Dudes.
Honestly, it’s about the dramas of a little Victorian country choir. So boring.
*****SPOILERS*****
But then again, there’s this part where they go caroling, the dude they’re singing to has a headache. So the dude, yells at the choir. And then they purposefully sing on. Spitefully singing hymns over his curses.
Tee hee.
And then there’s this image:
Looks kinda like a Darcy moment doesn’t it? Maybe there’s more to this choir book that you might think.
mmmm
Also there’s the time when Dick disappears while they’re caroling. And the grandpa is like, I hope he’s not dead.
hahahahahaha
Possibly there’s more to this book that the title might suggest.
**********Later**********
I was going to just post that upper bit about Under the Greenwood Tree today and then write a review later–when I finished it. But it turns out it was stupidly short and due to my need to escape from my life and focus both because we were slammed at work and because I didn’t want to think about other things (See previous post if you care what), I listened to the whole book in a day.
But let’s be clear, it WAS a short book. And there were I found a lot of comparisons that could be made to Pride and Prej. There was the first proposal and the second. The first being the accepted one and the second being awfully like the Pride and Prej. Darcy proposal (the first time), including a piece where he strives to not be in love, where he’s trying to talk himself out of it, where he’s acknowledging that he’s better than her. But then he does something interesting, he goes on to talk about all the things he can provide her, and she’s sold.
For a little bit.
Because the Vicar wasn’t her love. He was the vicar, and she was marrying a guy I’d describe as–not low-class–but close to it. But sweet, and I’m sure–hot. And goofy in his love of her, which had to be appealing when she was working and wishing she wasn’t and then Mr. Hotpants comes by…
Turns out little Fancy is on the cusp of two classes. The Vicar offers her a step up to his. Dick (that name is always funny) can barely provide for her, and it’ll be Dick really who benefits financially from a marriage.
But Fancy wanted Dick, she breaks the second engagement with the rich vicar soon after and never tells Dick what she almost did.
So, do I recommend Under the Greenwood Tree? Maybe if you really like fiction from the era. There were a lot of really funny moments. As a romance, it’s kind of depressing. I left it thinking if the Vicar had proposed first she’d have ignored any interest she had in Dick for the money. But since Dick was accepted first, she felt like she had to marry him. And she was happy enough about it. In her heart, she probably loved him or at least thought she loved him. But she was going to keep that secret about how she almost threw him over and as time passed and her kids were growing and life was hard, I couldn’t help but think that Fancy Dewey would often think about how things could have been.
And that’s a weak romance after all.
Even still, I’m totally reading the cliffhanger book. And maybe I’ll give Tess of D’urbervilles or Jude the Obscure a role. After all…I doubt Under the Greenwood Tree is anybody’s favorite Thomas Hardy. That depressing ending, however, is considered to be one of his happier ones. So, chew on that.
~Amanda
ps when the choir is looking for ole Dick, they start discussing whether he’s visiting a whore or what not. I think maybe they meant courting, but it felt more like whore talk.
pps and then they find him peeping tomming. douche
pps I’m currently reading my secret shhhhhh book pick of December. I had to get a copy of it, so it was delayed. It’s Catcher in the Rye. Alas, it’s in print, so it’ll take longer. It’s not like I have time to read print what with the writing and the babies. Audio I can listen to at work or while walking my dogs. For that matter, while I’m cleaning the never ending parade of bottles and sippy cups.
Amanda A. Allen 