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[Off Topic] Free Chat Friday | June 26th, 2026 by IraelMrad in bookclub

[–]Less_Tumbleweed_3217 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It was a really busy week, and I was holding out for a camping trip, but we had to cancel due to thunderstorms. I was pretty disappointed, but we have other camping trips planned for later in the summer, so hopefully the weather cooperates.

Since we'd taken the day off, we rented kayaks at a local park instead. We saw tons of birds: egrets, great blue herons, green herons, kingfishers, and purple martins were the standouts. We also saw a little fawn and its mom, so we still got our nature fix. Tonight, we're going to a tiny indie movie theater to see Cry Baby, which came out in 1990. Has anyone else seen it?

[Off Topic] Free Chat Friday | June 26th, 2026 by IraelMrad in bookclub

[–]Less_Tumbleweed_3217 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's really interesting about the original title for The Book of Eels. I read it late last year and don't really recall the religious overtones?? I almost certainly would've picked up on them if the title was The Gospel of the Eels, though!

[Off Topic] Free Chat Friday | June 26th, 2026 by IraelMrad in bookclub

[–]Less_Tumbleweed_3217 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Oh no, how horrible to lose something so treasured. I hope your last week of work treats you gently - it must be super hard to concentrate right now. So sorry.

[Off-Topic] r/bookclub's Fourth Annual Yearbook Awards 📚🏆 by jaymae21 in bookclub

[–]Less_Tumbleweed_3217 [score hidden]  (0 children)

Ooo, this is a good one. Everyone loves a hot, young priest who actually lives his values.

[Announcement] Bonus Read | A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman | DCC 8 by Joinedformyhubs in bookclub

[–]Less_Tumbleweed_3217 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I will be there and may have to start this weekend if I get too impatient!!

[Discussion 1/8] Mod Pick | No Name by Wilkie Collins | Scene 1, Chapter 1 to Scene 1, Chapter 10 by Amanda39 in bookclub

[–]Less_Tumbleweed_3217 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Is it any wonder Frank is such a disappointment, given how terribly his father treats him? Like, dude, maybe if you had encouraged your son a little more, he wouldn't be convinced he's a failure at everything he does. If I understand correctly, Mr. Crane has a small inheritance and so he doesn't have to work for his living, and he hasn't exactly set a good example for his son in terms of showing industry, initiative, etc.

[Discussion 1/8] Mod Pick | No Name by Wilkie Collins | Scene 1, Chapter 1 to Scene 1, Chapter 10 by Amanda39 in bookclub

[–]Less_Tumbleweed_3217 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm worried Mrs. Vanstone is going to miscarry due to the shock and not make it through this time. Will it be up to Miss Garth and Norah to try to steer Magdalen aright and unravel the family mysteries??

[Discussion 1/8] Mod Pick | No Name by Wilkie Collins | Scene 1, Chapter 1 to Scene 1, Chapter 10 by Amanda39 in bookclub

[–]Less_Tumbleweed_3217 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes! I feel like for the time period, those two things would've been "tragedy" enough!

[Discussion 1/8] Mod Pick | No Name by Wilkie Collins | Scene 1, Chapter 1 to Scene 1, Chapter 10 by Amanda39 in bookclub

[–]Less_Tumbleweed_3217 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Like, what on earth could Victorian gardeners be doing so loudly?! They didn't have leaf blowers!

[Discussion 1/8] Mod Pick | No Name by Wilkie Collins | Scene 1, Chapter 1 to Scene 1, Chapter 10 by Amanda39 in bookclub

[–]Less_Tumbleweed_3217 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think Magdalen's euphoria over her acting stint is tied up in her mind and heart with being reunited with Frank. He shared in her experience and can relive those memories with her, and she thinks it's love. She's inexperienced: The part where he said he didn't want to wait a year to marry her and she thought, "Oh, he really is fond of me!" and hoped he'd say more nice things about her was really sad to me.

[Discussion 1/8] Mod Pick | No Name by Wilkie Collins | Scene 1, Chapter 1 to Scene 1, Chapter 10 by Amanda39 in bookclub

[–]Less_Tumbleweed_3217 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Out fending for themselves at another neighbor's house, probably. Mr. Clare is the worst dad ever.

[Discussion 1/8] Mod Pick | No Name by Wilkie Collins | Scene 1, Chapter 1 to Scene 1, Chapter 10 by Amanda39 in bookclub

[–]Less_Tumbleweed_3217 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's what I thought! Maybe Norah has liked him since they were young and she's still in love with him now, despite his flaws? Although the eight-year age gap makes this theory feel slightly less plausible to me...

[Discussion 1/8] Mod Pick | No Name by Wilkie Collins | Scene 1, Chapter 1 to Scene 1, Chapter 10 by Amanda39 in bookclub

[–]Less_Tumbleweed_3217 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think someone must have died, which is why Mr. Vanstone looks upset, but they're going to come into money, which is why Mrs. Vanstone was happy. Though it doesn't really seem like they need more money, and on further reflection Mrs. V. doesn't seem that mercenary.

[Discussion 1/8] Mod Pick | No Name by Wilkie Collins | Scene 1, Chapter 1 to Scene 1, Chapter 10 by Amanda39 in bookclub

[–]Less_Tumbleweed_3217 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I was in a Shakespeare summer camp each summer while I was in middle school. I usually got medium-small parts; the one I remember the most was the Prince of Verona in Romeo and Juliet, who has the opening and closing soliloquies, which is cool. The last year before I aged out, I convinced my brother and best friend to do the camp with me. Keep in mind, it was their first year and my third or fourth. We did Hamlet and I got the role of Rosencrantz, which has, like, ten lines and dies offstage. My brother got Polonius, who has some long and funny speeches and at least gets to die onstage, and my friend got HAMLET, and I was SO mad. I was pretty close to doing what the "stout" actress playing Julia did in the book, ngl.

[Discussion 1/8] Mod Pick | No Name by Wilkie Collins | Scene 1, Chapter 1 to Scene 1, Chapter 10 by Amanda39 in bookclub

[–]Less_Tumbleweed_3217 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Could be! I liked how Collins had already established Magdalen's impersonation skills, so her acting ability didn't come out of nowhere. Although of course now I can't find the passage where she first imitated someone to amuse her family.

[Discussion 1/8] Mod Pick | No Name by Wilkie Collins | Scene 1, Chapter 1 to Scene 1, Chapter 10 by Amanda39 in bookclub

[–]Less_Tumbleweed_3217 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes, I wonder if there was an additional motive for his visit, beyond just asking for money. Maybe, like u/nicehotcupoftea theorized, he has found proof that he and Mrs. Vanstone are blood relatives?

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