hardy missing out the zzzzzzzzzz! !

The reading group had been planning to start the challenge of Hardy being such a keen reader the first question I am often asked "what are you reading " and with the answer of hardy you could feel the mouth go down and the most common statement is OH SO BORING " but we are not deterred Evian though we had read "The uncommon reader "(how the queen found reading )with much hilarity we felt Hardy may prove more of a challenge than the Qeane but determined its leaving the hustle and bustle of Birkenhead and off to Wessex unmmmm (CIDER) HIC!


First things the title FAR from the madding crowd conjure up various images such as escaping like we are from the town to deepest wessex to a more simple life! or as one lady sudgested it just escaping from the mad people you meet in life !! I am with the former but still early days


I have read Mayor of Casterbridge and yes I did enjoy but have been told this is BORING but lets not give a final verdict til at least half way !


The main character called GABRIAL OAK gave abit of discussion of his name as someone called FRED !WILLOW would not give off the same aura ! as the mere name GABRIAL sound stating the obvious quite angelic and an oak is sure and steady and grows over time !


BETHSHEBA reminds you of yje other bethsheba and her behaviour with David in the bible although must reread this as not entirely sure of Bethsheba in bible!!

I was quite surprised to find us laughing quite frequently with the meeting of the two over the toll bar and the payment of twopence , I found him quite a likable character cant put my finger on it!! but not all thought so especially when the 2Nd installment came creeping along and found Mr Gabriel peeping through a crack at two women discussing the most exciting subject of sheep so from then on he became MR PEPPING TOM but come on only human nature to take a peep and I think you are lying if you are saying you would not!

BEING honest the 2nd chapter found few of us going on " oh we want a story as a lot of waffle about all things nature , I do like the finer things in life but cant stand waffle in a story (but then I am a fine one to talk or maybe that should be write

Good point while discussing this chapter at least you could feel the country side almost and this gave discussion how difficult a farmers life is and probably how isolated he feels so as said no wonder he peeped!

Bathsheba came across as a bit of a teese and somewhat vain especially when admiring herself in the mirror but most young girls do that !
By now settling down but we were glad of abit of drama which we got with a lost hat , yes you did read that right but much laughter as the peeping Gaberial was watching bethsheba as lost her hat but he dutifully returned it,but we were beginning to wonder if already in love and much discussion about "love at first sight" and wow ! how she blushed like a red tomato when she returned the hat ( just picture an overripe tomato)

the drama gets hotter and hotter as Gabriel overheats what is cooking like me not a fan of masterchef but luckily his faithful friend, what else but a dog goes for help from bathsheba
and all is well or otherwise would have been a very short book!

The humour between the two is very much evident and not to much is mad of the great and gallant rescue and their it all ended and yes we did enjoy it and we did laugh at Hardy wow!
more zz z of the sheep next time!