

Moray_Reads As a slice of a particular time and a particular sort of life, it's hard to beat. I'm always impressed that he makes me sympathise with characters who have outlooks I detest 6y

saresmoore @TrishB @Moray_Reads Yes, I totally agree. Some work is timeless, but this is better taken as a marker of a specific context, like a commemorative ebenezer (or whatever the Catholic equivalent of that would be). Waugh really did enliven that context and elicited empathy for even a set of privileged, bigoted, and obnoxiously religious characters. 6y

saresmoore @erzascarletbookgasm It really is! I actually took notes because at times it was truly masterful: his effortless transitions from one timeframe to the next, the setting descriptions, and even the dialogue. 6y

Leftcoastzen Though I dislike the prejudices within, I am very much a reader that tries to read it placed in its time.Knowing times were different, or are they? Witness open racism unleashed by the election of the orange baby man. 6y

saresmoore @Leftcoastzen 😂😭 Too true! There is certainly something to be said for Waugh‘s honesty—he didn‘t shy away from any of the bad stuff. Many of those in leadership (especially the 🍊👱‍♂️👶) seem to be taking more of a 1984, sweep it under the rug, call it something else type approach to all forms of prejudice. 6y

CarolynM @TrishB @saresmoore @Leftcoastzen On the prejudice point, I think in these characters it stems from their utter self satisfaction. They are so pleased with what they are they look down on those who are something else. That's why I can find it amusing. The prejudice of the masses is rooted in fear and deep dissatisfaction and that seems to me a lot more dangerous, especially when exploited by the privileged as it was in the 30's and seems to be now. 6y

saresmoore @CarolynM That‘s an excellent point. 6y

TrishB Scary how easy it is to become acceptable.... @CarolynM 6y

Moray_Reads @CarolynM @TrishB @Leftcoastzen all really interesting points. There's certainly nothing unusual for the time in the prejudices seen in Waugh's work. He definitely brings to light the nastier side that isn't so obvious in the more casual "innocent" (and I hesitate to use the word) references of writers like Wodehouse, though of course the humour is very different 6y

saresmoore @Moray_Reads Yes, great point. I think when it‘s in-your-face like in Brideshead, it‘s preferable. Although it‘s a different time period, the obvious, but flippant xenophobia in Villette (currently reading) is elucidated in footnotes and that helps me remember the context. It‘s still upsetting, though. 6y

Moray_Reads @saresmoore for me it edges too far in some of his other work like Decline and Fall and Scoop when the racist humour, satire or not, is truly horrible 6y

saresmoore @Moray_Reads Oof, thank you for the warning. 6y

TrishB @Moray_Reads I won‘t bother with those then 😔 I think. 6y

Moray_Reads @saresmoore @TrishB bits of both were very funny but the racism is excruciating. I do like Vile Bodies though 6y

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erzascarletbookgasm

Brideshead Revisited | Evelyn Waugh

pick

My first Waugh and I find beauty and lush in his writing. Such a sorrowful story with themes of faith, love, loss, and family, but Catholicism remains the heart of the story. Some characters are fascinating, comical, others tragic.
Thank you for joining in the buddy read and interesting discussions. #BridesheadNostalgia

BarbaraBB Great pic! 6y

TrishB And great review 👍🏻 awesome buddyread! 6y

Cathythoughts Yes wonderful review & you have been a lovely & engaging host , thanks Jessie ♥️. And thanks fellow buddy readers .... I really loved the book ... 6y

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CarolynM Thanks Jessie, I really enjoyed revisiting Brideshead with you and the other buddy readers @Cathythoughts @TrishB @Kalalalatja @saresmoore @Leftcoastzen (edited) 6y

Leftcoastzen Thanks for hosting! Fun! I loved his buddy read! 6y

Dragon 🧸 Sebastian 🧡 6y

erzascarletbookgasm @BarbaraBB thanks 😊 6y

erzascarletbookgasm @TrishB @Cathythoughts @CarolynM @Leftcoastzen Thanks for the enjoyable buddy read and insightful thoughts, guys 👏❤️ 6y

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Kalalalatja

Brideshead Revisited | Evelyn Waugh

bailed

I‘m sorry buddy readers, but I‘m giving up on this. For now. The timing hasn‘t been right for me, but I might return to it in the future 🤞

#BridesheadNostalgia

BarbaraBB I understand. I was underwhelmed by this one too! 6y

saresmoore I‘m slogging through at the moment! I can‘t figure out why it‘s as long as it is. 6y

CarolynM I think the first part of the book is definitely the most interesting, I can certainly understand why you are struggling to finish @Kalalalatja @saresmoore 6y

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erzascarletbookgasm I agree it‘s rather slow in the middle parts. 6y

erzascarletbookgasm @saresmoore if you do finish it, head over to the discussion questions/posts. 6y

Kalalalatja @BarbaraBB @saresmoore glad to know I‘m not alone! @CarolynM @erzascarletbookgasm I really think this is a timing problem for me, or maybe too high expectations 🤷‍♀️ 6y

batsy @Kalalalatja I slogged through it when I read it some years ago, and was underwhelmed. I also felt it was a timing thing and I forced myself to finish. @saresmoore @BarbaraBB 6y

rubyslippersreads Maybe I‘ll stop feeling bad about never having read this. 6y

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erzascarletbookgasm

Brideshead Revisited | Evelyn Waugh

This post contains spoilers

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#BridesheadNostalgia

Last question. Feel free to comment anything else 🙂

CarolynM, Leftcoastzen, TrishB, saresmoore, Cathythoughts

TrishB Still thinking about this one! 6y

CarolynM Cousin Jasper's instructions to Charles early in the book is so bigoted it is hilarious. I love Anthony Blanche's scenes, I think he lets us see both Sebastian and Charles from different perspectives than we get from the rest of the book. Likewise the scene of the dinner Charles has with Rex Mottram gives us a different view of Julia. 6y

Leftcoastzen I love the ones @CarolynM mentioned as well as Cordilias description of Sebastian ,last she knew.So poignant.I love when Charles and Julia are among the few who are well during the rough ocean crossing, predicted they would get involved, yet cool to be part of the healthy group,like some anointed club. 6y

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Leftcoastzen I also love his way of telling the story. 6y

erzascarletbookgasm @CarolynM cousin Jasper 👍 Anthony Blanche‘s conversation with Charles is important like you said, giving us the background of Sebastian and Lady Marchmain. I find the scenes of the Oxford boys hilarious. 6y

erzascarletbookgasm Charles father is a weirdly comical, his conversations with Charles are hilarious and witty but sad too. No love between the two 💔. I also like the scenes involving Rex‘s eagerness to get converted so the marriage can go on. 😁 @Leftcoastzen @CarolynM @TrishB 6y

TrishB I‘m not sure men if men of that class at that time were expected to love their kids - he was probably thinking he was doing a good job! 6y

erzascarletbookgasm @trishb you mean men (British?) at that time having restraint in expressing emotion? Like ‘stiff upper lips‘? 6y

TrishB Exactly! That‘s why they were all sent away to boarding school or loved their nannies - why is why nanny is so important here too. 6y

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erzascarletbookgasm

Brideshead Revisited | Evelyn Waugh

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#BridesheadNostalgia

CarolynM, Leftcoastzen, TrishB, saresmoore, Cathythoughts

TrishB I think it worked, but was very poignant. 6y

CarolynM Overall I find it satisfying except for the idea that Charles has become Catholic. I would need a lot more detail of his inner journey to find that convincing. 6y

Leftcoastzen I think it worked , between all that had happened and heading to the next war , it‘s understood the end of an era.I like how Charles is the outsider taken in not unlike Nick Carraway in Gatsby.I have been rewatching Downton Abbey so great changes to another Lords‘ family come to mind. 6y

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Cathythoughts A very sad ending ... but it felt real to me 👍🏻♥️ 6y

erzascarletbookgasm 🙌 worked for me as well. So sad, so bleak. ❤️💔 6y

erzascarletbookgasm @Leftcoastzen I like your point about how Charles is the outsider, so alike Nick in Gatsy! 👍 6y

saresmoore Oh, gosh, I hated the ending! Ha! I think his questionable conversion to the pious/repentant life is bogus. Every sinful character being wrapped up in a religious devotion, sacrificing self, but for what? What greater good is any of them serving in the midst of another war? I think Waugh was aiming for hope in the end and some poignant, penultimate truth, but it fell flat for me. 😬 6y

saresmoore @TrishB @CarolynM @Leftcoastzen @Cathythoughts 6y

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erzascarletbookgasm

Brideshead Revisited | Evelyn Waugh

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As in..sexually?

#BridesheadNostalgia

CarolynM, Leftcoastzen, TrishB, saresmoore, Cathythoughts

TrishB There are literally hundreds of pages of debates about this! My head is so influenced by the TV series here - where it‘s a lot more overt than the book. I think they probably are physically involved - but there‘s no more info due to the publication date of the book I expect. 6y

CarolynM Definitely. Are they sexually involved? I'm fairly certain of it. They are just out of boarding school where homosexual activity is commonplace, they spend time sunbathing nude together on the roof of Brideshead for no reason other than the joy of if and there is that wonderful line about their naughtiness being up there with the worst sins. I think it's pretty clear. (edited) 6y

Leftcoastzen Well ,of course if he were literal about homosexuality it couldn‘t have been published by a mainstream publisher then.The joy of reading it is filling in those things somewhat left to the imagination.it comes up often, boarding school, experimentation,etc. Reading of the upper classes family histories not uncommon to see couples marry , have children,continue the family line ,& take lovers of either sex ,with some level of discretion . 6y

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Cathythoughts I think they are lovers , it‘s very subtlety portrayed.... but , yes. 6y

erzascarletbookgasm I think so too, @TrishB @CarolynM @Leftcoastzen @Cathythoughts . Cathy you‘re right.. I think that was Waugh‘s intention..subtle 6y

saresmoore I agree with @CarolynM —this didn‘t even seem subtle to me. And honestly, I think the question of sexual involvement is irrelevant. Charles very clearly emphasizes that his love for Sebastian was the precursor to his love for Julia. I think the art of nuance as opposed to overt description is generally a mark of good writing. 6y

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erzascarletbookgasm

Brideshead Revisited | Evelyn Waugh

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Since religion is the major theme, I‘m curious to know.

#BridesheadNostalgia

CarolynM, Leftcoastzen, TrishB, saresmoore, Cathythoughts

TrishB Great question! Probably not.....🤷‍♀️ think he was definitely veering towards accepting Catholicism by then. 6y

CarolynM I think it's pretty clear that he has become a Catholic. It is by no means clear to me why he has done so. I think the whole story shows how unhappy the Flytes have been as a consequence of their religion. This is how Charles seems to see it. I think the author's intention was to show them being comforted by their religion when they were at their lowest and that making Charles see it as something he wanted too. I'm not convinced. 6y

Leftcoastzen I think he is more of a spiritual seeker with his world travels ,Art,and such.I think he respects how their faith , though often creating problems for the family , seems to comfort when their father is nearing the end.I think he prayed to honor the traditions of the house and I am not convinced he would become Catholic. 6y

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erzascarletbookgasm Good insight @CarolynM ! I have my suspicion when Lord Marchmain was at his deathbed and everyone was praying, even Charles. I don‘t understand why he did that when he didn‘t believe. To honour the traditions of the house, @Leftcoastzen ? I don‘t know.. 🤷‍♀️ 6y

erzascarletbookgasm @TrishB I think the same too, that he was accepting (or receptive to) Catholicism towards the end when Lord Marchmain was dying. 6y

erzascarletbookgasm In the epilogue, the last part about the red flame, I don‘t understand. Anyone can explain? @TrishB @CarolynM @Leftcoastzen . Charles was noted as being ‘unusually cheerful today‘..was that anything to do with his visit to the chapel or his conversation with Nanny? 6y

saresmoore I think his waxing poetic about the red flame was a symbol of Charles‘ (and Waugh‘s) acknowledgment that the only hope in dark times is the light of religion. I certainly don‘t agree with this conclusion, but it‘s an emphasis on rebuilding and greater purpose, even in his last conversation with Nanny. Seems to me that his agnosticism has been morphed into a sort of respectful appreciation for the religion and it‘s practices. 6y

saresmoore @TrishB @CarolynM @Leftcoastzen 6y

TrishB I find it hard to comment on religious anything as I don‘t have any religious beliefs - so I don‘t really get anything to do with religious fervour- can you just turn it on and off - change religions etc? I have no idea really. I try to respect people‘s approaches but can‘t claim any understanding at all! 6y

erzascarletbookgasm That makes sense, about the red flame. Thanks for your explanation @saresmoore 6y

Leftcoastzen @erzascarletbookgasm @saresmoore @TrishB @CarolynM It could reflect my own prejudices.I would be polite and maybe join in, respect elements of their faith. (Whatever helps get you through)I don‘t see the intensity that would signify Charles joining the faith.But the book operates with a subtlety that makes one question many things. (edited) 6y

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erzascarletbookgasm

Brideshead Revisited | Evelyn Waugh

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#BridesheadNostalgia

CarolynM, Leftcoastzen, TrishB, saresmoore, Cathythoughts

TrishB I‘m not sure I have one! Although I enjoyed the novel I don‘t think it was because I was attached to a character. 6y

Leftcoastzen Even though it‘s a small part ,Mr.Ryder, father of Charles , out there in a world of his own , he gets the best lines! 6y

CarolynM I've always liked Anthony Blanche. I think it's because he seems be more comfortable with himself than any of the other characters are. Charles and Sebastian are both interesting but somewhat shadowy. They are all incredibly self absorbed. 6y

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Leftcoastzen @CarolynM Anthony does light up the page!the room ! the whatever! 6y

erzascarletbookgasm I wasn‘t attached to any character as well, @TrishB , not even Charles. @CarolynM @leftcoastzen I do like Anthony Blanche as well! 6y

Cathythoughts Sebastian 💔. My favorite character has to to be Sebastian ... narcissistic, a homeless wanderer , coming to a bad end. I couldn‘t have befriended him IRL ... but from a distance I can feel great compassion for him (edited) 6y

erzascarletbookgasm Poor Sebastian. So heartbreaking to see him ‘destruct‘ himself and spiral towards depression and alcoholism. @Cathythoughts 6y

saresmoore @Leftcoastzen Agree that Mr. Ryder gets the best lines! And I love his quirks and habitual reading. @CarolynM Antoine is such a fun character. He is one of the few who seems to see the big picture and yet still enjoy life. My favorite character was Julia, I think because I related most to her. 6y

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erzascarletbookgasm

Brideshead Revisited | Evelyn Waugh

#BridesheadNostalgia buddy readers, final/overall discussion coming up soon. No worries if you have not finished reading, jump in whenever you‘re done.

Kalalalatja, CarolynM, Leftcoastzen, TrishB, saresmoore, Cathythoughts

Leftcoastzen Love this cover collection! 6y

TrishB Great graphic 👍🏻 6y

Kalalalatja I have only read the first chapter of part two this week. I‘m starting to realized, I might end up bailing. I‘m just not compelled to pick it up 🤷‍♀️ 6y

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batsy Love seeing all these covers. 6y

erzascarletbookgasm @Kalalalatja Oh no! Will miss you at the final discussion. What is it that makes you not interested to continue? The characters? The writing? It‘s alright to bail, read what you like, so many books out there. 6y

Kalalalatja I think it‘s the timing. The tone of the book just doesn‘t for with my current mood. I might pick it up at some other time, but at the moment it isn‘t working for me 6y

erzascarletbookgasm @Kalalalatja I know what you mean about timing 👍 6y

saresmoore I‘m still plugging away, but now that I‘ve finished writing, I should be done soon! 6y

BiblioLitten An old favourite 🤗💕 6y

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