tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738048378012755564.post4219032495164193679..comments2024-03-06T03:23:51.904-08:00Comments on Surviving Middle-Aged Widowhood: Madame Bovary Reopens My Eyes and WorldWidow in the Middlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598249263166943162noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738048378012755564.post-42329283334709566632010-02-17T14:09:27.857-08:002010-02-17T14:09:27.857-08:00I've done regression and it was AMAZING. It re...I've done regression and it was AMAZING. It really brought many things into alignment for me. I will tell you it was one of the most intense experiences I have ever had. I was wiped out for days after.<br />As for "the other side", I have been active in that realm my entire life. I was brought up Catholic and still find great comfort in that but I have also been able to see and speak to spirits since I was a child. For me, it's just another part of life. <br />I can't wait to read The Lovely Bones. It sounds so intriguing. I ordered all of my books from half.com. Got them for 75 cents plus shipping. If I can't find it there I will get them from an amazon seller for less than a dollar. I never pay full price for books. If there is something new and expensive I want to read I head to the library. Plus they have CD's and DVD's to check out for free as well!! Gotta love a library!!Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08967278323581039367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738048378012755564.post-10107649779780706432010-02-17T09:46:37.053-08:002010-02-17T09:46:37.053-08:00I loved the Lovely Bones - maybe I will reread it....I loved the Lovely Bones - maybe I will reread it. It was a difficult read because the subject matter but I found it so beautiful. How an author could weave a heartbreaking situation into one that was hopeful amazed me. You'll get a lot out of it.<br /><br />I haven't seen anything about the other two books you got. Maybe I'll see if they have them at the bookstore. Right now I have to be frugal and if I can't buy a book at the resale shop for a quarter, have to "read" it at the bookstore or library. Let me know what you think about all the books you got. I'd be very interested to hear about your reaction. I read a lot about "the other side" in the early days of my widowhood but kind of got away from it but am still interested. I saw a book on regression therapy at the used book store and was intrigued as it deals with the possibility of reincarnation. Anyway, you have a lot of good reading ahead to look forward to!Widow in the Middlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01598249263166943162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738048378012755564.post-63397184516178882382010-02-17T08:09:40.761-08:002010-02-17T08:09:40.761-08:00I ordered The Lovely Bones. I was going to see the...I ordered The Lovely Bones. I was going to see the movie but the reviews said it was not nearly as good as the book and it really interested me so I figured I read the book instead. I also ordered "Reaching Through the Veil to Heal: Death, Grief & Communicating with Loved Ones in Spirit" and "There Is No Death and There Are No Dead: Evidence of Survival and Spirit Communication Through the Voices and Images from Those on the Other Side". <br />Depending on your views, these may or may not interest you.Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08967278323581039367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738048378012755564.post-37367447606802449892010-02-17T05:57:39.017-08:002010-02-17T05:57:39.017-08:00Kelly - What other books did you order? I'd lo...Kelly - What other books did you order? I'd love to know - maybe I'll join you in reading one of them too, or maybe there is one I already have read.<br /><br />Vanessa - I really appreciate you taking the time to relate some of the scholarly aspects of this book. I knew it was considered the first "modern" novel but not that Flaubert was harshly indicting bourgeois life. Interesting that it was a totally new concept back then to write a book about ordinary lives and people!Widow in the Middlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01598249263166943162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738048378012755564.post-1128531802160074322010-02-17T01:16:57.233-08:002010-02-17T01:16:57.233-08:00Madame Bovary was right at the edge of the shift f...Madame Bovary was right at the edge of the shift from Romanticism to Realism (it's supposed to be the first true example of Realism in literature) so it was really written to be a commentary on bourgeois society as it was at the time - you can see Flaubert was pretty contemptuous of it, too! He based some of the plot and characters on his own experiences, and he was famous for saying that Emma Bovary shared a lot of his own personality traits ("Madame Bovary, c'est moi") That being the case, I think he would definitely have created/included characters to represent the types of <i>people</i> he saw in society - the bored provincial wife, the greedy merchant, the student, the wealthy seducer - but not so much moral themes like evil and destruction. This is really a book about the smallness and banality of the ordinary and everyday; Emma keeps creating drama to try to transport herself beyond that, and she never succeeds, even in her own death.Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07023601396140884557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738048378012755564.post-48608870859825442652010-02-16T18:50:28.020-08:002010-02-16T18:50:28.020-08:00BTW...I ordered Madame Bovary tonight along with 3...BTW...I ordered Madame Bovary tonight along with 3 other books. Can't wait until they arrive~!Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08967278323581039367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738048378012755564.post-37078961814470459442010-02-16T18:42:55.749-08:002010-02-16T18:42:55.749-08:00Good memories for me as well. It's a part of t...Good memories for me as well. It's a part of their childhood that they will always remember and in a good way. Even now they laugh about it and remember it fondly. At 11 and 14 punishments are much harder to come by now. At least ones of consequence. They are so much older and wiser. Punishments now are likely to include loss of electronics of some type. While this serves a purpose I'm not sure how much it is 'teaching' them. It's times like that I wish Joe was here.Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08967278323581039367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738048378012755564.post-39921823927670129092010-02-16T18:36:24.968-08:002010-02-16T18:36:24.968-08:00The "punishment" of having the boys watc...The "punishment" of having the boys watch 30 minutes of the Civil War series (which we also have) was absolutely brilliant! <br /><br />My husband and I used to love watching Bill Maher and we always would view the McLaughlin Report. You've brought back some good memories for me tonight.Widow in the Middlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01598249263166943162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738048378012755564.post-15670889767490430242010-02-16T14:53:07.762-08:002010-02-16T14:53:07.762-08:00Joe LOVED history. We have more history DVD's ...Joe LOVED history. We have more history DVD's than I can count. From Lincoln to the Kennedy's and everything in between. When the boys were little, if they acted up they had to sit and watch 30 min of a Civil War series (8 DVD's in all). At the time they saw it as punishment but now they know more about that time period than any kid their age, lol! Joe knew what he was doing. They both love history now. <br />When we first met and I told him where I was from, MA, he was so excited because he knew I was a democrat and would know about the Kennedy's. He was thrilled. That also explained his choice of wedding venues, Martha's Vineyard! He got Belushi and the Kennedy's in one deal, lol!Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08967278323581039367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738048378012755564.post-48030452177819202132010-02-16T13:44:36.108-08:002010-02-16T13:44:36.108-08:00Thanks everyone for commenting! It was so nice to ...Thanks everyone for commenting! It was so nice to talk about reading and books, which I love. If anyone has books they would recommend, feel free to pass the titles along. I find that the very best books I end up reading are usually recommended by someone.<br /><br />Seventies Girl - I will check out area book clubs starting with the library and go from there. I'll keep you posted.<br /><br />Vanessa - I used to see more plays too, even major productions in Chicago! Here in the suburbs there are always decent shows at the numerous local colleges. It is nice to be talking to an English Lit major. Do you have a response to my great question of the day which is whether Flaubert just created his characters for the story/plot line or did he make them up to represent certain themes such as evil and destruction?<br /><br />Thelma - I will look into the paperback exchange you recommended - it sounds fun.<br /><br />Jude - I am truly sorry to hear that you are in pain. I would think that reading would serve as a good diversion. It is working for me with all the emotional stuff. Couldn't hurt to try!<br /><br />Kelly - Hurry up and read the book and we can discuss it online! I think our Barnes & Noble stores have various book clubs. I will see about it. I loved talking politics with my husband. He knew so much about current events and taught me a great deal from a historical perspective since he was a history teacher. <br /><br />Let me know what you end up reading.Widow in the Middlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01598249263166943162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738048378012755564.post-80765839775812283312010-02-16T12:22:34.679-08:002010-02-16T12:22:34.679-08:00I too am an avid reader and have been mulling over...I too am an avid reader and have been mulling over pulling some of the classics. I think you just may have chosen my first one for me. <br />I was also wondering about a Book Club/group as well. I've not seen or heard of any in my area and was wondering if a place closer to Chicago would have more offerings. I was thinking maybe checking with the local Barnes and Noble thinking they might have some suggestions? <br /><br />Yes, it is hard not having someone to bounce thoughts and ideas off of. Especially if your partner was someone with whom you did that all the time. Joe and I were so alike in political and other beliefs that sometimes we would chose the mundanest of topics to debate just to be able to debate. It was fun. I miss that. <br /><br />A book is a great companion. It can take you places in your mind that you can't go to physically. A wonderful diversion during the cold, cold months.Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08967278323581039367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738048378012755564.post-64923287272930089422010-02-16T08:15:52.624-08:002010-02-16T08:15:52.624-08:00I read the book years ago when my mother mentioned...I read the book years ago when my mother mentioned that she had read it and it was scandalous at the time. I loved the book and should read it again. For some reason, I don't read as much as I used too--too distracted by the pain I live with each and every minute of the day. I should get back to it--maybe it would distact me from the pain?Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03399435237919718544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738048378012755564.post-74590393015668484922010-02-15T18:34:00.641-08:002010-02-15T18:34:00.641-08:00I'm glad you found a book that made you both t...I'm glad you found a book that made you both think and feel so much. I imagine you could find a book club in your area or even on-line. By the way, I love the paperbackswap.com site. It doesn't cost much to mail a book to a member who requests it and then you get a free book of your choice in return. Check it out.thelmazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09819557846762852247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738048378012755564.post-37359389472662370632010-02-15T10:36:20.689-08:002010-02-15T10:36:20.689-08:00It's funny you should mention Madame Bovary, b...It's funny you should mention Madame Bovary, because just yesterday I recommended it to someone who was trying to put together a reading list for high-school students. I majored in English literature in college, and it was among the best of all the many, many books I read for coursework.<br /><br />I totally agree on the need to make room for culture and entertainment in your life. One of my goals for this year is to see more live theater - it's something I've always loved, but haven't had many opportunities to do for a while. I haven't made it to a play yet this year, but my daughter just saw a production of A Wrinkle in Time on a class trip, so at least one of us is making progress!Vanessahttp://sneakyg.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738048378012755564.post-88724464069832879982010-02-15T10:32:10.682-08:002010-02-15T10:32:10.682-08:00I can really hear how much you miss the intellectu...I can really hear how much you miss the intellectual stimulation of discussing a book selection. I don't have that with my husband, but I have found that need met by my local book group. Granted, it did take me awhile to find a good match, but the group satisfies alot of inclusion needs as well as the commonality of having read the same book. I don't mean to fly into fix it mode with you by making the suggestion, but this may be a great way to get out and keep from isolating. If you can't find a group in your area - start your own. I think you'll be surprised by how many people are looking for the same thing. Just a thought...Seventies GirlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com