Radcliffe is slow but spectacular reading

I'm loving The Romance of the Forest but I'm taking soooo long to read it. I'm so far behind in reading these 1123 books that I don't think I'll ever be able to catch up. Not even in the 30 years I already expected this to take.

I had planned for five days per book. I'm now something like five weeks into the exercise and I'm only on book three. Yikes.

But, on the other hand, this Ann Radcliffe has been a revelation. These books are fun. And exciting.

And they are an interesting look, melodramatic as they are, into the 18th century. The plight of Adeline in this book is just crazy by modern standards. She's smart, beautiful, virtuous, apparently hard-working. And yet, because of society's rigid approach to gender roles and gender opportunities, she is completely incapable of addressing the challenges that face her without help from others.

From men.

As Radcliffe so powerfully presents, Adeline must obtain protection from either her abusive father, the spineless LaMott or any young man to whom she might agree to become wed. And her virtue won't allow her to marry in haste, or for improper motives.

Other than that, no hope at all. She can't just go out a find a job. She can't move in with a group of women for mutual support. She can't set up her own business.

Oh yes, she can always return to the convent and live out her life there.

But it's a pretty dismal set of options, don't you think? Her entire future is entirely dependent on the whims of the men she encounters.

I'm halfway through and, though I know how it will eventually end (with Adeline happily married to her chosen young man), I'm fascinated to experience all the barriers she will have to overcome to get there.

Just what I need... more books

I'm really loving book three in my quest. Ann Radcliffe's The Romance of the Forest is fabulous. I'm only part-way through and the plot is just starting to get revved up but still... it's really great.

A suitcase full of books

That being said, I'm starting to wonder about how much my wife actually loves me. She is well aware of my recent decision to commit myself to reading every book in our house. She's well aware that it will take me well into my 70s to finish the books we already own.

So what does she do? She brings home a suitcase of books. More books. Difficult books that she found at a sale at the local university library. And she tell me she has more to bring home...

Just look at that picture. That's a lot of books. Why would she do that to me? As one friend said, she obviously doesn't want to have to spend too much time with me for the rest of our lives.

Ugh.

In the Forest with Radcliffe...

On to better things. My third book in my quest is my second book by 18th Century gothic romance novelist Ann Radcliffe, The Romance of the Forest.

So far, I'm on page 24 and, once again, I'm loving Radcliffe's writing. And what a great premise. Right now, our characters are making camp at a deserted abbey in the middle of nowhere (well, France but its remotest parts).

It's nice to be reading something that makes me want to pick up the book again every time I"m forced to put it down.

Wonderful stuff./