by Katie,
“Ring around the rosy, pockets full of poseys, ashes, ashes, we all fall down.” A fun circle game many children have played for generations is actually a song about the Bubonic Plague. The destructive nature of the plague is a topic that still fascinates people. While nowhere near as bad as in the Middle Ages, the Bubonic plague still exists today. Thankfully it is much more treatable than in the 14th century.
From the reviews I’ve read, we are about to face some incredible characters. Much as the incredible men we meet on the Narrow Road to the Deep North, Bookpage.com suggests that these characters will have merit and substance. The small town of Eyam decides to go into isolation as a means of dealing with the plague. After we read this novel, do we think that this was a wise decision, or do we think the townsfolk may have been better off abandoning Eyam? Which character do we feel is the most resilient?
I hope this novel doesn’t bring us down after the fun we had with Little earthquakes.
Hello Ladies!
ReplyDeleteHope you’re both doing well. We are getting ready for the holidays. Christmas will be here all too soon. Is your yard finished, Sue? Nancy, I love the pool pictures. Ivars did a great job!
I’m sorry for the downer after the fun of Little Earthquakes. I think the hardest portion of the novel was when Anna’s children died. That, to me, was the most difficult part to read. I felt Anna was the most resilient character. She dealt with the most hardship and greatest woes. She lost her whole family, the prospects of a new family, and her dear friend. How very trying! I would have said Michael Mompellion was the most resilient but his break down after Elinor showed he couldn’t hold up.
As for whether or not the town made the right decision, I believe they did. It seemed that the plague was kept well contained within Eyam. And with Michael Mompellion arranging for previsions the town was pretty well set to wait out the plague. What did you ladies think?
How did you feel about Michael after learning how he treated Elinor? I really liked him and thought he was a very strong character until I learned how cruel he was with Elinor. I felt there was no need for the kind of cruelty. Didn’t Elinor suffer enough?
I don’t know how I felt about the ending. I agree Anna had to flee for the safety of the child she rescued. I guess what bothers me is that she had to marry a man so that she could continue to practice medicine. It's probably just from being a modern woman who doesn't believe a woman's value is based on her marital status. Although having said that, I did have high hopes for Anna and George Viccars. A double standard maybe?
What did you both think? I hope I didn’t make you suffer to badly.
Looking forward to your thoughts,
Katie
Hello to you both
ReplyDeleteA very belated happy Thanksgiving, Katie - hope your family enjoyed the holiday. With regard to our garden, it remains a work in progress. Terrific headway has been made considering the rain, awful drainage and the continued evolution of plans. For example, a lean-to storage space is now under construction. The concrete mixer, also used to mix soil, remains by the back fence, and bags of goodness-knows-what occupy the driveway. However, perhaps come spring . . .
How come Ivars has managed to build a swimming pool while we’ve been messing about with our tiny piece of land?! Do congratulate him, Nancy. Hope you’re enjoying the achievement.
Hope the Christmas plans are going well, Katie. So much to do and so much excitement with a young family – take care of yourself. In complete contrast, we’ll be entertaining Mum and Dad, though that will be fun in its very different way.
I certainly didn’t suffer badly reading this month’s novel, Katie – a really gripping read. Horrifying, yes, but it was a horrifying situation. I do agree with you about Anna’s resilience, but think Elinor is a very strong character, too. I wasn’t at all taken with her husband. A little more humility would have become him. And then to believe that losing his faith meant he could do as he pleased . . . Perhaps he might have evolved into a better man eventually, but that would depend on how, over time, he perceived his role in corralling the villagers. Without his religious faith, faith in himself, and the love of Elinor, he might have thought life not worth living. The weight of his responsibility for all the deaths he witnessed and the possibility that there was no heaven to receive the souls of those dead would have been overwhelming. Speaks volumes for Brooks’s skill that I’m sitting here conceiving of a character’s life (or death) outside the book.
I was glad Anna left Eyam – sadly she might have suffered the same fate as the Gowdies. And I liked the recognition that Islamic societies have contributed enormously to the advancement of the world. So, I appreciated the ending. Anna could develop her skills in safety, something she couldn’t do in her own country. Awful situation I agree, Katie, but there it is.
A very interesting read, Katie – thank you.
Happy Christmas to us all.
Much love
Sue
Hello Ladies,
ReplyDeleteI hope all is well with you both and you’re keeping warm. Our summer has begun with a bang, literally. We have had a few really good thunderstorms with lots of electrics and rain, I love watching storms and feel it always heralds in the hot months. Of course, to have the storms we have also had some soaring temperatures,so I’m feeling very blessed for our new pool, and my very industrious husband.
I have just returned from a week in Brisbane with Gracie which was loads of fun, but it is nice to be home.
I hope all your Christmas preparations are going to plan, we are all going back up to Brisbane to be with Gracie, and hopefully taking Dad along if he’s well enough.
I also became engrossed in our story, and was very glad of your selection Katie. In fact my copy is going in the secret santa at my local library book club in a few weeks.
For me, I found Elinor to be such a wonderful character with so much resilience and strength, especially as her story unfolded and we learnt of the hardships she endured. Anna was an amazing woman, and in spite of the truly horrible things happening in her life, the tragic loss of her family and then the horror of her father and step mother’s decline into madness she remained strong and steadfast.
I didn’t have a lot of time for many of the male characters, they seemed in general to be weak and easily influenced by others. The exception was perhaps young Brand the pantry boy, who helped Maggie back to Eyam.
I feel most conflicted by Michael Mompellion, I spent most of the story thinking he was a pretty good guy however, after he lost Elinor and the truth of their relationship became known, I began to question all his motives.
The story is based on such a tragic subject but I found so much beauty and love in many of the paragraphs. Anna’s love for her children and the wonderful scene as she sat by the river feeding Tom while Jamie frolicked in the water was so touching. I also loved Brooks’ descriptions of the countryside and the changing seasons of the area
I cheered for Anna in the end, she became such a strong independent woman who found a way to practice what she loved and to live at peace.
When Geraldine Brooks titled this story, I think she meant it as a story of hope and finding beauty and strength even in the hardest and harshest of life’s situations. I found it harrowing in parts, but also inspiring and very beautiful. Thank you Katie, so glad we read this.
Merry Christmas to everyone and much love,
Nancy
p.s. pool party at mine, I think you guys should leave that cold weather and join us in the new year, we have plenty of room for all !!!