Vacation Man Comes Back

Dearest Madame,

Get all the reading done I wish to? Nay, nay, c’est impossible! And pleasurable reading is never “done,” it is savored and enjoyed and experienced good Madame! But yes, gloriously unwound I have been, although the pressing incessant world would soon have me otherwise!

Well spoken about the power of conviction and exceptional individuals. Brings to mind Margaret Mead’s famous quote!

And yes, the tests of adversity that can make some of us much more than what might otherwise be: Your analysis is well done!

Yes, those frightful feyfolk do get around a bit too much don’t they? :)

And such regret (well, as much as one can for novel characters) for Isola for never having a passionate encounter. And then at least some balm, in that she could partially relate by reading a well-written tale of one.

And that Kit could grow up in a time before all the enfeebling nonsense, as you say: this is where the nostalgic glass, often too rose-colored or even conjured, is actual, which only makes us sadder for its absence. Of course, things weren’t all perfect (not by a long shot) in what would have been Kit’s day, and the book carried things into a bit of excessive romanticism, but as you’ve pointed out, at least the overprotective American parenting (itself partially a reflection of a disconnected, non-communal society) would not have been much in evidence.

On to a few more enjoyable snippets:

About children and the “beautiful light they have before the Age of Reason gets to them.”

‘Love letters! I’ll be bound! Will there be secrets/ Intimacies? Should gentlemen leave the room?” Today’s gentlemen (when they can be found!) would probably not leave the room or ask if they should, although a few might fall asleep, lol.

The otherwise stiff graphologist who was thrilled for a little adventure, when they got a traffic ticket, which he was “privileged to pay.”

“If there is Predestination, then God is the devil.” Remy, where were you in Calvin’s day? :)

Dear readers, although I have further things to say on our wonderful book, I must beg off for a week. It seems that being gone on vacation in the modern day is cause for some stress upon one’s return: the world insists that I take care of its many details and urgencies before I can devote myself again to such DELIGHTFUL tales of potato peel pies and other things!