This week we had to read about all the visits from Dr. John and Lucy's refusal to let him know that she knows him, because apparently all along she has known that he is Grahame (her godmother's son). For some reason she won't reveal this to him. Oh, and apparently Grahame is Isidore, one of Ginerva's beaus (the one she gets to buy her all those lovely gifts). Seriously, what is going on? I thought that Dr. John would turn out to be a love interest for Lucy, but apparently he isn't going to - or is he? Anyhow, now I'm wondering if Polly will show up at some point, or if she is already in Villette and Lucy is just refusing to reveal to us which pupil is Polly. UGH! Its rather frustrating to have such an unreliable narrator - I'm depending on her and I'm not getting the story I expected. Hmmm. Perhaps, that is Bronte's point - to trick us. Well, at least I was right about Lucy being more of a behind the scenes kind of gal. I thought perhaps her role as a teacher would move her towards being more involved in the action, but no such luck. Don't get me wrong, Lucy is involved in the story, but not as much or in the way I assumed she would be. Of course who knows what will happen next, right? Anyhow, the book is moving along rather well, although I must admit to skim reading some passages (too much detail is rather boring at times, especially when the details are mere descriptions and not actual information). Nonetheless, I am enjoying this read along so far and am wondering what new surprises will be in store further along the way in Villette.
Alright, well I'm off to continue reading Tropical Depression (which reminds me of Northern Exposure). Cheers!
9 comments:
It would be hard for me to jostle this book and another; I'd be totally confused! I went ahead and finished it a few weeks ago, but I'm posting along as scheduled. Lucy is a mix of a character; most of the time I like her, but sometimes I wish she'd stick up a little bit more for herself. Perhaps that was contrary to the times? Certainly, to her nature. Which I mostly admire.
Okay, I didn't even realize that she knew it was Graham all along! How did I miss this? And if his name is Graham, why do they keep calling him Dr. John? I'm confused.
Bellezza, I agree. Why doesn't she stick up for herself. I thought she was brave when she decided to head to London and then on to France, but it seems as if she isn't as brave as I had presumed. I wonder too, if it is because of the times that she feels she can't really stand up for herself. So part of me likes her and another part dislikes her.
Karen - Yes! Isn't is crazy! I wonder the same thing? Perhaps John is his first name and Grahame is his middle name - who knows? It confused me, too :)
If you go back to the early chapters, you'll see that Graham's full name is John Graham Bretton but goes by Graham. Not clear when/why he changed that.
Like the idea that Lucy = a student. Perhaps the small sickly one that keeps Lucy at school while everyone else heads out of town? Mere conjecture, that.
Yes... "what the frack is happening with Lucy" is right. I was liking her... starting to get her, and then shazam! she's someone else entirely.
Onward reading soldiers... let's see if she redeems herself with some shorter (and easier to read) chapters this week. :)
Okay I've read this much of this book twice now and I still cannot picture that garden behind the school even though there is SO much description of it!
As far as I remember from reading the book before, there is no 'surprise' that Polly is one of the students - at least she isn't a character revealed again in the same way Dr John is.
On another note, where is Dr. John revealed as being Graham. I recall Lucy realising that Dr. John is the guardian angel rescuing her from her lost luggage upon arriving in Villette, but I seem to remember that her realising this is Graham comes much later in the book.
Unreliable narrators can be frustrating, but they can also be so much fun! I'm glad you're enjoying the read-along.
I read Tropical Depression and loved it. Highly recommend everyone check it out.
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