What a sweet idea with the postcards- and also your reading aloud! I'm sorry that I haven't been involved with your read-along this time around Haley; just a bit too much on atm. But I love that you put your all into everything that you do here, and good for you for ignoring all those naysayers about your writing! You did better than me, who hid mine for a loooooonnng time before finally sending my work out into the world. Here's to doing what we love : )
Haley - This read along has really been incredible. An amazing way to spend those first few weeks of summer. Before I say anything else, I apologize for my late comments. I think I may have said this earlier but I teach extended school year in my district and have been very busy with a few student's needs. But thank heavens for "The Age of Innocence" read along! It kept me going, intrigued me, made me think, ponder, and also plan my "AOI" walking tour for when school ends (I live very close to NYC). I LOVED the book and I loved the ending!
Before I even finished the last chapter, I immediately wrote this passage down: "The trenchant divisions between right and wrong, honest and dishonest, respectable and reverse, had left so little hope for the unforeseen. There are moments when a man's imagination, so easily subdued to what it lives in, suddenly rises above its daily level, and surveys the long windings of destiny." Holy Toledo...that's just beautiful language!
I wrote that passage down and as I finished the book realized it summed the story up. The final chapter is Newland surveying those "long windings". Is Ellen his true destiny? Their pending reunion sure seems like it is. Even Dallas, his son, is engaged to a woman (Fanny BEAUFORT!!!!) who sure sounds a lot like Ellen and Dallas even asks his father if Ellen was "...once your Fanny? The woman you'd chucked everything for; only you didn't."
But why doesn't Newland do it? Is his true destiny the idea of true love? The memory of he and Ellen's young love? Is Newland afraid the real won't be as true as the idea or the memories? His final thought as he watches Dallas go to Ellen's apartment sums it all up: "It's more real to me here than if I went up." It seems Newland's imagination rose above its daily level and allowed him to see the unforeseen.
Thanks again Haley. I can't wait for the next read along!!!!! You and your insights totally rock! You're a hero to us book/word nerds. So glad I found you!
What a sweet idea with the postcards- and also your reading aloud! I'm sorry that I haven't been involved with your read-along this time around Haley; just a bit too much on atm. But I love that you put your all into everything that you do here, and good for you for ignoring all those naysayers about your writing! You did better than me, who hid mine for a loooooonnng time before finally sending my work out into the world. Here's to doing what we love : )
Cheers to doing what we love, Kate!! And if you'd like a postcard, I'm more than happy to send one to you. Just let me know :)
Awww, well, I’d love one! But I don’t want you to have to fork out for postage to the UK…not sure how much it would be!
I think for postcards, it's like a dollar! So, I'm happy to do it!
Lovely! I will DM you my address then :)
Is it too early to ask what the next close read will be? I can finish Age of Innocence without knowing something is coming next!
🙊I have some fun ideas! But nothing concrete yet. I’m gonna take a little break and hopefully have the next one ready to announce on August!
Take your time, Haley! And rest up. We don't want to burn you out with our literary community close reading craaaaaaaavinnnnnngs!
I love the ending of this book 😭 and your idea to read it aloud. How lovely and soothing!
My life took a detour this spring so I sadly missed the read alongs but have been enjoying my journey nonetheless. But so happy for you!
hi Emily! so fun to hear from you. I hope you're well!!
This was magnificent. What a delightful surprise. THANK YOU.
Thank YOU!! :)
Thank you for this beautiful reading, Haley! So emblematic of our time together.
Haley - This read along has really been incredible. An amazing way to spend those first few weeks of summer. Before I say anything else, I apologize for my late comments. I think I may have said this earlier but I teach extended school year in my district and have been very busy with a few student's needs. But thank heavens for "The Age of Innocence" read along! It kept me going, intrigued me, made me think, ponder, and also plan my "AOI" walking tour for when school ends (I live very close to NYC). I LOVED the book and I loved the ending!
Before I even finished the last chapter, I immediately wrote this passage down: "The trenchant divisions between right and wrong, honest and dishonest, respectable and reverse, had left so little hope for the unforeseen. There are moments when a man's imagination, so easily subdued to what it lives in, suddenly rises above its daily level, and surveys the long windings of destiny." Holy Toledo...that's just beautiful language!
I wrote that passage down and as I finished the book realized it summed the story up. The final chapter is Newland surveying those "long windings". Is Ellen his true destiny? Their pending reunion sure seems like it is. Even Dallas, his son, is engaged to a woman (Fanny BEAUFORT!!!!) who sure sounds a lot like Ellen and Dallas even asks his father if Ellen was "...once your Fanny? The woman you'd chucked everything for; only you didn't."
But why doesn't Newland do it? Is his true destiny the idea of true love? The memory of he and Ellen's young love? Is Newland afraid the real won't be as true as the idea or the memories? His final thought as he watches Dallas go to Ellen's apartment sums it all up: "It's more real to me here than if I went up." It seems Newland's imagination rose above its daily level and allowed him to see the unforeseen.
Thanks again Haley. I can't wait for the next read along!!!!! You and your insights totally rock! You're a hero to us book/word nerds. So glad I found you!