1. Posted: November 7, 2014In:

    When down-to-earth Nadya parts ways with her frivolous sister, following their mother's death, she resigns herself to a life of toil and loneliness. So when love comes to her unexpectedly, even amidst the chaos of the Russian revolution, she takes hold of it with both hands. But can her newfound romance survive his lingering infatuation with a long-lost beauty destined to resurface?

    dpg Singularity

    >> The only major change I made was to the setting Not an insignificant change, methinks, and I have to wonder why. Does the upheaval in Russia directly impact the plot, create seemingly insuperable complications or obstacles? What unique, dramatic purpose does Russia serve in the working out of theRead more

    >> The only major change I made was to the setting

    Not an insignificant change, methinks, and I have to wonder why. Does the upheaval in Russia directly impact the plot, create seemingly insuperable complications or obstacles? What unique, dramatic purpose does Russia serve in the working out of the plot that can’t just as well be served by England?

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  2. Posted: November 7, 2014In:

    When down-to-earth Nadya parts ways with her frivolous sister, following their mother's death, she resigns herself to a life of toil and loneliness. So when love comes to her unexpectedly, even amidst the chaos of the Russian revolution, she takes hold of it with both hands. But can her newfound romance survive his lingering infatuation with a long-lost beauty destined to resurface?

    dpg Singularity

    Thanks to Google I was able to find an extract of what appears to be the start of the book. The inciting incident (which is usually where a logline kicks off), seems to be the death of their mother which plunges the 2 girls into dire economic straits ( ala "Sense & Sensibility" where the death of thRead more

    Thanks to Google I was able to find an extract of what appears to be the start of the book. The inciting incident (which is usually where a logline kicks off), seems to be the death of their mother which plunges the 2 girls into dire economic straits ( ala “Sense & Sensibility” where the death of the father plunges Eleanor and Marianne and their mother and younger daughter into hard times.) And the setting for the story seems to be England.

    Are we talking about the same book?

    All of Austen’s major books are about women confined in a narrow world of limited opportunity; they can’t inherit property, they can’t even earn their own way in the world. Their only hope of improving their situation is to get a good match. Finding true love is desirable but not always ‘practical’ — see Charlotte Lucas in P&P.

    Then there’s Edith Wharton’s grim “House of Mirth” set in a similar period as “Heart of Gold” (albeit in the USA) about the descent woman from the upper class into poverty.

    So, what is Meade’s story about in terms of their objective needs? (Love wasn’t an objective need in that era. It’s was a collateral benefit, a bonus.) Aren’t the girls trying to survive in a tough world after their mother’s death, hoping for love, but… ?

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  3. Posted: November 7, 2014In:

    When down-to-earth Nadya parts ways with her frivolous sister, following their mother's death, she resigns herself to a life of toil and loneliness. So when love comes to her unexpectedly, even amidst the chaos of the Russian revolution, she takes hold of it with both hands. But can her newfound romance survive his lingering infatuation with a long-lost beauty destined to resurface?

    dpg Singularity

    Thanks to Google I was able to find an extract of what appears to be the start of the book. The inciting incident (which is usually where a logline kicks off), seems to be the death of their mother which plunges the 2 girls into dire economic straits ( ala "Sense & Sensibility" where the death of thRead more

    Thanks to Google I was able to find an extract of what appears to be the start of the book. The inciting incident (which is usually where a logline kicks off), seems to be the death of their mother which plunges the 2 girls into dire economic straits ( ala “Sense & Sensibility” where the death of the father plunges Eleanor and Marianne and their mother and younger daughter into hard times.) And the setting for the story seems to be England.

    Are we talking about the same book?

    All of Austen’s major books are about women confined in a narrow world of limited opportunity; they can’t inherit property, they can’t even earn their own way in the world. Their only hope of improving their situation is to get a good match. Finding true love is desirable but not always ‘practical’ — see Charlotte Lucas in P&P.

    Then there’s Edith Wharton’s grim “House of Mirth” set in a similar period as “Heart of Gold” (albeit in the USA) about the descent woman from the upper class into poverty.

    So, what is Meade’s story about in terms of their objective needs? (Love wasn’t an objective need in that era. It’s was a collateral benefit, a bonus.) Aren’t the girls trying to survive in a tough world after their mother’s death, hoping for love, but… ?

    See less
    • 0