#tangled web spoilers

[the-moral-of-the-rose]

Thank you for voting!

[arizonapoppy]

Tangled Web Book Club: Mar 7th

I like the idea of everyone bundled up tight against the winter storm. Or in the case of Donna and Peter, off in the savanna. I kind of imagine them stumbling into a sort of Heat of the Sun episode or Agatha Christie early novel (e.g., They Came to Baghdad or Man in the Brown Suit) as their next adventure.

Again, the Sams subplot is one of my least favorite.

And the ending, well,

[alwayschasingrainbows]

It is such an amazing Tangled Web fanfic!!!!!

Joscelyn & Hugh after the book (obviously contains spoilers). I highly recommend!

[batrachised]

having finished a tangled web (I simply cannot slow pace montgomery, i've tried and failed literally every book club so far), I'm very curious to see what the favorite plot lines will be; I already know mine, but it will be interesting to see if there's an obvious front runner, or if it's more mixed!

[arizonapoppy]

Tangled Web Book Club: Mar 6th

What does LMM have against nursing old flames and rekindling old romance?

We used to joke in symphony chorus that an alto jilted some composers horribly in their pasts, and that is why they wrote terrible music for altos. I wonder what role LMM's past unsuccessful romances have to do with her mocking just about every single youthful romance.

[arizonapoppy]

Tangled Web Book Club: Mar 5th

I think it's funny that they dismiss drawing lots as a way of settling the matter as "unchristian." I expect that LMM, being a good Scotch Presbyterian thought in the Bible the casting of lots for Jesus's cloak was seen as undignified and disgraceful. On the other hand, the Moravians and some types of Amish congregations divine the will of the Christian God through casting lots. For example, the location of the Moravian church settlement of Salem in North Carolina was decided through lots. Here is a sermon by someone from a Moravian background on the meaning it has in their community.

And I've always loved the ending of this chapter. I wonder if LMM was stuck on how it should end and decided to not decide? Or did she have this ending in mind from the very beginning?

[arizonapoppy]

Tangled Web Book Club: Mar 4th

"and the Jim Trents, who were quarantined for measles and were at home bitterly wondering if they had served God for naught."

This line hits a little more pointed now that people in Florida seem to not care about measles and vaccinations.

"Hugh and Joscelyn were there, although Joscelyn would rather have been home, painting the woodwork in the spare room at Treewoofe."

This line has always said too much and not enough. When I first read the book, I thought that perhaps it meant that this is a euphemism to mean that they were already in expectation of a blessed event so quickly after reconciliation. But now reading it maybe it is just face value, and Joscelyn loves Treewoofe so much she is having fun redecorating after all these years.

[arizonapoppy]

Tangled Web Book Club: March 3rd

Little Sam has a kind heart. And Margaret has a kind heart. But oh the melodrama of this subplot! They are pouring it on thick.

[arizonapoppy]

Tangled Web Book Club: Mar 1st

"Roger who was a man!" <- I just had to giggle here.

But it is true that Noel is not the most mature person. But we find out that he gets a little character growth out of it, at least.

I'm a little weary of the sudden life changing revelations in this book though. Everyone has a punctuated equilibrium existence, no genetic drift of their emotions. No slow realizations, just lightning bolts out of the sky. Which is fine in their place among the variety, but every single one?

[arizonapoppy]

Tangled Web Book Club: Feb 29th

Penny deciding to break up with Margaret because she told him his watch had the wrong time is like Hwa-Jeong throwing out her husband because he left socks all over the floor. It's petty, but sometimes there is just that last straw.

Aunt Becky was smart in giving Margaret the Pilgrim's Progress. It seemed tattered and useless but was actually worth something. It reminds me of right before my husband's great-aunt died, she grabbed her sister's hand and told her that she wanted her to have a particular piece of seemingly worthless household furniture after she was gone. Her sister took it home with her after the funeral, and her children let her because to all appearances it was worthless. When the second sister cut apart the cushions, there was quite a lot of money sewn inside. You see, after the Depression, the great-aunt hadn't trusted banks and only the sisters remembered the Depression; their children hadn't lived through it. I think Aunt Becky was quietly providing for Margaret if she was clever enough to pick up on it, which it seems she was.

[arizonapoppy]

Tangled Web Book Club: Feb 28th

Treewoofe in this chapter seems almost made into a character of its own with agency. Very gothic. (Like Manderley or the house in Mexican Gothic)

Hugh Dark was his mother's son. He crushed back the mad words of passion that rushed to his lips. He spoke coldly--sternly.

And umm, I've definitely changed since I read this as a teenager, because does anyone else get, umm, Dom vibes from this?

And now because of that I have a very specific headcasting for Hugh in my brain.

A wedding-ring was lying on the dusty mantel, where it had lain for many years. Hugh took it up and put it on her finger.

"Joscelyn," he cried suddenly. "Oh, Joscelyn--my Joscelyn!"

This is probably one of my top 10 spectacular fade to blacks that I can think of. (Number one is the piano scene in "Bong Soon.") I am 110% sure I know what happened next. (Another opportunity for fanfic)

[arizonapoppy]

Tangled Web Book Club: Feb 27th

"Peter did not undeceive her. He remembered that he had once heard Stanton Grundy say that life would be unbearable if we didn't believe a few lies. The deception sat lightly on Peter's conscience, for he knew that if he had dreamed for a moment that Donna was, or even might be, in that doomed house he would have gone through it from cellar to attic for her."

My father has been known to say, "Take the credit you don't deserve, because you will also have to take the blame you don't deserve."

And I love that the highest compliment Drowned John can think of to entertain/impress Peter is to show his favorite pig.

[arizonapoppy]

Tangled Web Book Club: Feb 26th

This is not the gif I was looking for, but it is perfect for this chapter. The two of them really are not going in for this character development business, are they?

[arizonapoppy]

Tangled Web Book Club: Feb 25th

"So, Gay dear, just tell your middle-aged beau that you don't want a consolation prize after all and warm up the cold soup with Noel."

Sometimes cold soup warms up, but sometimes not. Sometimes flavors mix better on the second day- my chili is like this and my dill dip is like this.

But sometimes it is just a gluey mess. I made tteokguk for lunar new year the other day. There was plenty left over. I saved some for my lunch and took it to work with me. But then I had home emergencies (the joy of being a home and pet owner) that required me to work from from home. The poor soup is probably going to be a gooey mess from the half-dissolved rice cakes (or worse, chewy tough rice cakes) by tomorrow.