Selective Collective: Wentworth Hall Book Club Discussion

I think “upstairs/downstairs” stories are so interesting, because it’s a romance divided by class and society’s view of what is and isn’t appropriate. It’s a romance that was never meant to be much less to work out. Already the two characters are fighting the odds to stay together because society (and almost definitely their parents as well) would never approve of such a relationship. I actually think “Pushing the Limits” by Katie McGarry has a little bit of that feel – Echo was the popular girl (although her incident put her in a situation of her own) and Noah was always looked down on because of how he acted and the fact that he was now an orphan that had to live in a foster home. When the two first got together, it was scandalous because Echo’s friends couldn’t believe she would date someone like Noah because of his bad reputation, and we as the readers were kind of in the same boat but at the same time, rooting for the couple who had to fight the odds to stay together. It’s the reader’s job (and the author’s) to view society as wrong and also to root for the two characters that are working hard to make their relationship work. —Brittany

3.  How did the various scandals affect the characters? Would comparable scandals “ruin” upper-crust people the same way? What kinds of scandals still are completely socially unacceptable?
The scandals that affect the Darlingtons are 1) Lady Darlington having a child at an advanced age; 2) the Darlington children’s friendliness with the servants; 3) Wentworth Hall falling apart; 4) the apparent dwindling of the coffers. The Darlingtons are part of the elite society of England and are expected to behave a certain way.  Anything that deviates from the societal norm would ruin their reputation and might cause the children to not marry favorably, which would mean in this case, someone whose social standing is below their own.  What that means is that they may not get the infusion of money the Darlingtons so desperately need to keep their home in the manner to which they’ve become accustomed. Or even just in livable conditions. The “scandals” that the Darlingtons are subjected to, their dirty laundry being aired in the public eye, honestly, I don’t think they really had negative effects other than embarrassment (it was a local paper, let’s not forget, not something someone from society would have access to). Lord Darlington isn’t a businessman, so it wouldn’t effect him in that way. It may have made the Fitzhughs less likely to want to become allied with them, especially since the Fitzhughs are new to England and are looking for an “in” into society.  Another scandal that could have affected the Darlingtons is Maggie and her siblings friendships with the servants.  There is a definite invisible wall that should separate the haves from the have nots and never the twain shall meet.  It would be especially scandalous if there was any indication that there was something more than friendship going on.  These days, I don’t think it’s as much of an issue (not that I would be privy to the bizarre rules of the upper-crust) between titled folk and commoners, but between titled and the servant class, it is probably still unlikely and scandalous.  What scandals would be unacceptable now?  I think getting caught stealing money (not the actual act of stealing money, but the getting caught), adultery is still unacceptable, particularly if it is with a much younger person.  Homosexuality is still considered scandalous, despite our strides towards equality and tolerance. Any kind of sexual deviancy or unusual sexual appetite would be scandalous. Drugs is still taboo, for the most part.  The problem with “scandals” these days is the whole concept of “all publicity is good publicity” in which anything that is consumed by the public puts one in the public eye, which can lead to all sorts of fame and/or fortune.  We’re just not as scandalized today as we have been in the past, but we’re also hungry to learn of any sort of behavior that we could point to and say, “I’m better than that.”  We thrive on scandal as a society because it is the great equalizer. —Daphne

I would have liked more back story on the romance between Maggie and Michael. There seemed to be a genuine love there and while, I assume future books will either tell more of their future or hint at it in some way, I wonder how they went from childhood friends to love.  And then I would have liked to watched the drama unfold for them as Maggie left and Michael had no clue as to the true reason why.  I also would have liked to see where Therese ended up.  We know something big happens to her at the end of the novel, but it is in no way the end of her story; it’s a new beginning. —Tee

I think indiscretions absolutely matter, even today with all the trashy secrets and goings on we see every day on tv and in the news. I truly believe a lot of the indiscretions happen merely for publicity so society perceives it to be okay. But in reality, or real life, these indiscretions are detrimental to families and our society. They create financial issues, can lead depression, and an increase in numerous other problems. I don’t think my impression of public figures changes when we hear about their indiscretions, but I think that’s because I feel so many public figures aren’t the types of role models we should idolize or base our actions and ethics on. —Candice