Discussion Post - Emily Climbs
Hey everyone! Sorry this is going up late. My weekend has not gone as expected. ANYWAY, I hope everyone has been enjoying Emily of New Moon as much as Anne of Green Gables. This is actually my first time reading Emily, so I'm really glad I had this community to motivate me!
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I think I liked both about the same - I like the Shrewbury setting less (Aunt Ruth, ugh) but there's a bit of lovering and that's certainly nice. I like Emily herself better too - I liked her as a child but it's good to see her maturing.
2. Did you think the bargain Emily had to make with Aunt Elizabeth in order to go to school was fair? Would you have been able to make a similar promise if you were in Emily's shoes?
Well, just asking for no more writing straight-up was ridiculous, but I kind of liked the bargain! Like Mr Carpenter said, it actually ended up helping her writing. And she was still able to relieve her emotions in her journal. I certainly don't have Emily's urge to write, though, so maybe I just underestimate the sacrifice it was!
3. What about the new setting and living with Aunt Ruth? Did you miss New Moon, or were Emily's trips home enough for you? What did you think of Aunt Ruth in general, now that we got to see her up close?
I did miss New Moon! It felt like we saw less of her friends, too. Maybe it's because a lot of the stories were retold in Emily's journal, so it felt less focussed on them? Anyway. Like I said, I didn't care much for Shrewbury or Aunt Ruth - although it makes for a great surprise when she ends up on Emily's side that one time. I think we saw quite a bit of New Moon, though, so I was rather satisfied.
4. What did you think of Emily's relationships with her New Moon relatives, especially Cousin Jimmy? What about Teddy Kent and Mrs. Kent?
Cousin Jimmy is great in this one, he really feels like the only one who understands Emily sometimes. (Laura just seemed to cry all the time, haha. And even Elizabeth, who's clearly liking Emily more and more, wasn't there very much.) And Teddyyyyy. I know lots of people don't like him, so I tried to see their side in this re-reading... and I don't know, he's not perfect certainly (he feels a bit selfish) but Emily loves him so much, I can't help but want them to get together. Plus, he can blame his genes for his selfishness.
5. Dean: creepier now than in the first book, or just misunderstood?
Well, Emily is a bit older, so I guess a little bit less creepy, but... still ugh. Something happens in the third book that coloured my entire view of their relationship, so I can't even be happy for Emily that she has someone who truly "gets" her.
6. Outside of Dean, what did you think of Emily's relationships with the other boys: Teddy, Perry, and even Andrew?
lol Andrew. I'm pretty sure LMM recreated him from some courtships she endure too, haha. He seemed so boring! It must suck to have your family push someone on you so much like that. And a cousin, too!
Perry is - well, Perry. The classism is seriously a little much in these books sometimes, I mean, it's ridiculous that Emily despairs of Perry not eating properly or whatever instead of rejoicing that he's invited to a big fancy dinner with important people. But at the same time, he just kisses Emily!!! And keeps insisting that they'll get married! Oh, Perry.
Teddy - I guess I answered it a bit above, but man. I love their kind of ~supernatural connection~, how he hears her when she screams his name from the church... And I love the look they share in the house that one time. But it sucks that he didn't follow it with anything, and that he's leaving now. Dammit Ted!
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Oh, it's still the church and the house-in-the-winter-storm where they share a look. Man, I am a hopeless romantic. I love the story of the woman who spanked the king, though, and the little boy Emily finds, too (the whole canvassing bit is fun)! And I hate the Chu-Chin mix-up, it triggers my second-hand embarrassment in a big way.
8. What did you think about Emily turning down the job with Miss Royal and staying in New Moon? Did you want her to go, or were you glad that she stayed?
Wow, I have no idea what would have happened to her in New York. It seems like she just would not fit in there in a thousand years. It felt ridiculous that she would even consider it! And it would have felt like cheating a bit, somehow...
Thanks very much for making the post, by the way :D
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Cousin Jimmy is my favorite of the Murrays! Although I really have grown to love Aunt Elizabeth.
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The woman who spanked the king! I love that story, too. I can't believe I forgot to mention it.
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CHILLS, I GET THEM.
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This is how I feel! And I don't know. Their relationship just feels pretty realistic. Both of their flaws getting in the way, their mutual nervousness about it all . . . and I think both of their ambitions get in the way, too. Like, they both still have so much they want to do at the end of this book. Teddy is going away, Emily has already made the decision to stay at New Moon . . . I think the timing really wasn't quite right. (Plus, they really ARE still pretty young, even given the different time.)
. . . and now you have me imagining would it WOULD have been like for Emily in New York. I think you're right. It really wouldn't have been the right place for her.
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