Am the only one to feel a bit sad that Miriam hadn't changed much despite not being married to Polly when he went back to look her up? I was hoping that she'd found the marriage as much of a disaster as he had, and like Polly, managed to re-invent her self. From what Annie says and the conversation with Polly she is still much the same.
Yes, I wondered the same, but, with a sigh, I had to admit it would have been the wrong happy ending!
Why?
IJ
For a start, he would have had to portray Miriam as a different person earlier in the book.
Well, after marriage she could have turned to her cheerful side rather than her miserable one; but she chooses not to. Yes, it's a choice she makes, and then seems quite happy with, if you can call the result 'happy'.
I suspect that just as Mr. P. rather likes the idea of being married, 'only not to Miriam,' she also likes the idea of being married but not to him. And that way lies misery for both.
Indeed. And the Fire could have been an opportunity for both parties to make a fresh start - no need at all to change Miriam's character.
BTW, the Pollys appear to be childless, which may well have contributed to their general unhappiness.
IJ
The immediate reaction of all the other tradesmen to their shops burning down appears to be relief; but only Mr. P. is willing to make the crucial break and walk right away.
He may well be telling us that what appears at first sight to be a disaster (especially without benefit of fire insurance!) can be an opportunity for change.
Spoiler Alert!!!
In Kipps, the eponymous hero doesn't really find happiness until after he loses his inherited fortune.....
Apologies for mentioning The Other Similar Novel, but I feel the two should really be read in conjunction, as it were.
Getting back to Miriam. I feel like Mrs Polly she hopes for better things from life, and thought that Mr Polly was going to be her ticket for that life. I was a bit sad that she seemed to be carrying on as usual in the teashop. I was hoping it was going to be a wonderful establishment and that Mr Polly would realise what could have been. But then it would have been a different book.
Getting back to Miriam. I feel like Mrs Polly she hopes for better things from life, and thought that Mr Polly was going to be her ticket for that life. I was a bit sad that she seemed to be carrying on as usual in the teashop. I was hoping it was going to be a wonderful establishment and that Mr Polly would realise what could have been. But then it would have been a different book.
Many situations in life have what the Fat Lady (as she finally is) calls The Drorback; HGW seems to be suggesting that we should look around ourselves and then feel free to 'clear off' to escape from it.
His own conduct - abandoning his wife, then abandoning his (pregnant) mistress and returning to his wife, among other things - may suggest that this isn't always the most praiseworthy advice.
Getting back to Miriam. I feel like Mrs Polly she hopes for better things from life, and thought that Mr Polly was going to be her ticket for that life. I was a bit sad that she seemed to be carrying on as usual in the teashop. I was hoping it was going to be a wonderful establishment and that Mr Polly would realise what could have been. But then it would have been a different book.
Many situations in life have what the Fat Lady (as she finally is) calls The Drorback; HGW seems to be suggesting that we should look around ourselves and then feel free to 'clear off' to escape from it.
His own conduct - abandoning his wife, then abandoning his (pregnant) mistress and returning to his wife, among other things - may suggest that this isn't always the most praiseworthy advice.
Hmmm, interesting! I've been meaning to look him up on Wikipedia and that has definitely prompted me to do so later.
I have a copy of 'Ann Veronica' to listen to; do you think it is worth the 11 hours it is going to take to listen to it? If not, do you have a particular recommendation of his other books to listn to first, I wonder?
I've never read Ann Veronica; can anyone else help? Mind you, I'd imagine that you'd find out in the first 30 minutes whether you wanted to spend more time with it or not!
Love and Mr. Lewisham is worth a read, by the way; it was Wells' first excursion into writing a non-science fiction novel. He put a lot of effort into it, and I think to good effect.
Yes, Love and Mr. Lewisham is recommended, as also is Kipps.
Not sure about AV, but any novel of reasonable length is going to take some hours to read (or to listen to). The first page or two should show whether further effort is worthwhile!
Just to observe that Mr. Polly doesn't seem to have stimulated all that much in the way of comment.
I wonder why?
Could it be that the book is, maybe as HGW intended, a lightweight - and light-hearted - tale of a lightweight character? Perhaps, but Mr. Polly is portrayed, IMHO, in a sympathetic way, and therefore invites our sympathy and compassion.
Just to observe that Mr. Polly doesn't seem to have stimulated all that much in the way of comment.
I wonder why?
Could it be that the book is, maybe as HGW intended, a lightweight - and light-hearted - tale of a lightweight character? Perhaps, but Mr. Polly is portrayed, IMHO, in a sympathetic way, and therefore invites our sympathy and compassion.
There, but for the grace of God, go I......
IJ
Actually I was thinking just the opposite; I've not been keeping count of the number of responses to the various Book Group threads (I'm not so sad as that, honestly!) but we're now on the third page, which seems reasonable. Perhaps I'm just easily satisfied?
Either way, thanks to all who've contributed this month, and please feel free to continue to add any comments as we move into October.
I think the discussion of Mr Polly was one of the busiest we've had. I've noticed reading 'classic' books seems to attract more readers/comments than more recent books. Maybe we should read more?
The book was lightweight, cute and a period piece. I didn't ahve much more to say after reading it.
I suspect HGW would smile contentedly at that comment and reflect that he had sugared the pill of social comment (with which the book is packed) so well that it slid down without you even noticing it.
Comments
I suspect that just as Mr. P. rather likes the idea of being married, 'only not to Miriam,' she also likes the idea of being married but not to him. And that way lies misery for both.
BTW, the Pollys appear to be childless, which may well have contributed to their general unhappiness.
IJ
The immediate reaction of all the other tradesmen to their shops burning down appears to be relief; but only Mr. P. is willing to make the crucial break and walk right away.
The author may be trying to tell us something...
Spoiler Alert!!!
In Kipps, the eponymous hero doesn't really find happiness until after he loses his inherited fortune.....
Apologies for mentioning The Other Similar Novel, but I feel the two should really be read in conjunction, as it were.
IJ
Many situations in life have what the Fat Lady (as she finally is) calls The Drorback; HGW seems to be suggesting that we should look around ourselves and then feel free to 'clear off' to escape from it.
His own conduct - abandoning his wife, then abandoning his (pregnant) mistress and returning to his wife, among other things - may suggest that this isn't always the most praiseworthy advice.
I have a copy of 'Ann Veronica' to listen to; do you think it is worth the 11 hours it is going to take to listen to it? If not, do you have a particular recommendation of his other books to listn to first, I wonder?
Love and Mr. Lewisham is worth a read, by the way; it was Wells' first excursion into writing a non-science fiction novel. He put a lot of effort into it, and I think to good effect.
Not sure about AV, but any novel of reasonable length is going to take some hours to read (or to listen to). The first page or two should show whether further effort is worthwhile!
IJ
I wonder why?
Could it be that the book is, maybe as HGW intended, a lightweight - and light-hearted - tale of a lightweight character? Perhaps, but Mr. Polly is portrayed, IMHO, in a sympathetic way, and therefore invites our sympathy and compassion.
There, but for the grace of God, go I......
IJ
Actually I was thinking just the opposite; I've not been keeping count of the number of responses to the various Book Group threads (I'm not so sad as that, honestly!) but we're now on the third page, which seems reasonable. Perhaps I'm just easily satisfied?
Either way, thanks to all who've contributed this month, and please feel free to continue to add any comments as we move into October.
Perhaps you're right....
IJ
My view, too. I prefer Kipps, which IMHO has a bit more substance.
IJ
I suspect HGW would smile contentedly at that comment and reflect that he had sugared the pill of social comment (with which the book is packed) so well that it slid down without you even noticing it.