Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Plugging Along

I am actually still reading this book. Seriously, no kidding, I'm reading Villette. In fact, I rechecked (is that a word?) this book out from the library so I could finish it. My reading has slowed considerably, what with life getting its hands all over my day, but I do still try to find an hour to stick my nose in the story when I can. My fingers are crossed that I'll have this done by this weekend.

Right now what I'm enjoying about the book is how it feels like a sort of strange ride. Some of it you can guess before it happens, and yet it reads as if it were totally organic. Of course this would happen; of course that would happen. It makes sense, and isn't at all a boring or shocking occurrence when things fall into certain places. It feels very much like a life journey, where the heroine (Lucy, which is an excellent name in my very humble opinion) slowly evolves, and finds herself becoming different, while at the same time still holding onto the core of herself.

It's a very interesting book, and with about 1/4 of it left to go, I'm very excited to see where this long, curving road of Lucy's goes. Bronte definitely did a great things with this story.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Villette is a Place

Yes, I'll admit it. The book I'm reading, which is actually pretty good so far, is titled after a place and not a person. I didn't know this. I assumed it was about a woman named Villette, whom we'd meet in the process of the story. Nope. Not at all. It's a French town.

I know, I know, I should have realized this. But the fact is, I try to keep myself a little insulated when it comes to the books on my list. I want to be excited, to be surprised, to be completely unaware of twists and turns. I suppose in a way that will make me look a little, well, foolish sometimes. But that's okay. I don't mind admitting to these things. After all, it was a surprising and wonderful revelation to know Villette was a town and not a human being. It made me smile at myself and laugh a little at my assumption.

So, the book reading is going well. I'm balancing it with homeschooling the kids, and writing, and in general getting through the glorious chaos of life. The language in the book gives me a bit of a problem every now and again, as some reactions are spoken in French. It's not so numerous, or so distracting, that it puts me off the story. Plus, I've found that my one year of high school French, as well as the text around the language, helps me to understand what's happening.

Right now, I'd say Villette is a very good book. Not mind blowingly awesome (though I'm not quite halfway through, so it has time to surprise me yet). But a good, solid read about the evolution of the main character, and the crises that cause her to become something more than she ever imagined herself to be. All in all, not a bad premise, and a very enjoyable book.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Review "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck

I just finished this book last night. I have to say, I did enjoy the story. I wasn't necessarily dazzled and awe inspired, but I did like it. I can definitely see why it's a classic, and I would encourage anyone to read it.

"The Good Earth" tells the story of Wang Lung, a poor farmer in 1900s China. He has simple goals for his simple life. He wants to farm the land, harvest a good crop, and maybe have a few pieces of copper to hold onto. In the opening, we find Wang Lung preparing to go get his bride from the home of a wealthy family; a woman who will cook and clean and see to his and his father's care. He's never seen her, as his father was the one who went to the house and struck a deal with the family for Wang to have one of the slave girls for a bride. Someone who isn't too pretty, who isn't too smart, but is a good, strong worker. This is exactly what he gets, and his life unravels in different, unforeseen roads after.

The story itself deals with the horrific poverty of the peasant class in China during those years. It also shows how women are little more than possessions, and how the traditions that were adhered to kept them as such. However, as it turns out, it is Wang Lung's wife, O-Lan, who ultimately seems to be the one to pull his family together during tragedy and keeps them from certain death time and again. However, he does not truly see, or even understand, just how much she's contributed to him, other than his sons. While he isn't cruel to her, and at times is even kind to her, he doesn't love her. But, true for the times, she understands this, and is happy to be in a place where she isn't subjected to abuse.

The book also shows the rise in Wang Lung's status, but the downfall of his strength and character. He begins to pull away from the driving force that had propelled him his whole life: the land. In doing so, you watch a proud man, who had been so happy just to wake and walk into his field in the morning, deteriorate into a listless creature who has forgotten certain promises he's made himself. He slowly begins to become what he had once hated but secretly envied: a wealthy man. It isn't until the end of his life that he realizes he needs to be on his land again, where he is most at peace.

Ultimately, for me, this story also showed how the things that are so important to one generation can become nothing to the next. What one man prizes above all, his son can so easily brush away and fill the void with his own desires.

The one thing that stood out to me was Buck's writing style. It flowed, very raw, sometimes in long sentence structures, in a way that made it all seem more real. After all, how many of us really think in proper structure, with all the niceties that we use when we write? I fell into the rhythm very easily, and was able to picture every place, every person, every blade of grass, without being jarred from the story.

I was also fascinated by the facts of the lives of poor farmers in that region at that time. The story does take place just before the revolution, and throughout there are rumblings of what's to come. But for Wang Lung, it wasn't something he had the time or luxury to really consider. He needed to provide, and he did the best he could. Later, when he was idle, he was too busy with his pride, worrying about how others perceived him, and mapping out the lives of his children, not to mention dealing with greedy relatives.

In the end, "The Good Earth" is a very good read about life in a time that most of us have never experienced. At its heart, for me, it also felt like a tale of the human condition, of how things can change, and how people change (and don't change) because of that.

This wasn't exactly an all time favorite read, I'll admit. But it was definitely a book that kept me interested, and it was one that made me feel and understand things that I hadn't really considered before. I would say pick it up and add it to your classic collection.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Pearl S. Buck Is Excellent

Not that her memory needs any praise from me, as many more knowledgeable, learned people have extolled her work for years. But I just had to stop and say...wow! "The Good Earth" is is such a wonderful read so far.

It's not like you open it and are immediately dazzled, like a deer caught in headlights who can't look away. It's more like a subtle creeping up, an easy flow of words, and suddenly *bam!* you're caught. The grasp of culture, the way every day life is described, the fulfillment and the sadness, it's all there, wrapped in a world I don't know, but one I can understand. Even though these people are, outwardly, so different from me, there are so many common threads that are simply about life and the struggle to live it, that the story is crossing the time and culture barriers.

For now, I can say that I am thoroughly enjoying this book. I'm half way through it, and I only opened it yesterday. However, I can tell the story is about to fall into a difficult area, where I might find myself wanting to reach through the pages and smack a few heads together. But again, what's a great life story without the foul ups?

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Review: "Kane and Able" by Jeffrey Archer

"She only stopped screaming when she died." How can you turn away from an opening line such as that? I couldn't. And once I'd started reading, I found it very hard to put the book down. In matter of fact, even though this one is a very thick volume, I finished the story in three days.

Kane and Able is the story of two boys, each born into two very different worlds, and raised in very different ways. One is born illegitimately in the woods in Poland and is taken in by an extremely poor family. One is born to a prominent, well-to-do couple in America and has his whole life planned out for him. The only thing that these two babies have in common is the date of their birth.

The story follows their lives, through personal tragedies (all relevant to early and mid-1900's history) and triumphs. We see the passing of familiar characters, the addition of more, and the stories that surround them and entangle the main characters. Through various circumstances, we find our main characters, Kane and Able, cross swords, unknowingly cross paths, carry animosity for each other, and ultimately find the truth that life is more than vendettas and pride.

Seeing two people with such different lives dealing with some of the same sorts of tragedies was nearly mesmerizing at times. Jeffrey Archer also did a brilliant job of showing how the world around these two changed, and how those changes either worked their way into their lives, or merely skimmed the surface while barely creating ripples.

I would definitely recommend this book. Though it's not necessarily for the faint of heart (it does deal very plainly with issues related to war, including death and vicious abuse, suicide during the Great Depression, etc.), and it's size can be daunting (I'm not joking when I said it was large), I believe that it's so well written and executed that it shouldn't be missed. In fact, I just found out that there's a sequel, and I'm happily adding it (The Prodigal Daughter) to my list of "To Be Read" books.

Review: "Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant" by Anne Tyler

One of the reasons I picked out this book was because of the title. I'm not sure why, but it just sort of yelled, "Mya! Mya you have to read me!". So I did, and I'm glad I listened to that loud voice.

The story itself is as complicated and somehow as easy as life. Because really that's what it's about. It's the story of a family, of four very different people (and the very unique individuals who played roles in their lives) and how these four people struggled to be a family. It's also the intricate tale of individual lives that inevitably entangle, whether the characters want them to or not, as all of our lives do with our families.

What I enjoyed about the book was how Anne Tyler laid the story out. A few chapters were in one person's POV, the next were in another. It was interesting, and very entertaining, to see a different take on the same experience. While one didn't see complete lack in their childhood, another might. While the mother might remember an outing as annoying and tiring, a child might see it as an adventure and not remember the bad parts. It gave the story much more depth in that all the various POVs gave a different twist on what had happened, or what was happening at the time.

The themes in this book are timeless. What happens in our childhood forms us, and our perception of those events shape our very character. How one person reacts to the same situation isn't how another will, even when they are siblings. Being a parent is never easy, it can be a thankless job, and it isn't one that comes with an instruction manual. You do the best you can, and in the end, you have to hope your children understand that.

So, what was the deal with the title? It's in reference to a restaurant and one of the siblings. That's all I'm going to say about it, because really, finding out the truth of the title is like finding the kernel of the story.

I highly recommend this book. There is a reason it is considered a classic, and deservedly so. Pick it up, take it home, be sure you have several hours set aside to read it (cause you won't want to put it down too often), and see if you can spot just a bit of yourself in the characters. I know I did. I think I even found an aunt, a brother, and a cousin in there, too.

Reviews, Reviews!

Yes, I've been reading. And reading, and reading, and reading...and I've also been writing, and writing, and writing...but I have not been reviewing. 'Cause I'm a bad girl! lol Yeah, I know, it's sort of laughable to call me bad.

Anyway, I have read two books that I need to put reviews up for. Other than that, I have to say my life has been busier than usual, and very exciting, too. I've been talking to people about publication for my romance stories, so my head is full of romance novelesque stuff as well as business.

But enough about that. I have reviews to post!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Review "The Woman In Black..." by Susan Hill

This is going to be an, um, different sort of review. I say that as a warning, because yours truly was brilliant enough (gah!) to actually get the movie that was based on this book. Yes, I know. So, I am going to review both, and do little comparison.

The Book: The Woman In Black is very much a classic ghost story. No clown in the sewers or vampire next door, this is your good, old fashioned ghost story. A little spooky, a little scary, and told in the first person so that you feel like you are the character being stalked. All in all, it's exactly what you would expect of something from this genre.

The opening was a nice overlay of ominous over innocuous. There is a bit about the past, just a glimpse to show there is tension, then it picks up in the here and now, narrated by a man who is enjoying the Christmas season with his step-children and his wife. Then the boys begin a game of ghost stories, and from there, the real tale begins to unravel. We are taken back in time, not necessarily as a memory flashback, but in the guise of the narrator writing his story down. The beginning of that story, too, opens with the same ominous overtones on an ordinary day, when the man was young and optimistic.

After being sent by his boss to deal with the estate of a Mrs. Drablow, the narrator finds himself in a small town with a dark little secret. Of course, this is something that is kept from him, and from us, until nearly the end of the book. This secret is tied to the Drablows, and to their home, Eel Marsh House, which is set out on a small island away from the town. It's the unraveling of the secret that was interesting to read, watching this logical man sink into fear because of what he hears and sees. The setting, mainly Eel Marsh House, and the way it is cut off from the rest of the world makes it even more of a traditionally scary story. There is a ghost, naturally, but it's what that ghost does, and what occurs around the specter that makes it more than just a story where she pops out and yells, "Boo!".

In the end, which I refuse to give away, you can understand the man's reluctance to tell his tale. You know why he doesn't take the game of ghost story as a lark. It became serious business, business that still haunts him, and you realize it will until the day he dies.

The bad of the story? There is a lot of exposition. There is plenty of inner dialogue that tends to go on when it could have easily been summed up in just a few sentences of thought. I can't decide if that's because I'm so used to modern day snips and bites of information, or if it's cultural (me being American and the book British), or if it's down to the way the character's thoughts flowed. There is suspense, but the real depth of it isn't truly realized until near the end of the book. It is definitely worth the wait for it, though.

But, if you can get through the lengthy inner discussions and descriptions, you'll find a gem of a very classic ghost story. And, hey, it's one I even read to my kids (my daughter is at the age where she's determined to be scared). There was no fear of gore or unseemly violence, no harsh words, and no sexual situations that would make it uncomfortable. A great read, suitable for most ages, and one that I can definitely nod to as a solid, traditional tale.

The Movie: Could I have been any more disappointed? I highly doubt that. After reading the book, I was looking forward to the made for TV movie. It took a bit of finagling, as the video isn't being sold any more and I couldn't find it on Netflix. But my husband finally found it for me (Amazon and E-Bay are amazing sites). When I settled down to watch it, I was prepared for there to be differences. There usually are, as it's next to impossible to truly recreate a story, especially one with lots of inner dialogue, for the screen. But right from the start I felt my heart sink.

They had only kept a few things from the book. The character names, the place names, and a few scenes. Some of the dialogue was saved, as well, thank heavens. But the rest? Not so much.

While I can understand why some things must be changed, the ones that were glaringly different didn't need to be. I kept finding myself wondering, "Why?". The story is a perfectly good one, grounded in classics, scary enough without embellishments. The ending in the book, even, was scarier than the movie's.

I will give the movie some credit, though. What they did leave of the book was well done. The atmosphere was spot on (as far as the house and town), and the ghost and the things surrounding her were spine tingling. The problem is, I suppose, I'd expected more from a BBC production.

Would I tell you to see the movie? No. Not unless you've never read the book. Or maybe after you've read the entire book. Ultimately, you'd have to watch it and consider it almost a story all on it's own. I will warn you, the ending...completely wrong.

All Told: "The Woman in Black: A Ghost Story" gets a thumbs up from my reader side, my classic side, and my mommy side. The movie gets tossed into the "if the kids want to watch a scary movie but I don't have to suffer through watching it with them" shelf.

Monday, July 13, 2009

In a Black Mood

So, I've started reading "Woman in Black", and am actually half-way through. Wish I could stop the real life interruptions sometimes, because I'd be through with the story by now. Ah, well, such is life.

I do enjoy the book when I have time to pick it up. In fact, last night I read some of it to my kids. Yep, that's right, it's a traditional ghost story, and so far as I've read, it's not anything I wouldn't let my children read. It is a bit scary, but not so much about killing and such as trying to reconcile what is seen by what is not seen.

I have the movie (it's amazing what you find on Amazon and Ebay these days), and I intend to watch it. I'm very sure it won't be nearly as good as the book itself. But then, that tends to be true for most. Hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised just this once by the screen version, but I'm not holding my breath.

Well, I'm back to writing, and then a little bit of reading. I'm anxious to get back to the book and see how our poor hero fairs in the haunted Eel Marsh House.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Review "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card

I like science fiction. I remember reading Anne McCaffery stories beginning when I was a tween (before "tween" was even a word), reading Isaac Asimov as I got older, and eventually looking for books by authors who weren't as well known. Shame on me for not putting Ender's Game on the top of my list years and years ago.

What is unique to me is that this book poses the question, "What if the fate of the earth was in the hands of children?" How do you deal with them? How do you train them? How do you impress upon them how vitally important they are to the human race? How do you choose who is trained, and who isn't? How do you know you've made the right choices?

The story is very easy to fall into. Haven't we all had moments, especially in childhood, where we didn't feel we quite belonged? Didn't we all have fantasies of overcoming the odds, and even the people, that stood in our way? This feeds into all of those dreams, but at the same time, it takes a different path than most traditional story telling.

The chapters were like small stories unto themselves, beginning with a question or problem, and having it resolved by the end of the chapter. There were some issues which became a main thread through the whole, but I especially enjoyed the fact that I could read a chapter, be satisfied enough to take a break, and still have a real desire to come back to it for the big resolution.

What I hadn't expected, because I've been so careful not to learn too much about the books I'm reading before I pick them up, was Ender's age. And not just his youth, but the way he dealt with it, and the wisdom and struggles he had that were more suited to an older boy. But I didn't find myself questioning it because all of that was explained quickly and satisfactorily.

There wasn't a time when I didn't feel empathy for Ender. Card does such a terrific job of mixing the reader in with the character's feelings, that there isn't any room to step back and wonder if Ender might be "odd". Why? Because you find yourself being "odd" right along with him, and it seems as natural as breathing.

The secondary characters were marvelous to read about. They were so fleshed out, so complete, and each one played nicely into the overall story. It was great to see varying viewpoints (the boy who doesn't trust the teachers or higher ups, the girl who focuses on being nothing but a great soldier), and it was just as fun to see it all come together and play like overlapping parts in a symphony.

What is also great about this book are the subplots. They are there, and not just hidden in the corners, but presented to you on a silver platter. There is no guessing about what's going on, but there are still the questions about why, who, and how, and that's what keeps it streaming along.

I will admit to being a bit uncomfortable about the way Ender is treated, especially in the beginning. But then, most good stories do make you feel that way, so I was okay with it. And the way the main characters dealt with the issues helped me get through my discomfort quickly enough.

The ending isn't just satisfactory, it's absolutely perfect. You feel as if everything is precisely where it should be, that the people have become what they should, and while not everyone got what they deserved, I still walked away with a feeling of "rightness".

There are two twists in the book, neither of which I'll tell you. What I will say is that these revelations were perfectly timed, perfectly executed, and were brilliant moves by the author. Each brings about it's own "tied in a bow" feeling, while still allowing the reader to have a chance to use their imagination and struggle with their own moral questions. If I say anymore I'll give it all away.

Would I recommend this book? I'll do one better. I'd buy this book for any sci-fi enthusiast (who doesn't own a copy) as a present without any doubt that they would love it. Actually, I'd purchase it for anyone who enjoys reading and still be just as sure they'd like the story. In fact, now that I've read the first one, I plan to go out and buy the entire series. I hear the next ones are just as good, and I can't wait to see where Card goes with his characters from here.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Happy 4th!

I hope everyone has a fun and safe 4th of July. Lots of fireworks, plenty of potato salad, and good company all around. Just don't forget to drink plenty of water (it's hot out there!) and wear your sunscreen.

I'm in the middle of "Ender's Game", which is an excellent read, by the way, and should be done hopefully by next week. After that, my husband is going to confiscate it and read it himself.

But until then I'm off to enjoy the holiday weekend. Have a wonderful one!

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Review "Tender is the Night" F. Scott Fitzgerald

I just finished this book yesterday evening. I've been struggling to figure out how to review this book without giving away too much of the story. After all, the whole idea of this book is to twist and turn so much that nearly every page is interwoven into the main theme. Please forgive me if some of this sounds vague, I just don't want to spill the beans for those who want to read the story.

"Tender is the Night" starts off clearly enough. A youngish girl (17) and her mother are on vacation, touring Europe, and stop on the coast for a few days. It's there that she meets a group of rather...interesting folks, all older than she is, who take her in as a friend. From there, certain things escalate. There is a hint of something scandalous, though we don't know what it is until about halfway through the book. Of course, there are other titillating details, things that are said, things that happen, but you aren't quite sure how they might play into each other. But they do. Again, this is something that takes most of the book to see, though you do know that the entanglement is there, you just aren't sure how the bows are tied.

The book does change perspective, three times in fact, but it doesn't feel like a jarring change. It's more gradual, so it doesn't seem odd to be moving from one point of view to another. Actually, I found it interesting to go from one place to another, and see the world and what's happening through certain people's eyes.

I will admit I had a bit of a problem at one point with the time line. It took me a moment to readjust myself, and I did have to keep reminding myself of the time shift. However, I didn't find it too off putting.

The writing was excellent. It was easy enough to become absorbed in the story, and I did find myself wondering about the twist that I knew was coming up. It was the waiting for it, the wondering about it, that made the first half of the story so intriguing.

The second half covered the whole twist, not leaving anything to question. It was nicely done, though a little uncomfortable. I think that had to do more with the attitudes of the day rather than the actual issue.

The last few chapters of the book wrapped nearly everything up in a nice package. However, once I put the book down, I couldn't decide if I was satisfied with the ending or not. I have a huge soft spot for gooey endings, though I do realize that all stories shouldn't end that way. Indeed, some can't end that way. And though this one didn't end as terribly as "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold", I still didn't feel...fulfilled. But then it could be that was what Fitzgerald was going for. Once you read the book, you'll know what I mean.

Would I recommend this story? Yes. It was superbly written, nicely turned, and interesting in each part of the story. If you're looking for a good Fitzgerald book, and you've read "The Great Gatsby" (which is on my list, too), then this is one I'd definitely tell you to pick up.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Fitzgerald Shocks Me

I started reading "Tender is the Night" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. What can I say? I am shocked by how interesting this book is turning out to be. Again, I haven't read a synopsis nor opinions regarding this book, so it's all a surprise to me. And what a surprise!

While the descriptions can, yes, drone on (I'm beginning to think this is the style of the time), it's still not as dry as you might fear. In all actuality, it's quite scandalous when you consider the time frame. And yet it starts of innocuously enough, with a young woman and her mother arriving in a small town along the coast of Italy. In fact, most of the things that happen should be, and could be, ordinary enough, except that as the reader you begin to understand the undertones, even when the heroine doesn't.

I'm really enjoying this book so far. I'm waiting to read my Susan Hill story until I've finished this one, because I don't feel as if I need a break in between the chapters of Tender is the Night. Here's hoping the rest of the story is as good as the first half!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Ecclectic Isn't Bad, Is It?

We took another trip to the library. This has become a weekly occurrence, considering my children read at the speed of lightening. While I was there, I decided to simply browse the shelves, and pick up the books on my list that struck me as interesting. When I checked out, I realized I'd exchanged Middlemarch (which I still haven't finished) and I'd added F. Scott Fitzgerald and Susan Hill. For some reason, part of me really felt like a little scare, and Susan Hill's book looked like it would fit the bill. The Fitzgerald book was one that I don't have on my list, but I'm going to pretend is there. Middlemarch I am still struggling with. I don't know why I'm having so much trouble getting through it. It's not a terrible book, and I do think I've mellowed my judgment on the story. And yet I can't get through a few pages without having to put it down and take a deep breath. It's well written. The characters are all fleshed out. The scenes are easy to picture. I just don't know why I'm having issues.

So, I have three books waiting to be read (I'll pick Middlemarch back up Friday). As I usually do, I'll read them in bits and pieces (which drives my husband crazy), exchanging one for the other throughout the day as I have a few minutes to read. It should make for an interesting few weeks.

On a side note, we just discovered bunny rabbits playing in our front yard. Two large, brown ones with floppy ears. We think they've dug a rabbit hole beside the oak in our front yard. Either way, it was fun to watch them play, and the kids got a kick out of it. Maybe we'll even see baby bunnies pop their heads up in the next few weeks.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

It's Been A Long Month

It's almost been a month since I've posted. It's been a very long month. Without going into detail, I'll say that family comes first, but they can sure be exhausting. Do you have any idea how many types of retirement homes there are? Types, not actual places. It boggles the mind.

Anyway, I've finally posted my review of "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold". You'll find it below. Liked it, but didn't like it. That's summary in one sentence. I've moved on to other books. I'm struggling with the latest one, but did pick up a few "breather" books (stories I read every once in a while between heavy stories). One of them is an F. Scott Fitzgerald book that I should have had on my list. I'll just pretend it's there, and make it a 101 list.

Sorry that this is short, but I do intend to be back in the next few days to straighten up the blog and say hello. Happy Reading!

"The Spy Who Came In From The Cold" Review

What can I say about this book? When I first picked it up, I had no expectations at all. I'd heard the title, of course, heard people rave about it. But I have been cautious about finding out too much regarding the books on my list. I want to go in with no preconceived notions. I'm glad I did that with this book.

First, I'll say that it was a much easier read than anticipated. The story itself was easy to follow, and had a flow and rhythm of words that had me into the scenes almost immediately. It was very easy to picture myself in Alec Leamas' place. I could understand getting burned out by the spy game. His personality, the things he'd seen, the things he felt, made it even easier to understand how he ended up embroiled in the main plot of the book.

I can't say too much without giving a lot away. It's one of those books. So much happens on every page that even a hint can ruin the plot. I enjoyed the main character, very much liked the secondary ones, and found myself flying through the pages.

And then I got to the end. I'll admit that I'd figured out the big twist well before it was revealed. But that was okay with me. It was still fun to see everything play out. However, the last few pages had me fighting not to close the book forever. I have very few personal pet peeves, but the author played right into them. By the time I was through with the last chapter, I couldn't decide if I was angry, upset, or just plain disappointed. This, of course, is a personal opinion. You might love the ending. I, however, did not.

Would I recommend this book? It would depend on the person. It was well written, extremely well paced, very interesting, nicely drawn, and in most parts intriguing. But the ending just really did not work for me. I would say it was one of those books you should read once in your life. It's up to you if you'd like to read it again.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

"Anne of Green Gables" Shelved

I can not get into this book right now. I can't explain why, or why it's been so difficult for me to get past the second chapter. For whatever reason I simply can not rouse myself to read Anne right now. Too many "life lesson" stories lately? Not sure. But this is one I'll have to pick up later because I am determined to read it...eventually.

Meanwhile, I'm juggling "Middlemarch" and "The Spy Who..." pretty well. I try not to read them back to back; it would be a little too jarring. I'm hoping to have more time through the coming week to read than I did this past week. Family obligations always come first, but in the coming days they are going to be obligations that are closer to home.

Oh, and I had a light bulb moment when thinking about "Middlemarch". Again, not sure why it hadn't occurred to me before, but I suddenly realized that Eliot had deliberately made these people twits. Maybe as I get further into the book my suspicion will be confirmed, but considering when it was written, it is a definite possibility. I'm trying not to read any sort of reviews regarding any of the books I have on my list (other than FitG reviews), because I want to come at the stories with an open mind and no voices in my head. This is why I can't tell you for certain if this book was meant to be a bit critical of the way certain people thought and acted in that age. I suppose I'll just have to see.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

I'm Stuck in the "Middle" and Feeling "Cold"

So I picked up a copy of Middlemarch while I was at the library. I am three chapters into it so far, and all I can say is: these people are twits. I don't know how else to describe them. The main female character seems bent on self-torture via Victorian Purity, and the young man who wants her does so because he needs someone to tell him what to do. The uncle is scatter brained, going off in all directions of thought, all the while considering himself a "man of the world" and "very well educated". The only one I can relate to at all is the youngest sister, who has no qualms about enjoying jewelry, slight flirtations, and feels that she somehow has to live up to her sister's austere presence, while at the same time not understanding it. Poor dear. I'm afraid I'm going to thoroughly dislike her before the story is over. *sigh* The scene painting is so drawn out that at times I feel like banging my head into the wall. I try to remind myself that it was written in a different time, and so there were different standards in editing and writing. Still...two pages dedicated to how green hills in the foggy morning look seems a bit extreme. But I haven't lost hope. No sir, not when I have about 1,000 more pages to read. Who knows what will happen over the passing years to change these people and this place. Hopefully plenty.

I also picked up "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold". Okay, this is touted to be a "man's book", but I have to admit, right now, I'm really enjoying it. I'm usually not a deep political intrigue kind of gal, but somehow I can relate to the main character. Pulled one way, then another, and all the time trying to play it cool. I particularly enjoy the scenes that le Carre has painted, and found it very easy to slip right into the place of the characters. I have a feeling that I'll be finishing this book first, and not just because it's a much, much shorter read than Middlemarch. I'll keep my fingers crossed that I continue to like this book as much as I do right now.

"An Old Fashioned Girl" Review

Have you ever read a book that makes you feel...good? I mean, just really, really good? And it makes you want to go out and do good things? Be a better person? "An Old Fashioned Girl" is one of those books.

Louisa May Alcott was great at this sort of thing. With her "Little Women" book and those that followed, she gave you some very sweet, very honest glimpses into the lives of her characters. They were real people for you, living a real life, with all the problems that people of their time would have. But with this book, it felt like all of that was magnified.

The book follows Polly, the country "old fashioned girl", who goes to stay with family friends in the city for a few weeks every year. It shows her confused by their attitudes, unsure as to why everyone is so determined to be what they're not, and her character in remembering her mother's life lessons. We follow Polly, along with her friend Fanny, Fanny's brother, Fanny's little sister, and of course Fanny's parents, through several years. It's gratifying to see how Polly's actions change the family, and how her attitude gives them the little lifts they need. Even when the worst happens to them, they have Polly's sage advice and ready smile to help them get through.

Polly isn't perfect. She never claims to be perfect. In fact, she's really very hard on herself for her foibles. But you see her try, see her go on, see her digging for the good out of the bad. It makes it easy to relate to her character, even though the story is framed in a time where they still drove horse and buggies.

"An Old Fashioned Girl" is also a cautionary tale about wrapping yourself in material possessions, in being caught up in too many worldly things, in losing sight of what it is to be a human being instead of a status symbol, and where true happiness lies. Reading this book reminded me of all the old sayings my grandmother used to lace through her conversations. "Idle hands are the devil's playground"; "Never judge a book by its cover"; "Beauty is inward and will tell outward". All those things that sometimes we hear, but don't ever consider or truly understand.

I loved reading this book. While it wasn't a difficult read (the language was easy to follow, there were no real plot twists, no mysteries to solve), it was one that definitely made me introspective. The scenes were well drawn, the pacing just right, and the characters rich and believable (for their time period). It's a definite must read, and one that you can share with your kids, or even your mother, without a blush. There is, of course, a very happy ending for all involved. But somehow I'll bet you already knew that.

A quick note: the library had to actually send off for this book from their archives. On looking in the back of the book, I found a library check-out card pocketed in the back. The dates went all the way back to 1956, and right up to 1988, when the book was obviously "retired". I have to say, it was a neat experience realizing I was holding a book in my hand that had seen so many generations of readers.

Monday, May 18, 2009

"The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" Review

Anne Bronte is the sister of the seemingly more famous Charlotte (“Wuthering Heights”), but she most definitely carves out a niche of her own with this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this cautionary tale about a woman who allowed her heart to overrule her common sense. The flow of the words was easier to adjust to than I’d imagined, one of the things that worries me when starting period stories, and it was very easy for me to “hear” the characters in my head. The imagery was nicely woven in, and even when it was obvious that she was describing certain things, it was easy enough to read through (I don’t care for information dumping in a book, even when it’s descriptive).

The first thing that surprised me was the fact that this book is written in two ways: first, as a long letter from one man to his good friend, second, as diary entries from a young lady. I wasn’t expecting this at all, but the way it was done was very interesting. I was so caught in the story that whenever the recipient of the letter was mentioned, a statement made to him or a question asked, it was slightly jarring. The diary entries had me looking at dates, calculating times, figuring out how many weeks had passed in between, without even consciously knowing it. And those missing pieces of time definitely made a difference for me when I read what the young lady had written in the newest entry.

“The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” would have most definitely been thought of as scandalous in its day. Alcoholism, abuse, adultery, whispers of divorce, illegitimacy…it’s enough to shock a reader of the time. I found myself imaging a woman sneaking the book into her house, then secretly reading it while it was hidden in a book of Shakespeare prose. But the whole idea of the story is definitely supported by these shocking things. After all, what happens and had happened (before the opening of the book) is meant to caution people about letting their desires roll right over their common sense. Yes, some of the things that are revealed seem a heavy price to pay for making an emotional choice (a choice made without any real thought to the practical mind), but it sure makes for great reading. Plus, it does drive the point home.

I’m a sucker for sappy endings, so rest assured there is one at the end of this book. While the story is angst filled, emotionally wrenching at times, and full of great heartstring pulling moments, it is worth getting to the last chapter. No, “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” isn’t as gothic as “Wuthering Heights”, but then, it didn’t need to be. Sometimes the most heartfelt, life altering stories are set in the sunny days of real life. A definite must read for anyone who enjoys a good life lesson love story.

Just a quick note: this book does surround the whole idea of God, living as God would want, and general church doctrine. Not a problem for me, but in case you strongly object to God, church, or the Bible, you should be aware that this is a main theme running throughout.

Friday, May 15, 2009

It's Been Too Long

It's been a while since I've blogged, and while I could blame life (which isn't entirely untrue), I'll blame myself. I've had my nose stuck in a book every free minute I've had. Oh, but what a great book!

I'm almost done with "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall", and I can tell you it's been a very interesting read. I should be finishing it either today or tomorrow; I'll post a review as soon as I'm done. After that I plan to start "An Old Fashioned Girl" and pick up where I left off (I've read a bit of the on-line version). "Anne of Green Gables" is being read to my daughter during school time. I'll go ahead and say that I didn't expect it to be as wordy as it is, which I should have, considering how many words are tossed around in the movies. Still, it's a good, wholesome read. But I'll wait to give my review until after I've actually completed the book.

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day. It was slightly eventful here, what with getting presents together and going out to eat. Next year, my husband's promised to cater the meal, at home, instead of fighting gag inducing crowds and suffering the inevitable hour and a half wait for a table. Seriously, what we mommy's want is to get up in the morning and have someone else take on our duties just for that day. Nothing fancy, just meals cooked, dishes done, children dealt with, house picked up, without us having to spearhead the effort. That sounds like a lovely day to me. lol

As far as my writing, well, if you know me, you know I can be a bit...um...I'll say easily distracted. You know, like the bird flying south for the winter who sees something on the ground and says, "Oooooo....shiny," and promptly leaves to flock to see the pretty glowy thing. Yep, that's me. I say this because I've been distracted the past few days by an idea that's been floating in my head for a couple of years now. A sci-fi romance, featuring an earth girl, who is your average woman just trying to survive. Anyway, I saw Star Trek (and personally, while it had it's flaws, for the most part I think it was handled brilliantly), and of course this sent me right off into my sci-fi state of mind. I really need to focus.

So, I'm off to finish homeschooling, read my books, and then, if time and life permits, I'll write some of my own stories. Though it's a toss up which one will win, considering my ever distractable mind.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

How Much Book Could a Bookworm Worm...

Go ahead and call me crazy. No, seriously, get it out of the way. Because if you've noticed in the left hand sidebar, I am currently reading three books at once. Yep, three. Now how in the world does sane little me get herself all tied up in reading three books (along with writing two books, homeschooling two children, running a household, and generally living)? I'll tell you how. The library.

The children and I went to the library, as has become our custom, this week. Since they hadn't gotten the books we'd asked for (my son ordered a couple, too), I assumed (yeah, yeah, laugh it up) that they wouldn't have the books for me that day, either. So, being me, and since I wanted another of my books to read, I headed over to the "B" section. I found, much to my delight, a gently loved copy of "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall". Yes! I was excited. I trundled up to the counter (trundled because I was helping my children with their eight books) and handed the nice, smiling librarian our cards. And guess what? The sentences I never thought I'd hear came out of her mouth. "Oh, it looks like we have some books on hold for you. They're in the back. Let me go get them for you."

Joy! Rapture! Panic! Both of them had come in. So now I had three books, not too terribly thick but still slightly daunting, staring me in the face. I guess I'm braver than I anticipated, because not only did I check them out, I checked them out with a smile and an enthusiastic thank you.

Now I have to get my nose into my books. I figured I can trade out through the day, so I don't get too bogged down in one. I'm reading "Anne of Green Gables" to my youngest in the mornings, then in the afternoons I have either Bronte or Alcott to choose from. In the evenings, I read whichever one strikes my fancy. It's sort of decadent, really. But hey, at least it's not as bad a decadence as the chocolate cream pie I've been craving.

Let the reading continue!

"The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand

I finally, finally, finished "The Fountainhead" this week. It's a monster of a book! It was very intimidating, staring at the four inch thick spine, wondering if I had the wherewithal to actually finish it, and would I even understand it. Surprisingly, I did enjoy it.

"The Fountainhead" is not nearly as difficult a read as I'd imagined. What struck me from the beginning was the whole idea of passion. Passion for money, passion for architecture, passion for position, passion for women, passion for acclaim, passion for passion's sake. I felt like I was looking down two different paths of the same subject. One man, Howard Roarke, kept his passion close to his chest. He had an honesty that scared people, and a single mindedness that drove others mad. He didn't care that he didn't fit in. He only had one great, driving need: to build structures the way he wanted. And the way he wanted was very different from the way it had "always been done". The other man, Peter Keating, had a passion for recognition, and the fame and money that came with it. He enjoyed creating buildings, yes, but it seemed to be nothing compared to his driving desire to have everything. It was a passion of self: he believed he was the best, and so he deserved to have the best. These two creatures, two sides of the same coin, had a strange love/hate relationship. It was interesting to watch the mirror images of their desires smack into each other, grapple, then pull apart, each time one wearing away just a bit of the other, all the time knowing that one couldn't survive without the other.

The book also had a heavy theme of "new vs. old". The Old Guard who still believed architecture could only be acceptable if it used all the old school thoughts. Roman and Greek, lots of frou-frou, plenty of heavy accents. The New Guy, who believed that the building should honor the world surrounding it, should be a reflection of its purpose, and of possibilities. The old, of course, does its best to smother the new, to break it down, to force it into a mold. They praised their own boy wonder, Keating, who clung to the old ways because he understood that was how to get ahead. When they couldn't break Roarke, they simply tried to destroy him in a systematic fashion. However, there were enough "new guys" to keep the modernisitic Howard Roarke working, even if it wasn't consistent work. It was fascinating to go through these trials with Roarke, to see him struggle, succeed, struggle, fail. Then to see Keating succeed, succeed, succeed, and still be unsatisfied and somehow empty.

I'll only touch on the love affairs, as they are hard to describe, but definitely twined into the story. Volatile, distraught, smothering, the sort of love that can either kill you or save you. You get to see passion reveresed, watching as each man deals with his heart in much the same way as he deals with his architecture. It's fascinating, and very disturbing.

The secondary characters were beautifully created. Even the ones who were only present for a few pages had a life of their own. The ones who were more deeply involved were cannily eased into the stories, and their part in the lives of Roarke and Keating seemed to be predestined, even if the main characters didn't realize it. Personally, I always think that if the secondary characters aren't well drawn, the story won't support itself. In this case, I think Rand could have written entire books about the supporting cast.

The only negative thing I can say is that Rand does seem to prose on and on. Maybe it's because in this day and time our culture is used to news bites, snippets of information, words tied in tight bows with minimal explanations. But I'll admit that there were times when I said, "Okay, I know that Roarke makes people uncomfortable; I don't need to be reminded every other paragraph." I also felt that it didn't take three sentences to describe a man's hair.

However, with that said, I'll tell you that it was definitely worth the read. It's a classic for a reason, and I can see why it was so sensational when first published. It's still sensational today. It's the sort of story that makes you take a long, hard look at yourself, and makes you wonder which person you are: Roarke or Keating. Or if you're maybe a little of both.

Friday, May 1, 2009

And Then There's A Twist

So I've decided God, Fate, The Great Entity Above, tried to tell me something a week or so ago. I've been having issues getting on-line. This meant that I haven't been able to read Louisa May Alcott, since my library has yet to get that book in (even though I harass them once a week). I was trying to read it slowly, to be honest. I really wanted to read it in paper form. But since I was unable to get to it without a great deal of maneuvering, I picked up a new book at the library while I was there with the kids.

I managed to score "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand. It's a well loved copy (my way of saying it's been read lots and lots), and it's as thick as my husband's arm. Looking at it I was quite intimidated. I started reading it, though, because it's been so high on my list for so long. Let me tell you, there's nothing like the opening scene of a naked young man standing on a cliff to grab your attention.

I was afraid that I might have to slog through words and phrases that don't exactly carry through to today. Boy was I wrong! Yes, I'll admit there are times when it feels like Ayn Rand might be going on a bit, but those places are, for me, few and far between. The words seem almost timeless, and the themes of old guard versus new kid, of the struggle against change, of the suffocation of new ideas and expanding minds, are definitely pertinent in any time.

Architects Howard Roark (the young upstart) and Peter Keating (the young man who doesn't want change) are the same age, in so many ways are in totally different spheres of thought, and yet are so close in ideas at certain times. When my son asked me what the story was about, I realized it was so complicated that I couldn't really give him a quick synopsis. So I thought about it, and broke it down to this: Peter Keating works to live; Howard Roark lives to work.

I'm about halfway through "The Fountainhead" and am enjoying it immensly. It's very hard to give a brief breakdown of this story, as it's really very much about the struggle of the new evolving in the land of the determinedly staid. It's also the struggle of youth growing, and becoming, and following different paths in lives that, in many ways, end up parelleling each other. The cast of background characters that help to shape their lives, intrude upon their evolution, and, at times, who are used by the main characters for reasons of their own, are interesting, colorful, and very much three dimensional. You feel their struggle, too, as they come to terms with their lives and what their presence means to either Roark or Keating, or, at times, both.

So far, Keating's life has pretty much gone down the path he wanted. He's planned it all, and he's done what he needs to acheive the stature, recognition (which he believes is always due him), and money he deserves. He's very much self-centered, and I would actually despise him if I didn't feel sorry for him. I don't know if I'll continue to pity him, as he has a streak of ruthlessness that I'm afraid is going to make him unredeemable in the end.

Roark's life is...well, it is. He makes people uncomfortable because he's one of those people who honestly don't care what other people think. No, really, he doesn't give two cents for their opinions. In fact, he seems to be more sympathetic with the buildings he creates than with the people who inhabit them. While he isn't as "colorful" as Keating in his dealings with life, I can definitely relate to him much easier than I do with Keating. Roark knows what he wants to do, build modernistic homes, and he won't compromise, which drives people crazy. He knows he needs money to survive, but he would rather live in a cardboard box than give up his ideals.

So far, I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable this classic is. I'm definitely looking forward to curling up with this book tonight and reading another chapter...or three...or heck, four.

Friday, April 17, 2009

In Case You Haven't Noticed

I added a new "work in progress" over on the left. This is a story that I've been playing around with for over a year now, and I think it has some wonderful potential. I've done the research (blah!) that's necessary, and I believe I have a decent grasp on life in 1906. I even managed to find a map for San Fran from that time. Yay internet!

As far as my book reading goes...it's so slow. I want to get into An Old Fashioned Girl, but every time I sit down, I get maybe five minutes of reading done before real life interrupts. What I'm hoping is that after this weekend, once all the big family celebrations are out of the way, life will settle in a little more comfortably and I'll have an hour (ah, blessed me time) to actually read and absorb what's been written. The little that I've read reads smoothly, just like her other works. The characters are more three dimensional, though it seems like you have to read a bit more into the book to find that extra layer than you did with Little Women. However, I want to give the book a real, honest chance. Therefore, after this weekend, mommy is locking herself in her room for an hour a day to read. Period. No interruptions unless it's a natural and/or national emergency/disaster. Like a zombie attack.

Monday, April 13, 2009

And So It Goes

People have asked me, "Mya, why is it you're reading 'An Old Fashioned Girl' as an e-book?". First of all, let me say, I like both types of books.

E-books can be wonderfully convenient, especially when you want to carry more than one book with you. Plus, e-book publishers tend to be more open minded when it comes to new talent. It's far easier to find a new writer via e-books than on a bookshelf in a retailer. There's also the fact that, when a book is a certain age, it is harder to find. Sometimes even the library has trouble finding them. However, it's usually housed somewhere on the internet, ready to read through your computer, palm pilot, blackberry, etc.

Paper books are pure pleasure. Sometimes there's nothing better than cracking the spine of a new book, breathing in that fresh "paper" scent, and settling back in your bed to read. Or your bath. Or the couch. There's just something about a book in your hand and the feel of the weight in your hands. Paper print books are usually easier to handle than e-books; you can bend and fold, cascade the pages, etc. And, for the most part, they are easier on the eyes. Though e-book readers are getting better about softer lighting, it can still irritate the sight.

There is definitely a place in the world for both types of books. I don't think one will totally obliterate the other, which is a great thing. They are like siblings, with each balancing the other out.

Now, as far as the paper book version of the Louisa May Alcott book I'm reading...I have a confession. It's shocking. I hope you're sitting down.

I didn't have a library card. Yes, you read correctly. Neither my kids or I had library cards until this afternoon. To be honest, we never had the need. We've faithfully supported our local mom and pop bookstores (the best gifts my hubby gives me are the gift certificates to the used book store). The kids have used the school library for some things, and for others we purchase or borrow from family. All of that changed with the 100 book challenge. As much as I love my corner bookstore (they are on my speed dial, literally), I know they aren't going to have Aynd Rand, or Sylvia Platt, or even the Bronte sisters. These are things I'm going to have to get at the library.

So this morning, in cold rain and a wild wind storm (ah, spring!), I trudged along with my daughter to the library to get cards. She spent a glorious hour reveling in all the books (she can't get away from her genes) and picked out three books. I had been told when I called that they would have to order "An Old Fashioned Girl" for me from another branch. They could only do that, of course, once I had my card. So with kid books in hand, we happily marched up to the counter. And guess what? Their computer system was down. Yep, two lightning strikes, one right after the other, had just downed their system. We couldn't check out. We couldn't get cards. We were devistated. But we were promised they stayed open until 8:00pm, and we could come back. You know we did, with my son in tow. He found a book, too, and even put one on order as well.

My sojourn into the public library system wasn't an easy one, but in the end, I'm happy we did it. Now I'll have Louisa May Alcott in my hands in a matter of days. But until then, I'll continue to enjoy the on-line version. I'll post a critique when I'm able, but so far, I'm enjoying it more than I thought I would.

Wish me luck, and I'll wish you luck, too, on your own personal list of books.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

So Far, So...Far

With kids on Easter Holiday break, it's harder to read than I'd anticipated. Lots of stuff planned, lots of family activities, lots of fun, but little time to crack a book. However, I am trying, and what I've read so far in "An Old Fashioned Girl" is very Louisa May Alcott. I don't know any other way to describe it.

She has a way with words that just seems to flow. The scenes are set up very quickly so far in this one. So quickly in fact, that there are times I go back and read a bit slower, just to make sure that I have the setting correct. But even with that, it feels very easy to fall into this story.

The characters are drawn very well; I've yet to meet a thin layered character, even if they seem like it at first glance. But from what I've read of Alcott, this is very par for the course. Everyone ends up with more depth than originally anticipated, and the story shows more about human development than you might have thought possible. I can already see that happening just a few chapters into "An Old Fashioned Girl".

I'm looking forward to seeing how the plot turns in the next few days and weeks.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

100 Books

Hello all! I've decided to create a Blogger site for one main reason: keep myself motivated to stick with the Fill in the Gaps Project. Not sure what that is? Check out the link to their blog; you'll find it on the left hand side.

I've created a list of 100 books that I want to read. These are stories that I've always said I wanted to get to, but never have. Life has a bad habit of jumping in the way. But now, I have posted my list on the FitGP Blog, and I'm posting them here. I hope to keep everyone up to date on my progress with this list, as well as let you know what I think of the book. And if you know me, you know that I'll be brutally honest. Nice, but honest.

Having said that, let me add this: I am giving myself 5 to 8 years (yes, years) to finish this list. Some books I'm sure I could read in a week. Others will take at least a month. I'm also trying to figure in real life situations, including holidays, traveling, and illness, to give myself plenty of time to enjoy the books I'm reading. And if it takes more than 8 years, I'm okay with that.

Now, without further ado, here is my list of 100 books I'd like to read (in no particular order):

  1. Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand
  2. The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand
  3. The Good Earth - Pearl S. Buck
  4. Lady Susan - Jane Austen
  5. Mansfield Park - Jane Austen
  6. Persuasion - Jane Austen
  7. Northanger Abby - Jane Austen
  8. The Magnificent Ambersons - Booth Tarkington
  9. The Big Sleep - Raymond Chandler
  10. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
  11. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - Muriel Spark
  12. A Death in the Family - James Agee
  13. Revolutionary Road - Richard Yates
  14. The Spy Who Came in From the Cold - John le Carre
  15. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
  16. To the Lighthouse - Virginia Woolf
  17. Mrs. Dalloway - Virginia Woolf
  18. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
  19. These Thirteen - William Faulkner
  20. As I Lay Dying - William Faulkner
  21. Ender’s Game - Orson Scott Card
  22. The Man Who Loved Children - Christina Stead
  23. Loving - Henry Green
  24. Monsieur Monde Vanishes - Georges Simenon
  25. The Assistant - Bernard Malamud
  26. The Blind Assassin - Margaret Atwood
  27. The Woman In Black: A Ghost Story - Susan Hill
  28. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
  29. Bleak House - Charles Dickens
  30. Little Dorrit - Charles Dickens
  31. Villette - Charlotte Bronte
  32. The Professor - Charlotte Bronte
  33. Agnes Grey - Anne Bronte
  34. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - Anne Bronte
  35. An Old Fashioned Girl - Louisa May Alcott
  36. The Inheritance - Louisa May Alcott
  37. Louisa May Alcott Collected Thrillers - Louisa May Alcott
  38. Cashel Byron’s Profession - George Bernard Shaw
  39. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
  40. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant - Anne Tyler
  41. The House of Seven Gables - Nathaniel Hawthorne
  42. All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque
  43. The Mousetrap - Agatha Christie
  44. Letters From the Earth - Mark Twain
  45. The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today - Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner
  46. The Seance - John Harwood
  47. The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
  48. The Portrait of Mr. W.H. - Oscar Wilde
  49. The Canterville Ghost - Oscar Wilde
  50. The Time Machine - H.G. Welles
  51. Mr. Britling Sees It Through - H.G. Welles
  52. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
  53. North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell
  54. Special Topics in Calamity Psychics - Marisha Pessel
  55. Sons and Lovers - D.H. Lawrence
  56. Lady Chatterly’s Lover - D.H. Lawrence
  57. Under the Net - Irish Murdoch
  58. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
  59. The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
  60. Middlemarch - George Eliot
  61. The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett
  62. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
  63. Katherine - Anya Seton
  64. Kane and Able - Jeffrey Archer
  65. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
  66. Dubliners - James Joyce
  67. The Secret History - Donna Tart
  68. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
  69. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
  70. Scoop - Evelyn Waugh
  71. London Fields - Martin Amis
  72. The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
  73. Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery
  74. The Virgin in the Garden - A.S. Byatt
  75. Still Life - A.S. Byatt
  76. Babel Tower - A.S. Byatt
  77. The Whistling Woman - A.S. Byatt
  78. Lorna Doone - Richard Doddridge Blackmore
  79. A Town Like Alice (“The Legacy” U.S. Title) - Nevil Shute
  80. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
  81. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
  82. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
  83. Charlotte Gray - Sebastian Faulks
  84. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
  85. The Home and the World - Rabindranath Tagore
  86. Oscar and Lucinda - Peter Carey
  87. Of Human Bondage - William Somerset Maugham
  88. The Touchstone - Edith Wharton
  89. Summer - Edith Wharton
  90. Lucky Jim - Kingsley Amis
  91. Cranford - Elizabeth Gaskell
  92. The Portrait of a Lady - Henry James
  93. The American - Henry James
  94. Nine Coaches Waiting - Mary Stewart
  95. A Room with a View - E. M. Forster
  96. Where Angels Fear to Tread - E. M. Forster
  97. The Reader - Bernhard Schlink
  98. A Girl of Limberlost - Gene Stratton-Porter
  99. Far from the Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
  100. Ivanhoe - Walter Scott