"Thou art too damned jolly. Sail on." Herman Melville in Moby Dick
Current book-selection rotation: B, M, J, A, K
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Nathaniel Hawthorne, "House of the Seven Gables"
Melissa's most recent pick. I had mentioned comparing Hawthorne to Melville, since they were close friends, so here is our opportunity. Let's hope it is better than Moby Dick!
Okay, first impressions after reading the first chapter: uh-oh, another Moby Dick. But now that i am three chapters in, I am actually getting into it.
My favorite quote thus far did occur in the first chapter. When discussing the well that went bad, Hawthorne writes that it is "productive of intestinal mischief". (Page 7 in my edition, which is not the same edition I sent to you, Angie). What a way to say it will give a person the runs.
Hawthorne has the same tendency as Melville for super long sentences and some digression. However, he does stay more on point and has a fun way of writing about people. I'll write more after I've finished.
I'm confused about Hepzibah's store, is she selling things she has lying around? Or is this new stuff? She's selling some old thread yet seems to have some fresh gingerbread and apples. Where did she get all this stuff and HOW did she get it?
I can't say for the majority of the stuff, but there was a comment about the gingerbread being stale and getting in a shipment of apples. I wondered the same thing, though. If she is so poor, how can she afford to stock the store to start?
Well, I dragged myself through the last half of the book and am finally finished. My overall impression is "eh". Some chapters were interesting- most were not.
In fact, I would like to do a quick summary (as we did for MD) of the chapters that could easily have been left out of the book with little detriment to the overall plot: The Old Pyncheon Family- okay this gives some background that is necessary, but it could have been a lot shorter. Clifford and Phoebe The Pyncheon Garden- although I did enjoy the chickens Governor Pyncheon- I mean, really? A whole chapter about a dead man? Is that absolutely necessary?
Pet peeve (beside the chapter about a dead man): I've read a lot of books from this time period and have noticed how they have glorified obnoxious, selfish people based on their inherent nobility and sensitivity and breeding (for example, Clifford) and always show the heroines as being pure, noble, sweet, and pretty- like a breath of fresh air (for example, Phoebe). The heroines always sing like a lark (without any training- it just bubbles up from their sweet, generous nature to glorify all that hear) and always are very willing to spend their young lives pandering to the above mentioned selfish bores. AARRGGHH. Oh, and the sweet girls are almost always stupid and boring. Though I will give Phoebe credit for a few intelligent comments to Holgrave. Thank heaven novels have moved away from that!
Finally, while the plot and story are somewhat interesting- I saw right through Holgrave from the start and knew exactly where the deed to the unclaimed property was from the beginning. There was very little mystery or intrigue, which left me rather bored with the whole thing since I pretty much knew what was going to happen.
So, I am disappointed with my third pick. I thought I would like it because I seem to recall actually liking Scarlett Letter. Oh well, better luck with my next pick, I hope.
Well I guess I've hit the dull boring part. Yes, the chapters Clifford and Phoebe and the Pyncheon Garden could definitely go or be summarized as: Phoebe sings like a bird, is every he-man's woman, blah! Hepzipah - ugly, poor, why bother with her Clifford - apparently mentally challenged? Where was he before he came to the house? Who took care of him?
I am now in Chapter 11 - The Arched Window, tell me there will be some sort of action soon?!?!?!
Clifford was in jail until he came to live with Hepzibah. He was let out early for being crazy, I think.
Action? Who said there was going to be any action? Okay, the last few chapters, excluding the chapter about the dead man, sort-of have action. If you can make it that far.
I am also reaching the dull part, but I swear I will push myself through it tomorrow night. Or at least maybe this weekend. If it gets sunny I'm taking a cue from Melissa and setting up Harold's cam chair in the back "lawn" for some reading + vitamin D absorption.
Also, I don't recall liking The Scarlet Letter at all. Nor did I enjoy A Separate Peace, which is one of Michael's favorite books. I thought it was so dull. I generally find books about male boning dull. (Hahaha. Should be "bonding" but the original sentence reads better, don't you think?)
Angie I found this part VERY amusing - in the middle of Chapter 8 "Thus it happened that when Phoebe heard a certain noise in Pyncheon's throat .....a slight bronchial complaint". All I could think of was that throat clearing coughing noise you do when you are imitating someone, but I can't remember who the someone is! This part of the book actually made me laugh.
I recall liking both Scarlet Letter and Separate Peace (in fact, I have a copy of Separate Peace on my bookshelves because I liked it well enough to think I would read it again). Of course, I haven't read either one lately, so who knows? Maybe I wouldn't like them as much now. I think I've gotten pickier as I've gotten older.
Well, I'm finished. I have to say I had to re-read the last chapter to get what all it was about and I went back and read the "Alice Pyncheon" chapter too. I wasn't so thrilled with Phoebe and Holgrave. That's a romance destined for divorce.
All in all, it was ok I guess. Not one I would read again.
I think the book would have held my interest more if we had known from the beginning, or near beginning 1) that Clifford was in jail 2) the charge and 3) the role of the Judge in his getting there. For most of the book I assumed that the Judge had presided over Clifford's trial, and thus brought down too harsh of a punishment in revenge for some other wrong. Alas, I was not correct about that. Knowing this info up front would have given the book, at least for me, a more interesting feel, as I would have been looking and waiting for the great wrong to be righted all along. As it is, the book does use that theme, you just don't know it until the last few chapters. Meh.
I did, however, figure out early that the deed was behind the picture, and that Holgrave was actually a Maule. I thought these points would be revealed to great alarm and conflict in the story, but alas, they were merely "oh, by the ways." Meh.
Holgrave and Phoebe - very disappointing. I don't buy the whole concept of love changing every aspect of your being to conform with what the other person wants. Compromise, yes. Complete overhaul, no.
"Governor Pyncheon" - was the reader not supposed to know that he was dead after Hepzibah and Clifford ran out? I thought it was kind of a clever way to list out the appointments that he was missing that day and thus show how ambitious and scheming he was, but to drag it on for 14 pages really is a bit (meaning: a LOT) much.
I did like the major question of the book, can a lifetime of good make up for 1 or 2 evil acts? I think Hawthorne's opinion was that no ammount of good can make up for an unrepentant evil. Judge Puncheon feels no remorse, indeed, tries to repeat the same act and dies a horrible, symbolic death. Hepzibah repents and prays after she and Clifford fled the house and they are rewarded with riches and amnesty.
Joy - You had mentioned a secret staircase when talking about the real house. I didn't notice such a feature in the book. Were you thinking of a different story? Just curious because I kept expecting a secret staircase to appear, but it never did. =)
Compared to Melville I'd say slightly better but both suffer from the same affliction of long-windedness on the wrong subjects.
All in all, glad I read it as it might help with some crossword puzzle clues, but not a keeper.
Ah, but we did know in the beginning that Clifford was in jail for supposedly killing his uncle. It was in the first or second chapter (sorry I can't give the page number- I've already sold my book!) when we learned about the history of the Pyncheon family. It did not say about the judge's involvement however.
I agree that Phoebe and Holgrave are headed for divorce. They just don't FIT well together. The only thing I liked about the two of them together is that it made for more interesting conversation (and Phoebe managed to say a few clever things) than any of the other conversations.
I'm not sure about good deeds overcoming the bad. It seemed like the bad deeds seem to hurt each subsequent generation, regardless of how that generation led their lives. I really want to know how the judge's son turned out.
I went back to the beginning to see how I had missed the part about Clifford being in jail and for what crime. It is in the PREFACE, not in a chapter. I had not read that at all. Hence the confusion.
I also figured out Holgrave was Maule related. I was also curious about the name Maule, as in to maul someone. Was that name chosen intentionally?
I was waiting for something to happen with the harpsichord.
And I am SURE it was the House of 7 Gables that had the secret staircase. There was a closet where wood was stored which had a fake back wall. The back wall could be removed and there was a staircase, winding of course, that went to a room upstairs. It was the only entrance to this room. I remember grandma didn't want to go up it but since there were quite a few people waiting behind us she was kind of forced to do it and once up in the room, she was glad she had. You would never notice this room from the outside.
I kind of got the feeling of "once a Pyncheon, always a Pyncheon". You know (as in Bradford county), "Well, he's a Benson". or "They are Pools".
AHA, I searched on Google for the secret staircase and there is one. I was sure of it. Some websites say it was the staircase to Clifford's room. As I recall, the room and staircase were there to hide sea captains who were sought for stealing goods from ships, or something along those lines. I think the room faced the ocean.
I wonder why, if there was a secret staircase, it didn't come up more in the book? That could have made things interesting. There is nothing like secret passageways to spice up a book.
I kept thinking of post mauls. Those big heavy hammers to pound in fence poles. Since the family turned out to be carpenters, that seemed to make sense.
16 comments:
Okay, first impressions after reading the first chapter: uh-oh, another Moby Dick. But now that i am three chapters in, I am actually getting into it.
My favorite quote thus far did occur in the first chapter. When discussing the well that went bad, Hawthorne writes that it is "productive of intestinal mischief". (Page 7 in my edition, which is not the same edition I sent to you, Angie). What a way to say it will give a person the runs.
Hawthorne has the same tendency as Melville for super long sentences and some digression. However, he does stay more on point and has a fun way of writing about people. I'll write more after I've finished.
I'm confused about Hepzibah's store, is she selling things she has lying around? Or is this new stuff? She's selling some old thread yet seems to have some fresh gingerbread and apples. Where did she get all this stuff and HOW did she get it?
I can't say for the majority of the stuff, but there was a comment about the gingerbread being stale and getting in a shipment of apples. I wondered the same thing, though. If she is so poor, how can she afford to stock the store to start?
Well, I dragged myself through the last half of the book and am finally finished. My overall impression is "eh". Some chapters were interesting- most were not.
In fact, I would like to do a quick summary (as we did for MD) of the chapters that could easily have been left out of the book with little detriment to the overall plot:
The Old Pyncheon Family- okay this gives some background that is necessary, but it could have been a lot shorter.
Clifford and Phoebe
The Pyncheon Garden- although I did enjoy the chickens
Governor Pyncheon- I mean, really? A whole chapter about a dead man? Is that absolutely necessary?
Pet peeve (beside the chapter about a dead man): I've read a lot of books from this time period and have noticed how they have glorified obnoxious, selfish people based on their inherent nobility and sensitivity and breeding (for example, Clifford) and always show the heroines as being pure, noble, sweet, and pretty- like a breath of fresh air (for example, Phoebe). The heroines always sing like a lark (without any training- it just bubbles up from their sweet, generous nature to glorify all that hear) and always are very willing to spend their young lives pandering to the above mentioned selfish bores. AARRGGHH. Oh, and the sweet girls are almost always stupid and boring. Though I will give Phoebe credit for a few intelligent comments to Holgrave. Thank heaven novels have moved away from that!
Finally, while the plot and story are somewhat interesting- I saw right through Holgrave from the start and knew exactly where the deed to the unclaimed property was from the beginning. There was very little mystery or intrigue, which left me rather bored with the whole thing since I pretty much knew what was going to happen.
So, I am disappointed with my third pick. I thought I would like it because I seem to recall actually liking Scarlett Letter. Oh well, better luck with my next pick, I hope.
Well I guess I've hit the dull boring part. Yes, the chapters Clifford and Phoebe and the Pyncheon Garden could definitely go or be summarized as:
Phoebe sings like a bird, is every he-man's woman, blah!
Hepzipah - ugly, poor, why bother with her
Clifford - apparently mentally challenged? Where was he before he came to the house? Who took care of him?
I am now in Chapter 11 - The Arched Window, tell me there will be some sort of action soon?!?!?!
Clifford was in jail until he came to live with Hepzibah. He was let out early for being crazy, I think.
Action? Who said there was going to be any action? Okay, the last few chapters, excluding the chapter about the dead man, sort-of have action. If you can make it that far.
I am also reaching the dull part, but I swear I will push myself through it tomorrow night. Or at least maybe this weekend. If it gets sunny I'm taking a cue from Melissa and setting up Harold's cam chair in the back "lawn" for some reading + vitamin D absorption.
Also, I don't recall liking The Scarlet Letter at all. Nor did I enjoy A Separate Peace, which is one of Michael's favorite books. I thought it was so dull. I generally find books about male boning dull. (Hahaha. Should be "bonding" but the original sentence reads better, don't you think?)
I really think the correct phrase is ..... boning bonding.
Angie I found this part VERY amusing - in the middle of Chapter 8 "Thus it happened that when Phoebe heard a certain noise in Pyncheon's throat .....a slight bronchial complaint". All I could think of was that throat clearing coughing noise you do when you are imitating someone, but I can't remember who the someone is! This part of the book actually made me laugh.
I recall liking both Scarlet Letter and Separate Peace (in fact, I have a copy of Separate Peace on my bookshelves because I liked it well enough to think I would read it again). Of course, I haven't read either one lately, so who knows? Maybe I wouldn't like them as much now. I think I've gotten pickier as I've gotten older.
Well, I'm finished. I have to say I had to re-read the last chapter to get what all it was about and I went back and read the "Alice Pyncheon" chapter too. I wasn't so thrilled with Phoebe and Holgrave. That's a romance destined for divorce.
All in all, it was ok I guess. Not one I would read again.
I also finished last night.
I think the book would have held my interest more if we had known from the beginning, or near beginning 1) that Clifford was in jail 2) the charge and 3) the role of the Judge in his getting there. For most of the book I assumed that the Judge had presided over Clifford's trial, and thus brought down too harsh of a punishment in revenge for some other wrong. Alas, I was not correct about that. Knowing this info up front would have given the book, at least for me, a more interesting feel, as I would have been looking and waiting for the great wrong to be righted all along. As it is, the book does use that theme, you just don't know it until the last few chapters. Meh.
I did, however, figure out early that the deed was behind the picture, and that Holgrave was actually a Maule. I thought these points would be revealed to great alarm and conflict in the story, but alas, they were merely "oh, by the ways." Meh.
Holgrave and Phoebe - very disappointing. I don't buy the whole concept of love changing every aspect of your being to conform with what the other person wants. Compromise, yes. Complete overhaul, no.
"Governor Pyncheon" - was the reader not supposed to know that he was dead after Hepzibah and Clifford ran out? I thought it was kind of a clever way to list out the appointments that he was missing that day and thus show how ambitious and scheming he was, but to drag it on for 14 pages really is a bit (meaning: a LOT) much.
I did like the major question of the book, can a lifetime of good make up for 1 or 2 evil acts? I think Hawthorne's opinion was that no ammount of good can make up for an unrepentant evil.
Judge Puncheon feels no remorse, indeed, tries to repeat the same act and dies a horrible, symbolic death.
Hepzibah repents and prays after she and Clifford fled the house and they are rewarded with riches and amnesty.
Joy - You had mentioned a secret staircase when talking about the real house. I didn't notice such a feature in the book. Were you thinking of a different story? Just curious because I kept expecting a secret staircase to appear, but it never did. =)
Compared to Melville I'd say slightly better but both suffer from the same affliction of long-windedness on the wrong subjects.
All in all, glad I read it as it might help with some crossword puzzle clues, but not a keeper.
Ah, but we did know in the beginning that Clifford was in jail for supposedly killing his uncle. It was in the first or second chapter (sorry I can't give the page number- I've already sold my book!) when we learned about the history of the Pyncheon family. It did not say about the judge's involvement however.
I agree that Phoebe and Holgrave are headed for divorce. They just don't FIT well together. The only thing I liked about the two of them together is that it made for more interesting conversation (and Phoebe managed to say a few clever things) than any of the other conversations.
I'm not sure about good deeds overcoming the bad. It seemed like the bad deeds seem to hurt each subsequent generation, regardless of how that generation led their lives. I really want to know how the judge's son turned out.
I went back to the beginning to see how I had missed the part about Clifford being in jail and for what crime. It is in the PREFACE, not in a chapter. I had not read that at all. Hence the confusion.
I also figured out Holgrave was Maule related. I was also curious about the name Maule, as in to maul someone. Was that name chosen intentionally?
I was waiting for something to happen with the harpsichord.
And I am SURE it was the House of 7 Gables that had the secret staircase. There was a closet where wood was stored which had a fake back wall. The back wall could be removed and there was a staircase, winding of course, that went to a room upstairs. It was the only entrance to this room. I remember grandma didn't want to go up it but since there were quite a few people waiting behind us she was kind of forced to do it and once up in the room, she was glad she had. You would never notice this room from the outside.
I kind of got the feeling of "once a Pyncheon, always a Pyncheon". You know (as in Bradford county), "Well, he's a Benson". or "They are Pools".
AHA, I searched on Google for the secret staircase and there is one. I was sure of it. Some websites say it was the staircase to Clifford's room. As I recall, the room and staircase were there to hide sea captains who were sought for stealing goods from ships, or something along those lines. I think the room faced the ocean.
I wonder why, if there was a secret staircase, it didn't come up more in the book? That could have made things interesting. There is nothing like secret passageways to spice up a book.
I kept thinking of post mauls. Those big heavy hammers to pound in fence poles. Since the family turned out to be carpenters, that seemed to make sense.
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