On reading

[luzula]

I have begun to listen to an audiobook of Waverley by Sir Walter Scott (1814), because of course it is the ur-example of a historical novel set in 1745. Wow, how judgmental the narrator is of the main character’s childhood as a bookish boy let loose in a library with little supervision!

I have already hinted, that the dainty, squeamish, and fastidious taste acquired by a surfeit of idle reading, had not only rendered our hero unfit for serious and sober study, but had even disgusted him in some degree with that in which he had hither-to indulged.

I am not disposed to like it so far, but I suppose I will go on!

Comments

[sanguinity]

I feel a strong urge to introduce Scott to Peter Dickinson's "A Defence of Rubbish."

[conuly]

Novel writers, a pro tip: Don't insult your readers before you've even begun!

[cyphomandra]

I read that bit as slightly ironic, or at least a dig at himself via his lead character, but maybe that was just me! I thought there was a line in there about how Waverley had “read widely but not too well” but now I can’t find it (which is annoying because I found it entertainingly self-applicable!)

[luzula]

You may not be able to introduce Scott to it, but thanks for linking! I had never read it before. : ) How thoughtful and interesting.

[luzula]

EXACTLY.

[luzula]

It's possible? I do find the tone of the book so far to be rather distant and ironic--I guess I prefer authors to be more generous to their characters.

(Also, there is an amusing passage about the detrimental effects of the gamification of education. Hee, I am sure there are people making the same complaint now. Plus ca change...)

[sovay]

I feel a strong urge to introduce Scott to Peter Dickinson's "A Defence of Rubbish."

I had not read that! Thank you.

[nnozomi]

the dainty, squeamish, and fastidious taste acquired by a surfeit of idle reading
<3 <3 <3

[luzula]

Are your tastes dainty, squeamish, and fastidious? : )

[regshoe]

Heh, I'd forgotten about that line—it is a strange bit of judgementalness.

However, I hope you find something to like in the rest of the book! It's definitely not my favourite amongst Jacobite historical novels—I found it more interesting in terms of the insight into developing views of the '45 and the Highlanders than as a book for its own sake, but it has its moments.

[luzula]

I found it more interesting in terms of the insight into developing views of the '45 and the Highlanders than as a book for its own sake, but it has its moments.
Yes, I do expect it will be quite interesting from that perspective!

I find the narrative voice very ironic, and while I enjoy that at times, so far there is little warmth in it. To make a comparison, Austen is often ironic, but there is also a sense of warmth toward her main characters.

[cyphomandra]

(conceals current Duolingo 484 day streak :D )