Melissa_W
Melissa_W
I assume that a chunk of us have been snowed in today - prime reading time! 
So now we come to the denouement of Shirley, the marriage plot. Are you surprised at the pairings? Or is it a little too convenient, the Moore brother that Shirley has known for quite some time declares himself at the very end?
We haven't read Jane Eyre on this board, yet (and I say "yet" because we have nominations right now....and there's a new movie adaptation coming out in March....
) but if you have read JE, do you think Shirley as well-crafted?
Melissa_W
Melissa_W wrote:I assume that a chunk of us have been snowed in today - prime reading time!
So now we come to the denouement of Shirley, the marriage plot. Are you surprised at the pairings? Or is it a little too convenient, the Moore brother that Shirley has known for quite some time declares himself at the very end?
We haven't read Jane Eyre on this board, yet (and I say "yet" because we have nominations right now....and there's a new movie adaptation coming out in March....
Well, I was glad that there was a Moore for each girl, so they didn't have to be bitter rivals after all! 
Although it didn't end up quite how I had expected when Louis was first introduced. I thought that his more introspective nature would suit Caroline, and thought that she would transfer her affections to him, leaving Robert for Shirley - both more volatile personalities. But I guess opposites do attract, after all! It gradually became clear that Shirley and Louis had feelings for each other that they were struggling with, and I guess because he had been her teacher, he was able to take more of an upper hand with her, without the awe she generally inspired in others. She needed someone she could look up to, not someone who would look up to her.
I did find Louis' pouring his heart out into his journal rather tedious, though. But I loved the final showdown with Shirley's uncle! Sympson had the nerve to think that he could push Shirley around simply because she was a woman and he was a male relation, so it was satisfying to see him finally put in his place.
The scene in the garden where Robert finally declares himself to Caroline was very sweet.
This morning there were two marriages solemnized in Briarfield church—Louis Gérard Moore, Esq., late of Antwerp, to Shirley, daughter of the late Charles Cave Keeldar, Esq., of Fieldhead; Robert Gérard Moore, Esq., of Hollow's Mill, to Caroline, niece of the Rev. Matthewson Helstone, M.A., rector of Briarfield.
The ceremony, in the first instance, was performed by Mr. Helstone, Hiram Yorke, Esq., of Briarmains, giving the bride away. In the second instance, Mr. Hall, vicar of Nunnely, officiated. Amongst the bridal train the two most noticeable personages were the youthful bridesmen, Henry Sympson and Martin Yorke.
I liked how they were each married by a different appropriate vicar.
I have to say, though, that I had been getting really fed up with everybody getting sick! Each of the four main characters had some illness and convalescence. Of course, illness is an effective way of making people reveal their feelings, but it was getting a bit ridiculous!
In the end, although I greatly enjoyed reading Shirley at last, I still would name Jane Eyre as far superior.
Ladies feels good to have a little time to read and express my ramblings here at last...!
Today morning I finished Shirley -thanks GOD for that!!!!- I couldn't wait to finish the story. Thought the plot was consistent, the story was well developed and all that I can't get out of my head the fact that Bronte's writing techiniques brought me to my patience limits. I loved the twists of the story when Louis came in the story I said huzzah!!! then he's Shirley's teacher! JAH! Perfect,-Shirley you go and fall for that one, leave the doubble personality Moore to Caroline...- Caroline has finally at last found a 'mamma' and Robert decided for one personality...
So many ill people were making me ill....but like Dulcinea said when weak is when people talk the more...go figure...thought it was indeed silly, she could have used other methods...people tend to that when sick but also when tired of holding their feelings...maybe an emotional explosion??
I almost enjoyed the ending...thought Charlotte made it a little dificcult to me, when the heck was she expecting to finally end!? I loved the romantic and very sensitive declaration and plead for marriage that Moore gave to Caroline...finally he decided on one personality! At last!
What placed the final nail in the coffin and I'm sorry dear Bronte don't come at night to taunt me for this...why the heck she puts Shirley's -it had to be Shirley's she's the one that wanted to see fairies and there's a detail about that- daughter Marta as if she was the one narrating the whole story? -Pardon me if you liked it- but to me, that was totally ridiculous and made no sense...
ahh...in the end I liked and enjoyed very few things from this novel, but enjoyed the experience here and being able to dicuss a book with you ladies...now I shall go to the nominations thread let's see what I would vote for...
Melissa_W
I am "unpinning" the Shirley threads so we can start Memoirs of Hadrian but feel free to keep commenting if you're still finishing the book
Melissa_W
A few parts did require a "leap of faith" on the part of the reader, didn't they? The Louis-Shirley pairing was a bit of a surprise.
shmengee wrote:I thought it was a good book mostly, although I was confused about near the end before they got married why Shirley seemed like she got all depressed and didn't really like Louis that much anymore. At first I thought she wasn't going to get married because of it but then she ended up gettig married anyway....
In retrospect, I think there was some foreshadowing when the Sympsons came to visit and we were told that Shirley didn't like them, except for her young cousin Henry, who wasn't with them. Didn't she change some plans for going away so that she could be there when Henry and his tutor were finally coming, after all? Although she was obviously fond of Henry, I think she was just as anxious to see the tutor!
Melissa_W
Welcome back, Angelica! Congratulations on graduation and I'm sorry to hear about your previous account. 
Jump in anytime!
Thanks for the all the welcomes!!So glad to be back
Peppermill wrote:Angelica -- welcome back!
Does your new name have a particular meaning in English?
Congratulations on your academic progress!
Pepper
it was supposed to be ihilani which means 'heavenly splendor' but by mistake I wrote ihalani which means 'sacred one.' They're both hawian names.
