I am getting better at this! I am still behind on all of my book clubs, BUT I am now only two books behind on the 1001 Books to blog about. My next book review will be on The Remains of the Day but for now let us continue with Dr. Zhivago.
Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak is the first Russian novel that I have read from cover to cover. I started Anna Karenina by Tolstoy back in high school (so like 5 or 6 years ago) and I never finished it. Most likely because I did not have the patience to master the 1000 names for one person and I was easily confused and easily bored. So, I have defeated one novel of Russian Literature and I will conquer the rest! Anna Karenina I will one day finish, I mean I finished The Count of Monte Cristo, so I can finish anything! So, Dr. Zhivago tells us the story about Yuri Zhivago, and the world he lives in is torn apart by the Russian Revolution and the Russian Civil War to follow. Zhivago is a poetic man, whose idealisms are in sharp contrast with those around him during this tumultuous time. He sees the atrocities that both the Reds and the Whites are committing during the civil war, and wonders how far these senseless acts will continue. The civilians are the ones who are suffering, but the revolution was suppose to free them. As a doctor, Zhivago is sent to the front lines where he meets Lara, a beautiful woman with her own complicated past who is searching for her husband whom everyone believes is dead. They fall in love and try to get through these difficult times.
Pasternak's novel really gives a perspective of the revolution that you do not normally see. You see the side of the revolution from somebody of the middle class, who does not have many riches but is still considered the enemy because of his past and because of his idealism. The revolution was suppose to bring freedom to the peasants and make their lives better, but through Zhivago's eyes we see the true nature of both sides and the only ones who end of losing are the civilians as they struggle to survive the conflict.
Excellent novel, something everybody should read. I already purchased another book on the history of the Russian Revolution and would love to take a class on it but we shall see.
Until then, on to the next 1001 book!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Pride and Prejudice
School is totally taking over my life. I can barely manage to finish all of my books on time with the book clubs or even update my blog. I am going to make a better effort to make sure I am updating my blog because I would hope those who are reading my blog (if there are any) will see how I felt about the books and share their thoughts!
So, I finished reading Pride and Prejudice back in August and I re-read it, (I read this book a couple of years ago). I really love this novel and I have only read 2 of Jane Austen's novel but out of the two I really love this one. My favorite characters by far are Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. I love their love/hate relationship and their interactions are great. I always have to keep in mind that this is written in the 1700s, and that everyone thinks before they speak and they do not always say what is on their mind. The only person who did that was Lady Catherine, and I thought when she stopped by to see Elizabeth was great, she really gave Lizzy a piece of her mind, even though she was completely off-base. I always wanted Lizzy to just come out with what she was thinking, especially with Miss Bingley, who obviously made Lizzy's skin crawl, but she just gave a few tort remarks and that was that! She gives Mr. Darcy some great one-liners but I always wanted her to say more. However, even with my frustrations with that, I still love this novel.
The one character that really peeved me and made me want to wring her little neck was Lydia. She infuriated me to no end! As Lizzy's sibling, I really thought Lizzy would give her a piece of her mind after Lydia ran off with Mr. Wickham and Lydia came back as if nothing had happen and everyone owed her something, but she didn't! Lydia is possibly one of the most self-centered literary characters EVER! I wanted to slap her!
I can't say enough good things about this novel, I really enjoyed it!
My next blog will be on Doctor Zhivago, which I finished a few weeks ago!
On to the next 1001 book!
So, I finished reading Pride and Prejudice back in August and I re-read it, (I read this book a couple of years ago). I really love this novel and I have only read 2 of Jane Austen's novel but out of the two I really love this one. My favorite characters by far are Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. I love their love/hate relationship and their interactions are great. I always have to keep in mind that this is written in the 1700s, and that everyone thinks before they speak and they do not always say what is on their mind. The only person who did that was Lady Catherine, and I thought when she stopped by to see Elizabeth was great, she really gave Lizzy a piece of her mind, even though she was completely off-base. I always wanted Lizzy to just come out with what she was thinking, especially with Miss Bingley, who obviously made Lizzy's skin crawl, but she just gave a few tort remarks and that was that! She gives Mr. Darcy some great one-liners but I always wanted her to say more. However, even with my frustrations with that, I still love this novel.
The one character that really peeved me and made me want to wring her little neck was Lydia. She infuriated me to no end! As Lizzy's sibling, I really thought Lizzy would give her a piece of her mind after Lydia ran off with Mr. Wickham and Lydia came back as if nothing had happen and everyone owed her something, but she didn't! Lydia is possibly one of the most self-centered literary characters EVER! I wanted to slap her!
I can't say enough good things about this novel, I really enjoyed it!
My next blog will be on Doctor Zhivago, which I finished a few weeks ago!
On to the next 1001 book!
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