SLA update
So I know that normally this time of year I would be writing all about the new Masterpiece Classic season and getting on here with heaving bosom to talk about my new British boyfriend, but here's the thing: They started with Tess of the D'urbervilles.
Because they want us all to watch it, stand up, walk to the bathroom, stick our heads in our toilets, and drown ourselves in despair. (Which, by the way, means we'll miss the rest of the season. Way to plan that lineup, PBS.)
It's just that I hate that story. Hate, hate, hate. It's so depressing, it makes Jude the Obscure look like a frothy romcom starring Kate Hudson. I tried to watch it this week but about 20 minutes in I had to turn it off because I knew what was coming. I mean seriously, this poor girl. She has absolutely no chance for happiness because the men around her insist on either 1) raping and impregnating her, 2) refusing to baptize her illigitimate rape-baby when it dies, or 3) marrying her and then abandoning her off when she turns out to be "impure."
I can't take it. If I want to be that depressed about the state of women I'll go watch reality TV. Or Bride Wars.
I'll write more when they move on to Wuthering Heights (yet another feel-good crowd-pleaser).
(But ps. Laura Linney is doing a much better job so far as host than Gillian Anderson did. For starters, she actually seems awake.)
I'm Steph, a librarian and mom of 3 (not sure how that happened). Let's chat books, food, Sumptuous Literary Adaptations, poop, knitting and maybe some crazy Mormon Feminism.
16 comments:
Seriously. I tried to watch the first half, but I refuse to watch the second. I had nightmares. So wrong.
I don't know, Jude the Obscure is pretty horrific. But I suppose it's not horrific for the ENTIRE book like Tess is.
Urgh, Wuthering Heights. Don't even get me started. I found it hard to get into a book when I didn't like any of the people in it. Hi, we're all wretched horrible mean and nasty human beings. Read about our tragic love.
No way! I'm reading this book RIGHT NOW in English.
Hahaha, but there is that temporarily happy part at the dairy...
Ok, it's so funny that you posted this. When I noticed on my DVR schedule that they were starting with Tess, I took a deep breath. "Maybe it will be good this time," I thought, "Maybe I'll actually LIKE Tess this time instead of wanting to kill her, them, and myself in a literary murder-suicide."
Glad I know better, thanks for warning me off.
Also, Wuthering Heights...
BLERGH.
So I shouldn't lament the missing of the first part?
word veri: mushliti (would that be Italian for "much crap"?)
Maybe they were describing the movie.
Aww. I happen to really like Tess. Admittedly, it isn't a fluffy, happy story, but it really fits a place in my heart. Although, I did summarize a short bit for one of my classes, and my students were like, "You like that story? What's wrong with you?" Sigh.
It's okay. I'll take a stand for the unpopular literary pieces.
Except for Clarissa. I will never think positive thoughts about stupid, stupid Clarissa.
I'm so glad I have you to tell me about this stuff so I can make sure to watch it! Or not watch it, as the case may be.
Hardy knew that some of his characters (ahem, Angel Clare) were misogynist pigs, right?
Right?
for some reason, i like wuthering heights. i don't know, sometimes it's nice not to feel obligated to like any of the characters. then you don't feel guilty for feeling happy when they all die.
i have to feel at least sympathy for tess, which is too much for my cold black heart.
Like Jen, I am still having nightmares over Tess and her poor baby. I know the story--ughh and yet I couldn't turn the stupid thing off. It was like a car accident. I just stood there with my 6 week old boy in my arms and watched as her baby screamed in pain and then died. Horrible.
i totally blogged about MP. i had no idea about this story and, since watching it, have felt like taking the steps you describe. but, since my head won't really fit in my toilet i have decided to just fill up the bathtub and drown myself in there. seriously. so depressing. wow. i do like angel, though. he is very handsome and british! what more can one ask for?? ;)
i think this story is one of the best book club discussions. it always boils down to who hates which man more and why. i've had so many heated arguments about the evils of both men. it's great.
Really?! You hate Tess? I am shocked. It's actually one of my favorite books--I liked it much better than Jude. Yes, it is very depressing and sad, but I think that's why I like it. It is one of the few stories that makes me cry. I LOVED the PBS adaptation, it was so so good. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my intense sobbing. Poor poor Tess!
I am not so sure I will be watching Wuthering Heights though. The last adaptation I watched of it was not that great. It looks as though this one will be much sexier.
OK, not to be a nerd and comment twice or anything, but I hope you give Tess another chance. I watched it and I think the principle of "hate the story, love the adaptation" can certainly apply here. Just FYI.
I'm glad I read your blog because I don't think I would have heard about this otherwise and I am glad I watched it. Thanks!
I cried for days over Tess. She is in so many movies now where she doesn't have a sad, horrible ending.
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