CMP Review 2023-03-30

CMP Review 2023-03-30

March 30, 2023

I love Charlotte Mason’s Formation of Character. Once after a conference Q&A, a fellow panelist point out that I had referenced the book in every answer I gave. It’s such a great read!

Part IV, however, presents some challenges. It is like listening to one half of a conversation. Miss Mason engages at a deep level with one book per chapter. It is possible to trace her line of thought in most cases, but “Young Crossjay” is especially difficult to follow if you haven’t read The Egoist by George Meredith.

In Idyll Challenge discussions, I’ve resorted to sending participants a summary of the plot with a synopsis of the major characters. That kind of information has helped me to better understand the chapter.

But 2023 is the year for me to listen to the other half of the conversion. Along with many others signed up for this year’s Living Education Retreat, I am reading The Egoist. I’m still in the early chapters, but it already feels like visiting a distant land for the first time after reading a fantastic travel guide. “Formation of Character” told me what to look out for, and now I’m experiencing it in 3D.

“Perhaps you are too proud for ambition, Sir Willoughby,” says Miss Dale. It’s lines like this that bring home the author’s remark that there is a bit of Willoughby in all of us. Are you reading The Egoist? How are you liking it so far? Do you plan to discuss it with us in July?

@artmiddlekauff