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  • Tag: genre: classics

    • Classic & Re-Read: “Emma” by Jane Austen

      Posted at 4:30 am by Laura, on April 15, 2016

      Two birds with one stone in this post! Each challenge has slightly different questions, so this’ll make for an interesting review and discussion of Jane Austen’s Emma.

      2016classicschallenge1

      Stacey @ The Pretty Books is hosting the Classics Challenge in an effort to read more classic literature — and you can define “classic” however you wish! Sign up and start reading literature that’s standing the test of time. 

      Book #1 of 2016:
      Emma by Jane Austen (1815)

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      WHEN I Discovered This Classic

      The first time I read Austen must’ve been in middle school, around 12 years old. I bought two volumes that had her six novels, and I’m pretty sure I breezed through all of them. Only four stick out to me and I read often — Emma would not be one of them! It was firmly one of my least-favorite at the time, so I just stuck to the BBC adaptation and called it a day.

      WHY I Chose to Read It

      It’s been over 14 years, more or less, since I read it, and I love the BBC adaptation. So maybe my adolescent opinion isn’t worth listening to and I ought to re-read this classic again! (Plus, come on, Austen said she loved Emma-the-character. Gotta give her a chance!)

      WHAT Makes It A Classic

      Because it’s Austen. But I’m not sure what exactly made Austen a classic. Possibly because her stories are universal, satirical, well-written, interesting. Austen understood people.

      WHAT I Thought of This Classic

      I definitely have a higher opinion of Emma! Though it’s still not one of my favorite Austens, it was nice to be back in her style of writing. Mr Knightley is sassy and realistic, I do not like Frank Churchill (what an awful flirt), Mr Woodhouse is far more of a hypochondriac than I remembered or expected, and Emma, though difficult, was fun to watch. Check out my full thoughts in my re-read section!

      WILL It Stay A Classic

      Of course! It’s Austen, it’s a classic. It inspired one of the greatest 90s movie classics, too: Clueless. That match-making-gone-wrong story is a classic trope as well. Not sure if it started because of Austen, but it’s something that audiences gravitate to.

      WHO I’d Recommend It To

      Anyone who enjoyed the BBC adaptation, Clueless, or matchmaking stories. Emma is so much more than that, but it’s definitely the draw to the novel.

      ReRead2016Graphic

      Kelly @ Belle of the Literati is hosting a fun challenge for bloggers: The Re-Read Challenge! Not much of a “challenge,” per se, because why wouldn’t you want to re-read and re-experience some of your favorites? Sign up and start re-reading!

      Book #2 of 2016:
      Emma by Jane Austen

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      WHEN I First Read

      As stated before (the one overlap question, yay!), I was probably 12 when I first read Emma.

      WHAT I Remember

      Nothing particularly detailed in this book except that I found Emma to be snobbish when I first read it. I also remembered Mr Knightley scolding her a lot. (And yet, of course, the BBC adaptation became most of what I remembered. How do you know when a show/movie blurs the original work too much?)

      HOW I Felt After Re-Reading

      Relieved the BBC stayed true to the work, and pleasantly surprised. I took some notes while I was reading (because who doesn’t do that with a classic?), and here’s what stood out:

      HARRIET / MR MARTIN / MR ELTON — Emma’s snobbery clouds Harriet’s judgement of the sweet and perfect Mr Martin in chapter four. How incredibly fast! Harriet was such an impressionable character, but she came to her own by the end. I was also surprised with how large a role Mr Martin had in the books, too, as a tertiary character. His random appearances spark Harriet out of each of her “I love Mr ___” stupors.

      EMMA / MR ELTON / FRANK CHURCHILL — What Churchill did to Emma is exactly what Emma did to Mr Elton, in a way. Both characters unknowingly led another on; such flirts! Yet I have a hard time forgiving Churchill the way I could forgive Emma. Emma, at least, didn’t seem like she realized she was flirting with Mr Elton and leading him on. In adaptations it’s quite obvious Elton is infatuated with Emma, but in the book it wasn’t. Despite Churchill’s explanatory letter and apology (side note: I love that Austen has letters from men in her novels so they can explain themselves!), I have a hard time understanding how Jane Fairfax could still marry him after all those months.

      EMMA / MR KNIGHTLEY — The confessions to one another before the proposal are awesome. They’re not apologizing for their behavior, but they can explain their conduct and recognize or admit to their faults. It’s huge for Emma to do so. She’s always arguing with Knightley, but he tends to make a fair point. After all of that, she’s still the same kind of Emma — argumentative, observant, nosy — but with growth and wisdom. They don’t completely change at the turn of a page, like many characters in books do. They grew up.

      EMMA — You can’t really blame Emma for her pompous attitude and rudeness, though. She has the most hypochondriac of fathers, no travel experience, and the only challenging conversations she has are with Knightley, who, despite his scolding, treats her more like an equal than anything else.

      WOULD I Re-Read Again

      I’m not sure I would read this Austen again any time soon, but I would definitely reread it again in my lifetime!

      What books have you reread recently? What classic have you read recently?

      Posted in books, Classics Challenge, ReRead2016, Reviews 2016 | 8 Comments | Tagged books, classics challenge, genre: adult fiction, genre: classics, reread2016
    • Mini Reviews II

      Posted at 7:05 am by Laura, on June 4, 2015

      Mini Reviews

      Quick, bite-sized reviews of fast, enjoyable reads!
      A penny for thoughts, a snappy two-cent reflection! 

      23395733Emma by Alexander McCall Smith

      Publisher: Pantheon
      Published: April 7
      Genre: adult fiction, contemporary
      ISBN: 9780804197953
      Rating: ★★.5
      Summary: The summer after she graduates from university, Emma Woodhouse returns to Highbury, where she will live with her health-conscious father until she launches her interior-design business. In the meantime, she will offer guidance to those less wise than she is in the ways of the world. This summer brings new faces into the sphere of Emma’s not always perfectly felicitous council: Harriet Smith, a naïve assistant at the ESL school; Frank Churchill, the stepson of Emma’s former governess; and, of course, the perfect Jane Fairfax.

      Mini Review: While I own one of the Austen Project novels, I’d yet to read one. I also haven’t read Smith before, so my only comparison is to the original Austen (also, not my favorite Austen novel). When I read this contemporary retelling, I found it entertaining — certainly had that Austen voice — but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. Contemporary is meant to not only be set in our time, but also have today’s mannerisms and culture and dialogue. I was expecting an English version of Clueless or Emma Approved. Smith did such a great job writing like Austen that I actually had a hard time believing this was set in the modern day (again, not sure if this is Smith’s normal writing style or if this is part of the Austen Project guidelines). This is also a very condensed version of the original, with only the major events stringing together nicely across a summer. The downside: less George. I wanted more George and Emma interaction! All that aside, I felt the characters’ backgrounds fitting for modern day — Emma as an interior designer, for one — and the satire amusing. If I loved the Austen novel more, I may have enjoyed this one more, as well.

      This qualifies as book #3 in my resolution to read 10 library books in 2015. 

      13001716Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

      Publisher: Random House Audio
      Published: November 2011
      Genre: memoir
      ISBN: 9780307939814
      Rating:
       ★★★
      Summary: Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.

      Mini Review: I listened to this in the car on the way back from BEA, and I was genuinely surprised how much I enjoyed it. Mindy is nothing like her characters on television. She’s funny, insightful, and intelligent. Every story she told felt honest and true, and she managed to make me laugh without using vulgarity or racism. Her memoir managed to make me believe we were best friends.

      This qualifies as book #4 in my resolution to read 10 library books in 2015. 

      23013676 The Girl with the Glass Bird by Esme Kerr

      Publisher: Chicken House
      Published: March 2015
      Genre: middle grade, mystery
      ISBN: 9780545699846
      Rating:
       ★★
      Summary: Orphan Edie’s been sent to Knight’s Haddon, a private boarding school, by her uncle to investigate the disappearance of a precious crystal bird that belongs to his client’s daughter. Anastasia, a Russian royal, has a fragile disposition and a melodramatic bent — or so the headmistress and all the other girls say. Edie’s assignment is to find the missing glass bird, befriend the troubled blueblood, and keep a watchful eye on her. When the two girls uncover a dangerous plot, how can they stop it and who can they trust?

      Mini Review: I was expecting something a bit more adventurous and mysterious. While I really enjoyed Edie’s character — she certainly doesn’t do well as a spy, but it was fun to watch her attempt to sneak around — I found myself drawn to the adults in the story. With every turn of phrase, with every tiny scene alone in their minds, I was drawn to that aspect of the mystery more than what the girls were up to. This book also contains a lot of fears over mental illness as well, paranoia and the like, and I wasn’t sure if it worked. I’d recommend this book to light mystery readers in need of a boarding school setting.

      This qualifies as book #5 in my resolution to read 10 library books in 2015. 

      Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 2 Comments | Tagged books, genre: adult fiction, genre: classics, genre: contemporary, genre: middle grade, genre: mystery, genre: nonfiction, mini review, review
    • Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Classic Books & TBRs

      Posted at 8:35 am by Laura, on July 1, 2014

      Top Ten Tuesday, a concept started by The Broke and the Bookish, is a themed post that connects bloggers to bloggers, bloggers to readers, and readers to readers. Every Tuesday has a special topic, and this Tuesday is Top Ten Favorite Classic Books / Classics I Want to Read.

      top ten tuesday

      Whenever someone mentions “classic,” my brain immediately jumps to British classics. It’s my love, my passion, my one true academic piece of nerdom. But sometimes this person means “classic” like Greek and Roman plays or epic poems, or classic world literature, or American literature. I’ve played a game since high school to see how long I can go without having to read Hemingway, Vonnegut, Kerouac, Red Badge of Courage, The Things They Carried, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Catcher in the Rye…you know, Good Solid American Classics.

      Favorite Classic Books 


      Jane Eyre because really, if you haven’t figured this out by now…wow.

      Northanger Abbey is my absolute favorite Austen. Early YA right there!

      Wuthering Heights not for the love story (because we can all admit it’s…odd), but for the passion, the class clash, the discrimination, all the topics used to discuss in literature courses. SO MUCH STUFF is in here, and it’s golden.

      Dante’s Inferno, mostly because my AP Lit teacher would point out all the fart jokes and other inappropriate humor. He taught us that, no matter how high brow or difficult the language can be, one can still find something humorous in the writing.

      Shakespeare’s Macbeth, as it’s another interesting study in human character (like Wuthering Heights).

      Classics I Want to Read 


      Emma, even though I know what happens. There’s something intriguing about Austen loving the public’s least favorite heroine.

      Les Misérables because it sounds so enriching.

      Little Dorrit has always fascinated me. It seems relatively short for Dickens, but just as wonderfully creepy.

      As You Like It, mostly because it’s one of the least talked-about Sheakespeare plays. I like going in blind!

      Villette, because as autobiographical as Jane Eyre began, this is Brontë’s true autobiographical story (with a changed ending, of course).

      What are some of your favorite classics? What classics would you like to read? Have you read any of these, listed above? 

      Posted in books, Top Ten Tuesday | 18 Comments | Tagged books, genre: classics, top ten tuesday
    • Reader, I Found a Friend: Guest Post From Lindsey!

      Posted at 8:34 am by Laura, on June 25, 2014

      When Lindsey commented on a Top Ten Tuesday post, I didn’t think anything beyond “Yes! Another blogger to follow!” But when she followed me on Twitter, and I saw she owned 9 copies of Jane Eyre, I immediately hammered her with enthusiasm. One thing led to another, and we pretty much discovered we’re near doppelgängers. So why not commemorate this happy accident with guest posts? Visit Lindsey’s blog, Bring My Books, to read my thoughts on Jane Eyre!

      ~~~

      My love for Jane Eyre is a weird, weird thing. It is the only book I have ever read in bits and pieces, over a period of years. To this day, I have never read it all the way through start to finish, but rather a chapter here, a chapter there, skip four chapters, read this part again, read that part again, go back to chapter 1, ultimately reading all of the book but in nothing resembling the usual order. I have no idea how this ever happened, because normally I am one book at a time, start to finish. (One of my book goals for this year is to amend this and have a straight through reading!) For some reason, my relationship with Jane has always been anything but ordinary. Maybe it’s because she was anything but ordinary herself? Whatever the reason, I love Jane: her strength, her moral compass, her bravery, her resilience, her independence, her passion, and her inherent goodness.

      Tattered.1

       This tatty edition was the first I ever owned, given to me by my best friend (who, by all accounts, should have never gone near Jane Eyre – it’s not her style at all!). She loved it and told me I needed to immediately read it. (What followed was what was mentioned above: my piecemeal reading).

      Leather.1

       This edition came shortly after a renewed fervor for Jane & Rochester, spurred on from a late night viewing of the Ruth Wilson PBS Masterpiece adaptation of the novel. My aforementioned friend was home from school on break, and asked if I had ever seen this particular version, and when I said I hadn’t, she told me she was coming over immediately. We settled into watching the 4 hour mini-series at around 11pm; our intention was to watch maybe the first 2 ‘episodes’, if that. About halfway through the 3rd episode (so around 2:30am), my DVD player broke. Did we take it as a sign that we should reconvene at a later date to conclude the watching? Um. No. We went out to a 24 hour Wal-Mart and bought the cheapest DVD player they had so we could finish what would eventually become my all-time favorite adaptation ever. (Sorry, Mia.)

      Penguin.1

       This one came during my Penguin Putnam phase. I wanted everything Penguin Putnam (the Random House merger didn’t exist at this time); mugs, totes, games, postcards, books. I love everything Penguin does – they’ve managed to create so many incredibly iconic images and series. As soon as this edition came into the store, I was drooling over it – and then I found out it was Penguin and it sealed the deal. (Seriously though, gorgeous much?)

      Modern.1

       This edition was found at a little used book store in Richmond, VA a few years ago. Yet again, I have to mention my best friend. She found it first, and after seeing my puppy dog eyes, let me purchase it instead. (I hope she knows how grateful I am!!)

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       I found this one at Powell’s bookstore in Portland, Oregon last year. It was a perfect way to commemorate being at that absolutely amazing bookstore, and while it is not my favorite of my editions, it has a pretty good story tied to it. (My traveling partner basically had to drag me out of that place kicking & screaming!)

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       Keep an eye out for this Canterbury Classics series (published by Baker & Taylor) the next time you’re in a bookstore. They have an incredible feel to them, and I love the quotes on the back. Aesthetically speaking, this is one of my favorites.

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      This edition was gifted to me by a friend that knows my love for this book. She was surprised she had gotten me one that I didn’t already own (she was betting on having to return it and find a different copy!). I love that my friends know me so well, and are willing to aid me in my obsessions!

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       This. Is. Amazing. We were looking for fun display ideas last holiday season, and came across these graphic novel adaptations of classic novels. The best part is that they offered a “Classic Text” or a “Quick Text.” The classic text uses graphic novel illustrations with verbatim quotes from the original text, without altering them to better fit within the graphic novel. I love the illustrations and the originality of this edition.

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      Another used bookstore find, this one from Alexandria, VA. The main reason I picked this one up is because it was a textbook. Not like how you get 1 of 100 paperback copies of Old Man and the Sea with your school stamp put in it, with a note to return it by the end of the school year. This is a turtleback edition with an “Issued to:” “Date Returned” “School District” stamp in the front cover. It would have been an even more remarkable find had it ever been used, but alas – I heard the binding crack as I opened it. (How did it make its way to that bookstore, never once being opened?)

      Fritz.1

      Fritz3.

      Note from Laura: OMGGGGGWANT.

      And. Oh my goodness, and. This. This is by far my favorite edition, and one of my most treasured books that I own. (I don’t care how big the fire is; me, my cats, and this book are coming out unscathed.) This is a box set of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights & Charlotte’s Jane Eyre printed in 1943 by Random House. It has absolutely stunning wood carving illustrations created by Fritz Eichenberg, and I could not imagine a better way to illustrate this two novels. The pictures are spooky and haunting and simply mesmerizing. I went to an estate sale with my boyfriend a few years back, and ran across a box set of these books that I proceeded to purchase for $4.00. (ERM. WHAT?) I was in a phase in my life where I thought I would enjoy cultivating an Etsy shop selling books: older editions, unique covers, quirky and whimsical titles. So what did I do? I sold it. Then about a week later went into a book induced depression after realizing that I loved that box set more than any sane person should, and I never should have sold it. About a month later, my boyfriend shows up at my door with another box set, this one actually in far better condition! (I’m telling you, that guy really is the best.)

      So there you have it. My Janes.

      MyJanes

      I’ll leave you with this: I think the one resounding thing that has always stuck out to me about Jane Eyre is her dogged determination to be better than what those around her expect her to be. I have such admiration for that quality. Having had moments in my life where I felt the need to go beyond other’s expectations for me, I find it incredibly reassuring to know that she is waiting at home for me, reminding me that I have the strength to be my best self (even when it’s not the simplest course of action).

      I will now leave you with a picture of me holding my Penguin Putnam Jane Eyre mug, wearing my Jane Eyre quote scarf, and carrying my Jane Eyre tote bag. #obsessedmuch

      Paraphernalia

      Note from Laura: I want that mug, I NEED THAT MUG.

      Do any of you own multiple copies of the same book? Has it ever led you to someone else with the same obsession?

       

      Posted in books, Guest Post, Update Post | 31 Comments | Tagged book hoarding, books, Bring My Books, genre: classics, genre: gothic, guest post, Jane Eyre, personal
    • World Book Day // Birthday Gifts

      Posted at 2:23 pm by Laura, on March 6, 2014

      Happy World Book Day! On this day, buy a book from a bookstore or give a book to a friend, family member, or light/non-reader; read and relax and find new adventures; anything and everything relating to books, do it!

      For my birthday I received several gift cards to my bookstore (that I of course immediately used and violated my resolution to read five books before purchasing one more) and an amazing gift from a dear friend.

      Books1

      Porcelain Keys by Sarah Beard was one of those books that just called to me. Just like CJ Redwine’s Defiance and Sharon Biggs Waller’s A Mad, Wicked Folly stared at me from the shelves at work — and I tried to avoid them for days, weeks, months — this book stared at me, taunting me. The cover is really pretty, and because the title alone is a reference to music and piano, I had to grab it. Within the first 20 pages, I was hooked. So now I own it, and can read it entirely soon!

      Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein is a book I’m ashamed I haven’t read yet, and have seen so many raving reviews! Plus, WWII books have always enticed me, so I can’t wait to begin this one.

      Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys is a book that, when it was first published, I wasn’t sure if it was for me. But as time wore on, the story, the awards, the reviews, and even Sepetys herself (come on, if she can write Between Shades of Gray then clearly she can write anything) convinced me that I need this book. I’m glad I’ve purchased the paperback — I think the cover is much prettier, and as you know I’m all about aesthetics.

      Books2

      Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell I should’ve read ages ago. I grabbed this book so many times on lunch breaks and was completely stunned at how…similar, too similar, I am to Cath’s obsessions. I’m an open fangirl, and have been since I was 10, on Harry Potter. And as an adult I’m still very much a fangirl in other things, like TV shows or book series. But I have to admit, I was nervous to read this book (let alone buy it) because of those similarities. Odd? I know. But  my friend Cara convinced me that every fangirl should read this book because it’s like looking into a mirror and facing one’s fears. I trust Cara’s judgement.

      The Daring Ladies of Lowell by Kate Alcott because, come on, I enjoyed it and I can add it with my other Kate Alcott book!

      The next book was a gift from a friend. We’ve worked together for over a year now, and have become incredibly close ridiculously fast since about this time last year. Our conversations flourished shortly after I mentioned my thesis topic. After months of literary, philosophical, musical, historical, political, and humorous discussions, suddenly we became best friends. It’s not a proper, enjoyable work day if the other isn’t around. Don’t you love those friendships? I sure do.

      Monk1If you followed my blog starting roughly this time last year, you would’ve noticed a trend in my book reviews: young adult, dark, mysterious, creepy, frightening stuff. It was a never-ending stream of terrifying yet brilliant YA Gothic books — and so you may have guessed my graduate thesis revolves around Gothic literature. And if you know anything about Gothic literature, you’d know that The Monk is one of the most celebrated Gothic works, frequently referred to because it was one of the first Gothic novels to be written, published, and create quite a sensation among the public (so much so, even Jane Austen’s characters discuss it in Northanger Abbey — not-so-coincidentally my favorite Austen novel).

      Monk2

      The Monk was published in 1796, and in this “Gothic romance” the monk explores all sorts of transgressions. He’s lustful, murderous, incestuous — all those bad things the Church frowns upon. He gives in to temptation, and it takes him down a wild path. It’s all about sexual desire, how power can corrupt, and it sparked such drama in the public that it still remains popular today.

      Monk3This is a genuine 1830 edition of the first volume of The Monk! All marked, torn, tattered, and faded. It even smells wonderful, that hint of vanilla within the musty scent of old pages. On the inside of the cover is a signature, a Mrs JL Dyer, who must have been the first owner of this book. Makes me want to know her own history, why she purchased it (or who purchased it for her), and what she thought. Alas, at that time, women lost their names to men and this Mrs. Dyer may not ever be found. But wouldn’t it be fun?

      What did you do for World Book Day? Any exciting books you received or gave away?

      Posted in books, Update Post | 9 Comments | Tagged books, genre: classics, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: young adult, goodreads, personal, World Book Day
    • Bookshop Goldmine

      Posted at 8:09 pm by Laura, on December 30, 2013

      One of my college friends visited me while I was home for Christmas and asked if I wanted to visit Von’s Books. I had heard him describe this place multiple times — a haven of used and new books, a miracle of bookstores, a goldmine — and not once were we free at the same time to visit. But a few days ago, we did just that, and drove an hour outside of my hometown visit this glorious bookshop.

      Do not be deceived by the poor website, because the store is heaven! I found several Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights editions I’d been searching for for eons. My friend shook his head and laughed when I snatched them off the shelves and held them close to my heart.

      IMAG0467 copy

      IMAG0468 copy

       

      Wuthering Heights (blue and black profiles) — Harper Design / HarperCollins
      Wuthering Heights (field of leaves) — Vintage

      Jane Eyre (fire) — Harper Perennial Modern Classics
      Jane Eyre (profile) — Vintage
      Jane Eyre (purple leather quotes) — Canterbury Classics

      What books can you not keep your hands from grabbing (and prevent your wallet from emptying) when you see it?

      Posted in books, Update Post | 5 Comments | Tagged authors, book hoarding, books, bookstores, genre: classics, genre: gothic, genre: romance, personal
    • Top Ten Tuesday: Books I was Forced to Read

      Posted at 10:32 am by Laura, on October 15, 2013

      Top Ten Tuesday, a concept started by The Broke and the Bookish, is a themed post that connects bloggers to bloggers, bloggers to readers, and readers to readers. Every Tuesday has a special topic, and this Tuesday is Top Ten Book Books I was Forced to Read. 

      top ten tuesday

      The Positives!

      1. Jane Eyre — And I’m so glad I read this! Freshman year of high school in my Honors English class, we were covering nineteenth-century literature (I didn’t realize it at the time, but looking back it’s very obvious what the theme was). I was new to the school and felt a bit like an outcast, similar to Jane. Soon enough I was participating in discussions and acing the quizzes, and went far beyond our report project requirements. I re-read the book every winter, and it’s a dear favorite of mine. Thank you, Ms Clark, for inspiring me and guiding me towards my favorite genre.

      2. Great Expectations — Again, this was in my Honors English class freshman year. I was curious as to why everyone — adults, students, pets — complained about reading Dickens. “He’s wordy, he has too many characters, the settings are dark.” One complaint after another, and I just plain didn’t understand why. His descriptions are marvelous, his characters are…caricatures, and the settings are reflective of the time! I loved it.

      3. Dante’s Inferno — The AP Language and Composition project required that we create 15-minute video of the circles of hell. My group read Inferno deeply and literally, and placed Harry Potter characters in the levels. It was fascinating, entertaining, and what’s more: my teacher pointed out all the fart jokes. He made epic poetry fun.

      4. The Awakening — My AP Literature and Composition class theme focused on transcendentalism. You know, Walden and the like. I was bored to tears and worried that maybe literature wasn’t my forte when we began reading Kate Chopin’s book. And then everything changed back again. I love it. I haven’t re-read it recently, though I should.

      5. Brave New World — Soma holidays? Commentary on the nature of technology and genetic enhancement? Not my cup of tea…till my Honors English teacher my sophomore year created a fantastic unit that mirrored the book. For a week we were divided into the different castes, assigned different tasks, and somehow, someway, we ended up experiencing the book in real life. It was a wonderful week (even though I was Epsilon), and I’ve never understood a book or genre so fully till this.

      The Negatives!

      6. Grapes of Wrath — Honestly, the turtle chapters were my favorite. And even then I hardly skimmed.

      7. Oroonoko — Or any 18th-century British literature. Shoot me now.

      8. Ethan Frome — This unit in freshman Honors English was torturous. Edith Wharton and I are not friends.

      Surprisingly Never Read for My Education!

      I’m tossing this in here because most students are forced to read these books, but I never had to.

      9. Frankenstein — I’ve only just recently read it for my graduate thesis. I wanted to see how long I could go in my education before I read the book, because somehow I missed it throughout high school and in all of my British literature / Victorian literature / Gothic literature classes. The professors always said, “I know you’ve read this book so I didn’t add it to the syllabus.” Little did they know…

      10. Catcher in the Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird — Never read them. Don’t even have a desire to read them.

      Which books were you forced to read by teachers, friends, or family members?

      Posted in books, Top Ten Tuesday | 18 Comments | Tagged books, education, genre: adult fiction, genre: classics, genre: dystopian, genre: fiction, genre: gothic, top ten tuesday
    • Book Review: “Longbourn” by Jo Baker (ARC)

      Posted at 10:00 am by Laura, on September 4, 2013

      Longbourn by Jo Baker 17345210

      Publisher: Random House
      Publishing Date: October 8, 2013
      Genre: historical fiction
      ISBN: 9780345813602
      Goodreads: —
      Rating: 
      ★★★★

      A brilliantly imagined, irresistible below-stairs answer to Pride and Prejudice: a story of the romance, intrigue and drama among the servants of the Bennet household, a triumphant tale of defying society’s expectations, and an illuminating glimpse of working-class lives in Regency England.

      Our heroine is Sarah, an orphaned housemaid beginning to chafe against the boundaries of her class. When the militia marches into town, a new footman arrives under mysterious circumstances, and Sarah finds herself the object of the attentions of an ambitious young former slave working at neighboring Netherfield Hall, the carefully choreographed world downstairs at Longbourn threatens to be completely, perhaps irrevocably, up-ended. From the stern but soft-hearted housekeeper to the starry-eyed kitchen maid, these new characters come vividly to life in this already beloved world.

      Orphaned housemaid Sarah mends, washes, cleans, and cooks for the Bennet household, with the help of little Polly, Mrs Hill, and Mr Hill. Life is simply a never-ending list of chores for Sarah till a mysterious new footman catches her attention. Occupied with thoughts of his origins and distracted by Bingley’s servant, Sarah and the rest of the downstairs household is turned upside down as each Bennet daughter is exposed to society’s forms of acceptable love.

      I never knew I needed to read the downstairs version of Pride & Prejudice till I read this book. It’s an absolutely fascinating account of what life was truly like in Regency England for the lower classes. How a pig not only provides meat but also soap. How the chamber pots must be taken out daily, the ways people bathed and cleaned laundry and interacted with one another. Though Sarah is only a maid, she too must abide by society’s rules and uphold the Bennet family honor. She cannot fool around or behave mischievously; it would reflect poorly on the family.

      The reader is not only given a glimpse of Sarah, but also of Mrs Hill, Mrs Bennet’s maid. We learn her history and her connections to Mr Bennet and the new footman James. Mr Collins is explored outside of Elizabeth’s painful judgment, and James’s history with the militia gives the reader further clues to Wickham’s misdemeanors. The reader is exposed to life before, during, and after the original book, and I loved reading the decisions the characters make and their motivations for their actions. Downstairs intermingles with upstairs so fluidly it was as if I was still reading the original classic.

      Thank you, Random House, for providing this book for review!

      Posted in books, Reviews 2013 | 2 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: classics, genre: fiction, genre: history, review
    • Book Review: “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott

      Posted at 4:28 pm by Laura, on February 28, 2013

      Little Women by Louisa May Alcott LittleWomen.qx5.EG

      Published: “Little Women” 1868, “Good Wives” 1869
      Publisher: originally Roberts Brothers
      Genre: American classics
      ISBN: [varies]
      Goodreads: 3.97
      Rating: 
      ★

      Disclaimer: As this review may be harsh, please note that this was the first time I read it, and am not a fan of nineteenth-century American literature in the first place. My particular fondness lies in nineteenth-century British literature, as the writing style and its rhythm, in my opinion, are far more cultivated. Immense spoilers ahead.

      This near-autobiographical novel follows the lives of sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March across several years during and after the American Civil War just outside of New England. Meg is the eldest, very beautiful, and knows how to run a household. Her domestic qualities and patience with children aid her in finding a husband, although by the end of Part II (Good Wives) Meg feels caged in this domestic sphere and attempts to find the silver-lining in her situation. Jo, the tomboy of the family, is quick to anger but vastly creative. She pursues friendship and a self-sustaining career over the domestic life. She scoffs at Theodore “Teddy” “Laurie” Lawrence’s proposal, and falls into the arms of The Professor, and older, German, scholarly man and claims it is love. Beth, quiet, subservient, and gentle, is everyone’s pet. She is beloved by all, but very weak and is ill throughout the novel. She seems to fill the role of the pitied woman, the beautiful but poor creature, the angel no one dares to scar with life’s difficulties. Amy, spoiled and the youngest of the family, desiring wealth and trinkets, is adored and indulged for her fantasies and wishes. When Jo turns away Laurie, Laurie runs to Amy instead, knowing his wealth and knowledge would bring comfort to her.

      Alcott wrote Little Women in six weeks. After its success, she wrote Good Wives, the second part to Little Women and now published in one collective volume, and had it published within the year. She wrote a chapter a day for Good Wives, and it certainly looks like that. The writing is very plain and drab. Alcott may have been an editor, but she did not seem to have a grasp for intricate plotting.

      One of the qualities I admire in nineteenth-century British literature is that you’re guaranteed a plot or adventure of some sort. A mystery, a scandal to discover, a marriage to form or break, an inheritance to gain. From the first few chapters, the reader can grasp the plot and run along with it. There’s a desire to read all the way to the end, because the plot is invested in something and only the end can reveal it all.

      With Alcott’s Little Women, particularly part one, there was no plot whatsoever. It opens with the girls complaining about being poor on Christmas. It follows their day-to-day lives. There is no sense of direction or ending. It was nice to read about the blossoming friendship between Laurie and Jo, the tension and platonic or romantic love around the two of them, but there was no path for the novel to take. The only glimpse the reader gets of a war even happening is when Father is ill on the front. That is it.

      In part two, it felt indulgent. Indulgent towards the readers of the time that begged for more. It was also incredibly preachy. Every chapter, even in part one, had a moral to it that the characters shrugged after discovering it and said, “Well, I did wrong, now I know what to do right, and I shall do it from now on! Hurray!” Even Alcott must have been told she had too many moral stories, and clearly she didn’t give a damn:

      [Jo] looked at the marked passages and was surprised to find that all the moral reflections — which she had carefully put in as ballast for much romance — had been stricken out.

      “But, sir, I thought every story should have some sort of moral, so I took care to have a few of my sinners repent.”

      “People want to be amused, not preached at, you know. Morals don’t sell nowadays;” which was not quite a correct statement, by the way.

      Really, Alcott? I’m sure most of the readers begging for more of the March sisters wanted to see Laurie and Jo marry. I know I certainly was. I had hoped the direction this novel was taking was towards a wedding between the two. They know each other so well, they have mutual love and respect for one another, and a deep understanding. It was jarring to watch Jo cast Laurie aside and instead go for a dull, less invested man. It hurt to read Laurie calling Amy a decent replacement for Jo.

      I understand that Alcott was trying to make a statement about the outcomes of women’s lives in that time. One marries and either lives happily and securely in wealth, contented and poor but somewhat independently, or at first for love that is later ruined and broken. And Beth’s role felt snubbed too. That the best of women suffer the greatest, and simply live to show others the good moral path: to be self-sacrificing and serving others always.

      It did not leave me feeling empowered like I do with Jane Eyre; I was not left with passion like I do with Wuthering Heights; there was no examination and acceptance of crossing gender roles like in Woman in White; and there was no examination of the realistic economic, political, and personal struggles like in David Copperfield. I was disappointed. Fans of Alcott may have read this when they were younger. I can see this writing style appealing to younger crowds. But as I’m older, and this is my first read, I was left wanting. With little plot, too much preaching, and an unrealistic and unsatisfactory ending for the characters properly suited to others, I’m sad to say I did not enjoy this book in the least.

      Posted in books, Reviews 2013 | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: classics, goodreads, review
    • Book Review: “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens

      Posted at 10:00 am by Laura, on January 5, 2013

      A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens 8288370

      Publisher: (of this particular edition) Harper Press
      Publishing Date: (original) 1859, (of this particular edition) 2010
      Genre: historical fiction, Victorian, gothic
      ISBN: 9780007350896
      Goodreads: 3.69
      Rating:
      ★★★

      “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” With these famous words, Charles Dickens plunges the reader into one of history’s most explosive eras — the French Revolution. From the storming of the Bastille to the relentless drop of the guillotine, Dickens vividly captures the terror and upheaval of that tumultuous period. At the center is the novel’s hero, Sydney Carton, a lazy, alcoholic attorney who, inspired by a woman, makes the supreme sacrifice on the bloodstained streets of Paris.

      One of Dickens’s most exciting novels, A Tale of Two Cities is a stirring classic of love, revenge, and resurrection.

      From the moment Dr Manette is released from prison, a decade-long plot begins to unfurl surrounding English lawyer Sydney Carton, French aristocrat Charles Darnay, and Lucie Manette. The two men fight for the love of Dr Manette’s daughter Lucie, but outside circumstances with the French Revolution begin to interfere. Only Lady Guillotine, the icon of the Republic, can solve end the battle.

      Admittedly, I began this book thinking it would be all about love and heartbreak. It is referred to several times in other favorite books of mine. However, this is Dickens, and Dickens is so much more than a simple love story author. I have learned from my Victorian literature classes that, to read Dickens and fully appreciate his work, one must read slowly and split it with another book. His work was read serially, just like TV episodes today are aired. I practiced this method again (breaking up every few chapters with a chapter of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets — vastly different genre) and it certainly helped me enjoy the novel. But Two Cities was nothing like I’d imagined.

      I was most interested in all the scenes containing Darnay, Carton, and Lucie, of course. The error in paying close attention to those scenes meant lots of confusion towards the end when the complicated plot began to unravel and reveal itself in the final chapters. I did not pay close attention to Mr Lorry — “only a man of business” — or Madame DeFarge — always knitting, knitting, knitting — nor do I know enough about the French Revolution. Because of my personal flaws, I could not enjoy the novel as much as I should have.

      Dickens is a master with characters, though. He makes everyone incredibly memorable, even archetypal. We know, as a reader, that every time DeFarge appears, she’ll be knitting. She’s grouchy and revengeful. We know that when Mr Lorry appears, he wants to do the right thing by man but wants to keep his hands clean, so he will only do what his business will allow him to do. We know Darnay to be a kind and gentle person, easy to fall in love with and difficult to hate. Carton knows this, and although a drunkard, he is a good man at heart. This makes the love triangle heartbreaking to watch — neither man wants to fight the other, they have mutual respect in their love for Lucie, and it’s all so personal, raw, and human. It makes Carton’s sacrifice unbearable.

      After I spend some time researching the French Revolution, I will come back to this book and try again. I truly think that if I understood my history and pay closer attention to the outside plots that later converge, I could love this book.

      Posted in books, Reviews 2013 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: classics, genre: fiction, genre: history, review
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    • Hello, I’m Laura!

      I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to knit, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm obsessed with popcorn. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!
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