Discussion Post - Emily Climbs

[spyglass_]

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!

Comments

[empressearwig]

1. What did you think of book overall compared to Emily of New Moon? Did you like it more or less?

I like this one so much more. I don't know, it's weird, I know that Anne/Emily start at about the same age, but Emily of New Moon feels so much younger to me. Maybe because despite her own tragedy she's more sheltered than Anne? Maybe that's it. But I like this one better.

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, I had to promise to apply for an appointment to a military academy that I did not want in order for my father to agree to help me with college which I did and then he didn't do, so on the whole, I'd say Emily's bargain was pretty fair. Harsh, maybe, but fair.

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'm really glad I never had to live with Aunt Ruth, but I liked the new setting at Shrewsberry. I did miss New Moon, but leaving and seeing new places is a part of growing up and so I'm always glad when that happens in books too.

4. What did you think of Emily's relationships with her New Moon relatives, especially Cousin Jimmy? What about Teddy Kent and Mrs. Kent?

I like them! I like that she has the relative she can always turn to for support in Cousin Jimmy and I like that she has Aunt Elizabeth to bring her back down to earth in a not horrible way like Aunt Ruth is prone to do. Everyone needs both, I think, and I like that Emily has options, as it were. As for Teddy and Mrs. Kent, man, their relationship is so messed up. I get it and I'm sympathetic to Mrs. Kent, but when Emily goes off on her? I want to cheer.

5. Dean: creepier now than in the first book, or just misunderstood?

Creepier! I always think Dean gets creepier. It's obviously less inappropriate here because Emily's older, but man. GO AWAY.

6. Outside of Dean, what did you think of Emily's relationships with the other boys: Teddy, Perry, and even Andrew?

I love her relationship with Teddy in this book. The scene in the church and then graveyard when she calls him and he's going to kiss her, it's one of my favorite parts of the book. And oh! The scene in the house where they look at each other and Emily KNOWS, but that's the next question and I should be saving them. Perry, I like his friendship with Emily though I think the proposing would get tiresome. But I like how absolute firm Emily is in her resolve towards him. And as for Andrew, I feel sort of sorry for him. Because he's trapped in this as much as she is and I think he sort of likes her and it was never going to happen.

7. Which moments from this book stand out to you as favorites? For those of you who are rereading this, have your favorite moments changed any?

THE SCENE IN THE HOUSE. THE SCENE IN THE HOUSE. Man, I love all of that. Them getting trapped in the snowstorm and Ilse getting drunk and then Emily and Teddy just LOOKING at each other and having their whole futures decided for them and Emily's book idea. I just love that scene so much.

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?

I think initially it made me mad, but I do get why she did it and I think it was the right choice for her at that time. Always and forever, maybe not, but in that moment, it was what she should have done.

[myr_soleil]

Scene in the house FOR THE WIN! I love everything - Teddy selling dreams and Ilse being sick and then drunk - poor dear! - and I don't know, the storm setting is just so great. :D

[empressearwig]

It is the BEST scene. And even though Teddy does stuff in the next book that pisses me off, all I have to do is think about that scene and I am completely back on board. Trapped by convenient circumstances is almost always a goldmine and it definitely is here.

[spyglass_]

I really liked Emily of New Moon, but I think I liked this one a lot more too. I couldn't tell if it was because I'm only reading them for the first time now or not, though. It could very well just be my own preferences.

I enjoy that both you and myr_soleil both answered #7 with the scene I had in mind when I thought it out, LOL.

[empressearwig]

I think there's more to identify with in this book? Going away to school is kind of a universal experience now and at the heart of the book that's what this one is about.

Hee. IT IS JUST THE BEST SCENE. Period, the end of discussion.

[spyglass_]

There's definitely more to identify with in this book. My favorite Anne book is Anne of the Island (although for more reasons than just the experience of her going away to school, which I do love), so I wonder if this will be my favorite Emily book?

IT REALLY IS.