So we arrive at the end of the book and this great read-along. These final chapters were my favorite and I especially enjoyed the part where Lucy, high on drugs, warders through a mid-night party in the park 🙂

But now seriously: the chapters in the Park were masterpieces of pacing. The way Brontë built up and released tension turned Villette into a page-turner, something I couldn’t in truth say until then.

I absolutely loved the Lucy and Graham moment in the park and even got a bit teary when she describes “Lucy’s Room”. Graham is not a bad man and can be redeemed… just not by her. I’m sure many of us have a Graham in our lives.

He did not with time degenerate; his faults decayed, his virtues ripped; he rose in intellectual refinement, he won in moral profile: all dregs filtered away, the clear wine settled bright and tranquil.

It was also a guilty pleasure to see Lucy (finally) lash out at Mrs. Beck – “Madame, you are a sensualist.” I had to go to the dictionary to understand exactly what she meant here – “sensualism is the philosophical doctrine according to which sensations and perception are the basic and most important form of true cognition.” That doesn’t seem too bad, but the way Lucy says it it really sounds like an insult.

And talking of insults, I was laughing at myself over Lucy’s swearing – “Dog in the manger!” – I think I’ll adopt the expression.

I was happy with the ending. After the drama and anguish, after the exposure of the true villains of the story, I welcomed the little house with the white walls and delicate china. However (there always seems to be a “however” between me and Mr. Paul), it was a bit cheeky of Mr. Paul to go ahead and rent a house for Lucy without actually knowing if she would accept it or his proposal. Also, he made her wait at the Pensionnat, when he knew she was close to people who didn’t want her wellbeing. But all is forgotten, after all, he trusted her and let her to make her own way for three years – how many Victorian heroes would do the same? I think they’ll be very happy together.

Once again, thank you Wallace for organizing and moderating the discussion and to the bloggers out there who stuck by the read-along until the end – it was a pleasure sharing this book with you!

PS:

“Do I displease you eyes much” I took courage to urge: the point had it’s vital import for me.

He stopped, and gave me a short, strong answer; an answer which silenced, subdued. Yet profoundly satisfied.”

That was a kiss, right?

PPS: Didn’t Ginevra’s letter remind you of Lydia’s in P&P?

Brussels’ Parc Royal, very close to the Pensionnat Herge.