Bleak House

Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed your time off and indulged in some delightful non-Dickens reading. I certainly did. Thank you, Gillian Flynn, for writing addictive, dark books. Totally appropriate for the Christmas season.

Speaking of books, on Twitter some of us were talking about a Bleak House-based novel called The Solitary House. Turns out the author, Lynn Shepherd, is also on Twitter, and joined in the discussion. The book was published in Britain under the title Tom-All-Alone's. (You can get the British edition by ordering via Powells at that link.) (May I just note here that I think the British title--and cover--are much better? Silly US publishers, dumbing things down for us. Again.) I think it looks like fun and a perfect follow-up to Bleak House.

Speaking of fun, I found it fun to have taken a break and then returned. I felt like I was one of Dickens' original readers, having to wait weeks in between installments. It made me wonder if early readers would read and re-read each section over and over again, while waiting impatiently for the next batch to arrive. Kind of like waiting for Downton Abbey, yes?

Well, the waiting somewhat paid off in this section. We finally have conclusive proof that Lady Dedlock is indeed Old Woman Esther's mother, something that's not likely a surprise to most of us, but the fact that Lady Dedlock didn't know Esther was still alive did come as a shock, at least to me. How awful Lady Dedlock's sister must have been, to have lied to her about the child's death. No wonder Lady Dedlock has been such a mope. It makes her interest in the dead man even more intriguing.

But before we got that highlight, we had to endure another visit from old Grandfather Smallweed and his beleaguered granddaughter Judy. Lordy. Somebody please put that old man out of everyone's misery already. I mean, who wants this arriving at one's doorstep:

"As the excellent old gentleman's nails are long and leaden, and his hands lean and veinous, and his eyes green and watery; and, over and above this, as he continues, while he claws, to slide down in his chair and to collapse into a shapeless bundle; he becomes such a ghastly spectacle, even in the accustomed eyes of Judy, that that young virgin pounces at him with something more than the ardour of affection, and so shakes him up, and pats and pokes him in divers parts of his body, but particularly in that part which the science of self-defence would call his wind, that in his grievous distress he utters enforced sounds like a paviour's rammer." (My edition notes that a paviour's rammer was a device used by pavement-makers for ramming stones into the ground.)

Urgh.

And what's all this intrigue about the handwriting, and Mr. George's desire to stay out of it, and Mr. Tulkinghorn's displeasure with Mr. George? And, forebodingly, what of the clerk who heard Mr. Tulkinghorn says "A threatening, murderous, dangerous fellow!" and thought the words meant Mr. George?

Say what you will about Sir Leicester, he does have some noticeable strength of character to put up with those dreadful cousins.

What do you think--are we getting through the transitional chapters and now about to see events occurring from all the set-up?

This week's favorite Gorey shows Phil and Mr. George, discussing the countryside:

 

Comments

[Girl Detective]

Well, cuss. I forgot we were returning today. Guess I better get on that.

[V]

So much action. I might have to take back all those things I thought about poor old Guppy. He pushed out more plot in his little half a chapter than many part of the book.

That must have been quite the cliffhanger to end the installment on. I did find a parallel in all the unwanted visitors in all the chapters. I also did enjoy the reflections between Mr. George and Phil. His last name of Squod must have come up before, but it was a joy to rediscover -- and it seems apt for such a military trooper. Maybe a group of Bleak House readers can be called a squod!

[Amy Rea]

So, V, instead of Bleak Blog, we are now the Bleak Squod? Works for me.

[V]

Bleak Housekeeping Squod, methinks.

I did enjoy the Dedlocks having their mind blown. And my wife would probably say she recognizes the portrait of a wife trying not to listen to her husband reading a passage and adding his two cents.

[Girl Detective]

I loved the little asides about Lady D's murderous looks at Guppy. My, he seems to have been a busy little detective; I didn't know that someone had put all those pieces together other than perhaps Tulkinghorn. Speaking of, how is Guppy going to get the letters? Didn't Tunlkinghorn possibly filch them out of the wardrobe?

V. Surprised to find Lady D didn't know about Esther. Had assumed from her previous bitchiness that she knew who she was. Good to know that lady has a heart.

I do so like Mr. George. Who can we marry him off to?

[Heideland]

"Many of them are not early risers at the brightest of times, being birds of night who roost when the sun is high and are wide awake and keen for prey when the stars shine out." -- just shouted, KINDRED! out loud in mah head. (P.S. I promise to catch up.)

[Amy Rea]

Girl D, should we marry Mr. George off to Esther?

[Miss T]

I'm finally caught up! And I do believe I'd pretend I wasn't home if the Smallweed entourage showed up at my door.

[Amy Rea]

Not only are you kindred, Heidi, but poetically so!

[Amy Rea]

True, Miss T, but at the same time, it could be most entertaining.

[Heideland]

Another vote for hiding from the Smallweeds. {{{shudder}}} If I were poor virginal Judy I'd be sorely tempted to do more than "shake up" old grandad. A little arsenic in the tea? Oh wait, that's a Downton plot point. FREE MR. BATES!

[Amy Rea]

Ah, but after the season 3 premiere last week, I am not as convinced of Bates innocence.

[Heideland]

Oh, btw, I really like Mr. George. If for no other reason than that he doesn't suffer fools and Smallweeds. (Maybe Bates is just pretending to be a badass in prison because... PRISON.)