Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

A Room with a View is the book for December 2019. Thank you, Holly, for being our discussion leader this month!

I'm excited to read this one. I'm getting a copy from the library (after I pay some fines.. oops!)

Who has and hasn't read A Room with a View?

Haven't read it yet, but have been meaning for a while. So I'm really happy this is our read this month! As always, I have to finish some other books first (Oryx and Crake, for example).

I have never read it. Saw the movie and loved it. Looking forward to reading A Room with a View.

Haven't read it or seen the movie yet! Looking forward to it.

The symbolism with the river draws me immediately. anyone else notice that

This will be a first for me!

Sönne wrote: "Haven't read it yet, but have been meaning for a while. So I'm really happy this is our read this month! As always, I have to finish some other books first (Oryx and Crake, for example)."

Me too. I haven't read it before. I'm a bit burned out right now though. I just want to sleep.

I just started the book this morning! E.M. Forester already has me laughing at Lucy’s playful personality. Does anyone have a grasp on her age?

Taylor wrote: "I just started the book this morning! E.M. Forester already has me laughing at Lucy’s playful personality. Does anyone have a grasp on her age?"

I'm putting her in her late teens early twenties. She doesn't seem quite old enough to be considered a "spinster" but also seems playful enough to be very young. Considering the time period, most girls were married off by 21-22, I'd put her no older than that.

By the way, I'm into part 2. How's everyone else's progress?

I started reading this a long time ago so using this month as an opportunity to get back into it, struggling though! Not the most riveting of reads IMO

Does anyone else really not like Cecil? I just want to smack him silly!

Holly wrote: "Does anyone else really not like Cecil? I just want to smack him silly!"

I have the feeling he sometimes functions as a mirror to the ridiculous ways of Mrs Honeychurch and the rest of the middle- to upper-class society of the book. However, he, of course, is the most snobbish and spoilt one of them all.

I finished the other night. I'm not sure I feel complete by the end. I want part 2

Holly wrote: "I finished the other night. I'm not sure I feel complete by the end. I want part 2"

According to Forster wrote an appendix describing what happened after the novel ended.

Hmmm I might have to go looking. It wasnt in my version.

Holly wrote: "Hmmm I might have to go looking. It wasnt in my version."

It wasn't in mine either, just stumbled upon it when I did some research on Forster. I didn't like the extended ending, though. ;)

How's everyone finishing the book? Thoughts/opinions on the book?

I finished this book a couple of weeks ago, and I have to say that I wasn't thrilled with it.

Just started reading. So far So good :)

Windy wrote: "I finished this book a couple of weeks ago, and I have to say that I wasn't thrilled with it."

I won't say it was my favorite book of all time. I also wouldn't put it on my "I'll never read this EVER again" list either. I felt that he could have elaborated on the story. I couldn't label it a "romance" novel because there wasn't much. I do like the coming of age concept he developed though. So often you get the coming of age concept with boys. I like seeing it through a woman's eyes.

I am still reading. I do like Lucy. She’s passionate and a free thinker in a time where women were neither. Cecil’s character cracks me up. He’s such a snob. Their first kiss seemed lacking compared to George’s. It reads like a quirky uptight romantic comedy. It’s slow going.

Elba wrote: "I am still reading. I do like Lucy. She’s passionate and a free thinker in a time where women were neither. Cecil’s character cracks me up. He’s such a snob. Their first kiss seemed lacking compare..."

Cecil is such a snob. But I think he provides a nice foil to George in regards to Lucy. Cecil obviously is the "safe choice" for Lucy to marry, but he's the polar opposite of George. For me, I appreciated the toil Lucy goes through coming to her final decision. Reminds us that the "safest choice" isn't always the best choice for us.

I finished Room with a View today. The book seemed to touch on the philosophical side of things more so than the film. And Holly you made a good point, I did like the polar opposites of Lucy's suitors. Their differences seemed so exaggerated and this made it comical to me at times. In Lucy's time women where told how to feel and act. They were expected to not be able to make decisions. Lucy was and exception. What she wants is there all along; she need only to be brave and go after it. I see this so relevant to GG with Lorelai and Rory as compared to Emily who has always done what is "expected" whether she liked it or not. Also very relevant to Lane's character. She went after her bliss and had enough of the restraints put on her by Miss Kim. Great reading with all of you and look forward to your posts. GG 4 ever.

I read this book for the 2020 summer challenge, so pardon my tardiness, haha. I'm not much into classics, and while I didn't particularly love the middle, the first and last thirds of the book were great. I usually love to travel, but all the descriptions of Italy and England came from such an intellectual place that I was turned off by it. What *really* kept me going was the love story.

Cecil was terrible - obnoxiously pretentious. And then there was Charlotte. I have mixed feelings about her. She annoyed me through most of the book until Chapter 17, when the writer hinted that she was in a similar position many years ago. I would like to think that she had a hand in Mr. Emerson confronting Lucy, but that may just be wishful thinking.

Don't get me started on Lucy! I can be a little more forthcoming than what's expected even of today's generation (for one, I was often - if not always - the "chaser" when it came to romantic affairs, my husband included), but the whole time I just wanted to shake her and tell her to face her feelings! I so appreciated Mr. Emerson's wisdom about how important it is to be truthful, even when there are negative consequences, and especially when love is on the line. I'm glad she heeded his advice, and while the end did feel pretty complete to me, I would have loved a little more time to enjoy the resolution. I saw someone mentioned that there was a not-so-great appendix written about Lucy and George's romance, so I won't go looking for it :)

Okay, I've written a whole lot, haha. While a bit slow, it was well-written (loved when Forster broke the fourth wall!) and I did enjoy it. I can't wait to watch the movie now!