#whartonbuddyread
I finished this week thinking this was a transition section, that we‘re waiting to see what will actually happen. But looking over my notes a lot happens. Our year of bliss dissolves in moralistic self righteousness. Nick runs off, writes a terrible letter and climbs aboard with the very likable Coral Hicks. Susy heads to Paris and has a marriage proposal from Streph, care of a tragic accident. Where to, dear Edith? Thoughts?
Graywacke @IndoorDame @dabbe @Currey @batsy @Louise @CarolynM @Daisey @TheBookHippie @arubabookwoman @leftcoastzen @jewright @AllDebooks 2y
Graywacke @Sace @Suet624 @catebutler @Catherine_Willoughby @crazeedi @TEArificbooks @emilyhaldi @KathyWheeler @llwheeler @BookishTrish @Ann_Reads @sparklemn @sarahbellum @IMASLOWREADER @SamAnne @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @GinaKButler 2y
AllDebooks I'm all over the place with this one! Edith has sketched out an array of privileged people with aplomb. I find this very reminiscent of Waugh. There seems to be a very yin/yang balance between the rich and their 'parasites'. All have something to gain and the interweaving relationships are complex to say the least. There doesn't seem to be an awful lot of communication going on here between Nick and Suzy. Can it all be put down to heedless ⬇️⬇️ 2y
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AllDebooks Naivety on Suzy's part or judgemental arrogance on Nick's. Very cowardly and bewildering reaction from him. 2y
IndoorDame Since we‘ve mostly focused on specific moral choices so far, small and more sweeping in scope, I‘m thinking at least one of our couple will be remarried by the time they meet up again 2y
Graywacke @IndoorDame Noooooo! … sorry. Yeah, maybe. 😒🙁☹️ 2y
IndoorDame @Graywacke just a theory, 🤷🏻♀️I could just as easily be wrong and our lovers future could come up roses 🌹🔮🥀 2y
batsy I found this immensely readable and so different from the Whartons I've read that I've finished, & am afraid to comment in case I reveal something 🤐 But I'm glad that you think Coral is likeable; I think so too and I wanted so much more of her. Also yes to the self-righteousness on Nick's part! 2y
Graywacke @AllDebooks I haven‘t read Waugh, but sounds right. And i was happy Wharton used “parasite”, since that was my own word too. ☺️ But anyway, I think i feel the same that we are all over the place, maybe even on every page. And these relationships are complex and curious. I was fascinated by Nelson Vanderlyn, who certainly must know something. (And Fred Gillow always makes me smile) 2y
Graywacke @IndoorDame not sure Wharton does roses… 🤔 2y
IndoorDame @Graywacke I feel like I should say there‘s a first time for everything, but I‘m really not the eternal optimist. Maybe that‘s why I‘m reading Wharton 🤔💡 2y
Graywacke @batsy oh, let it out! We can bash Wharton here too. 🙂 But, I‘m glad you‘re finding this one readable too! I find I‘m getting a little needed release when reading it. 2y
Graywacke @IndoorDame 🙂 2y
jewright Well, that went south in a hurry. I guess I was surprised Strefford wanted to marry her. Babysitting five kids would definitely make me consider other options too! 2y
Graywacke @jewright Violet is so funny. Offering jewelry (and cute emotional disappointment). Phew, that would have been a commitment! (And, yeah, in a hurry. They‘re so impulsive) 2y
batsy Oh no, to be clear, I loved it! I'm just afraid of spoiling it accidentally by talking about something that happens in a later chapter ? it's the slimy Strefford that gives me the same vibes as how I felt when reading House of Mirth—it seems like a respectable way "out" of her troubles for Susy, but you know it's going to be the slow death of her soul type thing. 2y
Graywacke @batsy ah, ok. i thought you were withholding Wharton comments, but you were holding on spoilers. Thanks for holding off on spoilers. I haven‘t figured out reserved steady Streph yet. (I think his timing is awkward, at best, quite awful, at worst.) 2y
AllDebooks @batsy Absolutely agree re Strefford. #shudders They all seem very adept at manipulating people to get what they want, but I feel Strefford in particular, is too good. 🫣 2y
AllDebooks I also found it peculiar that there was no correspondence between Nick and Suzy, other than his initial note. Admittedly, Suzy didn't know where he was, but for it to drag on for so long with no explanation is tortuous. Being ghosted by text is bad enough, imagine what it must feel like via snail mail 😱 2y
arubabookwoman I'm annoyed at Nick going so morally offended at Suzy's actions re Elsie's letters. Her actions were totally consistent with the premises on which they married. Once again we're seeing the consequences of the failure to communicate, such a common theme with Wharton. At this point I think Suzy is actually in love with Nick, but Wharton reinforces several times Suzy's inability to live w/o the perks of the rich, which Nick can't afford. 2y
Currey @IndoorDame @Graywacke But it is Wharton, does anything come up roses with Wharton? Well thorns maybe…. 2y
Currey @Graywacke I am thoroughly enjoying this one. It feels slightly “lighter” to me. Wharton‘s usual tightly constrained societal rules have definitely loosened over time. The moral ambiguity isn‘t as impossible to understand. Of course, stealing cigars or posting letters is not quite in the same category as mercy killing or talking someone out of a divorce. 2y
IndoorDame @arubabookwoman I‘m annoyed at the degree of his outrage too! Unless the message we‘re building towards is a subtle ultra feminist men don‘t understand the emotional labor women need to maintain in society kind of message (which I think is too far ahead of its time to be an actual possibility here) then Nick knew the basics of who he was marrying and everything their life meant 2y
Lcsmcat @IndoorDame With Wharton for an author? I‘m not smelling 💐 2y
Lcsmcat @AllDebooks Maybe being ghosted by snail mail is easier to take because letters took longer, so you could always invent a reason that you hadn‘t heard yet? 2y
Lcsmcat @IndoorDame I don‘t think Wharton would use the _term_ emotional labor, but she certainly understood the concept. So I think you might be on to something there. 2y
AllDebooks @Lcsmcat that's true, but I think his silence is very cruel 2y
Lcsmcat @AllDebooks Ih absolutely! He‘s punishing Suzy for his own confusion and moral choices. 2y
Lcsmcat One quote that rang so clearly to me with Wharton‘s less-than-optimistic-yet-humorous outlook was: “those who consent to share the bread of adversity may want the whole cake of prosperity for themselves.” I can‘t help but wonder if she‘s foreshadowing here. 2y
Leftcoastzen Late to the party , love everyone‘s comments. The waiting is the hardest part! I think it‘s amazing any correspondence gets through when they move about like this! Through banks , embassies hotels, friends, errand boys! Sheesh 2y
Leftcoastzen What was a bit infuriating but predictable , how Mrs.Melrose wants to stick her with multiple children, they are already pegging her as someone running out of options so if she wants to be part of this group without funds , she will be asked to be of use. 2y
CarolynM Totally agree @arubabookwoman I highlighted that quote too @Lcsmcat It seems to me that this story is another look at what it takes to be part of a wealthy social group when you‘ve no money of your own so yes, @batsy I‘m reminded of Lily in House of Mirth but also of Ellen in The Age of Innocence and even John and Justine in The Fruit of the Tree and Sophy in The Reef. 👇 2y
CarolynM ☝️I fear I‘m an outlier here - I don‘t find Coral very appealing at this stage and I think Strefford is genuine and quite likeable 🫤😟 @batsy @AllDebooks 2y
Lcsmcat @CarolynM I‘m not sure about Strefford yet, but I‘m with you on Coral. I find her as manipulative as the others. 2y
batsy @CarolynM It definitely reminded me of House of Mirth but in a lighter vein. Though this being Wharton "lighter" is up for debate ? 2y
dabbe @jewright Amen! I just finished AGNES GREY, and being in charge of any kid except your own isn't worth the effort! 🤣🤣🤣 2y
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