The Challenge Factory discussion

Becca & D.L.

Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell

Thank you, Denise!

Nice to meet you, D.L.! This is my first buddy read, and I'm very excited to read this with you!

TY for the thread, Denise!!

Hi, Becca!! Nice to meet you too!! Welcome to the buddy reading world. I've done a number of them but each is sort of different.

Would you rather read at our own pace & check in when we have a comment OR break it up into sections & follow a sort of schedule? Either works for me. TY for agreeing to do this :)

No need to thank me, this is going to be really fun!

I'm not sure how fast I read compared to you, so I don't want to slow you down. But I'm fine breaking up into sections and discussing after. Or we can just use spoilers for the chapters, I don't mind. If there's one way that you've had success with in the past let me know.

I've already started reading and I can tell I'm going to like it! I like the writing a lot so far. Have you every read anything by Gaskell? This is my first book by her :)

Hello! I've read through chapter 3 and I thought I'd add some thoughts so far, so I don't forget anything as I go along. Hope you're enjoying the book!

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I enjoy the writing very much, so far, it's been so relaxing/cozy to sit and read this! I hope you're feeling the same way.

I've been trying to do a little research on the time this book was written, so I can get a feel for the era. It seems to me, though, that Molly is what I would call "comfortably middle-class." It's infuriating to see how everyone at the Lord and Lady's house treated her when she was there for a visit. And she was so sweet and humble the whole time! I don't blame her for wanting to get out of there and home as soon as possible.

I don't know how to feel about Mrs. Kirkpatrick. She used to be the family's governess, now she's a widower and staying at the house. She was kind to Molly, but I can't tell if she acted above her because Molly was still a child, or because she also thought her station was above Molly's (And still below the Cunmor's, perhaps?) I don't know how much more we'll see of her in the rest of the book. Sometimes you invest a lot of wondering into a character only to find out they're not that important to the plot LOL

There's a chapter on her childhood which is pretty self explanatory. It sounds like a typical childhood, but I'm not positive.

I think we're getting into the gritty of the book, now, so I'm excited to keep reading! I'll be back again when I've made some headway :) (hide spoiler)]

I am starting it in the morning (my weekend got away from me lol). I can't wait to discuss it with you in depth. I'll post some thoughts once I've started :)

No rush! I can't wait to hear what you think about it :)

Hello! I though I'd just give my thoughts on a few more chapters. Still enjoying it :) This is 4-7

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So Mr. Gibson does not like that Mr. Coxe has written a love letter to Molly. It made me laugh, because I don't even think Molly knows that she has an admirer! Reminds me so much of young love haha! So Mr. Gibson wants to send his daughter away, which I think is best for Molly. Molly has seemed so sheltered so far, and I think it would be good for her to stay somewhere else.

I really enjoy the Hamley's I think the book said they lived 7 miles away? I was interested in how far that was (I am awful at visualizing distance LOL) so I went on Google maps to see what's 7 miles away from me. It doesn't seem very far, but then I thought about going back and forth in a carriage! It must take so long and be so uncomfortable in a carriage or on a horse. So that's why it seems like he's sending her so far away.

(I live in a resort town, that also was a popular resort town in the 1800's. To get to a hotel up here from a major train station or port on the river would have taken the entire day. And yet it's such a short drive today that I have to remind myself to be thankful for cars! Every time I read an old book where they have to travel like this, it just reminds me of people vacationing in my town over 100 years ago.)

I'm wondering what more we will hear about Mr. Gibson remarrying/the confusion with the love letter and the maid. I think it's going to get dramatic and messy. It's on Molly's mind all the time, it seems, and I think her imagination is going run away with it.

And now we get to the Hamley sons, Osborne and Roger. Wow, lots of foreshadowing here! I honestly think that something will happen between Molly and Roger because it's least expected. Everyone is worried about Osborne, but I don't think he's a romantic threat, haha

I guess we will see now, because Roger is coming to visit. I can't wait to see what happens.

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Happy reading!

Hello! Sorry I took a little break, I'm back at it now! Here is 8-10 Chapter thoughts...

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Roger has arrived to the Hamley house. I really like him! No Osborne, because apparently he did awful on his exams and now is in hiding... I wonder if all of his father's praises went to his head and he didn't treat school seriously. Anyway, Mr. Hamley is very upset.

I really did not think that Mr. Gibson was going to get remarried so soon. I thought Molly was just going to worry about nothing for a while. But, I'm happy for him and Clare, because they seem like they'll make each other happy. They're both very mature and practical. (I had to laugh when she said her name was Hyacinth. It reminds me of the show Keeping Up Appearances.)

How do you think about Molly's reaction to the announcement? I see both of their points of view. Molly has only ever had her father and it must seem strange that suddenly he has a new wife and her a new "mother." But Mr. Gibson can't stay alone forever just for Molly, and besides she's getting to an age where she might get married and move away.

But, when Roger caught Molly crying, that's when I really fell in love with him. He brought her water in a leaf! That was so adorable. He's a naturalist and he wanted her to feel better, and just picturing him with a little leaf cup made me so happy LOL

I hope Molly likes Clare (and her daughter Cynthia) and they all get along with no drama. But the way these books go, I feel like that won't happen! (hide spoiler)]

Have you started yet?