- On a Wednesday?
- Robert’s wrestling with a cane backed rocker
- Cranford doesn’t seem to be popular
- The Snells are consummate hosts
- Yat Rock for Lynda’s birthday
- No pints and banter for David
- Susan was Cleopatra in a Balloon Debate
- Jennifer Vs Susan
- Do they just need their dad?
- I’d forgotten about Caroline and Mark
On a Wednesday?
I thought the Boob Club was a Friday.
Damn.
I have read Cranford, but it was many many moons ago. Not sure I’d be able to contribute to the discussion properly …
Robert’s wrestling with a cane backed rocker
Which makes him lose the thread of what Lynda’s saying to (well, at) him.
He’s confused between the Book Club tonight, and Lynda arranging the committee for the Britain in Bloom effort.
Ach well. Better to just nod, Robert.
Cranford doesn’t seem to be popular
Judging by the lack of participants in tonight’s Book Club.
Joe wasn’t there:
[Robert] “Mrs Gaskell’s not quite his cup of tea, or words to that effect”
Robert himself doesn’t sit in on the chat (preferring to serve food and drinks):
[Robert] I’m afraid I find Cranford a little underwhelming … not enough unexplained corpses in the pantry for my liking”
Usha and Jim also couldn’t make it.
The Snells are consummate hosts
Despite guests arriving slightly early for the Book Club:
[Lynda] “Oh,. Not already I haven’t even stoned the olives”
AND Robert somehow surviving with his manhood intact, after telling Lynda to plump the cushions and tidy her hair (I’ll have to have a very long ponder on how that on earth he got away with that).
Robert is composed and generous as he greets the few that have made it along:
[Robert] “Let me take your cloaks and bonnets”
(Well done, that man)
To top it all, as part of their nibbles, they even have blue cornmeal homemade tortilla chips.
Blimey!
Yat Rock for Lynda’s birthday
So they can do a spot of bird watching. Yat Rock also her peregrines nesting.
Wonder if Lynda will find a Lychgate to hide behind.
No pints and banter for David
Kenton unsuccessfully tried to get David to take time away from work, to nip down to The Bull for a couple.
He might have managed it, if he hadn’t mentioned that David can always talk to him. That surely put David right off.
[David] “Talking won’t do anything … I’ve smashed things up for badly with Elizabeth. It can’t be fixed.”
Susan was Cleopatra in a Balloon Debate
Which I thought was Susan being a bit dim again – but it twas I who was being ignorant.
Sorry, Susan.
Jennifer Vs Susan
At the Book Club, Jennifer seemed to dominate – Lynda agreed with Jennifer – Richard was silent (really???) – and Susan was forced to talk by Lynda.
Jennifer quoted Gaskell to illustrate that she felt she found significance in Cranford’s small things.
[Elizabeth Gaskell, Cranford] ''The use made of fragments and small opportunities; . . . [t]hings that many would despise, and actions which it seemed scarcely worthwhile to perform, were all attended to in Cranford.''
Whereas Susan reckons Gaskell showed no understanding of retail
Susan seemed to be focused on Miss Matty telling everyone not to buy green tea.
It was her bestseller. It would
[Susan] “have been commercial suicide. That would have been a step too far”
BUT, to stop myself being a snob and sniggering at Susan – I suppose it goes to prove that we all find different meaning in a novel.
Do they just need their dad?
Kenton’s talking to Shula about his failed attempt to get David to the pub, to relax.
[Kenton] “He’s completely adrift. Like the mast has gone”
Shula and Kenton agree that it would have all been different if Phil has still been alive.
Both Elizabeth and David trusted, and talked, to their dad.
I’d forgotten about Caroline and Mark
Shula’s Mark was killed when he swerved to avoid Caroline on her horse (another car had spooked Caroline’s horse – the driver of which was never found).
So, Shula has experience of both her husband dying – and a close friend feeling guilty about the cause of that death.
Shula reckons it must be Elizabeth to tell David that it wasn’t his fault, before he might start to accept it himself. Caroline felt the same guilt as David … if only she hadn’t gone riding …
So, off Shula goes to see if she can persuade Elizabeth to not denounce and demonise David.
[Shula] “You can’t let it destroy your faith or your family … let go of destructive feelings”
You know, I might have a bet in Shula making some headway. She’s quite canny like that.
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