Ilse’s Reviews > Providence > Status Update
Ilse
is on page 87 of 192
She looked, thought Kitty, very English. Shy but invincible.
— Jul 11, 2025 12:56AM
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Ilse’s Previous Updates
Ilse
is on page 114 of 192
Words meant such a very great deal to her - and more than that, information conveyed by means of words - that she wanted them to mean a great deal to everyone else.
— Jul 11, 2025 11:28PM
Ilse
is on page 66 of 192
Kitty had frequently felt that she lacked some essential feminine quality, that this resided in the folklore passed on by women who possessed a knowledge that she was forced to supplement by reading books.
— Jul 10, 2025 02:13PM
Ilse
is on page 49 of 192
She closed the book in front of her.She felt that she had left her onerous daily self behind,and with it all problems of nationality,religion,identity,her place in the world,what to cook for dinner,all thoughts of eventual loneliness and illness and death.She passed into a sphere of pure meaning, derived from words written nearly 200 years ago,and those very words, used for her enlightenment,did in fact enlighten her
— Jul 09, 2025 11:23PM
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Jeroen
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Jul 11, 2025 01:28AM
Sounds like my sister-in-law indeed.😉
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Jeroen wrote: "Sounds like my sister-in-law indeed.😉"Your sister-in-law is English, Jeroen? I was also thinking of someone when I came across this sentence, someone very dear to me 😉.
Yes, my brother married a lovely, fierce, strong and sweet British lady from Indian descent. We don’t see each other that often but try to visit twice a year.
How strange! I can't think of many English people like that, its all perspective I suppose.
Jeroen wrote: "Yes, my brother married a lovely, fierce, strong and sweet British lady from Indian descent. We don’t see each other that often but try to visit twice a year."Lucky your brother, and lucky you, Jeroen (isn't having family living abroad the perfect reason to travel :)? If living in Britain, I hope Brexit isn't too bothering you all).
Jan-Maat wrote: "How strange! I can't think of many English people like that, its all perspective I suppose."Likely Brookner self-reflecting?
Ilse wrote: "Jan-Maat wrote: "How strange! I can't think of many English people like that, its all perspective I suppose."Likely Brookner self-reflecting?"
That she saw herself as shy but invincible?
I agree with Jan-Maat. Rarely met one that wouldn't talk your ear off but pobably some of the least resilient, whiniest people on Earth! :D I'm only semi-playing on an over-generalised Aussie stereotype of the English.
That she saw herself as shy but invincible?Yes, that is my impression, she is observing herself as an academic through the eyes of Kitty.
Jonathan wrote: "I agree with Jan-Maat. Rarely met one that wouldn't talk your ear off but pobably some of the least resilient, whiniest people on Earth! :D I'm only semi-playing on an over-generalised Aussie stereotype of the English."Jonathan, you make me wonder, having met very few English people myself. Whining? You make me realise how much books shape my thoughts, because I rather thought of English people as rather dying than complaining :D. Besides, I had to laugh reading some tips at the place where we are staying at the moment, recommending a place 'where the whine is very good' ;). Maybe it is time to read Watching the English to get a more realistic view on what is English than from reading Anita Brookner novels :)? Do you think of Aussies as more resilient - or perhaps more English - than the English :)?
