White Fang
Part 2 Chs 1-5
It's amazing how the change of perspective alters your attitude. Reading this section which is now written from the perspective of the wolves, I have gone from disliking the wolves to feeling sorry for them & the harshness of their life. It makes you understand that they were just struggling to stay alive when they ate the dogs & Bill in the 1st part.
It seemed natural for the wolf pack to spilt & divide down into smaller groups & pairs, but I think I would miss the others.
When One Eye & the younger leader attack & kill the 3 year old it seems to me that it would be like killing one of the family! One Eye was obviously the most wise as he knew when the young leader was vulnerable & when to attack so that there would be no other rivals for the She-Wolf.
I'm so soft, I would be eaten in an instant!
I like the way the writer captured the meticulous search the She-Wolf made to find the right place for her lair to have the pups. I also think the description of the grey cub's 1st venture outside the lair on his own and how his thoughts, emotions & instincts developed. At the end of the day we all want our Mum!
The fight with the lynx was really ferocious & I was glad the She-Wolf & cub survived.
RIP One Eye, & the 2 brother & 2 sister cubs (Plus all the other animals who died to feed the wolves!).
Tuesday 12 April 2011
Wednesday 23 March 2011
Anipal Book Club 6 #whitefang 1
White Fang
Part 1 Chs 1-3
I'm not sure I'd like to be travelling around with Bill & Henry! I don't mind going out when it's raining or snowing, but I do like to snuggle up with Owner on the sofa, or lie in front of the fire! I feel sorry for the dogs even though they can snuggle up with each other it doesn't seem that safe - look what happened to Fatty in Ch 1!
Crikey it's a book about murders!
RIP Fatty, Frog, Spanker, One Ear, & the 2 unnamed dogs.
RIP human Bill.
Lucky escape for human Henry - he would have been eaten for sure if it hadn't been for the other men arriving on their sleds.
I'm glad I'm not a working dog like those pulling sleds - I don't think the pay & conditions are as good as mine!
Part 1 Chs 1-3
I'm not sure I'd like to be travelling around with Bill & Henry! I don't mind going out when it's raining or snowing, but I do like to snuggle up with Owner on the sofa, or lie in front of the fire! I feel sorry for the dogs even though they can snuggle up with each other it doesn't seem that safe - look what happened to Fatty in Ch 1!
Crikey it's a book about murders!
RIP Fatty, Frog, Spanker, One Ear, & the 2 unnamed dogs.
RIP human Bill.
Lucky escape for human Henry - he would have been eaten for sure if it hadn't been for the other men arriving on their sleds.
I'm glad I'm not a working dog like those pulling sleds - I don't think the pay & conditions are as good as mine!
Wednesday 2 March 2011
Anipal Book Club 5 #PNP 5
#PNP Part 5
PRIDE & PREJUDICE: Chapters 46-61
Well what dramas leading to the end of the book! I would never have thought Darcy & Lizzy would end up together! Darcy's character seemed so cold and aloof to start with, but by the end we learnt to understand him, & his background helps us to understand why he behaves the way he does.
It amazed me after Lydia & Wickham married how brazen they were when they returned to Longbourn to visit Lydia's family. No hint of shame or embarrassment at they behaviour which would have been disgraceful at the time. From here on in Wickham is exposed as a sponger & frivolously living beyond his means.
Lady Catherine comes across as a very forbidding character & Lizzy was very brave to answer her back. I thought she was very shrewd and quick-thinking in the responses she gave Lady Catherine when she visited Longbourn to try & quash any hopes of Lizzy marrying Darcy. I am sure if Jane had been Darcy's love-interest she would have been intimidated enough by Lady Catherine to end all hopes of marriage.
I am glad Jane & Bingley finally made their feelings truely known to each other & Darcy endorsed the relationship leading to their marriage too!
A great read and thanks to Oz_theTerrier on Twitter for setting the reading targets!
Looking forward to the next book!
PRIDE & PREJUDICE: Chapters 46-61
Well what dramas leading to the end of the book! I would never have thought Darcy & Lizzy would end up together! Darcy's character seemed so cold and aloof to start with, but by the end we learnt to understand him, & his background helps us to understand why he behaves the way he does.
It amazed me after Lydia & Wickham married how brazen they were when they returned to Longbourn to visit Lydia's family. No hint of shame or embarrassment at they behaviour which would have been disgraceful at the time. From here on in Wickham is exposed as a sponger & frivolously living beyond his means.
Lady Catherine comes across as a very forbidding character & Lizzy was very brave to answer her back. I thought she was very shrewd and quick-thinking in the responses she gave Lady Catherine when she visited Longbourn to try & quash any hopes of Lizzy marrying Darcy. I am sure if Jane had been Darcy's love-interest she would have been intimidated enough by Lady Catherine to end all hopes of marriage.
I am glad Jane & Bingley finally made their feelings truely known to each other & Darcy endorsed the relationship leading to their marriage too!
A great read and thanks to Oz_theTerrier on Twitter for setting the reading targets!
Looking forward to the next book!
Monday 21 February 2011
Anipal Book Club 4 #PNP4
#PNP Part 4
PRIDE & PREJUDICE: Chapters 31-45
How things have turned around in this section of reading!
Lizzy seemed independent and smart-thinking at first. Now she doesn't seem to get past her grudge against Mr Darcy for being involved in obstructing her sister's friendship with Mr Bingley. I can see why she was so shocked at being proposed to by Darcy because his small-talk is so awkward Lizzy didn't even realise that's what he was doing! Darcy's proposal was clumsy at best!
I am warming towards Mr Darcy who, despite his social clumsiness is obviously doing what he thinks is right, and he clearly has the best interests of his sister at heart. It amazed me that he would propose to Lizzy when she obviously showed no warmth towards him.
Darcy comes across as much more pleasant when he meets Lizzy & the Gardiners at Pemberley.
Mr Wickham who seemed to be charming and hard done-by is actually turning out to be a complete cad!
Miss Bingley is a rude, jealous and spiteful woman, but that's no surprise.
It is interesting to see how much time people in those days would spend away from home visiting relations or touring - months at a time, not just weeks!
I also think that it is strange that Lizzy & the Gardiner's were shown around Pemberley when Darcy wasn't there. It seems odd that the housekeeper would just show anyone around the house!
Roll on the next installment!
PRIDE & PREJUDICE: Chapters 31-45
How things have turned around in this section of reading!
Lizzy seemed independent and smart-thinking at first. Now she doesn't seem to get past her grudge against Mr Darcy for being involved in obstructing her sister's friendship with Mr Bingley. I can see why she was so shocked at being proposed to by Darcy because his small-talk is so awkward Lizzy didn't even realise that's what he was doing! Darcy's proposal was clumsy at best!
I am warming towards Mr Darcy who, despite his social clumsiness is obviously doing what he thinks is right, and he clearly has the best interests of his sister at heart. It amazed me that he would propose to Lizzy when she obviously showed no warmth towards him.
Darcy comes across as much more pleasant when he meets Lizzy & the Gardiners at Pemberley.
Mr Wickham who seemed to be charming and hard done-by is actually turning out to be a complete cad!
Miss Bingley is a rude, jealous and spiteful woman, but that's no surprise.
It is interesting to see how much time people in those days would spend away from home visiting relations or touring - months at a time, not just weeks!
I also think that it is strange that Lizzy & the Gardiner's were shown around Pemberley when Darcy wasn't there. It seems odd that the housekeeper would just show anyone around the house!
Roll on the next installment!
Anipal Book Club 3 #PNP3
#PNP Part 3
PRIDE & PREJUDICE: Chapters 16-30
Characters as they are mentioned (& colour -linked to family groups - see Anipal Book Club 1 for previous character info)
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THIS & DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHO MARRIES MR COLLINS DON'T READ THIS AS IT'S REVEALED IN CH 26!
Chapter 16
(Old) Mr Darcy (deceased). Father of Mr Darcy. Godfather of Mr Wickham.
Lady Anne Darcy. Mother of (young) Mr Darcy. Sister of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
(Old) Mr Darcy (deceased). Father of Mr Darcy. Godfather of Mr Wickham.
Lady Anne Darcy. Mother of (young) Mr Darcy. Sister of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh - 1st mentioned in Ch 13, but now revealed to be related to Darcy)
Chapter 18
George Wickham (1st mentioned in Ch 15, but 1st name not revealed until now)
Old Mr Wickham - George Wickham's Father & the late Mr Darcy's steward)
Chapter 21
Georgiana Darcy - Mr Darcy's sister (1st mentioned in Ch 8, but 1st name not revealed until now)
Chapter 25
Mr & Mrs Gardiner - Mrs Bennet's brother & sister-in-law (1st mentioned in Ch 7, but not named)
Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy (originally mentioned in Ch 3, but 1st name not revealed until now)
Georgiana Darcy - Mr Darcy's sister (1st mentioned in Ch 8, but 1st name not revealed until now)
Chapter 25
Mr & Mrs Gardiner - Mrs Bennet's brother & sister-in-law (1st mentioned in Ch 7, but not named)
Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy (originally mentioned in Ch 3, but 1st name not revealed until now)
Chapter 26
Charlotte Lucas becomes Mrs Collins!
Chapter 27
The Gardiner's children (not named)
Miss King - the new object of Wickham's interest, since her Grandfather died & left her £10,000. (Miss King was 1st mentioned in Ch 3)
Chapter 28
Mrs. Jenkinson - old lady who lives with Lady de Bourgh & daughter
Chapter 29
The Miss Webbs mentioned in conversation by Lady Catherine
Lady Metcalf - mentioned by Lady Catherine
Miss Pope - Lady Metcalf's governess (recommended by Lady Catherine)
Chapter 30
Colonol Fitzwilliam - cousin of Mr Darcy & younger son of Lord Fitzwilliam (Darcy's Uncle)
Miss Pope - Lady Metcalf's governess (recommended by Lady Catherine)
Chapter 30
Colonol Fitzwilliam - cousin of Mr Darcy & younger son of Lord Fitzwilliam (Darcy's Uncle)
MORE DETAILS ON PLACES / PROPERTIES
Grosvenor Street, London - the street where Mr & Mrs Hurst have a house.
Grosvenor Street, London - the street where Mr & Mrs Hurst have a house.
Longbourn & Meryton villages are in the county of Hertfordshire
Hunsford (where Mr Collins & Lady Catherine de Bourgh live) is in Kent
Gracechurch Street, London - the street where the Gardiners live (different part of London to Grosvenor Street)
Anipal Book Club 2 #PNP2
#PNP Part 2
PRIDE & PREJUDICE: chapters 1 -15
I think Mr Bennet is a very tolerant man (he needs to be for a quiet life with Mrs Bennet). He seems like the sort of man who could put his foot down if he felt strongly about something though.
Mrs Bennet seems like an awful woman who is selfish and single-minded (she just wants to see her daughters all married off), but I quite like her determination and commitment to the cause. She seems to only see things from her own perspective. Not the sort of woman you'd want to be friends with in real life. However, in those days, if she didn't see her daughters all married they wouldn't have much of a prospect.
Lizzy is my favourite of the daughters & favourite character of the book. She has a spark of life & an independence which would have probably been frowned on in those days!
Least favourite character is Charlotte Bingley as she seems to be mean-spirited and devious trying to gain favour with Mr Darcy and paint Lizzy in a poor light as she knows Mr Darcy is actually keen on Lizzy.
I didn't realise that P&P was originally called First Impressions, but I think both are equally fitting titles (probably more evident later on in the book - Shhhh!).
The language sets the scene and serves as a reminder that it was a bygone era when life and expectations were very different.
There have been several terms / words I wasn't familiar with & had to look up:
Ch 5 - hack chaise (Hack = a worn out old horse. Chaise = an open top carriage on 2 wheels for 1 or 2 people.)
Ch 8 - Loo (gambling card game)
Ch 10 - Piquet (a trick-playing card game for 2 players)
Ch 12 - Thorough-bass (music)
Ch 13 - Entail ( law settle the inheritance over a number of generations so property usually remains with family group)
Ch 13 - Quadrille (Square dance with 4 couples)
Ch 14 - Phaeton (A light open 4 wheel horse drawn carriage)
So I am having fun AND learning new things!
Anipal Book Club 1 #PNP1
Part 1
PRIDE & PREJUDICE: Chapters 1-15
Characters as they are mentioned (& colour -linked to family groups)
This may use helpful to anyone new to the book. If not ignore this blog!
Chapter 1
Mr Bennet - father of 5 daughters. Bennet family live in Longbourn village
(Netherfield Park - property let to Mr Bingley)
Mrs Long (has 2 nieces)
Mr Morris (? estate agent - only 1 mention)
Mr Charles Bingley - Wealthy bachelor from north of England. Has 2 sisters & a brother-in-law (more details in Ch 3)
Sir William & Lady Lucas - Sir William formerly in trade. They live in Meryton about a mile from Longbourn. Has 2 daughters & a son
Elizabeth / Eliza / Lizzy Bennet - 2nd daughter of 5. Main character
Jane Bennet - eldest daughter of 5. Considered the prettiest.
Lydia Bennet - youngest daughter of 5.
Chapter 2
Kitty / Catherine Bennet - 4th daughter of 5.
Mrs Bennet - mother of 5 girls. Wants them all to marry.
Mary Bennet - middle daughter of 5. Plain looking but worked hard & is musically accomplished.
Chapter 3
Mr Hurst - Brother-in-law of Mr Bingley (married to Lousia 1 of 2 sisters to Mr Bingley - mentioned in Ch 7)
Mr Darcy - friend of Mr Bingley. Has a large estate in Derbyshire (north of England). Residence is called Pemberley - mentioned in Ch 6.
Miss King - minor mention
Maria Lucas - daughter of Sir William & Lady Lucas
Chapter 4
No new characters mentioned
Chapter 5
Charlotte Lucas - daughter of Sir William & Lady Lucas. Close friend of Lizzy Bennet
Mr Robinson - minor mention
young Lucas boy - brief mention - son of Sir William & Lady Lucas
Chapter 6
Colonel Forster
Chapter 7
Mrs & Mr Phillips - sister & brother-in-law of Mrs Bennet
Captain Carter - Army captain admired by Kitty Bennet
Miss Watson - minor mention
Brother of Mrs Bennet mentioned, but not named - he lives in London
Mrs Louisa Hurst - Sister of Mr Bingley
Caroline Bingley - Sister of Mr Bingley & Louisa Hurst)
Mr Jones - the apothecary
Chapter 8
Miss Darcy - Mr Darcy's younger sister
Chapter 9
No new characters mentioned
Chapter 10
Miss Grantley - minor mention
Chapter 11
Nicholls ? cook - works at Netherfield
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Hill ? cook - works for the Bennets
Mr William Collins. Clergyman. 25yr old cousin of Mr Bennet. Will inherit the Bennet estate as there are no sons in the family.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh - widow. Lives at Rosings Park. Has 1 daughter. Patroness of William Collins
Sir Lewis de Bourgh - deceased husband of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Chapter 14
Miss de Bourgh - daughter of Sir Lewis & Lady Catherine. Frail lady.
Richard ?who
Mr Denny - army officer liked by Lydia Bennet
Chapter 15
(Hunsford - where Mr Collins lives)
Mr Wickham - friend of Mr Denny
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