StoryStash Books

StoryStash Books

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StoryStash Books episodes

  • Chapter 17: The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim
    This week, we again get to spend time with Mrs. Arbuthnot - funny to still call her by her formal name after all these months. Rose, we get to spend more time with Rose Arbuthnot. As a contemplative introvert, I love spending time with Rose. I know what it is like to hem and to haw, to reason it out and then take it all back again. I think that is why this is such an easy story to enjoy, the characters are so easy to relate to, likely exaggerated a bit, but they each have traits we see every day in the world around us, even though it was written all those years ago. And now, back to Rose: she has reached an impasse. Her contemplation has run its course and now she must act. Will she or won't she ask her husband to join her? Her internal protection alarms are going off warning her to keep herself safe, her soul is pining, and yet still she has to make a decision. This chapter will take her, faster than she realizes, into the next step of her life. You will also find an early example of "mansplaining" in this chapter, done with the best intentions, of course - it made me giggle to see it, hopefully it'll make you smile too.
    24 min
  • Chapter 16 - The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim

    This chapter we check in with three of our ladies, but my favorite part is that we get to spend some time with Mrs. Arbuthnot. It's been a while since we've checked in with her, as Mr. Wilkins likes to say about her, she is the most retiring of the four ladies. The tenderness of her heart for her husband keeps her hidden away. But with the time and space away from the busy-ness of London: the meetings, the poor, the serving of others - always the serving of others - she finally has time to untangle. She has space to figure out what she wants, doesn't want and even what she believes; the essence of Mrs. Arbuthnot is starting to rise to the surface. What could be a sweeter way to spend an April?

    31 min
  • Chapter 15 - The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim
    This week our chapter focuses of the character of Mr. Wilkins. It is true that last week we had a peek into the antics of Mr. Wilkins (through no fault of his own) but this week we get a chance to glimpse into the mind of the dear man. Like men of his kind, his ultimate goal is to build the clientele of his law practice. While this brings out the money-grubber in most, interestingly enough, this brings out the compassionate human in Mr. Wilkins and we see all his energy aimed at pleasing and building trust. Mr. Wilkins is given an opportunity to leap to the forefront, to be the hero of the situation presenting itself - just like he has always desired. Even better, it is in service of Lady Caroline and Mrs. Fisher! Come join us for the next chapter with the charming, attentive and clever Mr. Wilkins.
    32 min
  • Chapter 14 - The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim

    This week brings the entrance of Mr. Wilkins and he starts to change the dynamics of the castle simply with his male presence and perspective. I know there are "things" that I avoid because they are complicated or would be a bother to others; my husband, however, ignores the over-thinking part and just does those "things." Ah, the difference between men and women... Well, Mr. Wilkins is no different and has no idea of the consequences of his actions until it's too late! But really, what kind of story would it be if everyone avoided the tricky (and surprisingly volatile) parts??

    28 min
  • Chapter 13: The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim
    Chapter 13 brings with it the beauty of San Salvatore. I love this one - it's a quiet chapter and the movement our ladies are experiencing is so deep-rooted and internal that it is difficult to see unless you can peek into their minds - lucky for us, this is a book and we can. Mrs. Wilkins, already thriving and awake, was just the tip of the iceberg. Scrap, Mrs. Arbuthnot and Mrs. Fisher, all have strange stirrings - but how to get to the other side of them? Each of them must first go through the awkwardness and uncomfortability before shedding their skin (so to speak) and moving on. Join me, and experience with me, what our lovely ladies are going through.
    40 min
  • Chapter 12 - The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim

    Chapter 12 brings with it the end of the first day at San Salvatore and the bringing together - for the first time ever – of the four ladies who will share the next month together. On this evening, personalities begin to emerge and interactions set the tone for their upcoming evening meals. We know Mrs. Fisher has issues with Mrs. Wilkins - and that Mrs. Wilkins doesn't even notice - but what about Scrap? It's the first time, really, she's interacted with anyone other than Mrs. Fisher and the range of personalities laid out before her is at once intriguing, horrifying and mystifying. And then of course there's the announcement from Mrs. Wilkins - that only Rose any idea about - and that adds extra spice to everything else. Just a quiet night at the castle, that's all....

    Join me for Chapter 12 of The Enchanted April

    35 min
  • Chapter 11 - The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim
    Mrs. Wilkins is definitely aware of how thankful she is to be in the new, breathtaking surroundings of San Salvatore. It helps quite a bit that she allowed herself to be transformed immediately - there were no protests, no struggles against change for her! But Mrs. Fisher and Mrs. Arbuthnot are in very different places than our sweet Mrs. Wilkins. Not surprisingly, Mrs. Fisher is as much Mrs. Fisher than she ever was. She has had many, many more years to develop (in her opinion) the RIGHT way to do things and envelope herself in those traditions. On the other hand, Mrs. Arbuthnot has stayed busy to avoid dealing with the situations she found herself in (amazing that they did that too in the early 1900s) and now that she's surrounded by the quiet beauty of San Salvatore, she has quite a bit of catching up to do. Last week we left our two originals, Mrs. Wilkins and Mrs. Arbuthnot, just caught by Mrs. Fisher in the room she had reserved for her own personal use. What will she ever do with these two hooligans?? Join me to discover the next chapter of The Enchanted April.
    23 min
  • Chapter 10: The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim
    Today's note is actually a thank you. Thank you to all my high school English teachers and the work you put into us, and really, for making us do vocabulary lessons. I even had a teacher that had us do an additional, college-level book of vocabulary so that as we moved through the world, we would have a better understanding of the words we encountered - and hopefully be able to pronounce them correctly too. Looking back, there was always a struggle to learn each week's new words and the attitude that vocab was just busy work. Now, however, I see how those lessons still help me today to read through and understand the pictures drawn for me by the words in every book. I have experienced this pressing appreciation for words lately. Because of reading older books, I read more words I don't immediately know. This week the word I learned was "marchioness" and the definition, according to Merriam-Webster, is a woman holding the rank of marquess (ranking above an earl and below a duke) in her own right. Also, the ch is pronounced with the sh sound - Who knew??!? Well, I'm sure somebody did, but I sure didn't. Anyway, the point of all of this is that as unsexy as word definitions can seem, as soon as I looked up this one simple word, the whole section of the book was illuminated. Yes, I've read it before without knowing the definition and understood the section generally, but this gave the story more depth and fullness - it painted a better picture for my heart and mind to attach to. When you listen to today's chapter, you'll understand the meanderings of Lady Caroline's mind that much better too: her background, her experiences, what's she's escaping from and what she hopes to be moving toward. All illuminated better. So again, thank you to all the English teachers who taught me over the years to enjoy and appreciate the words that make up our world. Join me and enjoy this new section of (the better illuminated) The Enchanted April.
    26 min
  • Chapter 9 - The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim
    This week we get to spend some time with our girl Mrs. Fisher. Well, to be more accurate, the older, distinguished, somewhat uptight, opinionated, stuck in the past Mrs. Fisher. When I'm reading her internal thoughts I think it's easier to understand her refusal to accept anything new and to only value the old. If you happened to encounter Mrs. Fisher in real life (unless you were one of her approved, elderly friends) it is inevitable that you would hear comparison and disapproval. From within her mind though, yes, there is still comparison and judgement but the added appeal of charming memories, made only sweeter by the passage of time. Remember the games you played as a child, your favorite songs, the best ever television shows or that simple but special family trip you took? Well, take that and add in all the venerable authors and poets that defined the zeitgeist of the time. (I had a psychology professor who's favorite word was zeitgeist - I wouldn't know the word otherwise, but because of him, I will never forget it. It simply means the spirit of the time. Think back to when a few artists could change the culture, the atmosphere. It's easy to see why Mrs. Fisher cherished her childhood memories so much. We are each on a journey together, so lets see where this part of the journey takes us all
    27 min
  • Chapter 8 - The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim
    This chapter is a perfect example of why I love this book - its so much more than just a couple of women in an idyllic Italian setting. Mrs. Wilkins opens the chapter with this gem: "I can't see the least point in being in authority at the price of one's liberty." - I mean, REALLY. And it was shy, bumbling Mrs. Wilkins who said it! If we took this advice, how would it change our every day lives? In this instance, it releases Mrs. Arbuthnot to simply enjoy.
    37 min

About StoryStash Books

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StoryStash is a podcast where we read classic books aloud and you and your family get to enjoy books you've loved or are just discovering in a whole new way.