Books Stephen King Recommends discussion

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well there was a gypsy in the chapter one of part one and she did sing a song of sorts so posting here ...
chapter one was an interesting introduction to the lovely Antonia and Leonella her older aunt (fifty-one years old as we find out from the gypsy fortune teller). Lorenzo, a young cavalier, is taken with the shy Antonia and will seek her out later. The scene in the chuch where the entire town gathers to hear a sermon seems an odd place for the assignations that occur throughout the evening, but provides a base that put me to mind of the town courtyards of Romeo and Juliet.

Regarding Leonella (Antonia's aunt) SK says: "It's clear that Lewis has read his Shakespeare and knows that stories of tragedy and horror are best introduced with laughter and a little buffroonery."

Lewis seems a bit cynical, or at least he brings a lot of cynicism to his writing. He says people don't go to church for "piety or thirst for information." He writes at length about how they are there to be seen or for something to do before going to a play.

When Antonia's aunt goes on about Don Christoval's presumed admiration of her, Lewis says: "She was wise enough to hold her tongue. As this is the only instance known of a woman ever having done so, it was judged worthy to be recorded here." Hmmph! lol

In this chapter we get the first inkling of what is to come as the gypsy foretells Antonia's death and ascent to heaven.

Looked up Hamadryads. Antonia was compared to one. They are Greek mythological beings that live in trees. They are a particular type of dryad, which in turn are a particular type of nymph. Hamadryads are born bonded to a particular tree. Some believe that hamadryads are the actual tree, while normal dryads are simply the entities, or spirits, of the trees. If the tree died, the hamadryad associated with it died as well. For that reason, dryads and the gods punished any mortals who harmed trees.

Debra wrote: "Lewis He says people don't go to church for "piety or thirst for information." He writes at length about how they are there to be seen or for something to do before going to a play. ..."

I'm not sure much has changed! Business connections, social contacts, fashion show critique, gossip, etc., are still part of the gather-at-church agenda.

Though I do have to say, even with an excellent speaker scheduled, I never witnessed standing room only crowds!

Ann wrote: "chapter one was an interesting introduction to the lovely Antonia and Leonella her older aunt (fifty-one years old as we find out from the gypsy fortune teller). Lorenzo, a young cavalier, is taken with the shy Antonia and will seek her out later. ..."

Yeah, it was pretty game of Christoval to keep the silly and pretentious Leonella occupied while Lorenzo wooed Antonia. I have a thought in the back of my mind that he might pay later for toying with her affections.

Debra wrote: "Looked up Hamadryads. Antonia was compared to one. They are Greek mythological beings that live in trees. They are a particular type of dryad, which in turn are a particular type of nymph. Hamadr..."

That is a cool tidbit. :o)

Okay here's some Saintly references. Can you guess from whom Ambrosio got his name?

St. Agatha - A Christian girl of a noble Sicilian family who was persecuted after having rejected the advances of a Roman official.

St. Barbara - Christian virgin locked away in a tower by her father.

St. Ambrose - fourth-century bishop, famous for his sermons and for imposing the power of the Church on political leaders.

St. Francis - Founder of the order of friars to which the Capuchins belong.

St. Jaga - an Apostle (James) who supposedly preached the Gospel in Spain, and whose relics there made Compostella a center for Christian pilgrimage.

St. Clare - founded the order of nuns named after her.

Debra wrote: " SK says: "It's clear that Lewis has read his Shakespeare.""

In Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, Angelo, known for moral integrity, is actually a fraud, who tries to use his reputation to cover up his attempted seduction of a nun.

What do you make of these men seeming to fall in love at first sight AND wanting to marry. Just doesn't sound like the men I've known! lol

Interesting tidbits on the saints, Almeta, and Shakespeare. Didn't know that about Measure for Measure.