Welcome back, members of the PopUK Book Club. A fortnight ago I announced the title of our first foray: Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited.
We've had a couple of weeks to get a copy and read Book One, so now it's time to discuss! You are of course welcome to read ahead, but please don't reveal any spoilers in the comments.
We'll discuss the second part next Monday, and the final part the following week, so we're ready to watch the film version (released 3 October).
After the jump you'll find some questions and topics to get the discussion started, but feel free to write about whatever you found interesting.
The next assignment: Read Book Two "Brideshead Deserted" by Mon. 22 Sept.
Ready to discuss the first section of Brideshead Revisited? Just read more.
- The Prologue is a stark contrast to the section that follows — what do you think about this device of Charles starting the narrative during the war, and then looking back over his life? And how does his first person narration affect your reading?
- Cara talks about the "romantic friendship" between Charles and Sebastian — what are your thoughts about the sexual or romantic aspects to their friendship?
- What role does religion play in this section, and the Flytes' Catholicism?
- Julia tells Charles: "You seem to let [Sebastian] boss you about a great deal" — why do you think Charles lacks power in each of his relationships?
- Charles writes about his nostalgia for the "languor" of youth — how does the theme of nostalgia come across in this section?
- We are introduced to all of the various members of the Flyte family by the end of this part — do you have particular favourites, or do you particularly dislike certain characters, and why is that? What about Sebastian's descent in to alcoholism?
- This section is set at various locations, including Brideshead, Oxford University, London and Venice — did you prefer one setting to the others? The title of this section ("Et in Arcadia Ego") suggests Charles once lived in a pastoral utopia — is this one of these physical locations, or is it his youth, or something else?
Max Mara
Kate Spade
Beyond The Valley
Crap ... I have the book but still haven't read it ... looks like I will have to catch up with you guys next week
booooooo hoooooo ...
1Will look forward to hearing your thoughts next week bigestivediscuit
2I'll admit it took me over 70p to finally get interested in the book - not a huge Evelyn Waugh fan!
The book (or what I read so far) also reminded me a LOT of Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby: characters, social situations, writing...
1-The Prologue
The book was published in 1945, and I think is mainly about the Second World War and its impact on the pre-during war British society. Starting with this prologue emphasises the ideal of youth and self-discovery years of the first part (I'm not saying it's all about happiness, but there is some sort of nonchalance in Charles and Sebastian that can be seen as a 'we were young and didn't know what the war would bring us' in retrospect).
As for the first person narration, I'm glad it's here - I had trouble getting into the story because I couldn't care less about the characters/setting at the beginning, and I think if it hadn't been for the 1st person narrative that forces the reader to identify with Charles I'd have stopped reading!
2-The friendship
I'm aware their relationship is often considered as homoerotic, but it struck me more as a stereotypical 'manly' friendship. (btw were most of Oxford colleges still male/female only at the time, or did it change after the First World War?)
Again, their relationship reminded me a lot of the Great Gatsby's Nick and Gatsby, with the social divide between the two and Nick/Sebastian's fascination for the wealthy world. I saw it more as a masculine coming-of-age friendship.
3-Religion
It was interesting to see how closely religion and class/money are intertwined. Rather than an essay on faith, I thought the first part focused on the contrast between Charles' idea of religion (I think he admits to not being very religious) that seems more genuine, and Sebastian's. At the end of the part, Teresa's letter mentions Sebastian having to live with Mgr. Bell, and while Charles' stay at Brideshead they have a monk over for lunch. Yet Charles ends up drinking to 'forget', instead of a relying on religion as you would expect from his religious education.
4. Charles seems to be attracted by people he is fascinated to, and not people he respects. With the incident of Sebastian sending him a note to say he's wounded, Charles ends up embarrassed he got worried, instead of being angry at Julia and Sebastian. I also think part of his fascination comes from the siblings' attitude to money - again, something that reminded of Nick and Gatsby.
5-Nostalgia comes from both the older man looking back at his younger years, and from the soldier thinking about the carefree and 'innocent' days of his youth, before the war. There's definitely a big part of idealisation in this process. (guess that's also my answer to question 7)
6-Charles is by far the most likeable character, possibly because of the first person narrative but also because some of his flaws are exposed in a more human way than Sebastian's (for instance Charles' father who wishes he'd written about Sebastian's accident so as not to worry). Plus the awkwardness of his situation where he is stuck between two social classes is something the reader can identify with, instead of for instance the description of Charles' descent into alcoholism.
Phew, I hope all of that makes sense
(esp since I didn't pay too much attention to
the beginning of the novel!)
3Thanks for sharing Advah, lots of interesting points there. The Great Gatsby link is fascinating too - so many parallels. Looking forward to reading your thoughts on the next section next week!
4Wow hadn't realised I'd written that much! :/
Looking forward to reading the second part.
5I'm so glad you chose this book, I love the lyrical language. The sense of Sebastian and Charles being in their own world comes across very clearly, which I think also has to do with their being at Oxford which is in itself a closed world.I think the Prologue foreshadows the loss of faith and optimism which ends part one.
Really sorry have to go to work, will continue later...
6Thanks for your comments supersocks. I totally know what you mean about Sebastian and Charles being in their own world, and the link with Oxford being a closed world is really interesting - will look forward to hearing more from you later!
7Everytime I think of Evelyn Waugh, I think of Lost in Translation.
"Evelyn Waugh is a man."
Classic!
8[^VERY sad considering I studied literature, but I actually didn't know it until I saw the film..]
Now let's pretend I never admitted that in public.
9Haha, don't worry Advah, your secret's safe with us!
10Love the comment LolaSvelt, and your Secret Advah !
11So back to the questions...
1)In the Prologue Charles compares his relationship to the Army like falling out of love with a wife, which leaves me thinking what a solitary person he must be. He says here my last love died which I guess sets the scene for more disappointment to come.
2) I think that Cara understands Charles' and Sebastian's relationship very well, describing it as a stage in their emotional development, it seems to me to be a sort of idealistic love, which won't last when one or other becomes disillusioned (like Charles's comparison with the Army). She's right about Sebastian becoming alcoholic too.
3)This Catholicism thing, I think it's what mystifies and intrigues Charles . Perhaps it's another example of how he's on the outside of this particular world, and it makes him different.
4)I don't know why he lets himself be bossed by Sebastian as Julia says. I agree with you Advah about his embarrassment over his anxiety for Sebastian and his "grave" injury.
5) Charles talks about Bridshead being a place of enchantment. It's easy to share this in the description of their sunbathing, and uninterrupted time to please themselves.
6) Cordelia is my favourite, she's sort of untouched by the world and just gets on and enjoys it!
7)I think it's Oxford's world within the world and Charles and Sebastian's friendship which carries on ito Brideshead. And I think in the wider context it's that this time is just before everything changes in the real world.
Phew! I'm knackered!
How do I get emoticons on here?
Thanks Pop and Advah!
I love your comments, Supersocks! It almost makes me want to read the first part again, but this time paying more attention to the points you outlined.
Btw, I use http://teamsugar.com/group/82779/blog/258833 for the smileys.
(still have to figure out the bold and italics thing though)
12Fascinating comments supersocks, thanks for sharing!
13I'll be really interested to read what you think of Cordelia as the novel progresses - I won't give anything away here! But we do get some interesting developments as the book continues, for all the characters.
Thanks for posting the link about emoticons Advah - once you know how to use them supersocks it can be addictive!
14Thanks Advah and Pop, will try out the emoticons! Look forward to finding out how Cordelia is...
15I was
but am now 
16thanks Advah!
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