Book Reading

[donnie]

Here are the three you mentioned you didn't remember.

Thanks for the links. I think I may be interested in reading The Daughter of Fife soon. I'm still in Penrod now. Speaking of which...

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man, the racism in that book is horrendous, isn't it? He even refers to P's black friends as lower evolutionary forms at a couple of points. Yuck. Tarkington should have done better than that, even in that day.

But, having said that, the part of the book where the boys put on a show is hilarious. Herman and Verman may actually be my favorite characters so far.

[Kitty]

I think I may be interested in reading The Daughter of Fife soon.

The book is soooooo good, but word of warning: you'll have to get used to the vernacular, as much of the dialogue is written in Scottish dialect/accent. It is a beautiful story, though, full of strong characters and so worth the read.

Referring to Penrod:

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man, the racism in that book is horrendous, isn't it? He even refers to P's black friends as lower evolutionary forms at a couple of points. Yuck. Tarkington should have done better than that, even in that day.

Yes, and the second one is worse in that respect, unfortunately.

But, having said that, the part of the book where the boys put on a show is hilarious. Herman and Verman may actually be my favorite characters so far.

They really stand out!! If I remember correctly, Herman and Verman are in the second book even more.

[donnie]

“Yay” in Pernod

I’ve noticed the characters using this word frequently with

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apparently, a completely different meaning than it has today. In the passage below, it seems to be used to express derision, like “hogwash,” or something.

But then sometimes they use it to greet each other. Odd. Do you remember noticing this when you read it?

“NO, sir! I'll have candy in it, but not to eat, so much. It's goin' to be a deportment store: ladies' clothes, gentlemen's clothes, neckties, china goods, leather goods, nice lines in woollings and lace goods——”
“Yay! I wouldn't give a five-for-a-cent marble for your whole store,” said Sam. “Would you, Penrod?”
“Not for ten of 'em; not for a million of 'em! I'm goin' to have——”
“Wait!” clamoured Maurice. “You'd be foolish, because they'd be a toy deportment in my store where they'd be a hunderd marbles! So, how much would you think your five-for-a-cent marble counts for? And when I'm keepin' my store I'm goin' to get married.”
“Yay!” shrieked Sam derisively. “MARRIED! Listen!” Penrod and Herman joined in the howl of contempt.”

[Kitty]

Re: "Yay!"

Do you remember noticing this when you read it?

Definitely! They use it to greet each other, as you said, and they also use it to mean "Yeah, right!!" in a sarcastic fashion. Those kids are strange.

[donnie]

I've finally finished Penrod. I so much enjoyed this book. (Well, aside from the unfortunate aspects commented on earlier; that's a flaw in the book, and not a minor one. ) The funniest part of all was

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the LIttle Gentleman / Tar incident. That's the hardest I've laughed in awhile. And that was all the barber's fault. That guy was sadistic!

And this was followed closely by the Georgie "gone to hell" episode. Which part did you find funniest?

I'll have to admit that I was surprised at the ending, however. I expected it to go out with a bang, but the last was surprisingly gentle and poignant. And I thought the character of Fanchon was an interesting one, by the way.

I enjoyed seeing the stills from the movie in the review, but you know, thinking about it, I'm doubting how successfully this would have transferred to film. At first, the story would seem to be a natural for a screen version, but when you think about it, so much of the humor comes from Tarkington's manner of description. And there's a lot in the way he builds up to the climactic events that I'm not sure would be possible to capture in a screen play. What do you think?

Now I'm keen to read the next one.

[Kitty]

I've finally finished Penrod. I so much enjoyed this book.....

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Which part did you find funniest?

"Yay!" I'm glad that you liked it!!

I had to go back to the book to refresh my memory: Idk about the funniest part, more weird, but the part where they were putting together their concoction so they could play "Drug Store". Then Maurice drank so much and didn't even get sick. It was funny the way Tarkington wrote poor Duke's reaction to the medicine, though.

"That was the spark. They acted immediately; and a minute later Duke, released from custody with a competent potion of the smallpox medicine inside him, settled conclusively their doubts concerning its effect. The patient animal, accustomed to expect the worst at all times, walked out of the door, shaking his head with an air of considerable annoyance, opening and closing his mouth with singular energy—and so repeatedly that they began to count the number of times he did it. Sam thought it was thirty-nine times, but Penrod had counted forty-one before other and more striking symptoms appeared. All things come from Mother Earth and must return—Duke restored much at this time. Afterward, he ate heartily of grass; and then, over his shoulder, he bent upon his master one inscrutable look and departed feebly to the front yard." The part in bold was my favorite line of the section.

And, as you said, a lot of the enjoyment of the story comes from his descriptions. The description of Georgie Bassett as Best Boy In Town and Penrod being Worst Boy In Town is just hysterical. It gives the characters a distinct personality, whereas I think many other writers would have made them flat and boring.

All things come from Mother Earth and must return—Duke restored much at this time. Afterward, he ate heartily of grass; and then, over his shoulder, he bent upon his master one inscrutable look and departed feebly to the front yard.

I enjoyed seeing the stills from the movie in the review, but you know, thinking about it, I'm doubting how successfully this would have transferred to film. At first, the story would seem to be a natural for a screen version, but when you think about it, so much of the humor comes from Tarkington's manner of description. And there's a lot in the way he builds up to the climactic events that I'm not sure would be possible to capture in a screen play. What do you think?

I'm willing to bet that the situations in the book aren't really super close to the ones in the movies, as usual. I'll speculate that it's more a little rascals type film. But I have no idea, really! And, yes, it's Tarkington's endearing description into a little boy like Penrod's mind that makes it a fun to read for the most part.

Now I'm keen to read the next one.

Fantastic! I read some reviews of Penrod on Goodread, and it looks like some people don't like the second one as much as they like the first one (There is also a lot of shock about the racism in the books, as is to be expected) but I think I liked the second one better, though it's hard to tell if I'd have a different opinion if I'd read the books back to back and quickly. I didn't read them back to back, and, especially with the first one, I started to read it, put it down for months, and then picked it back up again. (You know how it goes....) Anyway, I'm really excited for you to read Penrod and Sam, as this one is the one that is most fresh in my mind.[/spoil]

[donnie]

I've finished Penrod and Sam. I really enjoyed this. A couple of thoughts:

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My favorite part was when Penrod stole Margaret’s letter and had to read it in class. I laughed so hard I couldn’t get my breath.

The most disheartening part was when Herman’s pants got lost in the bottom of the cistern. (Penrod and cisterns. ) I think I was about as anxious about those pants as Herman was.

My favorite character is Verman. He was so cute when Penrod was trying to draft him into herding the snake creation.

The last chapter rather took me aback—it was stessful to see poor Baby Rennsdale's house wrecked that way. And it seemed odd to be introducing into the story right at the end the new miscreant that out-Penrods Penrod. That kid is evil. ( I never did get his name right. In the Gutenberg copy I had, he was called Charlie, Carlie, and Carrie in different places. (OCR error?)
Edit: I just went back and read that part of the blog, and see that it is Carlie.

Now that I think about it, Tarkington did somewhat the same thing in the last chapter of the first book, with the introduction of the manipulative high-society little girl (forget her name).

And I'd forgotten the chapter with the gun—that one I didn't like, either. That was somewhat distasteful and made me uneasy. I don't think that chapter would be included in today's climate of gun violence. Not much humor to be found there.

One other thing, I saw you stated in the blog that Penrod's escapades were the result primarily of bad parenting. That kind of surprised me. Are you referring to his not being held sufficiently responsible for his acts?

I thinking now about reading the third Penrod book, if it's available online.

[Kitty]

I've finished Penrod and Sam. I really enjoyed this.

I'm so glad you liked it!

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My favorite part was when Penrod stole Margaret’s letter and had to read it in class. I laughed so hard I couldn’t get my breath.

Why did he keep reading it?! And doesn't he know his sister well enough that it might be something sappy and girlie??

The most disheartening part was when Herman’s pants got lost in the bottom of the cistern. (Penrod and cisterns. ) I think I was about as anxious about those pants as Herman was.

I know, poor guy. Penrod would have wreaked havoc if those were his pants!

The last chapter rather took me aback—it was stessful to see poor Baby Rennsdale's house wrecked that way.

That would make for a great ending scene in a movie!

In the Gutenberg copy I had, he was called Charlie, Carlie, and Carrie in different places. (OCR error?)
Edit: I just went back and read that part of the blog, and see that it is Carlie.

How weird!!

And I'd forgotten the chapter with the gun—that one I didn't like, either. That was somewhat distasteful and made me uneasy. I don't think that chapter would be included in today's climate of gun violence. Not much humor to be found there.

That one's a pretty grim subject. I couldn't wait to get past it.

By the way, was this the book with the friend and the old horn stolen from the uncle? I get the situations mixed up as to which part was in which book.

One other thing, I saw you stated in the blog that Penrod's escapades were the result primarily of bad parenting. That kind of surprised me. Are you referring to his not being held sufficiently responsible for his acts?

Yes. He's allowed to run around town making all kinds of trouble and he never gets truly punished for anything he does, as the parents seem more preoccupied with their own things.

I thinking now about reading the third Penrod book, if it's available online.

Nice!! It's not on Gutenberg, as it's not yet in public domain.

[donnie]

Replies:

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Why did he keep reading it?!

Because the teacher forced him to, against his will.

And doesn't he know his sister well enough that it might be something sappy and girlie??

You'd think he'd at least have glanced to see what was in it. But Penrod never thinks ahead to any extent. He inhabits only the present; the future is nonexistent.

By the way, was this the book with the friend and the old horn stolen from the uncle? I get the situations mixed up as to which part was in which book.

Yes! I get confused as to what was in which book, as well.

And that was one chapter where I could actually identify with Penrod. I think I've mentioned that I've always been fascinated by musical instruments, even as a small child, particularly large bass wind instruments. As a matter of fact, I've just now fallen down a rabbit hole reading about and looking pictures of historical sousaphones.

[donnie]

I've started reading Penrod Jashber, the third Penrod book by Booth Tarkington.

Observations from chapter 1:

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I hate to say this, but Penrod is stupid. Even for an adventurous, mischievous 12-year-old, he's stupid. In a previous book, he gets into big trouble by eating a bunch of junk at the carnival, and spends four days in bed under medical care. And here he does it again with doughnuts. You'd think a kid half his age would have the sense not to do that again.

I did like the description of the dogs' personalities and interactions in this chapter—a lot of imaginative writing there based on keen observation.