So, here's the thing. I don't like comparing the characters to Austen's heroines. It just makes it bleh to me. I like Fowler's characters in their own right. They're mostly interesting and complex on their own. If I think of the Austen match for each other them, it takes away my joy for the characters. I think the coupling between Grigg and Jocelyn was forced, even though i figured it out in Bernadette's chapter.
"We'd let Austen into our lives, and now we were all either married or dating." (Pg. 249) I'm repeating it, sarah, because it made me so mad. So everyone was peachy keen? What kind of ending is that? I enjoyed that Daniel came back, that made me happy. And Bernadette getting married again seemed appropriate. Made me smile. But how like women to think that everyone needed to end up in a relationship??????
Sorry, i know i write romance as a rule, but i expected more from Fowler. I guess she needed Jocelyn to have some sort of arc. Grr.
I loved Bernadette's chapter. Bernadette was fabulous and funny and just so self-assured. I want to be as silly as her when I grow to be her age. Maybe not as many marriages.
Some favorite quotes:
"I hope I've learned a thing or two since. No one with real integrity tries to sell their integrity to you. People with real integrity hardly notice they have it. You see a campaign that focuses on character, rectitude, probity, and that's exactly when you should start asking yourself, What's this guy trying to hide?" (pg. 185)
"Bernadette could tell right off that he hadn't lived long enough to have much to say. His sugar-beet farmer would be thinly drawn." (pg 181)
"But she (Nettie) had herself become invisible, especially to younger men. This had begun back in her fifties, so she was used to it by now. She'd become more audible to compensate." (pg 181)
"(in regards to Mr. Tybald Parker, who picked Nettie up when she wandered from the commune) It was the first time since I'd gone to visit Mattie that I felt God's presence in my life." (pg 190)
Okay, so I just loved Bernadette. She was fun. And I liked Prudie sort of sticking up for her against Mo Bellington the mystery writer.
I'm not sad we read this book. It had some good points. I have no idea how they made a movie of it. But I wanted to know how it ended, which means that there was definitely something to be said for the 'story.' And Fowler writes well, even if her structure is very unorthodox.
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Yeah, I'm glad to have read the book too; although, I didn't really like Fowler's writing style for the most part. Again with the narrator thing that just was annoying for me.
I'll bet that the movie has a much stronger, well more obvious, plot, and I'll be very impressed if they keep the age difference between Grigg and Jocelyn.
I likes Bernadette's chapter as well. I am glad to have (re)read the book with all of you; it gives me a better perspective on the whole thing. From what I've seen of the movie the characters all look younger than their ages and they make up stuff about Prudie having an affair (or almost having one) with the popular high school boy she teaches...pretty sick. Maybe the movie is funny, but Chris didn't want me to rent it so I don't know when or if I'll see it. It sounds though, like if Fowler took some liberty with Austen, Hollywood took even more liberty with Fowler.
~Emily~
I do like how Prudie and Bernadette didn't really like each other until the benefit dinner, where they kind of bonded against that horrible mystery writer. Although, it made me smile how his next book is all about the stories Bernadette told him. He and Corinne should get together (if she turned straight, of course).
That's a good point Katie. Clever the first time by Fowler with Corinne doing it to Allegra, although a bit overused to go back to the same trick again. Also, she seems to be almost brazenly flaunting the fact that she has done the exact same thing with this book, by using someone else's stories.
--Chris-- (sorry forgot to sign the last one)
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