This book was challenging for me and I could only read about 25 pages per day. I felt my educational level was lacking for that sort of reading/subject matter but it could also be the stilted language of the author. I admire how she stood up for her beliefs and all she attained. I was in awe of her perserverance in just about anything she set her mind to accomplish.
Here is a passage:
"There is still, I think, not enough recognition by teachers of the fact that the desire to think – which is fundamentally a moral problem - must be induced before the power is developed. Most people, whether men or women, wish above all else to be comfortable, and thought is pre-eminently uncomfortable process; it brings to the individual far more suffering than happiness in a semi-civilized world which still goes to war, Still encourages the production of unwanted children by exhausted, mothers, and still compels married partners who hate one another to live together in the name of morality."
"Thus, it was in St. Monica's garden, beside a little overgrown pool, where the plump goldfish slid idly in and out of the shadows, and the feathered grasses drooped their heavy heads to the water's edge, that I first visualized in rapt childish ecstasy a world in which women would no longer be the second-rate, unimportant creatures that they were now considered, but the equal and respected companions of men."
I'm not sure how to rate the book. For me it's a 3.5 for the material as well as my reading pleasure. I know there are rave reviews of this historical account but it was a labor to finish this book. Had it not been for JoAnn and our buddy read I may well have abandoned this very early on. Thank you, friend!
The time period is WW I and settings in England, Malta, Italy and France.
Sharing with Joy's Book Blog for British Isles Friday. and The Classics Club.
Just from the passage you shared, I think I would struggle with this one, too. Kudos to you for finishing it. I've read a number of books in recent years that make me glad I wasn't a woman in earlier times. I hope my granddaughters will be able to say the same thing.
ReplyDeleteKelly, it was an educational book but I can't say I enjoyed it too much. There were many passages I found interesting but man... I agree with you about living in those times when we were considered good only for reproduction, cooking and cleaning!
DeleteThaks for your comment :-)
I would definitely struggle with this one as well. The overly verbose style tends to make my eyes just skip off the page. I have found that a lot of classics are best read in small chunks.
ReplyDeleteThat first passage is a struggle to read ... sort of spins its wheels ... good grief I wouldn't make it through the whole thing. I think you deserve a badge for reading it all. I like the WWI time period and have read some novels set there but haven't read anything long and dense about it. You need a fun break now.
ReplyDelete