rilla of ingleside discussion post

[imaginary_lines]

And here it is, the moment we've all been waiting for!

I can honestly say that this book is my favorite of the series and I am honored/nervous about presiding over the discussion. If I miss anything you want to talk about, correct me and I'll add it!

1. as was pointed out last post, Rilla of Ingleside (according to wiki) is the only Canadian novel

Comments

[empressearwig]

1. as was pointed out last post, Rilla of Ingleside (according to wiki) is the only Canadian novel written from a women's perspective about the First World War by a contemporary. I know this is a broad question but does this fact change the way you see/read the book? Can you tell, when reading, that it's a contemporary account and not a retroactive one?

I think it's a super interesting piece of trivia, but it doesn't really change the way I read the book, no.

2. How do you feel about this book being the last in the "Anne" series? A good wrap-up? Too depressing? Just the right mix of adult issues mixed in with the problems of growing up?

I think it's probably the perfect wrap up. To go any further with it is to get into even more depressing territory, really, and while it's not like I want to discount the actual history, I'm perfectly content to leave it here. (Or at least I would be if more people would write fic about what happens after the book. COME ON.)

3. How do you feel about Susan in this book? A steadying presence or an intrusive know it all that you could do without? And her attachment to Shirley?

I think this is my favorite book for Susan, minus her cockblocking Rilla and Ken when he comes to say goodbye. That I hate her for. And her attachment to Shirley -- it is a bit much at times, but I think I get it. And at least someone loves Shirley. (Forever bitter about the lack of Shirley in these books.)

4. Gertrude Oliver! Love her, hate her? Do you find her premonitions/dreams realistic or find them too fanciful? and does anyone else get shivers at
'No,' said Gertrude, more bitterly still. 'It's true I haven't lost a husband-I have only lost the man who would have been my husband. I have lost no son-only the sons and daughters who might have been born to me-who will never be born to me now.'

I quite like Gertrude. I definitely don't find her dreams to be too fanciful, especially since most of them are horribly depressing. I think people can see things like that. And that line does get to me. Poor Gertrude.

5. The baby in the soup tureen - James Kitchener Anderson. Baby Jims! Do you think Gilbert was irresponsible in handing over the care of an infant to a 15 year old girl? Did you like that Rilla was not enchanted by him at first and slowly grew to love him? Would you be able to raise a little war-baby?

I love that Rilla didn't like Jims at first, but just treated him as an obligation. And irresponsible isn't the right word for it, I don't think. Yes, he wanted to teach Rilla a lesson, but Jims wasn't ever going to be neglected as long as he stayed with the Blythes. And I don't think he'd have done it if he didn't think Rilla was capable of rising to the occasion.

6. Do you think the war itself was portrayed realistically? Do you think the ratio of deaths and injuries was too high for a small town in Canada or did you find it reasonable?

Yes, I did. Just given the numbers of young men that died in WWI, I had no problem with the number of injured/dead that came from Glen St. Mary.

[empressearwig]

7. Speaking of deaths and injuries....(sniff)...whose hit you the hardest? Did you give Jem up for dead when he disappeared? Walter getting called by the Piper? Carl's losing one eye? Miller Douglas's leg?

Walter's death is one of those things that always makes me cry. I can't read that passage (or actually Rilla reading his letter) without getting teary-eyed.

8. The romances between the Blythe children and the manse children - did you think it was too neat and tidy, or did it make sense to you? Faith + Jem, Una loved Walter, Nan + Jerry....discuss!

I AM JUST BITTER THAT THERE WASN'T MORE OF THEM. Not romances, because more than the ones that we got (and I'm not sure Una and Walter should count here because unrequited love isn't tidy) would have been unrealistic, but I want to know HOW they fell in love. Maybe that's what I wish Rainbow Valley would have been. More of a direct prequel to Rilla, where we see them as young adults starting to spoon.

9. Do you read/think of Walter as gay? All my girlfriends read Walter as gay, whereas I never did. What do you think?

I honestly never had that thought. His unrequited love for Faith is probably why.

11. Rilla's characterization in this book - do you think she grew up because of the war? Would she always have been a vain belle otherwise, with no ambitions? Or do you think she would have grown up anyway?

I think Rilla probably would have grown up anyway, but she'd have grown up very differently. She did grow up because of the war and it shaped how she grew up, but almost no one remains the same as they were when they were fifteen forever.

15. Anne and Gilbert in this book - too much, not enough?

I actually think this book gets the amount of Anne and Gilbert mostly right. There's not necessarily anymore of them in this book, but they feel more present. I"m not sure why. It just feels that way to me.

16.Most romantic ending, or most romantic ending?

"Is it Rilla-my-Rilla?" he asked, meaningly.

Emotion shook Rilla from head to foot. Joy-happiness-sorrow-fear-every passion that had wrung her heart in those four long years seemed to surge up in her soul for a moment as the deeps of being were stirred. She had tried to speak; at first voice would not come. Then-"Yeth," said Rilla.

I LOVE this ending. I'm not sure if it actually tops the ending of Anne of the Island for me, but it's damn close. I love them. They are all the wonderful things.

ALSO: I'm going to pimp this out one more time because I'm super proud of it: Rilla of Ingleside picspam, as conceived of by myself and duchessofavalon.

[katayla]

Maybe that's what I wish Rainbow Valley would have been. More of a direct prequel to Rilla, where we see them as young adults starting to spoon.

That would've been AWESOME. I guess we get Jem/Faith hints in Rainbow Valley, but they all still feel so very young in that one.