I decided to read this book because in a month or two I'm going to be required to read it. It's for my Brit lit class this fall. This way I can maybe take some notes to refer to later on for a quiz or paper. So far the first couple pages haven't been too painful.
I like the prose the author uses. Currently the main character is annoying me a bit. He could easy solve his problems by just asking his employer what he's thinking about. Instead, he thinks about it for days before doing anything. I also noticed that he's got a bit of a nationalist streak. He first mentions how great Britain is so great, and truly deserves to be called great. And later, he goes on to say how "Continentals" could never make good butlers because, "they are as a breed incapable of the emotional restraint which only the English race are capable of. Continentals-and by and large the Celts, as you will no doubt agree-are as a rule unable to control themselves in moments of strong emotion, and are thus unable to maintain a professional demeanor other than in the least challenging of situations."
His writing seems to lack someone. I won't know something is happening until I'm explicitly told about it. He seems to leave out filler. Important event that has taken place: conference of 1923 and Steven's father's death. The death happened on the last night of the conference. Steven's believes these events to be the turning point in his professional career. By not getting overwhelmed by his father's illness and then death, he showed his dignity and his greatness. I guess the behavior is fitting for the time and environment. Apparently, the crowd would not have understood the need for the butler to go be with his dying father. So i guess his behavior is justified. This day and age...I think you're employer would understanding you dropping everything to go be with your dying father. But I guess his restraint and calm demeanor is indeed a commendable trait. Not so many others could control themselves so.
Characters
I like the prose the author uses. Currently the main character is annoying me a bit. He could easy solve his problems by just asking his employer what he's thinking about. Instead, he thinks about it for days before doing anything. I also noticed that he's got a bit of a nationalist streak. He first mentions how great Britain is so great, and truly deserves to be called great. And later, he goes on to say how "Continentals" could never make good butlers because, "they are as a breed incapable of the emotional restraint which only the English race are capable of. Continentals-and by and large the Celts, as you will no doubt agree-are as a rule unable to control themselves in moments of strong emotion, and are thus unable to maintain a professional demeanor other than in the least challenging of situations."
His writing seems to lack someone. I won't know something is happening until I'm explicitly told about it. He seems to leave out filler. Important event that has taken place: conference of 1923 and Steven's father's death. The death happened on the last night of the conference. Steven's believes these events to be the turning point in his professional career. By not getting overwhelmed by his father's illness and then death, he showed his dignity and his greatness. I guess the behavior is fitting for the time and environment. Apparently, the crowd would not have understood the need for the butler to go be with his dying father. So i guess his behavior is justified. This day and age...I think you're employer would understanding you dropping everything to go be with your dying father. But I guess his restraint and calm demeanor is indeed a commendable trait. Not so many others could control themselves so.
Characters
- Lord Darlington-Steven's employer
- M. Dupont-Frenchman that was very important at the March 1923 conference
- Mr. Lewis- American douche bag
- Mr. Lewis was badmouthing all the Englishmen and Germans that said stuff about French people. He was trying to undermine their efforts to convince M. Dupont about the Versailles Treaty (how it should be changed because it was hurting the Germans). The whole time you're thinking Dupont's speech at the dinner on the last night was going to be so bad...but it turns out he was on the right side. He then tells everyone that Lewis is a dick. Mr. Lewis speaks after that...says they are all naive and shouldn't meddle in these types of affairs.
- On his trip, his radiator starts running out of water. When getting help from a guy at a manor, the guy asks him about his work. When he finds out he works at Darlington Hall, he asks if he worked for Lord Darlington. Stevens lies....
- Stevens is not funny. He doesn't seem to have any natural ability at making jokes. So he always comes off as weird and awkward. Maybe it was breed out of him, because making jokes is sometimes considered uncouth.
- Lord Darlington said some bad stuff about Jews and fired two Jewish workers. A year later he said it was a mistake, but...I wonder what was going through his head.
- I knew Miss Keenton loved Stevens. It was very obvious to everyone but him.
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