tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post5456478694948035705..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: Doctor Thorne by Anthony TrollopeBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-12505564978263852532014-07-28T03:07:57.228-04:002014-07-28T03:07:57.228-04:00Hi Maria - Sometimes we forget just how bad things...Hi Maria - Sometimes we forget just how bad things can be in the world and how some horrible things from the past persist.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-53090707139178708282014-07-28T00:12:46.502-04:002014-07-28T00:12:46.502-04:00Hey, Brian!
Yes, that book does sound VERY distur...Hey, Brian!<br /><br />Yes, that book does sound VERY disturbing.....How such things can possibly go on in today's world is beyond me....<br /><br />I'll definitely let you know when I do decide to give Trollope a try. He's sounding better by the minute!! : )Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-22671491582215108662014-07-26T23:51:13.255-04:002014-07-26T23:51:13.255-04:00Hi Maria - The world of marriages in Trollope, as ...Hi Maria - The world of marriages in Trollope, as well a other Victorian novels seems to be a bit of compromise when it came to arraigned marriages. Though I used the word arraigned they were not arranged in that the parents set them up and the participants had little say. rather the young people came under a lot of pressure and influence.<br /><br />In seems that Trollope's books love is a factor in choosing a spouse, however it is just one factor along with Class and wealth. Some people emphasize some of the factors more then ever. Trollope is so very nuanced!<br /><br />"I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced" looks disturbing. Arraigned marriages, especially involving children are such a terrible evil.<br /><br />I think that you would like Trollope, there is a lot of romance in his book. He does not just include social commentary, but life philosophy as well as marvelously crafted characters are typical for him.<br /><br />I would love to read what you think if you give him a try.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-70986246944911716742014-07-26T17:10:15.424-04:002014-07-26T17:10:15.424-04:00P.S. I just remembered.....arranged marriages are ...P.S. I just remembered.....arranged marriages are still being planned, even in the 21st century, and maybe even in this country, among "the upper crust", which is made up of wealthy bankers, CEOs, etc.<br /><br />In the Arab countries, this deplorable institution is, of course, alive and well -- and in a very sinister way, as women can be killed by their own families if they refuse to go along with arranged marriages. And they even marry young girls off -- at a VERY young age, too!! <br /><br />I recently came across a book titled "I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced". Check it out. This is totally APPALLING!!<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/Am-Nujood-Age-10-Divorced/dp/0307589676/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406408883&sr=1-1&keywords=divorced+and+ten+years+old<br />Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-22789841864624695452014-07-26T17:01:44.158-04:002014-07-26T17:01:44.158-04:00Hey, Brian!
OMG.....I'm SO far behind on read...Hey, Brian!<br /><br />OMG.....I'm SO far behind on reading your excellent posts....well, I'll try to catch up as soon as I can!<br /><br />I see that you're a HUGE Trollope fan! I really must get to this author, because you make him sound so intriguing and compelling.<br /><br />This book in particular has captured my attention because there's romance involved. I just can't resist reading a good romance! (What woman can? Lol.) However, I see that this novel goes beyond that, and contains a lot of social commentary, which of course makes it more universally appealing. <br /><br />It's so sad that the concept of arranged marriages dominated society -- especially aristocratic society -- for so long. People simply weren't sensitive to the fact that love is much more important than wealth. Or perhaps they were simply cynical about the possibility of such a thing as "true love" even existing. It was very common, with these arranged marriages, that one or both spouses would have a lover on the side, and people just pretended this was not going on.....How HYPOCRITICAL.<br /><br />I also find it highly ironic, as well as outrageously FUNNY, that the aristocracy, having fallen upon financial hardship, were suddenly forced to arrange marriages with the "nouveau riches" capilatists they looked down their noses on!! Ha, ha, ha, ha!!!! Serves them RIGHT for being so freaking snobbish!! <br /><br />Well, Mr. Trollope shall certainly find his way to my reading schedule, and very soon, I hope! I like him more and more, with each excellent post you write about his books!!<br /><br />Hope you're enjoying your Saturday! Thanks for your thoughts!! : ) Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-20492368355810021542014-06-09T14:22:18.935-04:002014-06-09T14:22:18.935-04:00Hi Lindsay - Trollope is such an enjoyable writer ...Hi Lindsay - Trollope is such an enjoyable writer and I think that you would like him. <br /><br />I think that the quotes show how good of a writer he is.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-77799338791515817392014-06-09T13:41:31.821-04:002014-06-09T13:41:31.821-04:00Brilliant, insightful review of this one Brian, ma...Brilliant, insightful review of this one Brian, makes me want to read it, the characters sound wonderfully written. I really like the sections you've highlighted.Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08731930823596505781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-1962923762141274982014-06-08T17:34:00.129-04:002014-06-08T17:34:00.129-04:00Hi Richard - There is a lot here and the class sys...Hi Richard - There is a lot here and the class system thing is interesting here much tor dramaic effect. Ultimately Trollope was all about interaction of I individuals.<br /><br />I would definitly start af The Warden in this series.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-35843661342604915122014-06-08T16:58:53.614-04:002014-06-08T16:58:53.614-04:00I'm much more interested in the Russian/Soviet...I'm much more interested in the Russian/Soviet class war than the collapse of the class system in England these days, Brian. That being said, I appreciate what you say about Trollope's nuanced characterizations and narrative subtlety. I'll have to give him a go someday, but I'll start with a different book in this series.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-40378619926028582402014-06-08T09:24:31.399-04:002014-06-08T09:24:31.399-04:00Hi Naida - I cannot say enough about his character...Hi Naida - I cannot say enough about his characters. He seemed to tap into something about what makes a person real that few writers, even great writers ever did.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-1786736613738919992014-06-08T09:13:38.046-04:002014-06-08T09:13:38.046-04:00This does sound like food for thought, the differe...This does sound like food for thought, the different class systems and relationships. <br />Trollope sounds like he is great at writing realistic and complex characters.The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10217390642323530030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-44434503276652933362014-06-07T18:26:05.280-04:002014-06-07T18:26:05.280-04:00Hi Guy - Also in Framley Parsonage there is a slig...Hi Guy - Also in Framley Parsonage there is a slightly similar situation. However there are some key differences. It seems as if Trollope liked tk play variations upon this theme.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-475328536246034102014-06-07T15:43:33.772-04:002014-06-07T15:43:33.772-04:00" Unbeknownst to the Greshams, or to Mary, is..." Unbeknownst to the Greshams, or to Mary, is the fact that Trollope’s heroine is the potential heir to another of her uncles’ fortune.."<br />The plot thickens. <br />Lady Anna concerns a young woman who is engaged to a man of no fortune whatsoever when she finally comes into her inheritance. Her mother wants her to marry a cousin and not marry for love, so it's another side of the same coin. Guy Savagehttp://www.swiftlytiltingplanet.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-77410494110106665432014-06-07T14:42:05.064-04:002014-06-07T14:42:05.064-04:00Hi Violet - He does indeed have a lot of books tha...Hi Violet - He does indeed have a lot of books that are highly esteemed. <br /><br />It was mary's treatment by Frank and her friends that was more dismaying then that of Lady Arabella.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-36491790401209393262014-06-07T04:41:26.011-04:002014-06-07T04:41:26.011-04:00Trollope was such a prolific writer! I like that h...Trollope was such a prolific writer! I like that his novels are realist - Dickens and Gaskell just annoy me with their cloying Victorian sentimentality. Also, I like the way he deals with class and illegitimacy in Doctor Thorne: Mary is a very upright character and doesn't deserve to be treated the way she is. I'm glad you found much to appreciate in the book. You probably won't ever run out of Trollope novels to read. :)Violethttp://still-life-with-books.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-82721225838948515732014-06-06T12:04:12.758-04:002014-06-06T12:04:12.758-04:00Hi Caroline - I actually think that Trollope creat...Hi Caroline - I actually think that Trollope created more realistic characters then anyone else that I have ever read.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-51546278045593601612014-06-06T11:38:26.133-04:002014-06-06T11:38:26.133-04:00Your really make me want to read him. I like what ...Your really make me want to read him. I like what you write about the characters, how realistic and nuanced they seem to be. <br />Great review, Brian. Carolinehttp://beautyisasleepingcat.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-41510383019179871212014-06-06T09:41:10.525-04:002014-06-06T09:41:10.525-04:00Hi Tracy - Yes, though many of the dynamics are di...Hi Tracy - Yes, though many of the dynamics are different, the way people act towards class, capitalism, genuine character are the same.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-29953073439217567352014-06-06T09:39:52.955-04:002014-06-06T09:39:52.955-04:00Hi Tom - Indeed the situation with the class syste...Hi Tom - Indeed the situation with the class system is an ongoing theme with Trollope. I am not reading Framley Parsonage. Once again the old Aristocracy is selling their land for cash.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-47933469708914012042014-06-06T07:24:06.212-04:002014-06-06T07:24:06.212-04:00This sounds like one of those books that is as rel...This sounds like one of those books that is as relevant today as it was when first published albeit maybe in a slightly different context.Felicity Grace Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17852843882007267665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-48440035731888004442014-06-06T01:12:41.518-04:002014-06-06T01:12:41.518-04:00"infiltrated" - yes, exactly. Trollope ..."infiltrated" - yes, exactly. Trollope is chronicling the ongoing <i>collapse</i> of the class system. He is the great Victorian novelist of <i>change</i>, or at any rate social and financial change, not so much ideas.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-10109814845104696652014-06-06T00:54:08.963-04:002014-06-06T00:54:08.963-04:00Hi Delia - I think that I would like Downtown Abbe...Hi Delia - I think that I would like Downtown Abbey. I watch. Almost no television.as there really is so little time. Maybe when I retire :) This book. An be read as a standalone but a thought that the previuos two were just a wee bit better.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-42726663066573762392014-06-06T00:44:31.926-04:002014-06-06T00:44:31.926-04:00Just reading your thoughts on it makes me want to ...Just reading your thoughts on it makes me want to pick up this book but I'll take your suggestion and read the other two first. Have you watched a series called Downton Abbey? Your review reminds me of it.Delia (Postcards from Asia)http://www.wrongspelling.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-22790174292384810232014-06-05T23:10:44.054-04:002014-06-05T23:10:44.054-04:00Hi Suko - Thank you so much.
This series is reall...Hi Suko - Thank you so much.<br /><br />This series is really worth it. Barchester Towers was incomparable but I would recommend reading "The Warden" first.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-16831094171122954362014-06-05T23:08:21.615-04:002014-06-05T23:08:21.615-04:00Hi Sharon - I hope that all is well.
I have not ...Hi Sharon - I hope that all is well.<br /><br /><br />I have not read "The Eustace Jewels" I look forward to reading what you have to say about it.<br /><br />One thing about the class system in this book is how it was being infiltrated by the newly rich Capitalists.<br /><br /><br />I wish that I too knew more about how the class system evolved in Europe. In "The Radicalism of the American Revolution" Gordon Wood analyzes why things developed differently in America. I found it to be a fascinating read.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com