Comments on: A Classics Challenge – January Prompt

By: oldenglishrose

oldenglishrose — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:36:40 +0000

Researching her for this challenge really made me appreciate her writing much more. I’d never heard of her before I somehow stumbled across this book, so I’d be interested to know what else of hers you’ve read and enjoyed.

By: Judaye

Judaye — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:54:23 +0000

The County of Pointed Firs is one of my favorite books of all time. I love the story about the ship captain and the one about the mother and brother that live on the island. I think I just like the way Jewett tells her stories.

By: Silsbee

Silsbee — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:55:12 +0000

Hello. I’m stopping by from the challenge post…

I’ve read many of Ms. Jewett’s short stories over the years, and I just adore them. She is wonderful with characterization and atmosphere (she really captures small town life well). I love the quote about being able to “furnish the theatre, and show you the actors, and the scenery, and the audience” but not being able to provide the play. I think short stories are lovely in their own way, though.

Pointed Firs has been on my radar for years, but I hope I can finally get around to reading it this year. Happy reading!

By: oldenglishrose

oldenglishrose — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:41:34 +0000

I was expecting it to be a bit like Cranford, yes, but it turns out that even less happens in Dunnet Landing than in Cranford! There’s much less interaction between characters, and each chapter is more like a character study or a story about a character related by someone else. It was a bit too distancing for me to really enjoy it, but it was certainly interesting.

By: Shelley

Shelley — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:47:50 +0000

I’m glad you chose a lesser-known author to write about. I feel like I’ve heard her name before, but that’s about it. I respect Willa Cather’s opinion, so I’ll have to give this book a try!

By: Katherine

Katherine — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:41:28 +0000

Another who’s never heard of Jewett’s writing. I sometimes love writing that’s more about the characters than a significant plot. Her novel sounds like an American version of Gaskell’s Cranford or Montgomery’s Avonlea. Thank you for your post, Katie!

By: oldenglishrose

oldenglishrose — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:43:25 +0000

I don’t think there’s much around apart from The Country of the Pointed Firs and some poetry. I hope you enjoy what you find!

By: Cat

Cat — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 23:51:02 +0000

This author is new to me too and I’m intrigued enough to see if I can find something of her work to try.

By: oldenglishrose

oldenglishrose — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 13:14:34 +0000

She’s surprisingly interesting. She travelled to Europe, made friends with other writers in Paris, but her writing has the feel of someone who never left home.

By: oldenglishrose

oldenglishrose — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 13:12:43 +0000

That’s interesting, I had thought that she might be better known in America, so it’s interesting to see that she’s possibly a bit obscure there too. I’ve finished it now and it’s not one of my favourite books but it’s different to anything else I’ve read and it was an interesting experience.