Beautiful prose thank you for reading

In my view “I capture the castle” is, in a way, a tribute to Jane Austen. In “Pride and Prejudice” the father is quite similar. I would not call either a “waste of space” but both men leave much to be desired. I found a copy of this book in the corridor of my daughter’s primary school. I absolutely fell in love with it and have since listened to an audiobook maybe five times. It is indeed very atmospheric. There are not many books which made me look for the paintings and the music mentioned there. Like Cassandra, I would object to being compared to Reynolds’ “Girl with a mousetrap”!!!

Why did he choose to interview so many men? Well, just read in a recent review in The Spectator about a new biography of Blythe that he was gay. Might have some bearing (?) Also, I suppose in the ‘60s women were often just seen as ‘housewives’. Just a thought.

It is lovely to connect with other people who are so affected by this book. Your thoughts about "the dark" taking many forms, especially during the winter are very pertinent. It is not just specific malevolence, but more subtle forces such as loneliness and the desire for the "magical". Susan Cooper was able to connect with so many of us because of the way the "magical" was placed into a very real, very down to earth context. I wonder if anyone else who loves this book is equally affected by Mervyn Peake's Titus Groan/Gormenghast and Ursula Le Guin's Wizard of Earthsea- even though those world's are very different to that of our's as represented in The Dark is Rising?

It was a compelling read!

Yes, this is a truly great book by a great woman and deserves to be much better known than it is. I first read it years ago, when it first came out. I have been a life-long 'student' of nazism and authoritarianism of any colour and found it so revealing. That eipsode that you read touches on something so little known, that the invading Germans were welcomed with flowers and treats by those who had suffered horribly under forced Soviet rule. The slide into being in an Einsatzkommando and shooting Jewish children, hideous and horrifying though it was, seems almost logical and understandable after that. This is still an influence today between Russia and Ukraine, because many Ukrainians reacted in the same way when the German's invaded. They had been so abominably treated by the Soviets that they welcomed the Germans and even fought or worked for them. I met a German once, lived with his family for a while, who had been in the German occupying army in Ukraine and he told me about it and how he had helped Ukrainians to survive by stealing horse-,eat and giving it, illegally, to them. I met another, much younger man who had lost 12 years of his life because of the war, had been planning to study law, but had had to do 'National Service' first. He was still in the army qwhnen war broke out, fought th4rough the war, survived and then spent three years as a POW in England. He looked desperately sad, as if he was about to burst into tears any minute. He was as much a victim of the war as anyone, apart from the sheer luck of surviving. Her book shows how terrible the war must have been for so many Germans, but don't forget, they voted Hitler into power. There are contemporary videos on YT that show the hysterical ecstasy with which Hitler was greeted by the crowds. The tendency for weak, helpless people to worship power and to demand a 'strong' leader who will rescue them may yet destroy the world, if we are not careful.

Lovely accent. The kind I grew up with.

I liked the way the names reflected the characters... Cassandra, the one who sees the truth but isn't listened to, the beautiful and coveted Rose, the slightly whimsical but still beautiful Topaz, Mortmain (French - deadhand, a reference to his lack of writing), Mrs Leda-Foxcotton having a frankly ridiculous name to reflect how Cassandra sees her whilst the Cottons have a far more ordinary and respectable name... I love this book so very much and your commentary was spot on!

I am so pleased you, Emily, are bringing this book to a wider audience. It is one of my all-time favourites - so funny, so sad, so true and so beautifully written.

I adored this book and was sad to reach the end. Mrs Bridge is trapped in the straitjacket of societal expectations of that time and yet shows odd glimpses of trying to break free, such as her short lived attempts to learn Spanish and picking books off the shelves to read , only to be disturbed and forced to return to her domestic life. I wondered whether to read Mr Bridge, but fear it may not be so enjoyable. Thank you for bringing this book to my attention!

Thank you

Hello! Not that it matters too much, but I thought you'd want to know. The LY at the and of the name Mihály is read as the Y in the English word YEAR. ZS in the name Erzsi is pronounced as the S in the English word PLEASURE. Hope it helps.:) And a big thank you for promoting this unique piece of literature!

just picked it up, thank you for this!

Have you seen the film? I’d say it’s a rare case where the film is better than the book.

I enjoyed this book I wanna read it but I have read to many times so I won't.

I read the book several years ago and loved it so much that I named my tiny rescue kitten 'Netsuke'

After our zoom call and hearing everyone's comments and this overview, I now appreciate the complexities and twists of this book that I initially overlooked, so well done in recommending something totally absorbing and extremely well written. Thank you Emily!

“This is the book Isherwood was born to write” said his cousin,Graham Green.-although I think Down There on a Visit is even better; both are great books. One thing that Isherwood added to taking just one day in the life of the main character is that he compresses that day and takes George from awakening ( birth) to sleep at the end of the day and possibly George’s death( does George die or merely fall asleep at the end? does it matter?)This allows Isherwood to make explicit direct or implicit statements about life itself and to address a spiritual, meaning to life in a manner than either Woolf or Joyce did. No one would deny the immense spiritual qualities of Ulysses or Mrs. Dalloway, but Isherwood is able to make 14:21 an indirect statement about his religious beliefs.Vedanta is never preached but is very much woven into his fictional practice. The story itself is marvelous and presents a picture of part of the southern California life which remains vivid. The fact that Jim has died before the book ever begins puts death behind every moment of this life and brings a sharp focus to the book. Isherwood’s justly famous prose in its late perfection of simplicity is one great feature of this book with you and others you mention note; It is truly one of the marvels of written English. I would point out two things which I think slightly more than narration. One is that the book was originally intended to be about Charlotte and I believe that structurally Her story slightly, same intrusive, although it is well integrated into the events and meaning of the book. The other is, you cannot read about George without, if you know anything about his life, somewhat conflating him with the author and there’s some dissonance here; George and Isherwood are and are not alike. I Appreciate your taking this book up for discussion. I enjoyed your video. Thank you.

I loved listening to this .I love the book and the feeling of strangeness and being unsettled by the story which as you say is told in simple but beautiful sentences full of twists and turns Thank you Emily

Wow 🎉

An absolute favorite; read as a child, then read to my children, who I hope will read it to theirs. Just listened to the BBC dramatization. 💗

a multitude of thanks for this from Cape Town You are such a life enhancer

Amazing

What a tremendous read!...so thought provoking.

I've just discovered Rose Macaulay's 'They Were Defeated' following an interest in Robert Herrick, the cavalier poets and the English Civil War. Only now, discovering it as a student but re-reading it after many years, do I realise how interesting it is. Glad to discover something else by her.

❤❤❤ from pakistan ❤❤

I am in the middle of reading it now. I bought it (Kindle version) in the belief it was a "novel," so have been disappointed from that point of view, but am finding it interesting nevertheless. As you say, I'm finding it a little harder work than many books, and I am not looking forward to sitting down with it each night the way I would with a novel or mainstream biography. I have therefore decided to divide it up and read two "people" between other books, as I really do want to read it, but am finding it a little "stiff going."

Why are you sitting in the sink?

He died recently aged 106. Loved the novel but the books on my reading list. Great channel by the way

The book I read when I was 14 and to this day, there has been no other book has illustrated such a vivid picture in my mind while reading. The whole series, but particularly this book, which was the first I read, has never left me. A wonderful way to bring feelings of dread into a beautiful story line whilst not being horrific. Incredible writing and great review.

I have just started reading this book, and found your comments really helpful and thought provoking. Thank you.

I loved this book, the strength of character of Mary, her extraordinary resilience and disregard for what was expected of her. We saw that right from the start when she refused to wear her corsets when travelling to China and seemed not to care for convention and what her chaperone thought. My only gripe is that I wish I hadn’t known she was going to have an affair. It slightly spoiled the section on her marriage as we knew it wasn’t going to last anyway. But this book was still a real treat.

This is great. Thank you. Loved the book - unfortunately can't make the walk this month but hope it is well attended. Zoe

Emily!! Finally see you in the morning with Seth's chair dancing therapy 😮😅 (kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIe9h6aqr7aZZposi=7WIn9oqnz2j1765S)

I found you today in you tube . Really enjoyed this today .Needed today to remind us of our natural world through the eyes of amazing people that did so much for conservation all over the world and remembered forever so lovingly in our minds . The walk looked Amazing wish had shared it with you and my George and Buddy would have Loved it too. Thank You ! Love Sx

Huh. That's a new one on me. Always appreciate a fellow reader, no matter the book. :)

Why the title by the sea

BBC Radio has an excellent adaptation here on KZbin.

I think it's the opposite of what you said--Foenkinos shows us the irony of Charlotte having left her home for France while her father, stepmother, and lover stayed behind and survived. Your point is obviously pertinent and there are many examples of this, but he's showing us the contrary, and I think he's highly aware of this.

Finished this book today and loved it! I had to force myself not to read this book in one sitting - so I dragged it out over four days. It was soooo good. Beautiful, clear prose. Wonderful dialogue. I also got some hints of Joyce’s Ulysses in it.

Thanks for your well-considered review, Emily. I enjoyed parts of the novel (mainly those concerning the "King John" production) amusing but much of it was rather dreary. The characters, with the exception of Hannah, were dull or unpleasant. I find Penelope Fitzgerald's habit of stopping, rather than properly finishing, her stories to be frustrating and repetitive.

If I am fortunate enough to return to England one day, I'd LOVE to meet you and walk and discuss books with you! I so enjoy this channel and often share your talks with friends here in California as well as buy and read the books that you recommend. Thank you for the effort that you put into sharing books!

loved this book. The constant feeling that something is just not alright with Viktor's job, his relationship with the penguin, everything is so lovely and amazing. Also loved the rhythm and the pace, it goes pretty fast and it keeps you wanting to read more and more.

I just finished reading this book and went in search of others discussing it. When I first discovered it I also thought it was more of a teen / young adult novel and was slightly put off since I'm not usually interested in books for that age range. But I'm super happy I gave it a shot! I was extremely enamoured by the story and it definitely takes a lot of inspiration from Jane Austen / Bronte sisters works with its character dynamics and the "gothic" castle being in and of itself a character. I know it is marketed towards a young audience but there is definitely a lot of undertones that are more adult - e.g. Leda Fox-Cotton's suspicious interest and intentions with Stephen, Rose implying that she is willing to "sell herself" to help with the family's financial situation etc,. I think it's also a great study of class and class dynamics. I have yet to decide how I feel about the final "twist" at the end, but I am happy with where Cassandra ends up at the end. A beautiful coming-of-age story that doesn't feel too childish. Thanks for the video!

Un film simplu dar cu calitate !❤

"promo sm"

Brilliant thanks Emily

Such a marvelous video! I found this story rather emotional and fascinating; it really left an enduring impression on me.

I didn't realise what I was getting myself into when I decided to read this book over my vacation weeks in the tropics :)) Certainly not a beach book, but I enjoyed it thoroughly, despite not being familiar with who Charlotte was. The format of the prose is quite unique, too.

Leda Fox-Cotton is a feminist "predator" who collects celebrities. My favourite minor character is the self-effacing Vicar, who gives "stealth spiritual comfort" when Cassandra needs it most (but doesn't realise it). To aid the family finances, the vicar out of charity buys the ugly rug (--which I doubt he needs) and is more shrewdly observant than Cassandra thinks.