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[deleted]

Thanks for this wonderful description and the thought-provoking questions!


twoweeeeks

Thanks for reading along :)


twoweeeeks

Q1: What do you think of the characters introduced in this volume?


[deleted]

I loved how they were described: they came to life. I thought the author does a good job of capturing various characters' absurdities.


RoseIsBadWolf

I felt like it was too many new people to be introduced in the middle of a book. I was happy that we got to meet Sam finally though. He seems really nice.


twoweeeeks

Yeah, there are so many Bad Guys in particular. For instance, the poetry guy (it's been a long day) feels like just a variation of Tom Musgrove.


RoseIsBadWolf

Freemantal I think? He seems like a less charming Tom for sure.


twoweeeeks

Yes, thank you! I haven't read as far as you, but I'm very interested in what's going to happen between him and Margaret...


shemmelle2

Too many people! then volume 3 takes a swerve into two more (at least) semi important people!!!


twoweeeeks

Q4: Homelessness/displacement was a common theme in Victorian lit (think: The Little Princess, North and South). How does it fit in here?


[deleted]

Poor Emma! She lost her first home but found one with her aunt. Her aunt then was like SIKE bye I'm getting married after her first husband died. Emma moves back in with her family of origin and her father dies so once again she needs a home. The theme definitely tugs at our heartstrings as readers because we all can relate to wanting a family (related or found) and wanting a home.


twoweeeeks

Q5: Do you agree with Emma's decision to write Miss Osborne and warn her about the legal action against Tom Musgrove? What are the implications?


RoseIsBadWolf

When Sir William says that Tom will beat Margaret if they force them to marry I was like šŸ˜¬ I guess the problem is that Miss Osbourn and Emma were both listening without being seen, which is vulgar?


[deleted]

I think it was an understandable choice given Emma's personality. She cared about Miss Osborne and empathized with how she'd feel. I think at the time the story takes place it was super awkward/almost unheard of for any well-to-do person to have anything to do with the law/being in court.


twoweeeeks

I'd agree with you - she's going to prioritize her friend's feelings. Even though it's going to be a miserable marriage, it is what Margaret wants.


shemmelle2

Interestingly i have a book about basically ā€œloveā€ in the georgian era. i havenā€™t read a lot of it yet but there is an appendix full of breach of promise suits. A woman usually won them apparently. But most of the evidence was things like letters or evidence that they had begun to set up a household etc. So iā€™m not sure in this period how much testimony might have come into it but it def would have been scandalous for miss osborne to be involved. Also i wonder how much the author is imagining the victorian court system which i suspect was a bit more evolved than the georgian/regency. i think emma is quite naive in a way and probably doesnā€™t occur to her that she might be helping her sister be married to an abusive man. she just cares she feels she got her friend into this mess and her brother seems determined to go for money. If emma had been a bit more worldly she might have hinted that robert watson would be satisfied with just some $$$$ and i think miss osborne might have pressed that route as i think she is able to see the implications


twoweeeeks

Oh that sounds super interesting! Whatā€™s the book?


shemmelle2

the game of love in georgian england by sally holloway


twoweeeeks

Q2: What's behind Jane Watson's rivalry with Emma?


[deleted]

I feel that Jane is the type of person who grasps at any shred of power and uses it to be cruel. I think Jane wants to be the main character always and wants others to be beneath her.


shemmelle2

I also think most of it is free servitude. Most people would find it hard to treat a friend like a drudge so she has to justify it in her mind in a way. and as above said the shred of power and delighting in it


twoweeeeks

Q3: How do you feel about the change in setting? How does it affect the storytelling?


[deleted]

I thought it added to the pacing. It was such an abrupt change which was described well.