Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

One of our group members, Nora, is interested in doing a Buddy Read of The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.

Everyone is welcome to join Nora in this buddy read!

I am keen to read this book , do we start right away?

I have a copy of the book and I would be happy to start tonight. However, it's very late where I live so I will probably start in the morning. :)) Please feel free to start anytime you want to. :))

Ok, I too will start today, here it's morning. I started this book two times as group reads but couldn't continue both times because of various reasons.
Thank you for arranging this buddy read Nora and Rosemarie.

Glad you could join us, Nidhi!

I recently read Wharton's short story Roman Fever, the way she characterised the two ladies about whom the story revolves,made me to read this masterpiece, it's very well timed for me.

I was reading this with another group and am just finishing up so I'd love to join the discussion!

Good timing, Cleo!

Thanks so much for joining us Cleo and Nidhi!

Today I read first 2 chapters which introduces main characters and their position in society.

Providence, Rosemarie!

You're welcome, Nora. It will be fun!

I’m just seeing this buddy read. I really liked The House of Mirth and have read and enjoyed a number of her short stories so I do hope to jump in on this one.

Welcome aboard, Chad!

Welcome, Chad!

I have read the first two chapters as well and I was very surprised that Edith Wharton is racist towards Native Americans. I also love The Buccaneers and The House of Mirth that were also written by her so I was very surprised at the racism included in this book.

I liked meeting the characters. However, if I was Newland Archer I would probably not fall in love with Countess Olenska.

I enjoyed the opera house setting. I would love to go to the opera in New York. I have seen La Boheme which was wonderful. Have any of you been to the opera?

I have, in Toronto, which isn't as opulent as the opera was in those days. And our seats were a long way up from the stage!

Yes Nora, it shocks is today in 21 century that once upon a time number of slaves was directly in proportion with status and power, that coloured people were regarded as less human.
Last year when I read Moby Dick, I was prepared for a book about a whale , but still the amount of violence involved shocked me, the number of whales hunted, because hunting was permitted, surprised me.

Nora wrote: "I have read the first two chapters as well and I was very surprised that Edith Wharton is racist towards Native Americans. I also love The Buccaneers and The House of Mirth that were also written b..."

That's odd. This is my third reading and I didn't notice it. Could you please point me to where it is?

Nora wrote: "I have read the first two chapters as well and I was very surprised that Edith Wharton is racist towards Native Americans. I also love The Buccaneers and The House of Mirth that were also written b..."

I've never been to an opera ..... lots of musicals but never an opera. I somehow feel like I've missed out! 😞

Nora wrote: "I have read the first two chapters as well and I was very surprised that Edith Wharton is racist towards Native Americans. I also love The Buccaneers and The House of Mirth that were also written b..."

And I'm curious now as to why, if you were Archer, you wouldn't fall in love with Countess Olenska. I tend to agree with you, but I wonder what your reasons are.

Cleo wrote: "Nora wrote: "I have read the first two chapters as well and I was very surprised that Edith Wharton is racist towards Native Americans. I also love The Buccaneers and The House of Mirth that were a..."

“and what was or not “the thing “ played a part as important in Newland Archer’s New York as the inscrutable totem terrors that had ruled the destinies of his forefathers thousands of years ago.”

Chapter 1

Cleo wrote: "Nora wrote: "I have read the first two chapters as well and I was very surprised that Edith Wharton is racist towards Native Americans. I also love The Buccaneers and The House of Mirth that were a..."

Because she admitted she was in love with his brother instead of him. What are your reasons, Cleo?

Nora wrote: "“and what was or not “the thing “ played a part as important in Newland Archer’s New York as the inscrutable totem terrors that had ruled the destinies of his forefathers thousands of years ago.”.."

Thanks so much for the quote and it makes sense to me now why I didn't see it. It's a comparison: the idea of doing something that wasn't "the thing" in New York society inspired in Newland the same amount of terror his forefathers must have felt in the new world. It's the fear of something unknown or different. And Wharton uses hyperbole to emphasize how one just doesn't do anything out of the ordinary in New York society without such a fear ----- really, an unreasonable fear given the circumstances (arriving early vs. being in danger and possible death). I certainly wouldn't categorize it as racism. There is no emphasis on that particular reference and Wharton's point is not even about the Native Americans. I'm sure the first people who landed in the new world felt trepidation and, yes, fear about anything new or out of their experience. It would be like you being dropped into the jungles of Papau New Guinea; it would be completely understandable that you might fear unknown things or experiences.

Nora wrote: "Because she admitted she was in love with his brother instead of him. What are your reasons, Cleo? ..."

I don't want to give too much away as I'm much further along,but her manner from the start made me uneasy. Her preferring his cousin, I put down to childish fancies but her manner often seems flirtatious. She is definitely different from the other women in New York Society!

Countess Olenska said that they had played together in their childhood,that means they are almost same age or may be 2-3 yrs difference but whatever is revealed of her history gave me impression of a much mature woman......I didn't think of pairing her with Newland.
Then it is possible that Newland is marrying late and there is a huge difference between ages of his fiancee and himself.

I can't continue today, will definitely resume tomorrow.

Nidhi wrote: "Countess Olenska said that they had played together in their childhood,that means they are almost same age or may be 2-3 yrs difference but whatever is revealed of her history gave me impression of..."

Yes, Nidhi, I felt the same. I think with living in European society that she's been exposed to much more than Newland. And I was also wondering if, with only his mother and sister in his house, that Newland grew up somewhat pampered and deferred to, which might not have helped with his maturity. But that latter observation is only a guess and not apparent in the work.

Cleo wrote: "Nora wrote: "“and what was or not “the thing “ played a part as important in Newland Archer’s New York as the inscrutable totem terrors that had ruled the destinies of his forefathers thousands of ..."

Thanks so much for explaining this to me, Cleo. It now makes more sense to me and thanks so much for explaining that it was not racist.

Cleo wrote: "Nora wrote: "Because she admitted she was in love with his brother instead of him. What are your reasons, Cleo? ..."

I don't want to give too much away as I'm much further along,but her manner fro..."

I didn’t realize it was Newland’s cousin instead of his brother. Thanks so much for mentioning that.

Nora wrote: "Cleo wrote: "Nora wrote: "“and what was or not “the thing “ played a part as important in Newland Archer’s New York as the inscrutable totem terrors that had ruled the destinies of his forefathers ..."

You're very welcome! I'm glad I could clarify. 👍

Nora wrote: "Cleo wrote: "Nora wrote: "Because she admitted she was in love with his brother instead of him. What are your reasons, Cleo? ..."

I don't want to give too much away as I'm much further along,but h..."

It is interesting that we both get the same feeling about Countess Olenska.

Cleo wrote: "Nora wrote: "Cleo wrote: "Nora wrote: "Because she admitted she was in love with his brother instead of him. What are your reasons, Cleo? ..."

I don't want to give too much away as I'm much furthe..."

I definitely agree with you on this, Cleo.

My copy should arrive at my library in a day or two and then I can join in. A nice lively discussion you guys are having!

Chad wrote: "My copy should arrive at my library in a day or two and then I can join in. A nice lively discussion you guys are having!"

Oh great, Chad! Glad you're still with us. We will await your lively comments! ;-)

Chad wrote: "My copy should arrive at my library in a day or two and then I can join in. A nice lively discussion you guys are having!"

Wonderful news, Chad! I look forward to hearing your thoughts about this book! :))

Just started Chapter 3, this ballroom reminds me of one of my absolute favorite books: Great Expectations and Miss Havisham's mansion!

I am on chapter 5, the book describes many manners of society of which I am ignorant, they differ from the manners of Russians as described in books by Tolstoy.

Mr. Julius Beaufort reminds me of The Talented Mr. Ripley, another of my favorite books!

Nidhi wrote: "I am on chapter 5, the book describes many manners of society of which I am ignorant, they differ from the manners of Russians as described in books by Tolstoy."

I know Russians liked to model themselves after the French and European society. I suspect the society that Madame Olenska came from was much different from what she'll find in New York. She's really relying on her family to support her.

I am really curious about Madam Olenska, about her history and her thinking about society , how she will adjust to new scenario after a cultural gap, but i am not sure the book is about her only, she seems to be a major character though.

I’m still reading chapter 3, does anyone know what the word “enfiladed” may mean?

Can you share the sentence in which the word is found, Nora?

Rosemarie wrote: "Can you share the sentence in which the word is found, Nora?"

“Then the house had been boldly planned with a ball-room, so that, instead of squeezing through a narrow passage to get to it (as at the Chiverses’) one marched solemnly down a vista of ENFILADED drawing-rooms (the sea-green, the crimson and the bouton d’or), seeing from afar the many-candled lustres reflected in the polished parquetry, and beyond that the depths of a conservatory where camellias and tree-ferns arched their costly foliage over seats of black and gold bamboo.”

In this case it means that one room leads into another with the doors aligned in a row, so that you can see from one room into the next and so on.
This is the dictionary definition that made the most sense.

Rosemarie wrote: "In this case it means that one room leads into another with the doors aligned in a row, so that you can see from one room into the next and so on.
This is the dictionary definition that made the mo..."

Thanks so much for looking it up in the dictionary, Rosemarie. :))

I just started chapter 4 and I can’t believe that there’s goats roaming New York!

I was curious myself, Nora.

I work in NYC and have encountered more than one walking, breathing, hairy thing that resembled a goat.
I walked down to the library yesterday morning to pick up my copy of this book that is on hold and didn’t realize that it was closed for the holiday weekend. I’ll pick it up on Tuesday and read along.

I never knew that Newland Archer had a sister named Janey!

I think it's completely unfair that Newland has an entire floor to himself and his mother and sister have to make do with smaller space.

What sort of books did Ouida write?