A Dance to the Music of Time GR 2013 - April: At Lady Molly's
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1Deern
Our discussion thread for the April volume of A Dance to the Music of Time: At Lady Molly's
Main thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/147074
Main thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/147074
2Deern
It's April 1st and I happily started the "2nd movement" of my Powell edition (consisting of 4 "movements" of 3 books each).
Little spoilers following for chapter 1:
I don't know what I expected, a direct sequel of book #3, The Acceptance World? I really should have known better. Again Powell/ Nick Jenkins throws me into a completely new situation with a whole bunch of new characters and I makes me feel lost for about 20 pages, until he finally opens the door to some new soirée where thankfully all of those new characters turn up at once and so at least their confusing introduction on the first pages has served some purpose. (It was similar in book #2 when Mr Deacon and the people around him were presented).
Okay, so not completely surprising Jean has left, 'some months' ago. This sounds like the actual book might be set less than a year after #3. On the other hand "one has written a couple of novels and moved from a firm that published art books to a company that produced second-feature films", which implies that about 1.5 - 2 years should have passed.
Nick is now 28/29 and realizing there's suddenly a younger generation "close on his heels".
I wonder if he'll finally get settled, now that his old friends Stringham and Templer have been married and divorced already. And I am glad that the always hard-to-read first pages of the monthly book are behind me already.
Little spoilers following for chapter 1:
I don't know what I expected, a direct sequel of book #3, The Acceptance World? I really should have known better. Again Powell/ Nick Jenkins throws me into a completely new situation with a whole bunch of new characters and I makes me feel lost for about 20 pages, until he finally opens the door to some new soirée where thankfully all of those new characters turn up at once and so at least their confusing introduction on the first pages has served some purpose. (It was similar in book #2 when Mr Deacon and the people around him were presented).
Okay, so not completely surprising Jean has left, 'some months' ago. This sounds like the actual book might be set less than a year after #3. On the other hand "one has written a couple of novels and moved from a firm that published art books to a company that produced second-feature films", which implies that about 1.5 - 2 years should have passed.
Nick is now 28/29 and realizing there's suddenly a younger generation "close on his heels".
I wonder if he'll finally get settled, now that his old friends Stringham and Templer have been married and divorced already. And I am glad that the always hard-to-read first pages of the monthly book are behind me already.
3LizzieD
Yay for us, Nathalie! I've just started Chapter 4, and I'll be through before I want to be. As always, Nick thinks about things and generalizes about people. I'm enjoying his thoughts on love and waiting for more Widmerpool. (And don't you wonder how his grandfather got from "Geddes" to "Widmerpool"? I'm not sure that we ever find out.)
4LizzieD
Ah well, I finished. No more Widmerpooling until May, doggone it.
Don't you love the way he can either present an impregnable facade quickly after a failure OR can talk himself out of any sense of failure? Which do you think it is?
And what do we make of Isobel from whom we've heard two not completely fatuous comments, but who seems on first appearance to be not a particularly keen observer of human foibles? (Does that sound like an AP sentence?)
Don't you love the way he can either present an impregnable facade quickly after a failure OR can talk himself out of any sense of failure? Which do you think it is?
And what do we make of Isobel from whom we've heard two not completely fatuous comments, but who seems on first appearance to be not a particularly keen observer of human foibles? (Does that sound like an AP sentence?)
5Deern
I only read the first 2 chapter so far - slow approach again, and right now 1Q84 eats up almost every minute of my reading time.
I was a bit annoyed with Nicholas in the second chapter. Contrary to Widmerpool who has a strict (and sure often wrong) opinion on anything, Nick is so non-committal that it hurts. I see him as someone who could be invited everywhere but who will never be among the first ones on a guest list. He's the one you invite additionally to make the list complete ( or to avoid having 13 people at the table), knowing he won't offend anybody. In the second chapter there's a bit of direct dialogue where he's forced to once give an opinion and even then he waits until he knows what the others think.
I was a bit annoyed with Nicholas in the second chapter. Contrary to Widmerpool who has a strict (and sure often wrong) opinion on anything, Nick is so non-committal that it hurts. I see him as someone who could be invited everywhere but who will never be among the first ones on a guest list. He's the one you invite additionally to make the list complete ( or to avoid having 13 people at the table), knowing he won't offend anybody. In the second chapter there's a bit of direct dialogue where he's forced to once give an opinion and even then he waits until he knows what the others think.
6Donna828
4: Peggy, that Widmerpool is resilient, isn't he? I'd say he uses both of the coping mechanisms you mentioned. He's had a lot of experience with failure and/or not measuring up...and it's just not acceptable to him. That's why I liked him from the beginning - out there running long distances every day despite having little aptitude for sports.
Isabel? Who knows? We have very little to go on so far. I suspect we'll see more of her in the next book...unless that relationship goes south, too. Trying to be vague here for those who haven't finished.
5: I am getting used to Nick's detachment. It makes him the perfect narrator, though, as he observes and asks questions. I am surprised how much gossiping goes on at these dinner parties. If one is not in attendance, they are certain to be a subject for discussion.
Isabel? Who knows? We have very little to go on so far. I suspect we'll see more of her in the next book...unless that relationship goes south, too. Trying to be vague here for those who haven't finished.
5: I am getting used to Nick's detachment. It makes him the perfect narrator, though, as he observes and asks questions. I am surprised how much gossiping goes on at these dinner parties. If one is not in attendance, they are certain to be a subject for discussion.
7Deern
Yay - enter Isobel!
I'll try to get through the rest of the book this week to be able to discuss with you.
Peggy: I'll add "Widmerpooling" to my vocabulary, what a wonderful expression!
Donna: Yes, Nick is a perfect observer and I am sure he is generally liked. People also seem to remember him after the first acquaintance, so either he doesn't tell us all about himself (maybe he is the greatest party animal around) or his looks distinguish him.
I'd like to know what he looks like, he describes the others so well that we get quite a perfect picture. In the first 3 books I thought he couldn't be too good-looking, given his limited success with women. But now that he's queuing with girls at the cinema every night, maybe he has matured well. I guess he's darkhaired (didn't Eleanor mention a gray hair?) and pale.
I'll try to get through the rest of the book this week to be able to discuss with you.
Peggy: I'll add "Widmerpooling" to my vocabulary, what a wonderful expression!
Donna: Yes, Nick is a perfect observer and I am sure he is generally liked. People also seem to remember him after the first acquaintance, so either he doesn't tell us all about himself (maybe he is the greatest party animal around) or his looks distinguish him.
I'd like to know what he looks like, he describes the others so well that we get quite a perfect picture. In the first 3 books I thought he couldn't be too good-looking, given his limited success with women. But now that he's queuing with girls at the cinema every night, maybe he has matured well. I guess he's darkhaired (didn't Eleanor mention a gray hair?) and pale.
8Deern
Finished the book yesterday.
Some spoilers:
Poor Widmerpool! I guess he needs an older woman who can look after herself. And for his business ambitions he probably needs a wife and all the 'being settles in life' thing. Still Mildred wasn't the right choice, I hope he'll find someone else.
As for Nick... I was really disappointed we didn't get anything of the supposed love story. Nothing! During the Jean episode he made himself part of the story, but now in this 4th book he's back to observing, to letting the others act. He could at least have given us the drive back to London or a single conversation with Isobel. I don't know if we'll get any flashbacks in the later novels, but for now I'm a bit cross with him.
Spoiler end
I read somewhere that this 4th novel was the 'funniest' one, if 'funny' can be applied for the Powell books at all. I found #3 more amusing and alltogether this novel here won't end up as my favorite. Many new characters which will certainly play a role in the future, but not much action and no highlights. I guess my favorite scene must have been the evening at Erridge's.
Some spoilers:
Poor Widmerpool! I guess he needs an older woman who can look after herself. And for his business ambitions he probably needs a wife and all the 'being settles in life' thing. Still Mildred wasn't the right choice, I hope he'll find someone else.
As for Nick... I was really disappointed we didn't get anything of the supposed love story. Nothing! During the Jean episode he made himself part of the story, but now in this 4th book he's back to observing, to letting the others act. He could at least have given us the drive back to London or a single conversation with Isobel. I don't know if we'll get any flashbacks in the later novels, but for now I'm a bit cross with him.
Spoiler end
I read somewhere that this 4th novel was the 'funniest' one, if 'funny' can be applied for the Powell books at all. I found #3 more amusing and alltogether this novel here won't end up as my favorite. Many new characters which will certainly play a role in the future, but not much action and no highlights. I guess my favorite scene must have been the evening at Erridge's.
9JonnySaunders
I'm a bit slow on the uptake this month, mainly thanks to 1Q84 but I've finally got round to April's installment and finished it last night.
I agree with Deern on this one, I enjoyed At Lady Molly's, but not quite as much as the volume 3. I still had the same feeling as LizzieD on finishing it though (no more Powell until May! Boooo)
Did anyone else think that we actually saw some brief flashes of the real character of Nicholas in this one? I do really like fact that he writes as if he spends his entire time just observing and pondering and very rarely puts to paper what he actually says to people. However, there were a couple of moments in this book where I was actually mildly shocked that we "heard" what he actually said and in some cases it was curt, or even mischievous. I haven't got the book with me so I'm being a bit vague, but there was a moment where he snapped slightly at Quiggin (or at least showed irritation) and later with Mark Members he showed signs of being a gossip! Interesting stuff.
Another thing that struck me was how shocked I was about how blunt Chip Lovell was about sex and intrigue. When he was talking about how many people Mildred had slept with I remember actually being shocked that he was referring to sex so directly! Baring in mind that I'm also currently reading Lady Chatterley's Lover I think this really is testament to Powell's writing that he can convey that atmosphere of restraint so well (which he even describes directly when talking about Lady Warminster's attempts to extract information about Erridge and Mona)
Another thing that strikes me when I read this post back is just how many characters there are in this book! Phew!
I agree with Deern on this one, I enjoyed At Lady Molly's, but not quite as much as the volume 3. I still had the same feeling as LizzieD on finishing it though (no more Powell until May! Boooo)
Did anyone else think that we actually saw some brief flashes of the real character of Nicholas in this one? I do really like fact that he writes as if he spends his entire time just observing and pondering and very rarely puts to paper what he actually says to people. However, there were a couple of moments in this book where I was actually mildly shocked that we "heard" what he actually said and in some cases it was curt, or even mischievous. I haven't got the book with me so I'm being a bit vague, but there was a moment where he snapped slightly at Quiggin (or at least showed irritation) and later with Mark Members he showed signs of being a gossip! Interesting stuff.
Another thing that struck me was how shocked I was about how blunt Chip Lovell was about sex and intrigue. When he was talking about how many people Mildred had slept with I remember actually being shocked that he was referring to sex so directly! Baring in mind that I'm also currently reading Lady Chatterley's Lover I think this really is testament to Powell's writing that he can convey that atmosphere of restraint so well (which he even describes directly when talking about Lady Warminster's attempts to extract information about Erridge and Mona)
Another thing that strikes me when I read this post back is just how many characters there are in this book! Phew!
10kaggsy
Just finished the book and loved it but share the frustration about lack of *anything* about Isobel. And yes, aren't there a lot of characters - could do with a few family trees really!
I really like Quiggin - well, like is not the right word, but I'm always glad when he's in the books because he livens things up terribly! The weekend visit to his cottage, and Erridge's visit, were priceless!
I really like Quiggin - well, like is not the right word, but I'm always glad when he's in the books because he livens things up terribly! The weekend visit to his cottage, and Erridge's visit, were priceless!
12brenzi
I totally forgot to post here when I finished last week but quite agree that I liked this novel but not nearly as much as the last one. I do find Powell's dry humor to my liking but thought this novella had less of it than any of the previous ones. And boo to the fact that we got so little info about Isobel and the events leading up to her engagement to Nick.
I hope May's book is more along the lines of the earlier volumes.
I hope May's book is more along the lines of the earlier volumes.
13lauralkeet
I'm lurking and occasionally visiting the GR threads. I read this series in 2011-12 so it's fun to drop in and see how everyone is getting on.
Like others, I didn't like the way Nick's family & life generally took a back seat to other characters and plots.
>10 kaggsy:: could do with a few family trees really!
Has anyone mentioned the book, Invitation to the Dance by Hilary Spurling? It's an excellent resource with sections on the characters with short bios, as well as all of the art and cultural references. The only problem with the character bios is they sometimes give things away. I mean, you know in a work like this that characters will die, but you don't want to read spoilers about when and how.
Like others, I didn't like the way Nick's family & life generally took a back seat to other characters and plots.
>10 kaggsy:: could do with a few family trees really!
Has anyone mentioned the book, Invitation to the Dance by Hilary Spurling? It's an excellent resource with sections on the characters with short bios, as well as all of the art and cultural references. The only problem with the character bios is they sometimes give things away. I mean, you know in a work like this that characters will die, but you don't want to read spoilers about when and how.
14Deern
#13: you're right - I bought Invitation to the Dance and already had to look up some characters which I had half forgotten. And now I know when some of them will die, as it is just part of the text and you can't really keep your eyes from reading when it's all in one paragraph.
19katiekrug
I did not manage to get to At Lady Molly's this month, so it looks like two Powells for me in May!
20LizzieD
Karen, that is a great review! Thanks!!!
(And if anybody is thinking about getting Invitation to the Dance for your Kindle, be careful. I am having a relatively hard time with navigation.)
(And if anybody is thinking about getting Invitation to the Dance for your Kindle, be careful. I am having a relatively hard time with navigation.)
21JonnySaunders
Lovely review Karen, I really enjoyed reading it!
I'm so glad you included the Widmerpool "reveal" quote:
It reminded me that while I was reading it I loved the quote so much I had to interrupt my wife from whatever she was doing and read it to her. It's not very often I do that!
In an odd twist of irony I was also reading recently about the Baarder-Meinhof principle! Give it a Google and you'll see what I mean!
I'm so glad you included the Widmerpool "reveal" quote:
“Life is full of internal dramas, instantaneous and sensational, played to an audience of one. This was just such a performance. The fiance was Widmerpool.”
It reminded me that while I was reading it I loved the quote so much I had to interrupt my wife from whatever she was doing and read it to her. It's not very often I do that!
In an odd twist of irony I was also reading recently about the Baarder-Meinhof principle! Give it a Google and you'll see what I mean!
22kaggsy
21: Thank you! I just loved that moment - so brilliantly handled. I *did* Google Baader-Meinhof - how weird is that!!
23Deern
Another wonderful review, Karen! I love to read them just before starting the next volume to get into the right mood.
25katiekrug
I'm very late and probably no one is following this thread anymore, but I did start and finish At Lady Molly's this past weekend and liked it immensely. (Strangely, I think it helped that I read it on my Kindle. I had been reading from the large four-volume omnibus series and it just felt overwhelming.) I thought this entry in the series was quite funny - from the Quiggin/Erridge relationship and scenes in the country with them to Widmerpool's solicitation of Nick's advice about the proper time to sleep with his fiancee. Seems like most people are rather fond of Widmerpool; I really don't like him. I read him as rather scheming and very self-centered.
Anyway, I am hoping to read Casanova's Chinese Restaurant this weekend, and then I will be back on track!
Anyway, I am hoping to read Casanova's Chinese Restaurant this weekend, and then I will be back on track!
28kaggsy
25: I dislike Widmerpool as a person but love him as a character, if that makes sense! Although I would not want to come across him in real life, he's a joy to read about....
29katiekrug
>28 kaggsy: - I totally agree. He's wonderfully well-drawn but so insufferable as a character.
