In which we do some winter reading

We've talked a lot at the Blog A Go-Go about seasonal reading. Jane Austen is spring to me, but the Brontes are definitely winter. (I can't figure out how to get the little umlaut above the "e", so pretend it's there, mmmkay?) Anyway, if you've only read the Bronte novels and haven't delved into their biographies, you must MUST get a copy of Juliet Barker's The Brontes: A Life in Letters. Their lives were, in short, heartbreaking, and Charlotte Bronte was nicer to her heroines than fate was to her. Of the four Brontes who grew to adulthood, three died within eight months of each other of tuberculosis. Only Charlotte remained, and if the image of her sitting alone each evening in the parlor of their parsonage-home, unable to read or write due to eyestrain, with no one to talk to and nothing to listen to but the wind as it whispered and howled around the house, if that doesn't break your heart a little nothing will. And if that weren't desolate enough, the final tragic irony is the last chapter of her life when she married a man she never expected to love, then died within months of their wedding, victim of a rare and fatal form of morning sickness. It would make a wonderful movie if people could bear not having a happy ending. The book itself is riveting, and Barker's brief notes are not at all intrusive. She also includes early reviews of the Bronte novels, and it's fascinating how many of them were critical. (The books were considered by many to be immoral and unreadable for ladies.) And I have to admit to an extremely pleasant moment of vindication on a very tiny point of British usage. From time to time I receive e-mails from English people wanting to chastise me for using the word "forgotten" in SITG on the grounds that "we never use that word". From now on I'm going to reply with "Charlotte Bronte did." I would add "So there," but it just seems petty. In any event, if you have any affection for the Brontes, track down a copy of their letters and you'll be amazed at how they spring to life.

Comments

[Julie]

'Forgotten' doesn't bother me in the slightest, but 'gotten' has me foaming at the mouth!

[missi]

Thank you for another great book suggestion. Your blog has the best of everything!

I'm also glad to hear that there will be a fourth book coming out in the "Silent" series.

Have a fabulous day-Missi

[Karleen]

Here is the link about adding umlauts!

http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/finetypography/ht/umlaut.htm

Cheers!

Don't the Brits mean to say "You won't be forgotten for using the word 'forgotten'"?

[Roshni]

Why don't British peoplelike using the word 'forgotten'? I use it all the time.

[Christina]

Hi Deanna,

I enjoy your blog and books very much, and I came across this site today (http://www.typealyzer.com) It will tell you your blog's myers-briggs "personality" profile. Enjoy!

[Sharon]

Hi Deanna -

I'll have to try it out to see if it works on TypePad, but you can usually produce a letter with an accent by using Alt + a numerical code typed on the number pad of your keyboard.

First press "Number Lock" on the number pad, then hold down the Alt key while typing the code specific to the symbol you want. For Brontë (It works!!!), type Bront hold the Alt key and type 137 on the number pad (with number lock on). When you release the Alt key the accented letter will appear. Brontë

[Laura]

I'm wondering about the people who send you these emails! I know I can't speak for every British person in the country, but I absolutely use the word "forgotten"; and on a regular basis. So too do lots of people I know.

And if it's good enough for a Bronte... :)

[Danja]

Thank you for another wonderful book recommendation. I love Bronte sisters' novels, so I will definitely check out the book. May I also add that your novel SITS is one of my favorite winter readings? I just love the atmosphere in that novel. The snow, the abbey, the characters. It's a perfect winter read, especially if there is snow outside. And I can't wait for March 1st so I can read your new novel.

[Deanna]

Christina, that was awesome! Here's the link to the results: http://www.typealyzer.com/index.php?lang=en

Sharon, that is VERY impressive. You have mad umlaut skills. (Thanks, Karleen!)

Thank you, Danja! That is what I wanted when I wrote it. I was just in the mood to write a COLD book, if that makes sense.

[Lara H.]

But what do the British use instead of "forgotten"? That seems so random...

[Melissa(The Artist)]

What??? I really don't understand why The Brits got so bent, what is wrong with that word??? I'm at a lost, can't understand why that would prompt an angry e-mail. What word do they use in it's place...I'm curious now.