The way it was talked about before the book came out made me think there was going to be more of Elias and his interactions/relationship with Alastair and Sona. I mean, there must've been a scene where they each first interacted with him alone. Idk, it felt really meh to just have a total of about 3 scenes wherein Elias was either being weird, drunk or just horrible and then he dies. Like, "here hate him for being bad before I kill him." I think the whole thing should've been explored more, idk.
We also get one line that suggests he doesn't want to have the new baby, which is another thing that was hinted at a bunch and which I thought would actually be talked about openly at some point and explored, not just tucked away in a rant before he dies and never really formally addressed. And I might be misremembering, but weren't Alastair and Cordelia going to have secret and important meetings about him or something? There was one scene where they talked after dinner but that's it? And Sona was so sure he'd changed and needed to be given another chance - - why?
I realize the writing must be based around whatever drives the plot, so such scenes would seem add-on but that only calls into question why Alastair isn't so much more important to the plot đ¤ smh,,,, I just think there could've been a lot more Carstairs scenes in the book that would've helped in understanding each of the Carstairs characters.
was the inquisitor corresponding with Tatiana lightwood? is that why he would want to burn a random letter and any other evidence he had that he had a vendetta against the lightwoods and herondales? đđđ
we never actually got to see Alastair and Elias interact on their own... why
The Andrew description is so so similar to the Ralph one. Fair hair and tanned skin obviously but there are so many details, he's even wearing grey like the school uniform. A proper post will follow but in the meantime omG
hmm, is the title "The Beautiful Cordelia" a nod to Jane Austen's "The Beautifull Cassandra"
Came across a mention of this short story by Mary Renault in her biography and found it in the Internet Archive. Itâs kind of christmassy, I guess đ
âAccording to Celsusâ by Mary Renault
Soooo.....The Charioteer? What did you think of it?
I thought it was great! I loved the use of subtext and the non-straightforward way it was written. I know from other Renault books Iâve read that she has a kind of writing style that isnât always simple or easy, but I donât ever remember it being this tricky. I had to go back and reread so many scenes in this one but it never bothered me. I thought it was so cool, especially the second chapter!
In terms of the characters, I loved Laurie although I didn't quite understand his relationship with his mother. But I did understand his love for both Ralph and Andrew, because I loved them both too. I think showcasing Andrewâs morals and also his moral-rigidity was an interesting angle and I really saw in him what Laurie did: a sweet young man whose whole life was devoted to notions of love, kindness and sacrifice. I understand why hitting Bunny wouldâve driven him to London: he spent his whole life adhering to a very specific code of conduct, which is based on certain principles, and in a moment he betrayed them all. And through that betrayal, he discovered something about himself which drove him further away still... I donât think Andrew will have a very easy road ahead for the foreseeable future, even if he outlives the war. Iâm really happy Laurie gave him the Phaedrus and I canât get the quote 'even the most exalted paganism is paganism nonethelessâ out of my head. I didn't dislike Dave at all, but now that I think about some of the conversation he had with Laurie and his own history, it makes me more worried about Andrew :( I loved Ralph! â he was someone Laurie could be open with completely, with whom he never had to hide. He was also just generally more suited to him. I remember when Charlot was dying, and Laurie thought âRalph would understandâ after Andrew refuses to impersonate a priest: because he would! Ralph doesnât see the world like Andrew does, he doesnât think there is only ever wrong or right and nothing else whatever. He was a soldier, like Laurie and understands necessity. Itâs true, he can be a little unkind in some places (like his annoyance with Sandy when heâs hurt himself) and also very snappish, but I think Laurie balances him out well by the end of the book. I think it's easier for him to be more vulnerable and openly kind when he's around Laurie. It was very sweet of him to come to the wedding, simply because Laurie mentioned being uncomfortable at giving his mother away. All in all, I can honestly say I was heartbroken when Laurie rejected Ralph and just as heartbroken when he accepts he will never see Andrew again. The ending made me happy though, and even though I know thereâs still some years of the war left and some wrinkles in their dynamic, I envision an ultimate happy ending for Ralph and Laurie.
I'm sorry if this is a lot more than what you were asking for, but I'm so excited about this book and haven't stopped thinking about it! Honestly, I think I need to read it again to better take it in and understand it! There are lots of other elements and themes I want to revisit so I can more clearly get a grasp on their place in the story. But anyway, thanks for the question!
cordelia carstairs to james at the herondale ball:
âIn the dream there had always been a pause in which he had looked up and said, âNext time you go away, Iâm going with youâ; and Ralph, who hadnât had a first name in those days, had looked down all the same and answered, âOf course.ââ
just spent an hour making guardian angel memes for absolutely no reason
Just a blog for whatever I'm interested in at any given time. 23.
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