What Appeals

[garretfw]

Although I have several stacks of books lying around my study, all clamoring for attention, right now I am rereading A Room With A View. I will, no doubt have more to post about it, as it is the sort of novel that lends itself to a variety of thoughts. I returned to this novel after my father said, No, I was wrong, Somerset Maugham was not as

Comments

[avalera]

My first impulse was to answer only with a ? (I love that part of the movie -- George and his eternal question).

To answer your question, however, this is the perfect book for any teenage girl. I first read it when I was about 17 or so, and I was transfixed and enchanted. After reading it, I felt this relief that even back then young women could be unsure and uncomfortable in their skin waiting for the one thing, i.e. something that moves childhood into youth, to SNAP them into their skin, their adult person. I loved it! There is so much of Lucy in just about every young girl.

It's crazy that I've never seen the book in any of my friend's, who teach H.S. lit, lesson plans.

Seeing the clip of the movie also reminds me that I let someone borrow my copy of the movie and they never gave it back! The part that drives me nuts is that I don't remember who it is. Stubborn me refuses to buy another copy because I still think they might return it.

Yeah...it was about 5 years ago. :(

[avalera]

Hello, by the way! I am a friend of Sharyn's and we actually met about 5 years ago when you were doing a reading in Chicago at the Printer's Row Book Fair.

I just gave my 14-year-old niece my copy of My Heartbeat and she's in love with it.

[garretfw]

Hi! Yes, I remember meeting you. It was so exotic then, the idea that Sharyn could have this cool friend whom she only knew through the internet. And it was good of you to come -- I was so touched.

About Room With A View: buy it! And I love what you said about young girls waiting for their adult person. And it is fitting in her skin that makes a girl leave childhood. Nicely put! I think (fear and worry) that it is not on lesson plans because we expect less from teenagers. If you tell them they will love such and such a book because they can relate to it, then how do they discover that they can love a book because the writing is brilliant and because a girl from 1908 is not that different from her 2007 counterpart? I hope you are having a nice day off.

[adultolescent]

Hi! I just found your LJ

[garretfw]

Hi, Daria. How nice to be found. If you don't remember the book, you are in for a treat. You can see certain scenes unfolding, but really drown in Forster's language.