tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271225.post7114088936360967036..comments2024-03-04T04:09:12.742-06:00Comments on Quiet Life: The Summer Before the War: Section TwoDonna Boucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699431983937413613noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271225.post-42382267574141129992016-07-22T12:07:01.665-05:002016-07-22T12:07:01.665-05:00Dear Donna, I *finally* finished. I love my hardbo...Dear Donna, I *finally* finished. I love my hardbound edition from England, but I think I mentioned before that I didn't bring it with me on my travels because it was too bulky. Then I purchased the kindle version for my trip to the States, but was too busy galavanting around to read. Much less keep my kindle charged up.<br /><br />Excuses, excuses. I think the root of the matter was this: -I loved these characters and did not want to learn what happened to them in the war. <br /><br />I am really pleased I finished, I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was vastly different from Major Pettigrew, but that was ok. I loved the nephews, Agatha, Beatrice, and Mr. Kent. I tolerated Tillingham. <br /><br />Thanks for the lovely Downton photo. Like Kim, I imagined scenes based on footage from DA. <br /><br />I only realized the secret near the last bit. Good writing.<br /><br />I hope others persevere and finish :)Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08274481412344071315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271225.post-75659289479301014662016-06-21T12:29:43.298-05:002016-06-21T12:29:43.298-05:00Hi ladies! I am worried about saying too much as ...Hi ladies! I am worried about saying too much as I finished the book a while ago and don't want to give anything away. No spoilers! It was a very enjoyable read and I agree with Kim regarding the snobby villagers and their apparent lack of compassion for what the refugees had endured, and with Donna regarding poor Beatrice! Her father loved her dearly, I'm sure, but his arrangements regarding his estate did leave her rather high and dry. I loved Beatrice, Agatha Hugh and even Daniel. I'll have more to say when we get to the final section. :)Mary Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01546964091327875343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271225.post-5023035712071898792016-06-21T11:07:48.129-05:002016-06-21T11:07:48.129-05:00Hi Kim,
I agree with you. The wealthy/upper class...Hi Kim,<br />I agree with you. The wealthy/upper class was terribly snobby and haughty. I'm sure that's why we like Agatha. She seems just a little nicer and kinder.<br />It also drives me crazy that Beatrice has to fight for her own money! (from her dad) This really makes me so angry and frustrated for her. Can you imagine?<br /><br />It would feel horrible to be so looked down upon all the time. I'm glad I don't feel like that. <br /><br />Other people have said they are reading...maybe they gave up on me because I was so late to post.<br /> Donna Boucherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699431983937413613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271225.post-8118695398206881152016-06-20T21:36:46.111-05:002016-06-20T21:36:46.111-05:00The Downton pic is perfect. I find myself picturi...The Downton pic is perfect. I find myself picturing scenes from Downton Abbey, too, to imagine how people might look in Rye. :-)<br /><br />Regarding how the villagers responded to the refugees, it kind of annoyed me that the villagers didn’t want to take in the refugees if it was an inconvenience to them. They didn’t seem to mind splitting up families who had been through horrible things just so they could have their token one or two refugees to make them look good. Mr. Tillingham wanted the educated professor, but was not willing to also take in the professor’s daughter.<br /> <br />Mrs. Fothergill: “One could also have wished for more genteel folk. <br />It is quite impossible to ask our ladies to take absolute peasants into their own houses, however charming their wooden clogs.”<br /><br />Mrs. Turber is bothered by having the refugee that is staying with Beatrice take up any of Abigails’ work time until she sees how beautiful Celeste is and then she can’t do enough for her.<br /><br />I think Hugh and Daniel are a funny pair, also. I thought this was a humorous exchange:<br />“Forgive my cousin,” said Hugh. He is only playing the fool.”<br />“Really?” asked Beatrice. “He is so convincing.”<br />“The balloon of my pride is thus pierced by the steel pin of your wit, Miss Nash,” said Daniel. “I shall deflate in a suitable chair.”<br /><br />Thanks for the book discussion! Hopefully, others are reading it as well? <br /> ~Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16568709129526592597noreply@blogger.com