Reading with Style discussion

Edith Wharton (January 24, 1862): Edith Newbold Jones was born into such wealth and privilege that her family inspired the phrase "keeping up with the Joneses." Read a book about the super wealthy, leisure class. Examples can be found here and here.

Please ask questions and make reading suggestions about task 20.6 in this thread.

Would a book about Donald Trump or written by him work for this?

Rebekah wrote: "Would a book about Donald Trump or written by him work for this?"

Only if it focuses on his wealth and not on his politics.

Trump: The Art of the Deal ?

Rebekah wrote: "Trump: The Art of the Deal ?"

No, sorry. That book is about doing business. We're looking more for the style of living wealthy.

I'm wondering if the Miss Julia books would count? This is the first one: Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind. (She is "newly" wealthy only because the money that was previously her husband's is now hers - they were always wealthy as a couple.)

She isn't interested in jet-setting but she is definitely leisured and one of the wealthiest people in her town, maybe the wealthiest.

Rosemary wrote: "I'm wondering if the Miss Julia books would count? This is the first one: Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind. (She is "newly" wealthy only because the money that was previously her husband's i..."

Yes, that type of book fits well for this task. I have seen the Miss Julia books here before!

I am hoping to start The Cazalet Chronicles this season with The Light Years. It seems to me that anyone who can "prepare for their summer pilgrimage to the family estate in Sussex" must definitely be among the wealthy.

In addition to Edith Wharton, Louis Auchincloss and William Dean Howells also frequently write about the wealthy.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I have seen the Miss Julia books here before!"

Yes, the next one on my list is number 13 in the series :)

I don't think I've read any Elizabeth Jane Howard. I'll be interested to see what you think.

Rosemary wrote: "I don't think I've read any Elizabeth Jane Howard. I'll be interested to see what you think."

This will be my first by her, but the series has come highly recommended to me.

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote? It's #275 on the first list.

Ed wrote: "Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote? It's #275 on the first list."

I will take it.

I am reading The Princess Priscilla's Fortnight by Elizabeth von Arnim From Goodreads description: It tells the story of Priscilla, a hugely popular German princess, who grows tired of her lavish and pampered life.

She and her trusty tutor leave her court and travel to England, to live the simple life. Would this qualify for 20.6? The humor includes differences between how Princess Priscilla expects middle class life to be vs. how middle class life actually is.

I thought it might combo with #20.7 but there doesn't seem to be enough travelling to qualify. If it doesn't fit this task, I'm thinking it is a candidate for #10.1.

Deedee wrote: "I am reading The Princess Priscilla's Fortnight by Elizabeth von Arnim From Goodreads description: It tells the story of Priscilla, a hugely popular German princess, wh..."

We will accept it for this task.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Deedee wrote: "I am reading The Princess Priscilla's Fortnight by Elizabeth von Arnim From Goodreads description: It tells the story of Priscilla, a hugely popular Germ...

We will accept it for this task."

Oh good! Thanks for the quick reply :)

I'm not sure about this one. Strange Angel: The Otherworldly Life of Rocket Scientist John Whiteside Parsons. It's about this crazy intersection of the rich and famous and insanely intelligent in the 50's and in particular Parsons' obsession with both the occult and rocketry. The book starts out describing his house as being on 'Millionaire's Row' and the people he was dealing with read like a laundry list of Who's Who in Science Fiction, Aerospace, and Occultism, as well as a top billing list in Hollywood. I mean, Howard Hughes was involved! If nothing else, it'll count for 20.10 but I'd like the combo points if it qualifies.

Oh and Parsons was born into money, as well.

Heather wrote: "I'm not sure about this one. Strange Angel: The Otherworldly Life of Rocket Scientist John Whiteside Parsons. It's about this crazy intersection of the rich and famous and insanely in..."

Yes, moneyed people don't all live like each other - some are certainly more eccentric than others.

Quirky enough, I'm going to count as a combo here, Crocodile on the Sandbank. Amelia Peabody is an heiress.

I have another book that I think would fit here: Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar. It's the invented Memoirs of Hadrian, a Roman emperor from 117 to 138. What makes me hesitate is that Hadrian did not live a life of leisure, even though he was at the top of the food chain.

Deedee wrote: "I have another book that I think would fit here: Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar. It's the invented Memoirs of Hadrian, a Roman emperor from 117 to 138. What m..."

I think that fits just fine, Deedee.

Would The Queen's Secret by Victoria Lamb be OK? It's about Queen Elizabeth I.

Connie wrote: "Would The Queen's Secret by Victoria Lamb be OK? It's about Queen Elizabeth I."

Yes

Would A Lady in the Smoke: A Victorian Mystery work? It’s about Lady Elizabeth Fraser, daughter of an earl and member of the landed gentry in Victorian England who has fallen for a man of lesser social stature following the harrowing event of a train crash.

I don’t know if I’m muddling this task with the royal one from last season and that’s why I’m finding it so difficult to discern....She’s titled, lives on her ancestral estate, is definitely upper crust—is that enough to qualify her and this book?

Anika wrote: "She’s titled, lives on her ancestral estate, is definitely upper crust—is that enough to qualify her and this book? "

Yes, that's enough!

The Walnut Tree by Charles Todd

Lady Elspeth is the main character and is the daughter of a Highland laird. Plot turns on it being inappropriate for her to nurse in WWI due to her position in society.

Mary wrote: "The Walnut Tree by Charles Todd

Lady Elspeth is the main character and is the daughter of a Highland laird. Plot turns on it being inappropriate for her to nurse in WW..."

Yes.

I just finished a play about Thomas Beckett, Murder in the Cathedral. As an Archbishop would he qualify the book for this task?

Karen Michele wrote: "I just finished a play about Thomas Beckett, Murder in the Cathedral. As an Archbishop would he qualify the book for this task?"

Was his wealth personal or the property of the church?

I looked into Becket more and it looks like it doesn’t fit. He was born to wealthy parents and managed the wealth of the king, but it looks like he then renounced worldly wealth.

Would this book qualify for this task? The protagonist is raised as an aristocrat in Victorian England. She is used to servants in the household and is under the care of her friend's mother while visiting in London. I am assuming wealth due to the circumstances under which she is raised.

Secret Letters

Bea wrote: "Would this book qualify for this task? The protagonist is raised as an aristocrat in Victorian England. She is used to servants in the household and is under the care of her friend's mother while v..."

Yes. People with a household of servants are definitely wealthy, in my opinion.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Bea wrote: "Would this book qualify for this task? The protagonist is raised as an aristocrat in Victorian England. She is used to servants in the household and is under the care of her friend's mo..."

Thank you.