A Haven for Vee

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Time for Litera-Tea

There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea.~Bernard-Paul Heroux


This week's installment for the Tea Blogathon is all about literature and tea. The particulars can be discovered at Gracious Hospitality.




Today's selections come from two books that are being closely linked in literary circles because of similar themes. Diane Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale is a masterful first novel and I can not recommend it highly enough. You will love it most especially if you ever loved reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.

Descriptions of the healing or restorative powers of tea always appeal to me...hence my selections.




When she found him, she raised him from the ground. He leaned heavily upon her as she led him with tender care to the kitchen and sat him in a chair. She made tea, sweet and hot, and he stared, unseeing, into space. Without a word, holding the cup to his lips, she tilted sips of the scalding liquid into his mouth. At last his eyes sought hers, and when she saw the loss in them, she felt her own tears spring up. ~from The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield



I had now swallowed my tea. I was mightily refreshed by the beverage; as much so as a giant with wine: it gave new tone to my unstrung nerves, and enabled me to... ~from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Posted by Vee at 8:37 AM
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35 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 25, 2008 at 9:53 AM

    I have both of these books on my shelf to read. It's probably high time I did that. Thanks for the great quotes. It's funny how this carnival is opening my eyes to anything tea related. I'm reading Wind in the Willows right now and there was a similar paragraph on tea reviving the toad...
    Your header is very pretty!

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  2. Sandi McBrideMarch 25, 2008 at 10:32 AM

    I love Jane Eyre...it's one of those dogearred tattered books that really needs to be replaced, but I somehow can't throw out a book. Someone else probably would, so she sits on my shelf, ever ready, scotch taped and loved.
    Now I have to read The 13th Tale...Public Library, here come!
    hugs
    Sandi

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  3. AliceMarch 25, 2008 at 10:54 AM

    I've only seen the movie version of Jane Eyre. I'm only now getting through that other Jane, Jane Austen. And that's just because the PBS shows have make me hungry for more.

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  4. SandyMarch 25, 2008 at 10:56 AM

    Vee,
    Thanks for the reminder! I did not get my tea story for last week done, perhaps I can do it and this one also. I just had too much going on last week and could not squeeze it in. Love Jane Eyre, the book and the movie with Orson Wells! I have not however read The Thirteenth Tale, I'll have to check it out!

    I am rested, revved up, and ready to go, to the post office!! Have a happy day!

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  5. JanMarch 25, 2008 at 10:58 AM

    I love tea. I love to read! What more could one ask for!
    Take care!
    Love,
    Jan

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  6. smilnsighMarch 25, 2008 at 11:04 AM

    Another tea entry... Naturally, since there is this Tea Blogathon going on.

    -sigh- Wish I could learn to enjoy tea...

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  7. AnonymousMarch 25, 2008 at 11:41 AM

    Thank you for the recommendation of the book. I am always looking for a good read. I love Jane Eyre but I haven't read the thirteenth tale.

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  8. Judy March 25, 2008 at 12:08 PM

    Some wonderful old books and a good cup of tea...sounds so nostalgic! Would it be OK if I sipped coffee while I read those books? And would Bernard-Paul be offended if I changed his quote to read 'coffee' instead of tea?

    I'll have to do some research before I post a 'literary tea blog'...there's nothing that comes to mind.

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  9. HappyoneMarch 25, 2008 at 12:44 PM

    I've read Jane Eyre a couple of times - in high school and again when I was older. Loved it both times.
    Haven't read The 13th Tale.
    I will add it to my reading list which grows faster than I can read all the books on it. :-)

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  10. JoyceMarch 25, 2008 at 1:05 PM

    Hi Vee,
    I am currently reading "Jane Eyre" right now!!! I just started it Saturday night...I've seen the movies of course....especially the PBS one last year on Masterpiece Theatre. My favorite show of the week I might add...HA!
    You have a very pretty header on your blog and I have enjoyed your site and will come back and read it again.

    Thank you for coming to see me and leaving sweet comments I loved the ideal you gave that your children in your class used to do for Mother's Day.
    If I were teaching a little Sunday school class or something right now and I would use that thought forsure!
    I look forward to chatting with you more in the future......
    Joyce :~)

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  11. DorothyMarch 25, 2008 at 2:39 PM

    Hi Vee...Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that I could be lead to so many beautiful ladies that share the same fascination for Jane Austen... and other books from the same period. Thank you for the PBS tip Vee..."Good heavenly day" how much sweeter can life be....I'm off to purchase a new books today..Thanks for the suggestions..

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  12. Shady GardenerMarch 25, 2008 at 2:48 PM

    Lah-tea-dah's blog about hospital-i-tea is becoming a good way to meet nice people that also love to sip a cup of tea! ;-) Happy Spring.

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  13. AbbieMarch 25, 2008 at 3:38 PM

    Hi Vee!
    What lovely quotes.. I have not read either book, but might just ahve to now. (If I can find the time!) Hope you are enjoying the sunshine!
    xoxo~
    Abbie

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  14. smilnsighMarch 25, 2008 at 4:10 PM

    Vee ~ How I have tried tea? Just tea bags which you get in the grocery store. {I can hear your -sigh-, all the way over here. -smile-} That's right, don't brew or get nice tea, I suppose.

    And I do have a nice little tea pot and little cups/saucers, which my husband got for me one Christmas. So I _could_ brew tea, *in style* even. :-)

    Does it matter that I always prefer things on the sweet side? I know, you can add sweetness. But does the basic preference, have anything to do with choice of teas, maybe?

    Mari-Nanci

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  15. homespun livingMarch 25, 2008 at 4:45 PM

    Vee, thank you for the book recommendation. I have never read The Thirteen Tale, so I will look for it when I get to the library tonight.

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  16. C.C.March 25, 2008 at 6:11 PM

    Two more books to add to my growing stack! I am drinking a lovely cup of chai tea right now!

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  17. BittersweetPunkinMarch 25, 2008 at 7:21 PM

    Hi Vee...I enjoyed your post and the pics of your kiddos and grandbabies...
    Hugs,
    Robin

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  18. VeeMarch 25, 2008 at 7:36 PM

    Well, M-N, I don't know the answer, but I've asked an expert who may show up with an answer for you.

    I am not opposed to using a teabag...use them all the time for their ease. Might get fussy if I were inviting guests in, but I'm not a fan of tea leaves in my cup at all.

    Have you tried a vanilla chai? It's very tasty and mild. You can sweeten tea with honey and that gives a fuller flavor to the tea. I sweeten mine as well and add cream, too. I am no tea snob! :> I just like tea.

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  19. Mary Isabella and Kiley too!March 25, 2008 at 8:26 PM

    Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  20. Kari (GrannySkywalker)March 25, 2008 at 8:56 PM

    Can you believe I've never read Jane Eyre??? I'm lacking, I know. I've got the tea, though. That's a start, right? lol

    Kari

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  21. AnonymousMarch 25, 2008 at 9:09 PM

    Ohhh I love Jane Eyre... I'm writing down the name of that book...Thirteenth Tale
    thanks... I love to get lost in a good book
    Linda

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  22. Penny from Enjoying The Simple ThingsMarch 25, 2008 at 10:33 PM

    Two wonderful passages! I have not read the first book. I will have to check it out!
    Hugs,
    Penny
    p.s. my cactus bloomed at Halloween, Christmas and Easter! So, whenever it blooms on a holiday it gets a new name :-).

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  23. Maggie AnnMarch 25, 2008 at 10:56 PM

    Oh those quotes are awesome!!

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  24. a woman who isMarch 25, 2008 at 11:14 PM

    I just got through reading The Thirteenth Tale a few weeks ago. It was an exceptionally well written book. When I read about people drinking tea in these kinds of books, I usually have to join them. I am so funny. Tea is just so soothing, and goes so well with either of the books you recommend.

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  25. Karla Cook @ Roads to EverywhereMarch 25, 2008 at 11:41 PM

    Great quotes!

    Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you come again soon!

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  26. Pat @ Mille Fiori FavoritiMarch 25, 2008 at 11:53 PM

    Wonderfully interesting information, Vee! I've always loved Jane Erye, so now I'll be looking to borrow "The Thirteenth Tale" from the library to compare them.

    Thank you for your kind comments on my blog about the loss of my daughter's cat. We are so grateful for having had him in our lives.

    Hugs, Pat

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  27. MillieMarch 25, 2008 at 11:56 PM

    I really like those passages you quoted from the books. I hadn't noticed the one from Jane Eyre when I read it.
    mil

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  28. UnknownMarch 26, 2008 at 6:59 AM

    The Thirteenth Tale seems interesting, and even the cover is inviting I love Jane Eyre as well. I must look for the Thirteenth Tale. Blessings, Karen

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  29. DeniseMarch 26, 2008 at 9:09 AM

    Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. I always enjoy stopping in at your blog to see what's new. Isn't this blog-a-thon fun?

    Have a lovely day!

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  30. AnonymousMarch 26, 2008 at 3:30 PM

    Vee, your selections look awesome! I've heard so much about the Thirteenth Tale, I guess I need to get busy and get a copy :). Thanks for the wonderful recommendations, I'll be checking them out :).

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  31. GraceMarch 26, 2008 at 6:00 PM

    love your selections Your opening quote has always been one of my favorites!!!

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  32. Yellow Rose ArborMarch 26, 2008 at 11:33 PM

    I enjoyed reading about your favorite books and the excerpts about the healing teas.

    I also enjoyed reading your m&m meme!

    Katherine

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  33. La Tea DahMarch 29, 2008 at 11:37 AM

    Great choices of tea quotes for this meme! I especially love the first one. Tea really is restorative! Thanks for sharing! You have a lovely blog.

    LaTeaDah

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  34. joyh82March 29, 2008 at 4:58 PM

    I have read The Thirteenth Tale. It was awesome! We will be doing it in Oct as a library book discussion read too.

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  35. AnonymousMarch 29, 2008 at 10:37 PM

    My book group read and loved The Thirteenth Tale a year or so ago. And yet the tea scene did not stick in my mind for this blog-a-thon. Obviously, I need to start paying more attention to "litera-tea." :)

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