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teachingmyown
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| Posted: June 04 2009 at 9:57pm | IP Logged
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Admitting that I not as well read as I wish that I were, I need to ask if there are any novels by the Bronte sisters which would not be appropriate for my 13 yr old dd who has read all of Jane Austen and also has read Jane Eyre.
I checked out a number of books by Charlotte and Anne but just wanted to double check before I let my dd loose with them.
Also, are there any George MacDonald books to be cautious about. Dd loves him too, but did say that some of his titles are not necessarily written for children.
Thanks!
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Molly
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: June 06 2009 at 9:02pm | IP Logged
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Bump! 
Come on ladies, help me out! I can't keep up with dd's reading and she's eyeing the stack of books!
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Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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KauaiCatholic
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| Posted: June 06 2009 at 9:18pm | IP Logged
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I want to help but am drawing a blank ... can you list the titles you checked out and maybe my memory will be jogged? (as an often-restrained bookworm, I feel her pain and admire your restraint!)
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: June 07 2009 at 10:13pm | IP Logged
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Three that I have in hand are
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Anne Bronte
Emma, Charlotte Bronte
Villette, Charlotte Bronte.
I thought there were more, I had better check her room! 
George MacDonald: The Baronet's Song, The Poet and the Pauper, and The Poet's Return.
These books have been "retold" for today's "modern reader" (I didn't notice this when I put them on hold  ) so I think dd is going to refuse to read them anyway. I will have to look for the original.
Thanks!
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Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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Willa
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| Posted: June 07 2009 at 10:25pm | IP Logged
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I don't think those would be a problem for a kid who is OK with Jane Eyre -- but isn't Emma written by Jane Austen? I think Charlotte Bronte wrote "Shirley".
I read the George MacDonald books in my 20's -- I doubt if they'd have a problem. Some of his books have a sort of "Gothic" element but nothing more intense than Mrs Rochester in Jane Eyre, or some of the Sherlock Holmes stories.
There is sometimes some slightly iffy theology (I don't remember if the books you mention had any of his theology). He was raised as a Calvinist and hated the idea of the "angry God punishing His Son" and so he went almost in the opposite direction, hoping that everybody would be saved, etc. It's not a major element in the stories but it does come up occasionally.
I think it's hard to find unabridged versions of George MacDonald books because he interpolated long discourses and also, he had his characters speak in a very difficult brogue. Think the moles in Redwall, only much more so 
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Willa
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Oh, and Villette has a scene where the character, a Protestant, takes refuge in a Catholic confessional in a moment of emotional crisis. The book makes it very clear that Charlotte Bronte did not think much of the Catholic Church -- the priest doesn't act badly or anything.
The chapter is here if you want to glance at it. It was based on a true incident in Charlotte Bronte's life when she was teaching at a school in Brussels.
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: June 07 2009 at 10:31pm | IP Logged
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Charlotte Bronte also wrote a book called Emma. I was confused, too.
Gotta love those Redwall moles! My kids speak mole all the time! 
I haven't actually read any of the MacDonald books, but my daughter loves his writing. I need to borrow one of her books just to see for myself. Right now, I am reading Hungry Hill by DuMaurier and Salamandatron, interesting combination!
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Willa
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| Posted: June 07 2009 at 10:32pm | IP Logged
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Oh, I see! It was a fragment. How interesting!
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Kristie 4
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I loved Rebecca, and the other ones Du Maurier when I was in highschool.
I read Wuthering Heights last year, along with Tess of the D'Ubervilles and Jane Eyre- loved Tess and Jane Eyre but found Wuthering Heights not that impressive. I found the characters hard to appreciate and sympathize with- it often felt like I was reading that eras version of a harlequin romance (no rotten tomatoes please on that comment!!).
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Topic: Bronte sisters
