The weekly “little of this, little of that” feature at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
Anthony Trollope, where have you been all my life?
I bought The Eustace Diamonds for $1 at a university library book sale about two years ago. I bought it because it was $1, and because it was Trollope, whom I knew my mom loves. It sat on the shelf until I found myself nursing Finnabee with nothing to read and finally decided to give it a shot. To be honest, I thought it looked boring (yes, I do judge a book by its cover!).
I'm now about halfway through (350ish pages in) and absolutely loving it! Suki describes the tone of Trollope as somewhere between Austen and Wodehouse, which I think is accurate. Auntie Leila says he's like a male Gaskell, or somewhere between Gaskell and Dickens. The narration is cleverly self-aware, the characters are interesting and often hilarious, and, yes (not sure why I was skeptical that this would be the case), diamonds are a major part of the plot!
But if diamonds aren't your thing, Trollope does have about a thundred [a number invented by Bridget] other books, so… I'll have to get more into him. I know I'm late to the party on this one. Any Trollope enthusiasts out there?
Of course, I was already familiar with The Way We Live Now from the 2001 BBC production, one of my favorite films ever. In case you're looking for a great several hours of excellently-crafted miniseries magic, check it out. The acting in that movie is easily some of the best I've ever seen (I'm being restrained and resisting ALL CAPS AND HYPERBOLE. The acting is so good.).
This week we have a miscellany of video links. Just for fun:
- Secret Fore-Edge Paintings: artwork on the edges of book pages; only there if you know how to look! (Thanks, Melissa!)
- The quirky and curious story of Greg Packer, the most quoted man who never made the news but was always in the news.
- This crazy amazing video of an Osprey hunting. For no other reason than that it's so cool. If you have young (or old) boys around, they should probably see it.
- Just for the adorable sweetness of it: this 6 month-old whose sleepiness is matched only by her happiness.
Articles:
- Another big reason that Wyoming Catholic College strikes me as appealing: no cell phones. (The other big reason being the horses, obviously. And yes, I should probably get over it, since I've already been to college.) [Since it's relevant here and not really ‘fun' enough for the category above, I'll now insert I Forgot My Phone. Don't knock it until you've been that girl at the table listening to crickets while everyone else clicks away.]
- Read about a fun find (and a good explanation of how to find the finds) here: New John Widdicomb Louis-Style Chairs.
- Something pretty and inspiring: a beautiful, quilled alphabet.
- Breathing new life into history: 20 History Black & White Photos Colorized.
- Eight New Punctuation Marks We Desperately Need. I think the Andorpersand is my favorite.
- And a little handy guide (pardon the pun) to prayer, as taught by Pope Francis when he was Cardinal Bergoglio. I need to keep this one in mind!
Enjoy the weekend! And don't forget about the Pope's call to fast and pray for peace today!
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Molly says
I couldn't agree more: I should probably get over not going to Wyoming Catholic, too! 🙂 Thanks for the links!
Charlotte says
My SIL is a big Trollope fan. I haven't picked him up yet. Maybe I should. Those quilled letters are gorgeous and if you go to her website you can see the whole alphabet. I hope she considers making a children's alphabet book with those pieces of art!
Emily says
I love Trollope, too! I totally missed him until after college, despite being an English major. Definitely in the Austen-Gaskell-Wodehouse-Dickens vein. I have not yet read this one (not being readily available at our library), but I highly recommend the Barchester Chronicles. I read them while babysitting for a friend's baby while pregnant with #1 myself–every time she went down for a nap, I'd race to the bookshelf and read a few more chapters.
I've had a similar experience with reading The Count of Monte Cristo for the first time while breastfeeding #4–don't know how I got to my 30s without reading it. I'd tried to start it several times and never got far enough to get into the story. Now I'm grabbing my nook any time my big 3 are occupied and getting more and more engrossed in the story.
Yet another great reason to breastfeed…an excuse to read great literature you missed earlier! =)
abby says
One of my favorite professors from undergrad taught at Wyoming Catholic for a while – it sounded like such an interesting school! I'm trying to figure out if partial cell phone bans at my house would even be possible… maybe we can get a land line next time we move and try it out! (Only take them out on excursions, perhaps?)
So Much Forever says
🙂 I feel late to the party on every author of quality fiction. I'm making up for many years of reading literary junk food. Thanks for the recommendation.
Family friends of ours go to Wyoming Catholic. They looove it. *sigh* 🙂
Tamara
Melissa Diskin says
Oh my… that quilled alphabet is amazing…. and I'm going to start leaving my phone in the drawer at home and trunk of my car when out!
Those paintings made me tear up when I saw them — glad you liked them!
Cristina says
This is so funny because I am a new Trollope fan too 🙂 I just randomly picked up The Way We Live Now from my pile of 'I should really read these before I buy another book or my husband's head will explode' pile and read it last week and it was amazing! I can't wait to read more and I'm super excited to find out about this miniseries. I just checked Netfix and it's available to stream so I think I know what I'm doing during naptime today…… Thanks so much for the tip!
DeirdreLMLD says
Enjoy! I just ordered it from Amazon because it's a great price with Prime and, I think, definitely worth having in the collection! (And I don't have Netflix. 🙂
magistratrium says
Oh, I love Trollope. I'm making my way through the Barchester Chronicles right now. I'm at the beginning of Framley Parsonage, the fourth one, and already cringing at some of the problems I can see coming. I adored “Dr. Thorne” as a book and the character himself. I haven't read “The Eustace Diamonds” yet. I”ll have to look for it at my library.
I love these bits and pieces. There are so many interesting and thoughtful things. Thanks for sharing.
Joy
Cassidy says
I recently moved to the country and one of the many benefits is my cell phone rarely works properly out here. I had already dropped down to a basic cell phone (text and phone capabilities only) before the move, but didn't realize the freedom of being able to tell people, “I won't get your text out here – if you need me, you'll have to call our land line.” Now – it seems so foreign to me when I go into town and see people with their smart phones out totally ignoring each other. Put them down people! Interact with the people in front of you! Okay, haha, rant over. I am going to have to check out Trollope. I have a new little one on the way. I re-discovered reading (not that I ever really stopped…but my love had definitely faded a bit) when my first little one was born. My husband had gotten me a kindle (the inner book nerd in me cringes at that – a bit of snobbery I suppose. I feel I should be reading actual paperbacks or hardcovers) and I read almost nonstop on it. Classics, new books, biographies – anything and everything I can get my hands on. I love it! Thanks for the Osprey hunting video! My son LOVED it.
Anne says
My husband's name is Eustace! I am so getting that book…
Susan (DE) says
For some dumb reason (dumb because I KNOW that Deirdre is the one who posts the BIts and Pieces), I had this impression that LEILA was the one who was saying she'd just discovered Trollope. That puzzled me, because LEILA was one of two people in my mind who were Trollope-lovers (or so I thought). Then it percolated through, “my mother” was LEILA. Der. 🙂
Seriously, does anyone have suggestions for “the best” Trollope with which to START (assuming you haven't serendipitously happened on something at a library sale (which Ihaven't))? Thank you!
Lisa G. says
The Pope's guide to prayer is a wonderful idea – I hadn't seen it. Thanks!
Joy in Alabama says
I don't think I've commented on the Saturday posts before, but I want to tell you how much I enjoy them. Gives me a little lift after my usual Saturday housework/baking. Thank you!!
Julie says
How as an English major did I miss even hearing of Trollope? Must go to the library pronto!
Stephanie says
I just checked amazon for Trollope and found that the Kindle editions are FREE for the taking (for the most part.) Thanks for the recommendation! Funny, a french friend of mine just recommended Wodehouse …
Mrs. B. says
Thanks for the tip, Stephanie! And you're going to enjoy PGW a lot – be sure to start with the adventures of Bertie and Jeeves!!
Margo says
never read Trollope – can't wait to try! Have you read Georgette Heyer? She's another smart, funny, and (fortunately) prolific author.
DeirdreLMLD says
I'll have to look into Heyer – never heard of her!
Mrs. L says
I've read everything Trollope-ish that's in print and that's a LOT of print!) All of the free ones are on my Kindle, plus on the shelves is my paper collection that has accumulated over the years.
His works are a bit uneven, but the good ones are wonderful!
For those who asked for ideas on which book to start with, I'd suggest Framley Parsonage (I love, love the description of Fanny!) Or if you are in it for the long haul, try the Barchester series in order. It's good from start to finish.
Wodehouse is another favorite, and I have all of his books too; he makes me laugh more, but doesn't make me think as Trollope does.
Nancy says
I just discovered fore-edge paintings while visiting Orange, Texas! The Stark Museum of Art has about 18 on display in a temporary exhibition, for any readers who might live near the TX/LA border! They were truly amazing, and I'd never heard of them or seen them before.
_Leila says
Susan, I recommend the Chronicles of Barsetshire series to start, of which The Warden is first, but I think one should start with Barchester Towers, the second — and most unified of all Trollope's books — in the series. If you are going to enjoy Trollope, you will enjoy this one. Then you can go back to The Warden and continue as if nothing happened.
http://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-Barsetshire-Coll…
Trollope does a really fun thing — takes secondary characters from one book and makes them primary characters in another. This is a novel-reader's dream come true! And talk about a world…
Amy says
I'm so excited to have a new classic author to read! My husband and in I watched The Way we Live Now a few months ago and loved it—the plot, the acting, everything. It never occurred to me to see who wrote it. I have read lots classic literature… Dickens, Austen, Dostoyevsky, but haven't heard of this author. Have you read anything by Elizabeth Goudge? If not, I loved Green Dolphin Street and her trilogy (starts with A Bird in the Tree).
DeirdreLMLD says
Amy, we LOVE Green Dolphin Street! What a great book!
Ashley says
My bachelor's degree was focused on 19th century British literature, and I have not even *heard* of Anthony Trollope. Pathetic. Thanks to you, I can now set about rectifying the situation immediately — I've already downloaded Barchester Towers to my Kindle (thanks for the beginner's suggestion, Auntie Leila!).
Gently Led says
I'd heard of Trollope but for some reason assumed he was boring. Thanks so much for the recommendation! I'm half-way through the Small House at Allington and love it! What a delightful morality tale. (Got the free Kindle versions of about half-dozen of his.)