So you know your preoccupied when you start writing the entry for Chapters 26-28 and get almost finished and realize you are on the *wrong* chapters!! LOL
Well here we go...
This whole initial conversation between Claudia and Vincent is so amazing, isn't it? If you were Claudia, would it not be SO hard to keep your mouth shut?! I mean the things that would have been going through my mind!! He actually insists she go *out* with Mrs. Dugald. It is hard to comprehend, isn't it? He is *some* kind of man. Yikes.
What has happened to poor Katie? She heard all the plans against Claudia and waited and urged herself upon Claudia to tell her, but Claudia was distracted and did not wait to hear her. To what end?
We find out that end in the next chapter, don't we! Where in the world to begin with this chapter? I don't even know what to write! LOL It is too much to believe, but perhaps at that time it would have been? What do you all think of it? I feel terribly for Claudia though - I mean what can she be thinking? The shame and calumny upon her name is just huge for she who holds so much by reputation and title!!
What sayest the readership?
So I am kind of wondering if I am the only one still reading. :+) It is OK if I am, but it would be good to know. :+) I know I have not been the best leader here as my life has just been so busy. That is not so good for an online book discussion group! I do apologize. If you still want to keep reading, please do let me know. The next group of chapters to read are: 19-21.
I was very excited about this bookclub idea, like-minded mothers, no nasty novels...I think you are going way to slow. I read both books before you were finished with the first. Yes, I too am busy, lots of kids to teach, clothes to fold, etc. but I do make a little time to read! So my idea is that for some to make it a read-aloud, while others (like me) are just keeping it all to ourselves, doesn't mesh. Maybe a great part of the readership has finished. I have probably read 12 books since I finished this wonderful duo. Just an idea.
I agree with anonymous...having people reading aloud and people reading to themselves don't mesh-although both are valid ways to read :) I have fallen behind because of pregnancy, but I know before I was reading more than was assigned, and was afraid to post because I didn't want to accidentally give something away. For me, reading to myself, about a month, month-and-a-half is quite long enough to read a book. I hope this doesn't end...perhaps those of us who blog can also put up a post or two about the HSLB to attract others? It is such a great idea!
I apologize for the tardy post. We are into the book, but boy has life gotten busy. Has it for you too? Sometimes I think summer is the busiest time of the year, but then September starts and I think that is! :+) Anyway, here are my thoughts.
So we find Claudia making an interesting decision - she decides to write her father for help and then "...get him to bring about her introduction to teh Earl of Hurstmonceux's family and her recognition by their circle. This course, she thought, would secure her personal safety and her social position..." Would this have been your first thought? Don't you find it odd that even when her very life is threatened that she seeks to secure her social position?! I was dumbfounded by this. What would you have done in her place?
"She had sold her birthright and got not even the "mess of pottage," but the cup of poison." says Southworth. Do we feel for her?
Poor Ailsie - murdered. Now the show is beginning! Poor poor Katie! She tried so much to tell Claudia what she heard and Claudia did not have the time. Now we don't know if Katie is even alive! This is getting pretty suspenseful! I feel so badly for Katie though - she was trying to warn her mistress and she was discovered. I hope she is OK!
Now we switch scenes back to Ishmael's office. There is so much we discover all at once in this chapter! And Ishmael and the Judge too! The last letter surprised me the most! Now we meet the countess again. I wonder what she will be like, don't you? She is one intriguing person to me. At least we know Claudia is safe for now. Don't you wonder what is going on in Ishmael's head?
In the midst of the shipwreck - Ishmael is even keeping his word. I thought about the Titanic where real men stayed behind and the women and children went first. Ishmael made me think of this. Keeping his word even when they gave him back his promise. So interesting! How many men would live this out today? Do we know any Ishmaels in our lives?
Oh, good dear Jem Morris - jumping in to die with Ismael. What a beautiful picture of sacrifice for those you love. So, do you think Ishmael dies here? :+)
So for next week we will read Chapters 16-18. There are a lot of pages to read so let me know if you will need two weeks to get it done.
So how has your new year (or continuation) gone so far? Ours has been positive, but it is hard to get it all done, isn't it? I look forward to hearing from you!
Life has swamped me too...I must catch up on reading...being pregnant, and starting up new ministries at church sure takes a lot out of you....catch up with you all when I catch up...lol.
I think that if I had been Claudia, I also would have contacted Vincent's father. For the same reasons Claudia wanted to. If I found myself in that situation, I would have wanted to distance myself from the other two in EVERY way possible. Socially, morally, physically......kind of like taking a shower to get rid of the scum. Darin and I feel sorry for her if she is truly repentant. But if she ever gets out of this and starts seeking for titles again, or even hints at it before the mess is cleared up, we just couldn't feel sorry for her. But it seems to us that she can't not be truly repentant of her past actions. She grew up surrounded by the best influences and teaching, which she chose to reject. Now is her opportunity to realize the truth of all she rejected and get back on the right track. (fingers crossed!)
Jem is good to Ishmael, but it seems that Southworth is leaving him out of the story a lot!
I have to reread these chapters! I read them right away because I knew I would be busy, but now I don't remember everything well enough to contribute to the discussion. :-)
BeccaBeard: I read most of the free online version of "Ishmael" before I bought the Lamplighter version, and it was more detailed. The relationship between Ishmael and Jem was described in much greater detail in the original. I would guess that it might be the same with "Self-Raised."
I'll try to get these chapters read again before the next discussion!
Well thank you very much for the notes below. I love hearing about everyone's homeschool schedules and lives. Don't you just appreciate being able to be your own task-master as the teacher? Boy, I love that freedom! I think I will have to ask homeschool-related questions more often as we chat about Mr. Worth--it was nice to glimpse your lives a bit here. :+)
So, Chapters 9-12...
We find Claudia and her husband on the Ocean Empress sailing towards her new life full of excitement and adulation. This is such an interesting statement here by Southworth:
"But Lord and Lady Vincent were the only titled persons present, and from both European and American voyagers received a ridiculous amount of homeage. Claudia enjoyed the worship, though she despised the worshippers."
Isn't that interesting that what she seeks she cannot stand in the getting? I found that to be most enlightening. Don't we often find life's idols we so eagerly seek only to be tarnished brass in the getting? What were her hopes? Did she honestly not look past the title-getting to the life she would eventually lead? Were people *that* shallow then? How could they live in a loveless marriage?
Her arrival in Europe was not at all what she expected was it? One can only imagine what she was thinking.
So she arrives at her home, Castle Cragg. What did you think of it? I thought it sounded very dark and damp and dreary from the outside, but the inside proved to have quite a bit of interest. What did you think of the housekeeper's first words? "Eh, sirs! anither ane!" What does she mean here?
"So she arrayed herself with very great splendor and went downstairs." Right into the presence of Faustina. Just *who* is Faustina? Did you notice Claudia' first instincts were to hate her? What do you make of that? Things do not exactly seem quite right to me - do they to you? I love Southworth's scripture quote during dinner, "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a stalled ox and hatred therewith." I should say so!
And in Chapter 12 we see the truth - as does Claudia - just a bit too late, don't we. Oh my! "She was playing for a title, I for a fortune. Well, she won the title and I won the fortune!" And he even kept her ring! Remember that her ring rolled off and she lost it? He keeps his "vow" to this Faustina, but dishonors his wife!
" But instead of entering England like a royal bride she was smuggled into England like a transported felon who had returned before her time of penal service in the colonies had expired! Instead of a triumphal entry and progress along the highways, she was dragged ignominiously though the byways!"
Even for our selfish Claudia, this is a hard hard reality. He plans to "dispose" of her. What does that mean? What do you think?
What a bunch of crazy chapters! :+) I am only going to assign Chapters 13-15 as 15 is pretty lengthy. I am also going to extend this time for two weeks since we have some of you on vacation and this weekend is a holiday. I hope you enjoy the last few weeks before we jump back into FALL! :+)
I got a book that was originally published in the early 1900's. The inscription on the first page indicates the previous owner got it in 1907. But my chapters are different! Ihaven't even read about them arriving in London(which happens in my chapter 14, castle cragg is in chapter15 and faustina is mentioned in chapter 16! I 'thought' I was caught up...lol...this will be interesting.....I'll see y'all when I read some more...LOL....
Well if we weren't suspicious about Lord Vincent before, we certainly were once they arrived in England!!! Then it became so apparent that not only did he not LIKE Claudia, he despised her and seemed to enjoy her discomfort. I must admit that in some respects I thought it was a bit of a comeuppance for Claudia at first - not staying in the finest hotel, and not hobnobbing with royalty. She was positively rude to the proprieters of the hotels they did stay at, wasn't she? She didn't handle it with very good grace.
But oh dear, what she found at Castle Cragg!! She has gotten quite a bit more than what she bargained for in her marriage for a title. The quote from Lord Vincent sums up the situation quite well. He is even more perfectly horrid than I had originally thought, since it seems he is not content to have a marriage of convenience for the sake of her money - he intends to dishonor Claudia and do away with her somehow. It sounds to me like his plan is to disgrace her and completely ruin her reputation, then put her away penniless and without a friend to whom she may appeal for help.
But oh how cool-headed Claudia was when she stumbled upon this conversation! To give no sign that she has just heard all the designs against her! The fact that she did not love or indeed, like her husband in the first place may help her in this case, because her heart is not broken by his unfaithfulness.
I have to admit that I was pretty shocked by chapter 12. It makes for an entertaining story, but the content seems a bit sensational to me. I guess I didn't expect to see things like mistresses and evil plots after reading "Ishmael." I'm interested to see how this all works out. I don't mean to sound negative - I was just surprised. I guess I expected this book to be more similar to "Ishmael."
It sounded to me like Claudia really liked the worship on the ship. I don't think that she was disappointed in her expectations yet. She "despised the worshipers," but, knowing her astuteness, she probably knew that she would despise them. She didn't care who worshiped her; she just wanted the worship. That is pretty shallow. It seems so strange that someone like her would be able to live with such surface relationships. She was so lively when we met her in "Ishmael." Now she has sold her whole personality for a title!
Kym, I agree with you about Claudia's attitude towards the hotel proprietors. I thought it would be good for her to rough it a little.
Castle Cragg, Faustina and the discovery of a plot against her must have been a rude awakening for Claudia. As horrible as she has been, I definitely can't say that I would have wished something like this on her. Could you imagine being stuck in a secluded castle in a foreign country with no friends nearby, knowing that someone has plans against you but not knowing what the plans are? And living in the same house as your husband and his mistress had to be horribly degrading for someone of her position.
I got caught up on the airplane while we were on vacation!! Actually got a little ahead because I couldn't remember how far to read. I'll jump in with comments next week.
Christine
My husband and I have been reading the book online until we could order it. We received our copy today and are excited not to have to sit at the computer to read together.....it seemed so much less cozy than sitting together on the comfy couch. ;-)
The story has been a rough transition for Darin and me! In "Ishmael" we never read any of the conversation that went on between Vincent and Claudia. So while we had vague feelings about Vincent, we had nothing firm to go on. So now reading and finding out his true character is quite a shocker! Like Andrea wrote, this book is definitely not like "Ishmael"! But it is definitely a continuation, and we see the behaviours of everyone in the first book being rewarded as they should be (good or bad) in this second book. I'm sure all the characters in the book will come away with brand spanking new insights into themselves, life in general, and maybe even God by the time it's all over!
Here's the post! It is just a bit later than I had anticipated, but here it is none the less! :+)
So we have finally begun to see the love between Ishmael and our dearly loved Bee! How exciting! Let's begin with his conversation with Mr. Middleton. Didn't your heart warm to the affectionate manner between them? Oh, I thought, if all in-law relationships were this beautiful (and some are, I know) what would our world look like? I just loved that Mr. Middleton believed Ishmael long ago and that the whole family looked upon him as a son. It was very precious.
Then came the garden conversation with Bee. I also thought it most appropriate that he chose that place to declare himself to her--his place of humbling turned into his place of rejoicing. I really thought that whole exchange was just lovely. But how do you think you would have responded to Ishmael's declaration if you had been Bee just weeks after Claudia's marriage? OK, we know that Ishmael does not say what he does not truly believe, but the idea of being a rebound would likely occur to me if I was in her place. Perhaps that is thinking "this-worldly" and not trusting in the heart of Ishmael? Her concern was justified I thought, but his answer was very sweet. She really is all he needs for a wife I think. :+) I think he is truly in earnest, but it would still be on my mind. Claudia is not exactly someone easily forgotten. What do you think?
So Reuben is finally in on the secret! Poor guy - it must have been a relief to him to know all the details even though his kind heart did not require them. I really like Reuben. He has always been kindness itself to Ishmael. I wonder how different Ishmael's life would have been had Reuben been in it from an earlier time. But that was not the story, was it? :+)
Ishmael gets to meet the pastor that married his parents. Were you surprised that he did not ask any questions? I would have wanted to know so much - but maybe that is the "details-oriented" kind of part of a woman in me? Ishmael did not even ask a single question! It was a nice meeting though - and it must have been special for Ishmael to meet a person that did not question his lineage and who knew the attempted rightness of their union.
And then they return home to .... Claudia! What did you think of Ishmael's reaction to the knowledge she was there? I thought it was wise that he did not speak with her - fleeing from the temptation really is what he was doing to some degree. She also avoided seeing him. Why do you think she did that?
So what is going on with Claudia and her husband? Who is the mysterious dark woman?? That is sincerely strange. The judge speaks my thoughts on this, "But how coolly and dispassionately you speak of an uncertainty that would drive any other woman almost mad! At this moment you do not know whether you are abandoned or not, and to be candid with you, you do not seem to care!" It is really evident here that she does not in any remote manner love him. (Not that we had any doubts about that, but still!) I would think in her "exalted" place she would care about the slight that it would be, but she does not seem to care for anything save her title!!
I feel for the poor Judge, don't you? Even though he is paying for his lack of parenting in the choices he allowed his daughter to make, I still feel for his loneliness. He seems destitute. I thought it was wonderful that Ishmael was there for him even though there is no possibility that he will be his "true son" as the Judge called him. Ishmael is a true friend to him. How must the Judge rue the day he allowed his daughter to go her own way!
I loved the time Ishmael spent with Bee - enjoying her family and enjoying her. It is so nice to see Bee appreciated by the one man she wished to have love her!
So now what do you think?? I am already immensely enjoying this book. What about you? Thanks for your patience with me. This last few weeks have been hard here and I appreciate all the kindness extended to me. :+)
When Ishmael declared himself to Bee, yes I absolutely wondered if she would be concerned about being the "rebound" Then again, Ishmael is never anything less than truthful, which Bee knows as well as we do. And Bee was quite aware of Ishmael's feelings for Claudia, so I think it would have rung false with her if he had not said anything about it. She knew exactly what the situation was, and I think she probably also believed that the feelings Ishmael had for Claudia were not "true love" Bee will indeed make a wonderful wife for Ishmael.
I applauded Ishmael for making a quick getaway when he realized Claudia was awaiting the judge! Good for him! I believe he was wisely fleeing temptation, but I think Claudia avoided him because she was perhaps somewhat ashamed of what had come of her choices. I find it hard to feel sorry for Claudia now, especially because she declared so clearly to Bee prior to the wedding that she loathed the Viscount and truly was marrying only for the prestige of the title. And I don't think she had any illusions that he was in love with her either, I'm sure she knew that he was looking for a "trophy wife" (maybe she didn't realize the very real probability that he wanted her for the large dowry that was settled upon her, but she seems worldly enough to have considered that possibility as well) It does seem a little odd that she hasn't thought of the insult to her person that her husband's actions may cause. How long will she be content with her wonderful title and nothing else, I wonder.
I agree, the judge is a character that I am sympathetic with. A man of great wisdom, it would seem, and yet he made poor choices in not setting boundaries and teaching better character to his daughter.
I too, feel for the Judge. What a reminder to us when we are tempted to give our children independence before they are ready.
I would have to say that Hannah is quite annoying to me in this book. I think she is mean to Rueben. Her comments always make him look dumb-not that he is the brightest one, but he sure tries. How much patience he has with her. I don't think MY husband would appreciate it if I talked to him like Hannah talks to Rueben.
"Then again, Ishmael is never anything less than truthful, which Bee knows as well as we do."
Yes, I was thinking this too. Still, it has to sting a bit I think. We want to be our true love's only, right? Sigh. Life does not always give us that.
"I applauded Ishmael for making a quick getaway when he realized Claudia was awaiting the judge!"
I totally agree with you!! Flee from that temptation! :+) Yes, I also find it hard to feel sorry for Claudia because she has made her bed, so to speak, but still, I think she has little concept of what that title will cost her. I cannot *imagine* spending my life married to a man I didn't love!
thisworldisnotmyhome, I think we are all in agreement with the poor judge. I hope things get better for him. Not that he can change the past, but I hope he can not feel so bereft of his child.
You also made me laugh about Hannah. I do think she is pretty annoying but she pretty much has stayed true to character all the way through! LOL She does not seem to have softened very much since being married. I think the harshness of her situation stayed with her - even when things were no longer harsh. Perhaps that shaped her. I can understand that a little bit. And Reuben never seems to mind her one bit. I guess that shows you we all give and take in a relationship. I can tell you I am not always the kindest wife. Sigh.
Thank God we can continue to work on it, right? :+)
Sorry about being so lax with the comments on this book! I'll try to do better about keeping up - I missed the first discussion.
I was really happy when Ishmael "came to himself" and realized how perfect Bee would be for a wife. I admire him for not waiting even though it might look like rebound to others. They have such a strong friendship that I think it will help Bee trust his love.
I also loved the conversation with Mr. Middleton. Even though Ishmael has raised himself in the world, it had to be so gratifying to know that there was someone who trusted him even when circumstances weren't in his favor for that time period.
Reuben is one of my favorite characters in this book. He is so simple, yet so honest, loving and wise. Simple yet wise; it almost seems like a paradox, doesn't it? He really embodies being wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove.
I think Ishmael was very wise to free from temptation. I think that he was also being considerate (so like him) because it was obvious that she wasn't expected yet and he probably figured out that something must not be right. I think that Claudia was probably embarrassed and ashamed too. Maybe she didn't want to go through the internal struggle of seeing Ishmael either. I don't think her motives were the same as his, though. I think that he was legitimately fleeing temptation, whereas she just didn't want to look bad in front of him.
I feel for the judge too. It must have been very hard for a man back then to raise a child by himself, especially since he was in such a powerful position. It's sad that the Middletons weren't able to have more influence on Claudia's character. Southworth does such a good job setting Claudia and Bee up as antitheses of each other.
Hannah and Reuben are a pretty unique couple. It does seem like her difficulties in life have made her pretty snappish. I believe Southworth mentioned that even at the beginning of the first book, and that was before her worst troubles. Reuben really seems to understand Hannah thoroughly, though. Although she can be quite mean at times, I do enjoy their interaction just because they have such a good understanding - I'm not sure if that makes sense.
Great comments, ladies! I love asking the questions I do because you all have such wonderful insights that I don't have. It is a blessing to me to read your words!
BlessingsFromAbove - Great thoughts. I really liked your reminder to sit and enjoy the children. How fast their childhoods go, don't they? My youngest is close to five now and time has just flown by!! I was just thinking this week how much I want to snuggle even my older ones because they are growing up so fast too!
I also thought your comments about Herman to be interesting to think about too. Perhaps I am being too hard on him. I do see that he feels his choices strongly. That is a good thing too I think. Doesn't it lead us to the One who can right them? :+)
BeccaBeard - Good points about Herman claiming Ishmael for his regrets. I wonder if we will get to see inside Herman's heart more and hear his thoughts or if we just get to wonder. Also good point about Herman listening to Ishmael about Lady "Hurt-Me-So." (LOL)
With regard to Lady Vincent you wrote, "We wonder if we're projecting our own bad attitudes onto Ishmael." That is possible, but also as you say, that is unlike Ishmael. Well, we are all inconsistent some of the time and Claudia certainly messes with his heart in a way that prevents him from thinking clearly. We shall see what the information does for her if anything at all.
kympossible - Yes, I was a little surprised too by Ishmael's speed at understanding and accepting Herman's words, but as you say, "his gracious and trusting acceptance" is what we have come to expect. I think I think of what my own reaction would be and I am sad to say that I don't know that I would be so ready to be "the daughter" to a very negligent father, you know? If I am honest I think I would wonder - what is in it for him after all this time? Perhaps things were different then, I don't know.
Yes, I think it was a generous offer to Ishmael - you are right. I think the fact that Ishmael knew the importance of family name and still rejected it in order to honor his mother says a great deal about him.
To answer your question about Self Raised, no, it looks like it was not one book, but a sequel. It certainly is not a stand-alone work in that reading Ishmael is required, but I can see it as a sequel. :+)
Welcome to the second book reading - Self Raised! We are very excited and hope you are too. :+) Now, on to the book!
Chapters 1-3:
So after the shock of Claudia abandoning her true love, Ishmael, we find him pretty overwrought--but not destitute! "It was not in Claudia's power to make his life quite desolate; how could it be so while Bee cared for him?"
Indeed. Will he see her for what she really is? I loved this statement about Bee's future: "...Bee never gave a thought to the future. That she tacitly left, where it belongs, to God." I think there is *great* wisdom in this sentence! How often do we "borrow trouble" from tomorrow by worrying today? What lessons we can use here with our children--even if you are not reading it with them, the words are pertinent and timely. Do you have a child longing for something in the future? I have seen many a girl long to be married when it was not yet God's time. I love Bee's simple faith in God--and her trust. If it was God's will she marry Ishmael then He would accomplish it. We can apply that to so many things, can't we? :+)
So Daddy Herman meets and greets his boy. What did you think of this "reunion"? What did you think of Ishmael's response to him at first? He was immediately thoughtful of his mother. "She was your wife! Yet she died of want, exposure and grief!" Can you imagine those words hitting Herman's heart? Oh, that would have done me in I think, had I been Herman. But even here Ishmael does not hold his own deprived childhood against him. "Ishmael never gave a thought to that; it was only a sin against himself, and Ishmael was not selfish enough to feel or resent it." I don't know that I could have been that noble and I wonder, in all honesty, if many people could. Would you have been?
And so Herman is denied what he had always longed for - that his son would take his name. That Ishmael would keep his vow to make his mother's name illustrious--well, I kind of liked it. It warmed my mother's heart. I think, if I am honest, I also didn't feel Herman deserved it. To come in and take the glory now that the son was glorious - that is just gross to me. Again I ask, if Ishmael had been a Reuben or a different sort of man - would Herman have been so readily available to take his son as his own? I don't think so.
So Ishmael's only wish is that Lady Vincent would know the truth. Do you think it was that Ishmael's pride was injured here - is that why he wished Herman to tell her? It cannot be that he wished to spare her feelings because if he really believed that she loved him at all - it would wound her to know that she had thrown away what she really loved for her own selfish prejudices. It is a bit tangled here - what do you think?
And then our hero reasserts himself and pleads the cause of the "widow" - Countess Hurstmonceux. We have never learned why Herman abandoned her - why he left her alone in Brudenell Hall. We know he never divorced her now, but what was the reason he left in the first place? Was it Nora or was there some infamy we know nothing about? Infamy, at that time, was the curse to life. Did he really hate the countess? "She wronged me, Ishmael! She deceived me! She was false to me!" Those are big statements and must have something behind them. I hope we find out!
I loved that Ishmael defended her. He had known her in his old home, and she had been kind and generous to all those around her. Ishmael knew this and believed good of her. As Proverbs 20:11 says, "Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right." Who do you think will be proved right?
So now it is your turn! What do you think of the first three chapters? Southworth jumped right in I think! For next week, please read Chapters 4-8.
Well let's see how much I can remember... I read these chapters a couple nights back and have read other things since. LOL
I was a little surprised at the apparent ease and speed with which Ishmael processed the information that Herman was his father and the circumstances surrounding that. But of course, I expected nothing less from Ishmael than his gracious and trusting acceptance. I also wondered about Herman's desire for Ishmael to take his name - would it have been so tempting to him if Ishmael had been much more "ordinary". All the same, it was a generous offer. And I found that I was sympathetic to Ishmael's wish to honor the name of his mother. In our modern society, I don't know that we understand so readily the concept of "carrying on a family name"
I think I need to re-read the part where Ishmael wanted Herman to tell Lady Vincent the truth about his parentage. Almost like Ishmael wants to prove something to her, but that isn't like him. And what purpose does it serve, now that she is married?
I'm anxious to find out why Herman insists that he was wronged by the Countess. That should make for interesting developments!
Okay, my dumb question: were Ishmael and Self-Raised originally ONE volume? Because Self-Raised just picks right up where Ishmael left off, and if I hadn't read Ishmael, I would have had NO clue. Self-Raised doesn't seem like a "stand-alone" novel in that sense.
My husband, Darin, and I, are reading the book together and here is what we think.
As for Herman, we think that Herman doesn't want to claim Ishmael just because he is successful. We think that he has HUGE regrets for how things went in the past, and genuinely wants to reach out to Ishmael and develop a true father-son relationship with him. We think that Herman is simply a Proud Papa when it comes to Ishmael's accomplishments. He wants to see Ishmael succeed and has great respect for him. Otherwise, would Herman have even vaguely considered Ishmael's encouragement about Lady Hurts-Me-So ;-)? He seemed to be really thinking about what Ishmael said about this, though who knows what he will do with his thoughts. Hopefully his developing relationship with Ishmael will heal a lot of things for Herman and he will finally feel as if he can go back to his wife and talk things over.
Lady Vincent.......that's a tough one! We wondered about it being a pride issue, but then we're talking about Ishmael here! We wonder if we're projecting our own bad attitudes onto Ishmael. After all, he only wanted the Middletons, Judge Merlin, Claudia and Rueben to know the truth. Even though he was heartbroken by Claudia, we wonder if he still saw her as "family" and wouldn't feel right letting everyone else know except her.
As for Lady Hurts-My-Soul, God bless Ishmael. He is the kind of guy who can stand outside any situation and look at it objectively, which is what he seems to be doing here. I think there is an issue that Herman is dealing with concerning her. I think he told Hannah something to that effect in the first book, and yes, yes, yes! We look forward to finding out what it is! :-)
This post will be a little shortI am SOOOO tired and trying to get to bed!
BeeI think she is wonderful! I really liked: "...Bee never gave a thought to the future. That she tacitly left, where it belongs, to God." I think Kate summarized it great! I know in my own life, I sometimes spend so much time planning for my tomorrow, that I add undue stress on my today! And the thought of Bee just sitting and rocking her younger sister and getting such comfort in that. I need to STOP and remind myself to do that with my own children. I know life is busy, but how many times do I run off to get something done as soon as they are asleep, rather than enjoy the peacefulness of the moment. And that goes for older children as well. As moms, I dont think we ever tire of the peaceful, sleeping faces of our children!
Ishmaels PrideI dont think Ishmael was prideful at all when he wanted Herman to tell Claudia the truth. I think he was so completely wounded by what Claudia said about him that he wanted her to know that those things she said where untrue. I think this correction that he wants her to hear is simply because he cared so much for her, and what she thinks about him is important to him.
HermanFinally, I know this is only a book, but I think perhaps we are judging Hermans heart. If Ishmael had turned out like Reuben, would Herman be as interested in him? I know that I have made the comment too. But now I wonder if that is a judgmental question? I know Herman has been a snake in the past, but it seems to me that he is pretty much guilt stricken. So many horrible things have been the results of HIS decisions. I think perhaps he might be a changed man. We shall see if I am wrong!
Welcome to HSB Literary Club. Please join us in reading Rosa of Linden Castle by Christoph von Schmid. Written in 1845, this unique von Schmid classic tells of a daughter''s love for her imprisoned father ensures us that though it was meant for evil, God always intends it for good. Through difficult trials, Rosa learns what it means to truly love her enemies and to wait for the Lord's perfect timing.
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So she arrives at her home, Castle Cragg. What did you think of it? I thought it sounded very dark and damp and dreary from the outside, but the inside proved to have quite a bit of interest. What did you think of the housekeeper's first words? "Eh, sirs! anither ane!" What does she mean here? 
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So Daddy Herman meets and greets his boy. What did you think of this "reunion"? What did you think of Ishmael's response to him at first? He was immediately thoughtful of his mother. "She was your wife! Yet she died of want, exposure and grief!" Can you imagine those words hitting Herman's heart? Oh, that would have done me in I think, had I been Herman. But even here Ishmael does not hold his own deprived childhood against him. "Ishmael never gave a thought to that; it was only a sin against himself, and Ishmael was not selfish enough to feel or resent it." I don't know that I could have been that noble and I wonder, in all honesty, if many people could. Would you have been? 
