Flight of the Heron read-along: Part IV chapters 5-6

[regshoe]

I'm afraid real life is being stressful at the moment and I'm feeling a bit frazzled, so no comment from me today—but here's the post, so others can start on the discussion. :)

Next week we'll read chapter 7, the final chapter of Part IV.

Comments

[hyarrowen]

I love Ewen's remark in Ch V, 'Then our wishes coincide, my Lord, which is gratifying.' Ewen has obviously learned his snark from the best, ie Keith.

Ch VI is the only one in the book which doesn't really work for me, and never has. It's too similar to Ch II. Same location, same dynamics, just ramped up. Oh, well.

The procession of memorable aides-de-camp continues. The exquisite one in Ch VI always makes me smile - she has a way of nailing a minor character without going into endless detail.

Captain Greening being womanish - well, that's unfortunate by the standards of a hundred years later. Either it's a product of her time, or it's internalised misogyny, or, and this is my preferred possibility, he's based on an officer she knew. Most British officers in WW1 were excellent (and their very high casualty rates had consequences in the somewhat humdrum nature of senior officers in WW2) but there would always be bad apples.

Here's hoping things calm down for you, regshoe! Not a great time of year for things to go bad. Thank-you for keeping up with the posting.

[regshoe]

Ewen has obviously learned his snark from the best, ie Keith.

:D

I like the contrast between the rash impulsiveness of chapter 2 and the deliberate coolness of chapter 6—I think there's a sense that Keith's placing Ewen and his honour above his ambition has become more firmly entrenched. But I take your point about their similarity, especially in the way Keith is conveniently and unexpectedly saved from actually being cashiered a second time. Va n jnl V guvax vg jbhyq unir orra jnl zber vagrerfgvat vs Xrvgu unq riraghnyyl unq gb snpr erny pbafrdhraprf gb uvf pnerre sbe gur pubvprf ur znxrf sbe Rjra'f fnxr... ohg V'yy gnyx nobhg gung jura jr trg gb gur raqvat!

Yes, I suppose the other possible explanation for the dwelling on Greening's womanishness is that it's an attempt to add memorable colour to a minor character, as Broster so often does, and that that colour might have been taken from a real person. I like the thought of her using her own war experience to inspire military background characters!

[hyarrowen]

especially in the way Keith is conveniently and unexpectedly saved from actually being cashiered a second time.

Wouldn't be a story if he had to go and earn his living as a secretary or riding-master or something! Prophecy, what prophecy?

I like the thought of her using her own war experience to inspire military background characters!

The tiny detail that's a stand-out to me is at the shieling when Guthrie's saddle creaks as he pulls himself upright again. That's a memory of her own, or I'll eat my hat.