Welcome to Litsy!

So, this was all a morality tale? Middle class well- educated but impoverished Margaret Hale sees both sides of Marx and Engel‘s Manchester and … finds a dumb strike-leader/factory worker and respectable attractive factory owner who just needs to understand his workers better. Got that? Also she matures, and religion is good, and fortune spins, and other stuff happens. For me this represents the paternal contradictions of the 19th century.

Started this Sunday, part of a Victorian theme on LibraryThing. I basically missed all the Victorian novels, so filling in. I‘ll try to pick through it in little pieces over the next two months (in between other things).

Update: I never got to it. Sunshine, a nap, and my kids dominated the day. Ah well…..I‘ll try again in October. I‘ll be starting this today for the Dewey's 24 hour readathon. I'm not sure i filled out the form correctly.....but gonna have fun anyway haha.
#readathon #Dewey's24HourReadathon

I'm giving this a Pan but it could be a generous So-So.The only reason why I didn't bail on this one is because I was doing chalter a day with #Pemberlittens. I didn't connect with any of the characters, Thornton's love comes from nowhere and it's so intensely exagerated that sometimes is even funny, Margaret's love seem to come from nowhere,even when we have "access to her thoughts" through the narrative they are never mentioned ⬇️

I loved this story about a family who moves from a farming community to an industrial city and the culture shock that ensues. Sometimes it is really cringey reading about the imperious "masters" (factory owners) and their free market, anti-union rhetoric, and the patronizing descriptions of the hands are disgusting. But I also appreciate the historical snapshot of peoples' attitudes, and there is character development here. Both Margaret and ⏬

I'm doing the good Auntie thing today. Picking up from Dental Surgery and watching over. So getting caught up on my Litsy Reviews.

Thanks for hosting at @MicrobeMom. I always have fun with #PemberLittens. This was my 2nd reading. It's the favorite book of a Library friend of mine so I read it few years ago. This time I did audio. Enjoyable but still love Jane more.

#pemberlittens me me! 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️

#pemberlittens I was so happy to do this buddy read, but I am not sure so would have finished it it I was required to read more than a chapter a day. I loved that this was grittier than a Jane Austen novel and really delved into conflicts between the upper class and the working class. I also loved Mr. Thornton‘s transformation and the moments of feminism. However, I did find big chunks of this novel boring and unnecessary. I agree with others👇

#pemberlittens #chapter52NS Finally!! In our last chapter Margaret and Mr. Lennox spend lots of time talking properties and not marriage much to Edith‘s chagrin. The next day Mr. Lennox, Mr. Thornton, & Margaret are to meet but Mr. Lennox never shows. Margaret is forced to meet with John alone. She tries ineloquently to explain that she want to give him some of her money to stay in business. This quickly devolves into again ineloquent 👇👇

While I didn‘t warm up to any of the characters enough for this to be a favorite, I‘m glad that I finally got around to reading this classic. I had fun reading along with my fellow #Pemberlittens and huge thanks to @MicrobeMom for leading the read along!

I didn't hate it, but didn't like it either. Most of the characters are ego-centered or weak, and/or die. I found the romance unconvincing. The ending was rather abrupt, too. The themes explored are important and interesting, but that's all I can list on the positive side.
Reading with the #Pemberlittens added a lot to the enjoyment factor for me. Thanks for hosting @MicrobeMom and a shoutout to @nanuska_153 for your hilarious posts 😂

I‘m so glad I read this with the #PemberLittens. Reading this a chapter a day, increased my enjoyed of this.

About the North and South of England which is between industry and farmers. About masters and workers. About the new world and the old.

Margaret grew on me and Edith annoyed me.

I loved your daily summaries and memes @MicrobeMom so thanks for tagging me.

@sprainedbrain

#pemberlittens #Chapter51NS Mr. Thornton is visiting London to settle the loss of his business and to sublet his factory and home. Mr. Lennox gets him an invite to dinner at Edith‘s. Margaret wishes not to attend but is forced by Edith. While Margaret is checking John out, he is doing an excellent job of avoiding her. It is clear that he has lost everything, but he tells Margaret that all his men want to for him again. He knows this will 👇👇

I finished this a couple of weeks ago, but forgot to post about it. I enjoyed this story as an audiobook; Margaret moving from a quaint town in the South to trying to adjust to an industrial town where a strike takes place. I read that this book was initially serialized and Gaskell had wanted the book to be longer, but had to cut it short by two episodes. I would like to see what she intended as I feel that the romance portion was cut short.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I‘m so glad I finally read this classic. I had steered clear of it but thank you #pemberlittens and @MicrobeMom for picking this one and leading a great discussion these past two months. This was an excellent book giving me insight into the industrial revolution in England and the parallels between country living and city dwelling. Very detailed and pretty depressing. Very different style from Austen but she was writing later than Austen

First #buddyread with #PemberLittens was so fun! Lovely to read so slowly, a chapter a day and, while it was strange at first, I enjoyed the pace and the time it gave me to think through the themes. A grittier world than Austen‘s, but the push/pull between industry/class, city/rural, business owner/worker, individual/community is riveting. Mr. Thornton is a great hero because he is so invested in the relationship. @MicrobeMom @sprainedbrain

Well, I went ahead and finished this one yesterday - I got behind on the chapter-a-day schedule when I was sick over the weekend and then had no idea where I was supposed to be, so I just went for the gold! 😂 I'm glad to have read this one, but can't particularly say I enjoyed it. I found Margaret to be sanctimonious and boring. Gaskell's only method for forwarding the plot was killing off another character so that we could watch Margaret be ⬇

#pemberlittens #Chapter50NS Trade is bad in Milton and John‘s business has not recovered since the strike. His bet on the Irish workers ended up being disastrous. John‘s brother-in-law wants him to dump his borrowed money into some speculation scheme. After a dramatic talks with Mrs. Thornton he decides not too and is forces to give up his business. While he is offer a few positions, he is waiting for the right one. He also finds👇👇

Chapter 53? I know we are past this chapter, but this quote just slayed me: "If my tones, or modes of thought, are what you dislike, will you do me the justice to tell me so, and so give me the chance of learning to please you?" ??? Because that's how love and respect work. #pemberlittens

#pemberlittens #chapter49NS Margaret has inherited a substantial sum from Mr. Bell. Henry Lennox is helping her sort it out. She is still upset Mr. Thornton does not know her truth. The family travels to the sea where Margaret grieves and is able to come to some resolutions. Henry is finding her more attractive and amiable. The family is hopeful. Upon their return, Margaret has decided to take matters into her own hands👇👇

I must be honest, this is a reluctant pick because I admire Elizabeth Gaskell‘s quite modern writing for 1854 about the classes, gender roles, & the rural life vs industrialization, but I slogged through this one, got behind & then did 3 chapters a day to catch up & finally finished it to get it off my plate. I‘m glad I read it, but found almost every character tedious (occasionally even John Thornton who was the best of the lot). I‘ll forever ⬇️

#pemberlittens #Chapter48NS So Margaret is attending Mrs. Shaw‘s dinners which are not boring but Margaret is still depressed. She is still not thrilled with Mr. Lennox. Mr. Bell is to visit and he has not been feeling well. There is more talk of Spain, Edith is again insensitive and self-centered. Margaret feels bad. Mr. Bell never shows up because he is dying. She travels to Oxford to find he has died and returns to London. Poor Margaret.

Stolen from JA Universe on the evil Facebook… but I laughed, #PemberLittens. 😂

#pemberlittens #Chapter47NS Dixon returns with gossip from Milton. Fanny Thornton‘s wedding was too over the top. Edith mentions Mr. Bell wanting to take Margaret to Spain to visit Fred. Dixon is worried about being converted to a Catholic. Edith is annoying and self-centered making everything about her. Margaret wants Mr. Bell to visit Milton to explain all to John. Mr. Lennox visits often but there is nothing between him and Margaret.

#pemberlittens #Chapter46NS Margaret and Mr. Bell travel to Helstone where she finds it much changed. Susan is now in school and the Vicar and his new wife are awful. They have made many changes to the house and to the school. Margaret is depressed and confesses her lie to the police to Mr. Bell. She wishes for him to tell John the truth. After a fitful night, she feels better for her confession. She turns down the vicar‘s invite for dinner.

#pemberlittens #Chapter43NS Mr. Bell has it in his mind to visit Helstone. After a meeting with Henry Lennox in which Margaret learn there is no hope for a defense for Fred, Mr. Bell proposes they visit Helstone together. Margaret is very excited to do so and they secure permission from Mrs. Shaw.

#pemberlittens #Chapter44NS Margaret is now at Harley St. Every night she is left alone and she is bored by the monotony of each day. Mr. Bell visits and finds out Fred was in Milton when Mrs. Hale died. Henry Lennox arrives and Mr. Bell senses tension between him and Margaret. When they both leave they talk of Mr. Hale and Lennox puts him down for leaving his position. Mr. Bell is not having it. Henry is very arrogant.

#pemberlittens #chapter43 It is decided that Margaret will return to London. Mr. Bell writes her a letter explaining her father‘s burial in Oxford, she will get an allowance from him, and Cpt. Lennox and John are there. Margaret goes about Milton saying goodbye to Mary, Mrs. Thornton who is now having tender feelings, John who stupidly does not profess his love again, and finally Higgins. Higgins is kind and she gives him Mr. Hale‘s bible.

I went ahead and finished this ahead of schedule because I kept losing track of the right chapter and my library borrow was expiring. Overall, it‘s a low pick for me. I just didn‘t get caught up enough in or care enough about any of the characters‘ stories and the ending felt abrupt. I can see that it had important things to say, but I just kept wanting something more.

#PemberLittens #audiobook #1001books

#pemberlittens #chapter42 NS I am so behind! So quickly, Margaret is too depressed to get off the couch. Mr. Bell loses his appetites, quickly regains it, and wants to take Margaret to Oxford. Mrs. Shaw doesn‘t want to travel to Milton, hates when she gets there, and displaces Mr. Bell at the Hale home. Mr. Thornton arrives and take Mr. Bell to his house. They discuss Frederick and John begins to realize a few things.

Chapter 42. I love Mr. Bell, and I hate how the movie implies he wants to marry Margaret. This is a good Mr. Bell quote about how eating together makes people have a little more understanding of each other. If I could have you all over, I'd share my roasted eggplant and tomato soup with you. 🙂 #pemberlittens

Chapter 38. Mrs. Thornton takes "a savage pleasure in the idea of speaking her mind" to Margaret, then is so undone by Margaret's thoughtful hospitality (so unlike Mrs. Thornton's hospitality the first time Margaret visited her) that "it became impossible to utter the speech so easy of arrangement with no one to address it to." We've all been there, Mrs. T! She draws up her meanness, though, and still manages to insult Margaret. #pemberlittens

I ended up reading through to the end of this one today ahead of schedule. It's another one that I've meant to read for years but had never gotten to. Glad to have finally tackled it through our group read. #Pemberlittens

#pemberlittens #Chapter41NS Mr. Hale has not been feeling well but goes to a Oxford to visit Mr. Bell. Margaret stays home and finds some time to grieve all that has happened in the last year. She is beginning to enjoy things again. While in Oxford, Mr.Bell says she will care for Margaret is Mr. Hale dies. The Mr. Hale dies in his sleep! Mr. Bell travels to Milton and sees Mr. Thornton. He tells hime the news and they discuss what will 👇👇

#pemberlittens #Chapter40NS Mr. Bell visits and loves everything about Margaret. Mr. Thornton visits and is not in the mood to be friendly. He is unable to take a joke and has an intense discussion with Mr. Bell about manufacturing vs academia. He leaves vowing to see a little of Margaret as possible. Mr. Bell realizes John loves Margaret and tells Mr. Hale who denies it. Eventually he comes to, and Margaret confess all things Mr. Thornton.

Today's chapter made me finish the book! 😂

4 🌟 & I'm definitely a Thornton girl!

#pop22 #setinvictoriantimes @Cinfhen @Cortg @Megabooks @4thhouseontheleft @Laughterhp @KarenUK @Kalalalatja @squirrelbrain

#PemberLittens @CrowCAH @mollyrotondo @inthegreensandblues @LeahBergen @Kdgordon88 @Crinoline_Laphroaig @Andrea313 @eeclayton @Blackink_WhitePaper @sprainedbrain @batsy @Librarybelle @AnneCecilie @mklong @TheAromaofBooks @staci.reads

#pemberlittens #chapter39NS Mrs. Boucher is dying and Mr. Higgins is taking care of the kids. Margaret visit both and learns that John did not hire Higgins. Just themN John walks in, and Margaret leaves. John admits he was wrong and offers Higgins work, which he will take. John catches up with Margaret and lets her know. He wants an explanation from Margaret but she refuses to protect Fred. They leave equally frustrated.

#pemberlittens #Chapter36NS John is fretting about Margaret and her love for another man. Mrs. Thornton tells him that she knows about Margaret consorting with a man at the train station. They decide that she should visit and ewarn Margaret as that is what she promised Mrs. Hale. But Margaret is not having it and leaves Mrs. Thornton sitting in their parlor alone. Higgins begs John for work and is denied.

#pemberlittens #Chapter37NS Margaret and Mr. Hale visit Higgins but he is not home. They visit Mrs. Boucher instead and she is mad at the world and only thinking of herself. The Hales return home where Margaret frets some more about Mr. Thornton when he does not visit again. Mr. Huggins visits saying he was looking for work all day to support the Boucher children. He blames himself for Boucher‘s death. After talking him out of being a 👇👇

I decided I was too over scheduled reading wise to read this with the #PemberLittens only to have my work book club pick it!

Overall I liked it even though Margaret was a little too preachy and it ended abruptly. It kind of made me think that if LM Montgomery and Jane Austen wrote a book together this would have been the result. Scrapes and Prejudice or something like that.

#pemberlittens #Chapter36NS Margaret and Mr. Hale visit Mr. Higgins who cannot find work because companies are making employees take an oath not to support the Union. Mr. Higgins blames Boucher for the unsuccessful strike and Margaret accuse Higgins of creating Boucher by forcing him into the union. Boucher is then found dead by self draining? Margaret must tell Mrs. Boucher and Higgins locks himself in his house.

#pemberlittens #Chapter35NS Margaret is an anxious mess about the cop who runs into Mr. Thornton. The cops tells him of the situation and John knows Margaret lied. But he looks over the evidence and has the inquest stopped. Margaret is first relieved than highly embarrassed and worried about what John thinks of her. A letter arrives telling her Fred made it in the boat. She didn‘t have to lie!

#pemberlittens #chapter34NS a day late. Margaret and Mr. Hale are distraught about Mrs. Hale and Fred. Mr. Thornton visits and is very tender to both. Then Margaret get called away to answer a policeman‘s questions. Apparently, Leonards suffer internal bleeding from the scuffle with Fred. Margaret was recognized but she denies being there.

I did it again… I was honestly just going to catch up this week‘s chapters for #PemberLittens, but it got too good for me to stop. 😬

Good heavens, this is a depressing book, isn‘t it?

My feelings about almost all of the characters kept changing, and it was often slow and very dry, but I ended up truly loving Margaret. Such lovely writing, further enhanced by the incredible Juliet Stevenson on audio.

Now I can finally watch the show!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Chapter 33. Margaret dares to accompany a MAN to the train station as late as 6:30 PM! What a shameless hussy! Thornton thinks she might be sleeping around, what with the loose morals such a display insinuates, even as he is a little disappointed she isn't so completely falling apart over her mother's death that she might accept his huge impressive love for comfort. I laughed so hard at this scene even though the funeral is sad! #pemberlittens

Margaret accompanies Frederick to the train station, they are there early so they go for a walk and talk intimately.Mr Thornton sees them and thinks he is a love interest,realises how imperfect is Margaret cause she is out at night,he is angry,he still loves her,maybe he'll bring more fruit(?)
Leonards sees Frederick in the station but Frederick escapes.Margaret hears Leonards plans to follow him to London.
#Pemberlittens

Dixon makes the terrible mistake of saying hi to someone she hates,Leonards,the knives are flying and Leonards says he wants to hand Frederick over to the authorities.
They all decide Frederick has to leave,but when Margaret finds out he is in love she has another of her terrible plans:Fred should surrender and risk being hanged to try to clear his name .She convinces him to stop in London to talk with a lawyer and see his chances #Pemberlittens⬇️

#pemberlittens #Chapter33NS The Hales prepare for Mrs. Hale‘s funeral. Mr. Bell cannot attend. So, Margaret will attend. Mr. Thornton offers there carriage and Margaret is angry he does not offer to attend. A letter lets her know that Fred made it to London, but Mr. Lennox is out of town. So he will delay his leave by a few days. The funeral is sad. Mr. Higgins attends and so does Mr. Thornton but Margaret does not see him.

Trying to refurbish some furniture for porch reading while listening to the tagged book for my work book club.

#pemberlittens #Chapter32NS Everyone is still mourning Mrs. Hale including Margaret who finally gets to grieve. But it is time for Fred to leave for London. They arrange for him to take a 6:10 train. When he and Margaret get to the station the train is late by 20 mins. The station is creepy and quiet. Of course a Leonards shows up and grabs Fred. He escapes onto the train as the Leonards falls. Margaret is then anxious about being seen by him.