The Old Curiosity Club discussion

Dear Fellow Curiosities,

From now on, The Pegasus's Arms has opened its doors and is happily waiting for your patronage. We have the best beer on tap and a variety of tea - not in bags. There is even a large beer garden at your disposal because the summer weather will make the inglenook less attractive and, of course, we also want to give Mr. Sleary the opportunity to give you a taste of his company's skills. I hope no one is allergic to horsehair.

Ah, very nice. Having my morning Darjeeling tea.

I decided to purchase and read a collection of essays by Martin Amis: The War against Cliché: Essays and Reviews 1971-2000.

As many may know, Martin is the son of Kingsley Amis. I enjoyed the essays I have so far read, including an excellent one on Dickens. It’s not easy to pin down, but it is sort of a novelist’s take on not only Dickens’ craft, but how it could be viewed in the modern era. I came away with the impression of Amis as very erudite.

Great news. I’ve had my two jabs of Pfizer (an advantage of my age?) and am ready for some human contact and a big glass of iced tea.

Glad to know you've been jabbed, Peter, and are able to emerge from a long period of partial isolation. What better place to meet? :-)

A book recommendation for anyone who may be looking for something new to read after or alongside Hard Times -- I've just finished Random Harvest by James Hilton and thoroughly enjoyed it. Hilton makes several Dickens references throughout, which are always a delight to happen upon.

If you haven't seen the film adaptation, I suggest reading the book first without any preliminary research, as there's a bit of a mystery to it. The film changes the order of things, and the book's revelation is how the movie opens. Quite a spoiler.

This morning my husband and I had out first outing to an antique store since last year, and I reluctantly left behind an unframed print I found of Little Nell and Grandfather. The artist, whose name I've already forgotten, was unknown to me, but the characters were instantly recognizable (to a Dickens fan, at least ... the price tag didn't specify who the illustration was of, so the vendor obviously doesn't know his own stock as well as he might). I'm debating stopping by another day to dicker for it. It would look nice next to my print of Sarah Gamp and Betsy Prig. Or I could just send it off to Tristram when the holidays roll around. ;-)

I also chose not to spend my children's inheritance on some small Toby jugs of Mr. Micawber and Sam Weller, among others, that were $50 - $75. I've left them there for some other Dickens fan to discover. It hurts just a little bit.

Mary Lou wrote: "This morning my husband and I had out first outing to an antique store since last year, and I reluctantly left behind an unframed print I found of Little Nell and Grandfather. The artist, whose nam..."

Mary Lou

Glad you got out and about to visit an antique store. Perhaps a wee bit of negotiating will get you a Toby jug and still leave some money for your children's’ inheritance. :-)

I have reserved a copy of Random Harvest from our local library. Thanks for the tip. Here in Toronto the government has lifted the restrictions on getting a haircut and so today my tiny ponytail will be cut off. Who will I meet in the mirror tonight?

Mary Lou,

I'd gladly take it but unfortunately my walls are mostly occupied by book shelves, and so I have no place to hang it up in :-)

Mary Lou wrote: "This morning my husband and I had out first outing to an antique store since last year, and I reluctantly left behind an unframed print I found of Little Nell and Grandfather. The artist, whose nam..."

Such a pleasure to hear of people getting out and around again.

My branch library is opening today!

Julie wrote: " My branch library is opening today!..."

Yay! Putting things on hold for curb-side pick-up was a lifesaver during the shut-down, but it's wonderful to be able to browse in the stacks again. Some of the best things I've read have been discovered on the library shelves purely by accident. Hope you come home with a ridiculously unmanageable pile of books. :-)

PS - Peter, who was on the other side of the looking glass?

We have a couple of neighbors who look like they could be in ZZ Top -- or maybe a more current reference would be Duck Dynasty. I'm glad my husband let me cut his hair. :-)

Some little thing occurred this morning that caused Everyman to flit into my mind, which made me smile. I realized it's been, if I'm not mistaken, about three years since his passing. Funny how people we've never met in person can stay with us and continue to put smiles on our faces. So as we place our next drink orders, I'd ask you to raise a glass to all the Curiosities who are no longer with us. I hope they've met with Mr. Dickens by this time and have found out the ending to Edwin Drood.

Mary Lou

You have an excellent memory. Everyman’s last post was June 13, 2018. I remember the specific date because that is my birthday.

I will quite gladly raise a glass to all the Curiosities who are no longer with us. Thanks for the suggestion.

As for my haircut … we’ll picture Woodstock and then an army Bootcamp. Before and after … that’s me.

Here is to Everyman, who is one of those that set up this new group and helped us carry on with our Dickens group readings. In fact, I have been thinking quite often of him lately - and I also hope that by now he knows the true ending of The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

The last few days, I have actually been grumpier than usually because this is what happened: My wife wanted to go to Argentina on Tuesday, not merely for pleasure but because he mother, now a widow for two years, has to manage her life all on her own now in Buenos Aires. Therefore, my wife wanted to fly over there in order to give her a hand in some of the things that still need settling (a lot of them having to do with holiday homes the family still owns). My wife has been fully vaccinated now for a month or so, and she also got all the necessary tests (PCR, the quick tests, and whatever else was required), only to learn, a couple of hours before the take-off, that her flights were cancelled due to the now anti-Covid policy of the Argentinian government. So, my wife is still here, and my mother-in-law still has to fend for herself. I keep asking myself what people get the vaccination for then? At the same time, we in Europe witness a European football championship where stadions in Hungary and in Britain - apparently the coolest place to be for the new delta variant now - are crowded with fans who don't wear masks and root for their teams and who travel from place to place. This is absolutely crazy in my eyes.

Apparently, football, what with all the money that goes into it and that can be made from it, and all the backing it gets from Svengalis, no longer has to play by the same anti-Covid rules as the rest of us. I have never really cared a lot for footbal in my life, but now I have actually started hating it from the bottom of my soul - because if in a couple of weeks, restrictions are starting all over again, I know that those bloody football fans and football lobbyists are at the bottom of it all.

Sorry for ranting - but it was necessary.

Another not so good thing that happened: This morning I learnt that I will no longer be teaching my English class because I have to take over a new class instead. Yesterday I still told them that we would see each other after the summer holidays, which have just started. I never like giving up a class, but this time it is twice as unpleasant because we did not even had the chance to said good-bye, and my students actually asked me whether I'd be their English teacher for another term and were quite happy when I said, yes.

Sorry you're going through a tough time, Tristram. Re: covid, the inconsistencies are far more frustrating than any restrictions would be if they were carefully thought out and fairly applied.

Mary Lou wrote: "Sorry you're going through a tough time, Tristram. Re: covid, the inconsistencies are far more frustrating than any restrictions would be if they were carefully thought out and fairly applied."

^This. I'm sorry the restrictions are hitting you and your wife extra hard now, Tristram.

Also, totally agree on the football. (Not so secretly I'm kind of happy we're out of the EK)
And not being able to say goodbye to your students ... sounds like your school is 'managed' by people who don't know about education and the importance of students being able to trust what their teachers tell them. Unfortunately some of them will now forever remember that you promised to teach them English in September, and then you didn't :-(

Jantine wrote: "Unfortunately some of them will now forever remember that you promised to teach them English in September, and then you didn't :-( "

I have been thinking about this problem, too, Jantine. Therefore, I will go back into that class the first day after the summer holidays and explain to them why they have a new English teacher and that I did not know about it when I told them they wouldn't.

Alas, they are a fabulous wild bunch and I will miss them sorely because we invented silly jokes like "What is the most intelligent mountain in the world?" - (view spoiler)["Mount Cleverest." (hide spoiler)]

The new class, however, I am going to teach nothing but Facts, Facts, Facts!

As to the European Cup, at least the German team did not get any farther either. My son was quite disappointed, and it did not cheer him up too much when my daughter and I started singing Rule Britannia after the match.

I can totally imagine you doing such a thing somehow. xD

We just did the first two stanzas, though. Once for the exclusive benefit of my son - and then another time on our balcony (for the crestfallen neighbours).

Tristram wrote: "The last few days, I have actually been grumpier than usually because this is what happened: My wife wanted to go to Argentina on Tuesday, not merely for pleasure but because he mother, now a widow..."

You're just going to have to do what I do now, just shake my head and move on. The Covid rules change so often here (in Pennsylvania anyway) that I can't keep track of them anymore. I have never been more confused as when we started opening up again. We are allowed to go into stores/restaurants/places like that, if we had our vaccinations, that's why they gave us cards so we can prove we were vaccinated, but no one can ask to see our cards because it is against the law to ask for someone's medical records and they fall under medical records. How are we supposed to prove we have our vaccine if we can't show them the card? And quite a few places are still curb side or drive thru only, so not all businesses are totally open yet even though they told us they were. We were all ready to go to our grandson's chorus concert in June only to be told it will be online because no one is allowed in the school building which I thought was now open if we had the vaccine. I am so confused I just stay home, or go to our campsite, no one cares there.

Tristram wrote: "Another not so good thing that happened: This morning I learnt that I will no longer be teaching my English class because I have to take over a new class instead. Yesterday I still told them that w..."

I didn't know they could do that to you, you've been there forever, or so it seems to me. If you want me to call and yell at them and tell them you aren't near as grumpy as you seem, just let me know. :-)

Kim wrote: "I didn't know they could do that to you, you've been there forever, or so it seems to me. If you want me to call and yell at them and tell them you aren't near as grumpy as you seem, just let me know. :-)"

No matter how long I have been there, I officially have little influence over what classes I get or keep. Of course, as in most places where everyone is equal, some are more equal than others and ... well I have grown more and more equal over the ages. In this case, however, they explained their organizational reasons to me and I must say that I can't really gainsay them. And still, it's disappointing.

Kim wrote: "You're just going to have to do what I do now, just shake my head and move on."

I am always the first person to criticize the German government and my wife never watches the news with me in the same room because she says she cannot concentrate on the news and my comments on it at the same time - but in this case, I must say that the blame lies wholly with the Argentinian government. The only good thing is that the ban came early enough. A few hours later, and my wife would have found herself at Ezeiza with no chance to enter the country.

On a whole different note: I now have a gray high lighter, and obviously it's used in my notes about Hard Times. What beter highlighter than one wholly devoid of colour? On my black writing it looks properly grim.

Jantine wrote: "On a whole different note: I now have a gray high lighter, and obviously it's used in my notes about Hard Times. What beter highlighter than one wholly devoid of colour? On my black writing it look..."

Jantine

Brilliant!

I normally use pencil to underline passages in books, and at the top of the page I jot down a short keyword about the underlined passages. I still feel in two minds about leaving marks in books, though.

This is an interesting series I was not familiar with: a “mash-up” that brings together a variety of characters from different Dickens’ novels. They interact to create a storyline. The writer behind it must be a creative juggernaut because he wrote 60 episodes.

https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and...

John wrote: "This is an interesting series I was not familiar with: a “mash-up” that brings together a variety of characters from different Dickens’ novels. They interact to create a storyline. The writer behin..."


John.

Thanks for this. I have seen some of the episodes. Tristram will be glad to know Sarah Gamp is among the characters.

I thought Dickensian was a brilliant series. Sadly it wasn't renewed and, if I remember correctly, the storyline wasn't resolved. Nevertheless, it was a treat for Dickens fans to see the characters (who were all well cast) from different novels interacting with one another. Time for me to watch it again, I think. :-)

Gray highlighter - perfect. :-)

Tristram - my rule is that it's okay to write whatever you want in a book you own, but keep your notes out of borrowed books! Though on the rare occasion that I do make notes in my books, when I've come across them later I've often been embarrassed by what I'd written. As a result, I've at least learned to used pencil that can be erased.

That series looks very fun.

Kim, I think the rule is you are not allowed to require anyone to show their health records, but they can opt in and show them to you if you make admission to whatever contingent on opting in. That's what my university is doing for the fall--I have already shown them my card, because admission to campus, i.e. my job, will be contingent on my volunteering this.

On the other hand, if nobody understands the rules, it doesn't really matter what they are. And these rules are complicated.

On a cheerier note, my health historian friend mentioned recently that historians don't like to call anything unprecedented because most things have happened before, but the rapid and productive response of health professionals to COVID really is unprecedented.

So the science is good: it's human nature (and its soccer-industry corruptions and more) that needs a workaround.

Which is why people need to read Dickens.

Peter wrote: "John wrote: "This is an interesting series I was not familiar with: a “mash-up” that brings together a variety of characters from different Dickens’ novels. They interact to create a storyline. The..."

I have got the first season on DVD and enjoyed it a lot, but I did not know there were more seasons. As far as I know the series, I can really recommend it.

Mary Lou wrote: "Gray highlighter - perfect. :-)

Tristram - my rule is that it's okay to write whatever you want in a book you own, but keep your notes out of borrowed books! Though on the rare occasion that I do ..."

Yes, reading older notes often gives me, too, the feeling that they must have been written by someone else faking my handwriting.

Tristram wrote: "Peter wrote: "John wrote: "This is an interesting series I was not familiar with: a “mash-up” that brings together a variety of characters from different Dickens’ novels. They interact to create a ..."

I will have to watch it. It had wondered about a series that takes authentic Dickens characters and then makes a new story from them. I suppose a purist may say this is not the authentic works he wrote. But the idea behind it is very intriguing.

I had not heard of this series either. How many seasons are there? I did find that I can watch Season One on Prime Video so have it on my list to watch. It looks very interesting. Thanks for passing that on.

From what I can tell on Wikipedia and IMDB, there were a total of 20 episodes, in just one series.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4531728/

Thanks, Mary Lou. I just hope I can remember the characters since some of the books I read a very long time ago.

Oh the world of illustrations, I never know what I'll find. Just now I came across seven illustrations under the title of "What the Dickens". The writing under it says: Solo Show
George Thornton Art Gallery Nottingham UK. I don't know who the artist is, you would think that would have been more helpful than the name of the gallery, but what do I know. Anyway, there are seven of them. Three I will keep until we get to those books, the others I'll post here under my own title of: "Guess which book this is". I wasn't always right.



(view spoiler)[Oliver Twist (hide spoiler)]



(view spoiler)[The Old Curiosity Shop (hide spoiler)]



(view spoiler)[Bleak House (hide spoiler)]

Oh, I almost forgot this one, if it didn't come under the Dickens list I'd have never thought it belonged there. But it is there and I have no idea who it is, maybe you will:



And the title is simply: "Blue"

Kim

Sometimes it’s best to make no comment at all. ;-)

Which is, of course, a comment.

I love those!

Did goodreads have a massive hiccup for others as well btw? I couldn't reach the site (again, it happens more often than not lately), and now I lost my progress on the books I'm reading. Tbh I'm exporting my library as of now, just to be sure I don't lose my list of books I want to read, and I'll make sure to write them in a pretty notebook at some point.

Mary Lou wrote: "From what I can tell on Wikipedia and IMDB, there were a total of 20 episodes, in just one series.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4531728/"

Yes, that covers everything I have got on DVD, and I made sure to keep the series on my radar.

Kim,

These are surely very beautiful illustrations, but I only got the one about Little Nell right - guess why. I don't remember a clown selling eyes in Oliver Twist, and I would have thought this something to really remember.

Those illustrations are cute!

So, Alissa thinks the illustrations are cute, Tristram thinks they are beautiful, Peter isn't commenting, and I find them incredibly strange. If it hadn't told me on the web site which books they went with I wouldn't have known. In the first one, why is there a creepy guy selling eyes to a man in a top hat with a creepy animal on a leash? And if that is Oliver running away from them, who is the girl hanging on to his arm? I remember none of this. The Old Curiosity Shop one was easy, first, it says so right on it, next in case you missed that, there is stuff all over the place, but who is the mean looking guy holding the gun? Is it Quilp or her annoying grandfather? And why is he holding a gun against his head anyway? The Bleak House and Blue lady ones I give up on.

We spent a hot afternoon sitting out in the sun watching our granddaughter play softball. I was tired and I was hot, so when we got home I spent the rest of the day watching this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n543e...

Kim wrote: "So, Alissa thinks the illustrations are cute, Tristram thinks they are beautiful, Peter isn't commenting, and I find them incredibly strange. If it hadn't told me on the web site which books they w..."

Hi Kim

It’s not that I couldn’t offer a comment on the illustrations you provided as much as how I could I say anything that could possibly capture the moment? When I listened carefully after viewing them I was certain I heard Cruikshank, Furniss, Darley, Stone, Leech and a host of other illustrators of Dickens turn in their graves.

And what would poor Hablot Browne say … ;-)

I love the illustrations, mostly because I love that style of weirdness. I remember having postcards like that on my wishlist when I was doing postcrossing. I looked at the website of the art gallery, and the artist seems to be Xue Wang, who does all kinds of things like this. Like this picture of Alice in Wonderland (Alice fits this style better than Dickens' stories I believe):