Thursday, June 11, 2020

The Grand Finale


The Grand Finale 

Well, we made it!!!! We have reached the end of our Read-Along and personally, we are OVERJOYED WITH THE ENDING!! Since this is the final post in this grouping, along with our thoughts, we have a few extra special tidbits to end our Read - Along with!.....Stay tuned!!

Grace's Thoughts

Well, well, well... here we are for the last time *sniff sniff* the Grand Finale is upon us!!!

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That Uncle Benjamin is such a little gremlin! Suddenly he's the king pin of the situation, knowing what's best to do and all. He is really enjoying himself!

white house

I love how Barney tears up to the house and demands "Where is my wife?!" 
Poor Valancy, she has really deluded herself into thinking Barney cares nothing for her. And Barney's frantic affirmations to the contrary are so endearing! 

black door knob on white wooden door

Ahhh, we finally get the mysterious and ever intriguing backstory to Barney Snaith's backstory!

man and woman sitting on chair painting

 Valancy and Barney's past's are very similar in that they are both quite sad and lacking a loving and affectionate parent/relative. Now we can start saying 'Poor Barney' as well as 'Poor Valancy'!
And then he called her "Darling" and STILL she won't believe him! *Side note- I LOVE the expression "Darling"!*

white and black floral ceramic mug on table

I love Barney's outburst. I can just picture this scene so well, his pent up frustration and all the emotions he's been feeling over the past day or two just come out and FINALLY she sees the truth! And Uncle Benjamin can tiptoe away happy as a clam and Mrs. Stirling can record the marriage!


And now Valancy and Barney are rich as rich can be and can travel all over the world together!

variety of coins

I think it's funny that Valancy didn't want to be teased that she was the one who proposed!

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Who else loved Olive's letter?? It was just perfect!!! You can really see her character come out once she's not the center of everyone's attention and adoration. Her admonition to Cecil to not get fat was hilarious!!!

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It's rather sad that this book ends with Valancy leaving her Blue Castle. Yes, she is going off traveling the world with the man he loves, but she took so long to find her Castle and she was so happy there. I think this is one of those books where there shouldn't be a sequel. It ends in a good spot and nearly all the loose ends are nicely tied up.

silhouette of trees and body of water in sunrise background

Quick question... how do you pronounce Valancy's name? We were discussion the book with some friends the other day and realized that we say Valancy as in a curtain valance, but our friend pronounced it Val-antcy as in "she was getting antsy waiting". So what about ya'll??


Katherine's Thoughts

Oh, my!  This last quarter of the book was the best of all!  I love how Barney just races to see Valancy the next morning after she leaves and declares once and for all that he.....he.......(sniff, sniff)....loves Valancy!  

dougray scott gifs | WiffleGif

And Uncle Benjamin - dear Uncle Benjamin who came through when we all needed him - jovially ushers dear Mr. Redfern into the parlor and relays to Valancy that 'her husband is here'!  Ah, sweet bliss!

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And then hearing Barney's whole story - oh, don't you just love in the end of books where the mysteries and questions the characters have labored and pondered over are all answered so satisfactorily??  It's just so.......satisfying!!

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What with the turn of events, we are now shameless enemies of the little sprite, Ethel Traverse, 

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empathetic and happy friends of Barney and Valancy, 

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and forgiving citizens of the Stirling Clan!..........Funny how that all works out?

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I loved Olive's letter to her fiance!  It's so funny how she is "deciding" to go off and "misbehave" herself as Valancy did.  After all, it's becoming the "thing to do", isn't it??

10 Ways to Feel Better When You Are Feeling Down (With images ...

(Does Barney's plan to take Valancy traveling to all the places he's been remind any of you of another ficticious couple?  It kind of reminds me of Roger Hamley & Molly Gibson from Wives and Daughters.  But it's so sweet that he has all these places to show Valancy!)

Well, I think my final analysis of this book is......drumroll, please......

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I loved it!!  

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I'm so glad we picked this book for the Read-Along, as I probrobly would have never probed it's insides if I hadn't been pushed to it!  Funny how that is - some of the best things in life you would have passed over if someone/something hadn't stayed your hand.


Ok, it's time for extra tidbits.....

Blue Castle Inspired Collages

~ The Beginning ~



~ Barney & Valancy's Island ~



~ Back at Deerwood ~




~ The End ~




The Blue Castle
Dream Cast

We couldn't decide on just one actor/actress for most of these, so there are multiple options for those characters!

Comment and tell us if you like our choices or who you would choose instead!!

~

Valancy Sterling

Alicia Vikander

6(2) Alicia Vikander 'Testament Of Youth'Heyday Films - Laurence ...

Maya Hawke

Here's information about the PBS version of Little Women.

Willa Fitzgerald

Historical Prettiness

Lilly James

The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Society: Exclusive images from ...

Barney Snaith

Mathew McNulty

Matthew McNulty - Sue Terry Voices

Micheal Fassenbender

Michael Fassbender (Time Magazine)

Stephen Cambell-Moore

Stephen Campbell-Moore (James Delafield) and Julia Sawalha (Dorcas ...

Casey Afleck

The Finest Hours movie review: that sinking feeling | The finest ...

Mrs. Frederick & Cousin Stickles

Rebecca Front and Phoebe Nicholls

Doctor Thorne review: Fellowes and Trollope is a happy marriage

Roaring Abel

Karl Johnson

Karl Johnson.  Played deLacey the blind scholar in Frankenstein (2011, National Theater) and Twister Turrill in Lark Rise to Candleford (2008-2011, TV Series)

Graham McTavish

Graham Mctavish in The Finest Hours (With images) | The finest ...

Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe's 'Unhinged' betting big to be first theatrical ...

Cissy Gay

Ellise Chapell


Uncle Benjamin

 Tom Hollander

Tom Hollander in Dr. Thorne, 2016 | Dr thorne, Costume drama ...

Olive

Kate O'Flynn

Movie and TV Cast Screencaps: Doctor Thorne (2016) - Directed by ...

Dr Trent

Andy Serkis

Andy Serkis Talks The Batman, His Role as Alfred

Dr. Redfern

Tom Hanks

Saving Mr. Banks' review: Rich glimpse behind the Disney curtain ...

What are your thoughts for a dream cast of this delightful book? Did you like our ideas? Do tell us all!!

~~~~~~


Well, the end has come! We have very much enjoyed this read along and I think... maybe... this winter we might do another! Any ideas for our next book?

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Thank you all for all your lovely comments throughout this past month or so, we found such pleasure in each and every one of them!!!

Sound Of Music - So Long, Farewell GIF by Reactions | Gfycat


So long for now,

Katherine and Grace

6 comments:

  1. Ahh, I love this!! The collages are so fun and I think you did a great job with the casting. It's hard for me to pick though, haha... I really like the ending to this book as well and love that they get to go travel together. Such a dream!

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    1. Thanks so much, Grace! Yes it was a perfect ending!! Thanks for your help with the casting ideas!!

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    2. Thank you so much, Grace! Thank you for reading with us! Yes, there are a lot of choices! :)
      Yes, the ending is quite good!

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  2. Eeep! Reading this was so fun! Thanks for hosting this read-along! The ending was so dessert. That scene with Barney rushing in to explain to Valancy! *clutches heart* I hadn't thought about how to say Valancy, but I pronounce it sort of like "Val-antsy". Your gifs and images are perfect, as usual! Wow, those collages fit so well, too! I like the different choices in your Dream cast, and I like that you have several for Valancy and Barney because we all see them differently. Of your choices I fancy: Alicia Vikander, Michael Fassbender, and Russell Crowe along with the others.

    Thanks again for hosting!

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    Replies
    1. Awww, thank you so much!!! It was alot of fun!!! I think Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender would be awesome too!

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    2. Yes, I know! I love that part where Barney rushes in! :) :) Thank you so much for reading with us, MovieCritic!

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