Skip to main content

Valentine, George Sand

In light of all the fantastic fiction I'd been reading I decided to read something guaranteed to have nothing supernatural about it. I picked Sand because I've never read her, only seen Impromptu. I'd heard both that she was the French Austen, and that she wrote bodice rippers for her time. Well, both are true. Underneath the flighty romance is a keen observation of French social structure post Napoleon. What I loved was that the observations could be identical to observations today--the young hero is described as having a particularly new ennui of over intelligence. She despairs of it--as we do today. The love story is interesting in contrast to English novels in that it is in fact consummated (discretely), lips meet, passions so long denied could no longer be ignored, yada, yada, next sentence is the next day, while Dickens had real trouble with actual sex. If two people were known to have had sex it would always be revealed that they had been secretly married. However our hero and heroine still die, because it is not possible that they should sin so and live--they can't have a happy life. Our fallen woman who bore a child (but is not the heroine) is allowed a sad spinsterhood.
The most frustrating thing about this novel has nothing to do with the novel. It was a library book and 8 pages at the very climax about two-thirds of the way through) were blank!!!! Suddenly there were two blank pages in the middle of a sentence, then two pages, then two more blank pages. I've looked for another edition in both library systems (no luck, hardly surprising). Project Gutenberg only has a French edition. So if anyone ever finds a copy, let me know.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Putting my money (read time) where my mouth is

Some Duran Duran with some songs that I believe prove their musical merit. eSnips gives me the power and I'm going to use it. ( Bwahaha ) Get this widget Share Track details This is one of my all time favorite songs. I have it on a B-Side Collection, although I can't find any mention of what it was B-Side of, just that it came out in 1988. The words are quite haunting, as is the melody. But, I can hear you say, this is not at all a standard D2 song. Well, no, but what is a standard song by any band? How do you average that? Thomas Dolby's singles were always abnormal compared to the rest of their respective albums. Same with Barenaked Ladies. I think the B-Sides are often truer to what the band wants to be without the pressure of the labels for commercial success. Get this widget Share Track details This is probably more like Duran Duran you're thinking of, right? It's from Pop Trash , released 2000. The words are based on the true story of a boy who was building ...
8 comments
Read more

KARAOKE

This is for Musing and B to take both of their minds off of other things. I happened to find it instead of what I was looking for (which was the 5Lives--they know what this means). Now, I'm not a fan of Karaoke, but I found this entertaining not because of the song, which is not a favorite of mine (more on that in a minute) but because it's written three different ways-- Romajii , Kana and English translation. I wish I could find more (perhaps of the songs I like more), but the irc seems to be dead. I did find this: http://www.karaokebox.org/ which is kind of fun, because you can sing with the artist, and then try it alone, but it doesn't tell you WHEN to sing, like a real karaoke version. Now, what I was saying about it not being my favorite got me thinking. L'Arc has 118 song by rough count--counting "My Heart Draws a Dream" due out next week, but not any of the remixes, Ectomorphed songs, D'Arc , P'Unk , live versions, Hydeless versions or the ...
7 comments
Read more

Cheap post

Red Queen sent this round via email. I took out the ones I've posted already. I Tag Matt but only if he's interested. 1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? L-- was what I was called in the orphanage--don't know if it's after anyone 2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Last night--moving movie; about a month ago for other reasons 3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING When I think about it, although I don't love my signature 4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Brown sugar or maple ham 7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Yes, d'uh. 8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes, and I don't actually know anyone but my mother who had them out. Nor do I know anyone who has had their appendix removed. 9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Maybe 10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? For dry snacking--Rice Chex or Kix, as cereal--Blueberry Morning, also oatmeal and Cream of Wheat 11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? If they have laces, sometimes. Depends on the shoes 12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE ...
Post a Comment
Read more