Friday RNR 12/4/20

Happy Friday! I have no reviews – just a reading update. I am still reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

I had to hunt to find a pic of the version I am reading but here it is. It is gorgeous. It makes me want to go out and buy beautifully bound copes of classics. Naturally, this lead me down a rabbit hole of classic collection versions on YouTube. I watched videos on Collector’s Library, Everyman’s Library, Folio and others. Also watched videos on sewn vs glued. As a book lover, I am almost ashamed I had never even heard of the debate. But seeing how a quality book affects your read, I get the obsession.

Now for the story itself. I am blown away by how involved I am this story. I had heard of it of course – but had no clue as to the plot. Unraveling it has been rewarding. I am on Chapter 28 and I have read every day this week. I find I cannot read classics as fast as more modern works but that is ok. I love the writing and find myself reading passages more than once. This book feels universal in that it captures how frustrating it is to watch or be a part of a toxic relationship. There is a certain character, I do not want to spoil the book for those who have not read it, but I want to scream at him literally every time he is on the page. What elevated the book for me was when Helen says to this character, when he asks what more could she want…

“Only, —-, that would you love yourself, as truly and faithfully as you are loved by me.”

I felt that. That’s the struggle with being around those you care about but are on a self destructive path.

Also this part –

“ … he knows he is my sun, but when he chooses to withhold his light, he would have my sky to be all darkness; he cannot bear that I should have a moon to mitigate the deprivation.”

I would have just said the man can’t stand to see me happy, but… wow.

I need to read more classics.

Anyways, I am enjoying this journey and am curious to see how this all resolves.

Happy reading!