Reading the Chunksters discussion

Much happens in Genoa.

Yes. I thought the sections about Daniel's mother were interesting - the yachting incident felt like a contrived and rather too convenient plot device...

Two major characters die by drowning in The Mill on the Floss, the only other Elliot work I have read. Is this a recurring event in her books?

The whole time I was reading Gwen's confession to Daniel, I was thinking, "Ha, I bet you wished you hadn't gotten involved by getting her bracelet back from the pawnshop."

Hugh wrote: "Yes. I thought the sections about Daniel's mother were interesting - the yachting incident felt like a contrived and rather too convenient plot device..."

I agree. I think it would have made a better story if Gwendolen had either had to learn to live and blossom even though under Grandcourt's dominion, or the ignominy of divorce. But then I guess the book would have been so much longer and maybe Eliot was running out of steam by this point.

Tammy Dayton wrote: "Two major characters die by drowning in The Mill on the Floss, the only other Elliot work I have read. Is this a recurring event in her books?

The whole time I was reading Gwen's confession to Dan..."

Interesting thought about the drowning scenes. Eliot does have a thing with characters dying at the right moment. I came across this article: Aggression and Providential Death in George Eliot's Fiction

https://www.jstor.org/stable/1345369?...

Apparently, drowning was used by many Victorian authors
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/1...

Chapters 57-58
I apologize for this post while canaries with broken necks dance through my mind. SMH! Here’s a woman who was already feeling like a hostage by her husband, but now she found herself even more isolated sitting in this yacht with him surrounded by ocean. She kept a small dagger in her room in fear of Grandcourt, she hesitated in coming to his aid when he fell off the boat. I couldn’t help but think Gwendolyn killed Grandcourt, she totally had a hand in it.

Hi everyone!!! Many thanks to all (especially tracy!) and yes I am still alive. We got several new clients and zero new lawyers so it all landed on my lap. I am caught up on the reading and will post tomorrow! Ps great to see you ami!

Dianne wrote: "Hi everyone!!! Many thanks to all (especially tracy!) and yes I am still alive. We got several new clients and zero new lawyers so it all landed on my lap. I am caught up on the reading and will po..."

You too, Dianne! Glad we were at least able to finish together. See you in the threads.

I enjoyed this section, even though I agree that the drowning seemed almost too convenient. I'm curious to find out if Gwendolyn did have any more to do with the drowning than it appears. I'm looking forward to the ending and hope all the loose ends are neatly tied up!

Dianne wrote: "Hi everyone!!! Many thanks to all (especially tracy!) and yes I am still alive. We got several new clients and zero new lawyers so it all landed on my lap. I am caught up on the reading and will po..."

Good to see you back; you do a much better job than me in summarising the week's reading.