canadianauthor

I really enjoyed this. At first it seemed like the story of a young girl growing up on a ranch, with an almost idyllic life, but the detail about Ernestine‘s future revealed that the story was going to get darker. This is my first Ethel Wilson, but won‘t be my last.

Does anyone else think that Hetty would be able to get herself out of trouble in Austria, no matter how ominous the last lines? 😏

#PersephoneClub

andrew61 Yes, I agree, Hetty will definitely find someone else who falls for her charms. Great review. 2h

Tamra @andrew61 agreed! 1h

15 likes2 comments

CarolynM

Hetty Dorval. by Ethel Wilson | Ethel Wilson

pick

#PersephoneClub
I have a lot of thoughts about this one. Firstly, the ostracism. No one quite seemed to know exactly why, but Hetty was a “menace” & to be shunned. I wonder how often this happened (& still happens) to someone innocent? Then the “femme fatale”. Of course it‘s the woman‘s fault, no man can resist a beautiful woman who appears available & interested🤬 I was kind of disappointed that it turned out Hetty conformed to the stereotype.

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, daena, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, Teresereading, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

Tamra I got the impression that was one of Wilson‘s points, re: stereotype? Hetty & her mother suffered the social stigma of having been real women with real feelings, desires, dreams, etc. who were especially manipulated by men. They in turn had to manipulate others bc they operated in survival mode. I would have liked Hetty more fleshed out in first person, but it was Frankie‘s POV. Honestly, I was more interested in Hetty! (edited) 2w

Cathythoughts Yes I agree, the judgement of innocent people in this world is upsetting. I think Hetty was set up early on when she tells Frankie their meetings must be a secret… this is how we are introduced to her and it‘s hard to get past. I worried for Hetty‘s future, she was living life in survival mode. Solitary. 2w

66 likes2 comments

LeahBergen

Hetty Dorval | Ethel Wilson

pick

I‘m late to review our latest #PersephoneClub read as I‘ve been travelling around the interior of British Columbia (and very close to the setting of this novel).

I loved it! And who was surprised by the “reveal”?? I felt like I could have continued on with Frankie‘s story just a little bit longer.

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, Teresereading, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

Tamra It was a surprise to me! Didn‘t seem to be handled well all the way around. 😅 I felt like that about Frankie too, but I had to keep reminding myself the titular character is Hetty. I wonder if that was a publisher choice? I hope you enjoyed your trip! (edited) 2w

willaful I would really have liked to see more of what happened to Frankie, but I came to the conclusion that the story was really about her finding her own values and voice and we could take the rest on faith. 2w

CarolynM I was surprised, but it made sense to me. And I liked what the Afterword said about the consequences of parents behaving as servants to their children. I was uncomfortable all along with accepting that Hetty was bad, without any real evidence. I was hoping for those sitting in judgement to be in the wrong. 2w

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rubyslippersreads I‘m even later than you, but will come back when I‘m done. 😺 2w

Cathythoughts I loved it too. The reveal was a surprise to me too, but then on reflection it made sense. I felt for Hetty , but I‘d say she would be a difficult person. I loved the description of their first meeting in nature. Lovely writing. ❤️ 2w

Cathythoughts Lovely picture ! I hope you had a great time on your trip x 2w

MemoirsForMe Happy Travels! 🤗🚐❤️ 2w

rubyslippersreads I was surprised by the reveal. As for Hetty‘s reputation, I think Frankie‘s parents were just trying to protect Frankie, and to keep her from growing up too fast. But that was difficult to do without divulging too much of the sordid gossip around Hetty, which at that time would have been very shocking. 3h

63 likes8 comments

andrew61

Hetty Dorval. by Ethel Wilson | Ethel Wilson

pick

@quietjenn @Tamra @CarolynM @sisilia @Caryl @daena @elkeOriginal @Gissy @Aimeesue @Bookbuyingaddict @julieclair @willaful @LeahBergen #persephoneclub
Another great read with (reminded me of a lost lady by WC) a central character who is the hypnotic femme fatale who attracts everyone except the sceptical narrator ,here Frankie burnaby who as a child loves the stranger + her parents forbid her to contact but as adult sees the spider like risk.

LeahBergen Pretty photo! I really enjoyed this one, too (and still need to review it). 😆 2w

rubyslippersreads Spider-like is a perfect description of Hetty. 3h

39 likes1 stack add2 comments

TracyReadsBooks

The Adversary: A Novel | Michael Crummey

pick

Wow, this book is filled with vile, absolutely horrible people & I couldn‘t put it down. Historical fiction (when there was a king) set in Newfoundland, this book reminded me of Withering Heights & what happens when pure unbridled passion, envy, jealousy, & anger permeate a character‘s every moment, every motivation. The story starts with a power play that sweeps everyone along towards an inevitable, devastating end. Moody, dark, excellent.

18 likes

Tianarose

A Grandmother Begins the Story | Michelle Porter

This #readingslump is hitting me hard.

24 likes

TracyReadsBooks

The Adversary: A Novel | Michael Crummey

Just started this. It‘s the first book I‘ve read by this author…I can already tell, it won‘t be the last. Really enjoying it so far.

18 likes

quietjenn

Hetty Dorval | Ethel Wilson

pick

So much packed into this slight novel! Such layered, complex characters in a story that did not go all the places I expected it to. A great #persephoneclub pick!

LeahBergen Look at that old edition, too! 😍 3w

Tamra 👏🏾indeed, good things come in few pages. 😄 3w

CarolynM What a great edition! I‘m just getting started. 3w

46 likes1 stack add3 comments

willaful

Hetty Dorval | Ethel Wilson

A coming of age story in which young Frankie's life in beautiful British Columbia, and later in Europe, is disrupted several times by the fascinating, enigmatic -- evil? -- Hetty Dorval. I've read books with similar themes before but I'm not sure I've ever read one in which the narrator comes so satisfactorily into their own by the end; no matter who Hetty really is, Frankie will be the person she needs to be.

#PersephoneClub

LeahBergen Great review! And I‘ve yet to start. 😬 3w

Cathythoughts Great review. I enjoyed this too. Hetty is one complicated woman ! 3w

willaful @LeahBergen It's a pretty fast read. 3w

23 likes3 comments

mcctrish

This Summer Will Be Different | Carley Fortune

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I whipped through this ❤️ CF writes a perfect summer read imo and I love that they are set in 🇨🇦 this one is on PEI and I loved reliving my trip there and my love of Anne Shirley. Maybe I want to move now

JenReadsAlot I loved that one! Great view! 3w

wildwoodreads Ohhh jealous of that view! 😍 3w

TheBookHippie 😍😍😍😍 3w

See All 6 Comments

Tamra Perfect spot! 3w

AnnCrystal 🤩💝. 3w

peaKnit I like this too! I just finished the one where Percy and Sam meet, I read them backwards lol, both so good. 3w

59 likes6 comments

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