First, I want to say it’s a brilliant idea to read along as the year progresses. Second, I’m feeling a little harsher on Clarissa’s character at the moment, as she comes across to me as someone who likes the attention this has brought on her, and she plays the innocent. Her family’s not short on tempers or drama either. They all have their roles to play. Enter Lovelace, a determined man who detests being told ‘no’, and we have the ingredients for an explosion. I expect there will be some collateral damage. Thanks Natalie for setting this up.
Thanks Matt. I’m really enjoying reading along with everyone. I share your reservations about Clarissa, wondering if she’s secretly enjoying all the attention. When I read Richardson’s Pamela it was one of the things that irritated me quite a bit, that Pamela seemed to sing her own praises. I wonder if Clarissa will turn out the same way. Maybe it’s one of the flaws of the epistolary format that we only get to hear one, very intense and perhaps quite biased, point of view.
Love reading this! I’m really curious about the timing of the letters and what’s happening in between. I also have no sense of the geography of this story ..where these characters live, how far apart etc.
Thanks Sally! I’m curious about the geography too. It was interesting that in one of the letters Clarissa mentioned a note arriving through a messenger, which makes me think they are not too far away from each other. I wonder if this will become clear later on. Or if Richardson is keeping locations deliberately vague.
First, I want to say it’s a brilliant idea to read along as the year progresses. Second, I’m feeling a little harsher on Clarissa’s character at the moment, as she comes across to me as someone who likes the attention this has brought on her, and she plays the innocent. Her family’s not short on tempers or drama either. They all have their roles to play. Enter Lovelace, a determined man who detests being told ‘no’, and we have the ingredients for an explosion. I expect there will be some collateral damage. Thanks Natalie for setting this up.
Thanks Matt. I’m really enjoying reading along with everyone. I share your reservations about Clarissa, wondering if she’s secretly enjoying all the attention. When I read Richardson’s Pamela it was one of the things that irritated me quite a bit, that Pamela seemed to sing her own praises. I wonder if Clarissa will turn out the same way. Maybe it’s one of the flaws of the epistolary format that we only get to hear one, very intense and perhaps quite biased, point of view.
I’m reading it and would love to be added to your Instagram chat. @MelissaAnnAdams
Hello Melissa, that’s great. Hope you’re enjoying it so far. I’ll add you into the group!
Love reading this! I’m really curious about the timing of the letters and what’s happening in between. I also have no sense of the geography of this story ..where these characters live, how far apart etc.
Thanks Sally! I’m curious about the geography too. It was interesting that in one of the letters Clarissa mentioned a note arriving through a messenger, which makes me think they are not too far away from each other. I wonder if this will become clear later on. Or if Richardson is keeping locations deliberately vague.