Tagged: #summerofcecilia
Cecilia Read-Along Books IX and X: Fifty Shades of Morty
Fair travelers, journey to the master post if thou art lost.
We’ve talked about fantasy casting a little bit here, and I’ve had several spirited conversations with fellow readers-along about who could play Cecilia or Mortimer. I preferred Saoirse Ronan for Cecilia, and one reader in particular is gunning for Ben Wishaw as Morty.
But readers, I saw a movie trailer this week that changes everything.
Masquerades. Mind games. Meddling mothers. WE HAVE OUR MORTY.
And you know Jamie Dornan can rock a periwig:
Jamie Dornan as Axel Von Fersen in Marie Antoinette
Anyhoo, readers, chime in with your dream casting and read on for my last recap:
Cecilia Read-Along Books VII and VIII: Move Morrice (Get Out The Way)
Fair travelers, journey to the master post if thou art lost.
First, some housekeeping. Let’s drain the moat, and polish the chaise, and powder the wigs, etc.
And uh, iron the hankies
My schedule as posted here has been thrown to the wind, and I just realized I made a mistake: The schedule has me posting a wrap-up on September 19, while the image I’ve used everywhere says the readalong ends on September 9. I’m a little disappointed you guys didn’t notice!
I want to finish sooner than later, because #ReadingRhys week starts on the 12th and I clearly can’t handle one blog event, let alone two (please follow along, I’m planning to show how Jean Rhys invented chick lit.) So to hurry things along, today I’m going to post on Books 7 and 8, and (fingers crossed) Book 9 & 10 over the weekend.
Oh yeah, I finished the book. Going camping in the rain means a lot of reading time! I must save my conclusions for the next post, but it feels good to be done.
Cecilia Read-Along Book VI: And I feel so much depends on the weather (so is it raining in your drawing room?)
Fair travelers, journey to the master post if thou art lost.
Another week interrupted by travel – and my reading progress was thwarted by *talkers* for two out of three flights. Only conceive how provoking!
Despite these set backs, I am still reading, if not writing as much. I’m at that point in the readalong where you just want to barrel through and finish the thing. I know a couple of participants who were stalled are finding their stride as well – check in, how are you doing?
In Book VI we finally get a semi-romantic scene between our heroine and Morty, while he’s saving her from a sudden storm. I love me some romance in the rain, even if it is a huge cliche (big Wuthering Heights fan here. Okay, and The Notebook.) Thank god the storm came and forced Morty’s hand (metaphorically!) because I was beginning to think we’d never see the day!
Disclaimer: Cecilia and Morty DO NOT ACTUALLY KISS
Cecilia Read-Along Book V: Mr. [Spoiler redacted]-he dead
Fair travelers, journey to the master post if thou art lost.
This past week, two readers-along have finished the bookand at least one has run into a roadblock (or lack thereof – see Read the North’s thought provoking post). I know that most of you are trucking along, like me, but between work, travel, and being an unfit person at a fitness conference, I’m phoning it in on this update. Please, talk amongst yourselves, or read on for my super short recap.
Cecilia Read-Along Book IV: Blackguards and revelations
Fair travelers, journey to the master post if thou art lost.
Over on Twitter, the fantasy casting continues. After determining that most of us are too old to know of any actresses young enough to play Cecilia, I reached out to one of our younger readers-along (early 30s! If you’re younger, please weigh in) who is pushing hard for Juno Temple, but I’m all about Saoirse Ronan. Both potential Cecilias have something to say to young Delvile (I’m not a fan right now):
Juno Temple
Saoirse
Book III ended with everyone hiding the truth, so of course, some truth comes out in Book IV. Read on for the revelations, and more than a few blackguards.
Cecilia Read-Along Book III: Briggs better have my money
Fair travelers, journey to the master post if thou art lost.
Predictions about Cecilia’s suitors are running rampant in last week’s post, but this week, it’s all about money. Cecilia seems to the be only person with enough of it, but until she turns 21, she must rely on her guardians to access it – and none of them are making that easy. I am uneasy about her money being in the hands of these three peculiar, and in at least one case, horrid men. That usually doesn’t turn out well. Just ask RiRi:
A few readers are off the wagon, while a few are just climbing on. I’m reading ahead in Book V and believe me, you wanna stick around. Book III is short but can be confusing, so let’s break it down with gifs o’ plenty:
Cecilia Read-Along Book II: It’s all happening
Fair travelers, journey to the master post if thou art lost.
It’s all happening for Cecilia this week! Our Frances vs. Fanny discussion is still going strong in last week’s post. Rick of Read the North pulled some of Burney’s sickest burns in his Book I wrap up. Much discussion about who should be cast in the roles of Mortimer Delvile took place on Facebook and Twitter. I’ll get you caught up with all that in a minute. But first, this happened:
I’m still not sure why, after years of blogging about live Canadian authors, I got called by the CBC for blogging about a dead British one, but, I’ll take it. Have a listen here. Welcome CBC listeners: if you’re reading with us, please say hello in the comments!
Cecilia Read-Along Book I: It’s Frances (Miss Burney if you’re nasty)
Fair travelers, journey to the master post if thou art lost.
Don’t call me Fanny
Before we get into Book I, we must address a controversy: Is it Fanny Burney, or Frances? Does it matter? AS A FEMINIST, must I go with Frances? Rick at Read the North weighs in, backed up by Lives of the Novelists, which I must obtain: Continue reading
Cecilia Read-Along: #SquadGoals
Fair travelers, journey to the master post if thou art lost.
I trust you’ve all started reading? If not, read on for some more information about where to find the book, and if you have, I’ve started a running list of characters, which is helpful with these big novels.
Editions
My line-up: Kobo ebook, Oxford World’s Classics print, and Project Gutenberg html for easy searching
As I noted in the master post, it’s not easy to get your hands on Cecilia. And it’s only become more complicated since then. Let’s break down the options, and read-alongers, if you post this week, please show off your edition!
- Print: While difficult to find in libraries and physical book stores, you can order online. I believe the Oxford World’s Classics edition I have is a good one; it reproduces the first edition and does not correct “eccentricities of punctuation, spelling, and grammar” which would take all the fun out of reading an 18th century novel. You can order straight from the source.
- Ebook: Earlier, I recommended an ebook because they’re readily available. HOWEVER. My cheapie Harper Collins edition is decidedly not the same text as the first print edition; comparing to Oxford, the ebook is watered down: unnecessary capitalization removed, “everytime” becomes “every time,” and so on. Not sure if this is reproducing a later edition, or is just modernized, or what. Same deal with the Project Gutenberg edition.
- Audio: There is a free audio version on LibriVox and perhaps I’m being snobby here but shouldn’t the narrator be British?
Cecilia’s Squad: Who we’ve met so far
This is only up to about Book I Chapter 7 as of this writing. For those of you just beginning, this may help you get your bearings.
- Our Heroine: Cecilia Beverley: 21, orphan, heiress
- Her guardians:
- Mr. Harrell, husband of childhood friend, chosen simply so Cecilia can live with said friend.
- Mr. Briggs, a business man who will provide “vigilant observance” of Cecilia’s fortune.
- Mr. Delvile, ” a man of high birth and character” who will make sure Cecilia “should in nothing be injured” – i.e. remains a lady in the streets… and the sheets.
- Her suitors:
- Mr. Monckton: married to a 76-year-old crabby pants, he’s probably in his thirties or forties and was real annoyed when, just a few years after marrying this old lady for money, a 17-year-old heiress moved in next door. Timing is everything!
- Mr. Arnott: brother of childhood friend Mrs. Harrell, lays it on pretty thick, likes that Cecilia “isn’t like the other girls,” gag me…
- Sir Robert Floyer: Fashionable, friend of Mr. Harrell, weird horse obsession
- Her friends
- Mrs. Harrell: A childhood friend who moved to the big city some years ago. A very “city and country mouse” reunion so far.
- Mr. Morrice: Her friend whether she wants him or not. This guy cracks me up.
- Her frenemies
- Miss Larolle: “flirting, communicative, restless, and familiar” she is the 18th century equivalent of a basic bitch.
- Miss Leeson: “silent, scornful, languid, and affected,” definitely afflicted with resting bitch face.
Be you VOLUBLE or SUPERCILIOUS (see ch. 5) we’ll meet back here next Monday to discuss Book I.
Cecilia Read-Along: Start Reading!
Happy Canada Day and Happy Cecilia Day! Have you started reading yet? To give you a jump start, I’ve found us a theme song. No, not that one.
“Oh Cecilia” is by Canadian band Born Ruffians, and features Toronto’s dancing crossing guard Kathleen Byers. Incidentally, Born Ruffians are in Edmonton playing two free shows at A Taste of Edmonton on Juy 29 and 30. Cecilia meet-up, perhaps?
Start reading and I’ll meet you back here on Monday!
Reading in Bed 