Sorry readers, if there are any of you out there. Due to my many school obligations, I have been unable to keep up with my blog and my reading for that matter. I am trying to catch up with writing my blogs for the books I have read, such as Everything is Illuminated and Pride and Prejudice. I am currently finishing reading Dr. Zhivago, so I do have some posts that I do need to catch up on. It is hard juggling 5 classes, 2 part time jobs and the rest of my life to keep doing my reading. I am upset that it has taken me so long to finish reading my books because I am missing the bookclub deadlines and I love to keep up and I can't! I hate not being able to participate in my book club as I was able to to do over the summer, but with an exam and lots of homework to do, it really has been a struggle to keep up and school is obviously the first priority. However, let's get off this dreary subject and let us move on to the novel!
So, Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer, is about a guy name Jonathan Safran Foer who travels to the Ukraine to find a woman who supposedly saved his grandfather from the Nazis with the help of his tourguide Alex, and his grandfather Alex, and their dog Sammy Davis Jr. Jr. The book is written in two parts, the part written by Alex which tells the story of his week adventure to find this woman who may or may not be alive. The other part is written by Jonathan who tells his story of the village and of his grandfather. This was a little annoying to me because each chapter alternated between the two stories. However, as the story unfolded, I grew to love the characters in the story that Alex told.
I did not like reading Jonathan's story of the village, I mean it was folksy and interesting but it could have been told at the beginning. It is funny to read Alex's story because of the broken English, the words and verbs that he uses and it seems to personalize him and make him more likeable. I really connected with his character and his grandfather. Jonathan's characters seems cold and aloof but he mainly is a fish out of water in a country he has no idea about or what the customs are.
I wish I could write more but I am running out of time and I am at work! Pick up this novel as it is an easy read and enjoyable!
On to the next!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Under The Net
So, I am on a three day staycation and I am hoping that I get lots of reading done! I have finished 2 other books that were on the 1001 Books List, so I am going to do my review of the first one that I finished a couple of weeks ago. It's nice when two of my book clubs take on some of the 1001 books, and not just my 1001 Book Club. I have no idea how many books I have read from the list, so I should probably figure that out then I can keep track in this blog.
The book that I read was Under The Net by Iris Murdoch. Apparently, Iris Murdoch was a philosopher so she makes some philosophical references so maybe I will take an intro class and then re-read this book. Since that will not be happening anytime soon, let us go upward and onward to my thoughts. Under The Net can best be described as a Seinfeld episode. Essentially, a book about nothing, except for a couple of weeks that we get to peek into the life of Jake Donaghue and a couple of his friends Dave and Finn. The character development was excellent and the prose was amazing. This is definitely a easy read book, not necessarially a beach read but it is one of the easier 1001 Books to read, but now I am not so sure because of the philosophical references I might have missed!
But, as I have mentioned, this book really is a book about nothing. It really is a string of novellas. One of my favorite is when Jake and Finn "dog nap" a famous movie star dog Mars and try to get ransom money out of him. There are some colorful characters like Hugo Belafonte that we meet later on in the novel. One of my favorite messages that the novel brings is that you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, well you might find, you get what you need (I had to quote some Rolling Stones, it was too perfect, I mean British rock music to a British novelist, genius!).
Jake is always imagining scenarios and what will happen if he meets someone or if he says the right thing or shows up in Paris. However, when he does get into those situations, they do not turn out the way that he has imagined them to be. For instance, Jake and Hugo have been estranged for several years now. When Jake runs into him again, he just wants to talk to him. He doesn't necessarially know what he really wants from this conversation but he does want to be friends with Hugo again. He even goes to great lengths and breaks Hugo out of the hospital. When they finally do talk again, Jake is disappointed in the conversation. He wants to rid himself of Hugo. But after he does, he imagines meeting up with him again and dreams up what will happen next time they meet!
My only complaint with the novel is that Murdoch was long winded on certain passages that you could skip 10 sentences and then you would still be on the same description of the door.
All and all great book. My next review will be on Everything Is Illuminated.
Until next time, on to the next!
The book that I read was Under The Net by Iris Murdoch. Apparently, Iris Murdoch was a philosopher so she makes some philosophical references so maybe I will take an intro class and then re-read this book. Since that will not be happening anytime soon, let us go upward and onward to my thoughts. Under The Net can best be described as a Seinfeld episode. Essentially, a book about nothing, except for a couple of weeks that we get to peek into the life of Jake Donaghue and a couple of his friends Dave and Finn. The character development was excellent and the prose was amazing. This is definitely a easy read book, not necessarially a beach read but it is one of the easier 1001 Books to read, but now I am not so sure because of the philosophical references I might have missed!
But, as I have mentioned, this book really is a book about nothing. It really is a string of novellas. One of my favorite is when Jake and Finn "dog nap" a famous movie star dog Mars and try to get ransom money out of him. There are some colorful characters like Hugo Belafonte that we meet later on in the novel. One of my favorite messages that the novel brings is that you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, well you might find, you get what you need (I had to quote some Rolling Stones, it was too perfect, I mean British rock music to a British novelist, genius!).
Jake is always imagining scenarios and what will happen if he meets someone or if he says the right thing or shows up in Paris. However, when he does get into those situations, they do not turn out the way that he has imagined them to be. For instance, Jake and Hugo have been estranged for several years now. When Jake runs into him again, he just wants to talk to him. He doesn't necessarially know what he really wants from this conversation but he does want to be friends with Hugo again. He even goes to great lengths and breaks Hugo out of the hospital. When they finally do talk again, Jake is disappointed in the conversation. He wants to rid himself of Hugo. But after he does, he imagines meeting up with him again and dreams up what will happen next time they meet!
My only complaint with the novel is that Murdoch was long winded on certain passages that you could skip 10 sentences and then you would still be on the same description of the door.
All and all great book. My next review will be on Everything Is Illuminated.
Until next time, on to the next!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The Count of Monte Cristo
So, I just finished The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas last week and that was a 2 month epic that I went through. Now to be fair, I was reading other books in between reading The Count because I wanted to keep up with my book clubs other novels. For the month of June, one of my book clubs had 3 novels to read on top of the one I read for another group I am in. And of course, the first book I read was The Red Tent which I HATED with passion and scratched and clawed my way to finish reading that book and of course I picked up an abridge edition of The Count, and my thought was "Why I will finish this in no time" which of course I found out that the book was not 400pages but 1400! Which is fine, I mean I did read Gone With The Wind and that was about 1000 pages, so what's an extra 400? Well, mix in books and papers for school, and it just took a while. I would like to say I am so happy that I finished the book. It was awesome! Honestly, one of the best books I have read. I mean no one can write an epic novel like Dumas can. Don't get me wrong, could he have condensed the 1400 pages into 1000, sure, but I don't think it would have been nearly as complete in the detail.
The book is about revenge, which of course everyone knows about that. However, the way that he goes about plotting and executing his revenge is what makes the book so great! I haven't seen any book adaptations, but if I have learned anything, especially with the Harry Potter franchise, is that they never get everything in and what they chop out is pretty damn important. So, since this blog could be about 50 pages, I will just highlight some of my favorite parts of the novel (which there are a lot but I got some time here and I won't go over all of them). I loved when Dantes was in prison, and he meets the Abbe Faria. There interaction and the love that Dantes had for him reminded me of the relationship that Dantes would be having if he wasn't falsely accused by his supposed "friends". When Faria passed, you could feel Dantes pain.
I also enjoyed some of the irony of this novel. For example, Caderousse supposedly feels great remorse for what he thinks has happened to his friend, but he really can't prove anything because he knew he was drunk when the conversation took place between Danglars and Fernand. He even confessed to the "Abbe" that he was remorseful for what took place. However, he ends up murdering a jeweler and black mails and burglarizes. He finally repents in the end when Dantes reveals himself to him, but he dies after he repents. On the other hand, Danglars who had a hand of actually getting Dantes in prison and let Old Dantes starve to death, repented and lived.
There is also another scene of the novel, we see some remorse from Dantes, thinking that his plot of revenge might have gone too far when Madame Villefort kills not only herself but her son as well when Villefort discovers that she is the poisoner.
There is so much more I want to say but I have run out of time! Maybe I will make a follow up post on this but I just finished another book, Under the Net, which I loved as well!
Until next time, on to the next book!
The book is about revenge, which of course everyone knows about that. However, the way that he goes about plotting and executing his revenge is what makes the book so great! I haven't seen any book adaptations, but if I have learned anything, especially with the Harry Potter franchise, is that they never get everything in and what they chop out is pretty damn important. So, since this blog could be about 50 pages, I will just highlight some of my favorite parts of the novel (which there are a lot but I got some time here and I won't go over all of them). I loved when Dantes was in prison, and he meets the Abbe Faria. There interaction and the love that Dantes had for him reminded me of the relationship that Dantes would be having if he wasn't falsely accused by his supposed "friends". When Faria passed, you could feel Dantes pain.
I also enjoyed some of the irony of this novel. For example, Caderousse supposedly feels great remorse for what he thinks has happened to his friend, but he really can't prove anything because he knew he was drunk when the conversation took place between Danglars and Fernand. He even confessed to the "Abbe" that he was remorseful for what took place. However, he ends up murdering a jeweler and black mails and burglarizes. He finally repents in the end when Dantes reveals himself to him, but he dies after he repents. On the other hand, Danglars who had a hand of actually getting Dantes in prison and let Old Dantes starve to death, repented and lived.
There is also another scene of the novel, we see some remorse from Dantes, thinking that his plot of revenge might have gone too far when Madame Villefort kills not only herself but her son as well when Villefort discovers that she is the poisoner.
There is so much more I want to say but I have run out of time! Maybe I will make a follow up post on this but I just finished another book, Under the Net, which I loved as well!
Until next time, on to the next book!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Frankenstein - No Green Monster necessary
I finished Frankenstein by Mary Shelley a couple of weeks ago but I have going over in my head what I want to discuss with this book. Let's start with the overall book in terms of how the heck I got through it. I will admit, the first 50 pages was torturous for me. I wanted to burn the book, thrown it, put it in a shredder and claw my eyes out. However, I am on this journey of reading 1001 Books (even though this list will probably continue to grow) and I will make it though the book and all of the books, even though I want to shoot myself. However, once I got into the meat and potatos of the novel, I was engrossed (though once or twice I was searching for a gun) and wanted to know what the hell happens at the end! The novel is short, less than 200 pages so just think, after you finally cawl your way through the first 50, you only have 3/4 of the book left!
Okay, so I think I have established my journey through the book. Now, I would love to really post my thoughts on some of my favorite passages of the novel. Firstly, the book actually warned e to forget anything I have ever heard about Frankenstein. Any green monster, stupid monster, bolts through the neck, unintelligent creature that was brought to life by a lightening bolt, I was to immediately to forget and start anew. I was pleasantly surprised that Frankenstein was actually not even the name of the monster, but of the Doctor! Dr. Victor Frankenstein! My thoughts on him later. Well, what to call the creature? Creature? Well, Frankenstein's creature is no green monster nor was he brought to life by a lightening bolt. He was created by the hands of Dr. Frankenstein, who at the time is a young boy in his twenties who is in college. Then one day, the creature wakes up and Frankenstein freaks out and runs away from him.
This is what I don't understand. What did the good doctor expect? He knew he was creating a living thing. However, when he realizes how ugly the creature is and can't believe it is alive, and all he does is run away and act like he doesn't know the thing? It shows how heartless Dr. Frankenstein really is. I mean, the creature is no angel either but society has shun him as a monster. One of my favorite passages is when the monster finds Frankstein and takes him to a cave he is living in, in the Alps. The monster tells his story to Frankenstein and I feel bad for this wretched creature. He has had it hard. He cannot be amongst people because they are afraid of him. He finds a cabin out in the mountains and lives on the side of the house looking on at this happy family and living there for almost a year, he learns how to read and talk. However, he can reveal himself because he knows what will happen, the people will become afraid and he must flee. Against better judgement and thinking this family would be different, the monster reveals himself to the blind father but the family returns and kicks him out.
At this point in the story, the poor monster has lost all hope and hates the man who created him. While I feel bad for him, he decides to murder members of Frankenstein's family, which really does make him a monster. However, it is interesting that in present day, Hollywood has so liberally changed Shelley's original novel where it is not recognizable and they decided to call the nameless creature, Frankenstein. But is the doctor really the monster? The creator of this creature who only wanted to be loved and to love another? The doctor who casted him aside and acted as if he did not exist?
The book raises some excellent questions and I encourage you all to read. Tell me your thoughts if you are reading this.
Also, I only have 300 pages left in the The Count of Monte Cristo. I cannot wait to be done and write one hell of an extensive entry. So much to be said in 1400 pages.
Okay, so I think I have established my journey through the book. Now, I would love to really post my thoughts on some of my favorite passages of the novel. Firstly, the book actually warned e to forget anything I have ever heard about Frankenstein. Any green monster, stupid monster, bolts through the neck, unintelligent creature that was brought to life by a lightening bolt, I was to immediately to forget and start anew. I was pleasantly surprised that Frankenstein was actually not even the name of the monster, but of the Doctor! Dr. Victor Frankenstein! My thoughts on him later. Well, what to call the creature? Creature? Well, Frankenstein's creature is no green monster nor was he brought to life by a lightening bolt. He was created by the hands of Dr. Frankenstein, who at the time is a young boy in his twenties who is in college. Then one day, the creature wakes up and Frankenstein freaks out and runs away from him.
This is what I don't understand. What did the good doctor expect? He knew he was creating a living thing. However, when he realizes how ugly the creature is and can't believe it is alive, and all he does is run away and act like he doesn't know the thing? It shows how heartless Dr. Frankenstein really is. I mean, the creature is no angel either but society has shun him as a monster. One of my favorite passages is when the monster finds Frankstein and takes him to a cave he is living in, in the Alps. The monster tells his story to Frankenstein and I feel bad for this wretched creature. He has had it hard. He cannot be amongst people because they are afraid of him. He finds a cabin out in the mountains and lives on the side of the house looking on at this happy family and living there for almost a year, he learns how to read and talk. However, he can reveal himself because he knows what will happen, the people will become afraid and he must flee. Against better judgement and thinking this family would be different, the monster reveals himself to the blind father but the family returns and kicks him out.
At this point in the story, the poor monster has lost all hope and hates the man who created him. While I feel bad for him, he decides to murder members of Frankenstein's family, which really does make him a monster. However, it is interesting that in present day, Hollywood has so liberally changed Shelley's original novel where it is not recognizable and they decided to call the nameless creature, Frankenstein. But is the doctor really the monster? The creator of this creature who only wanted to be loved and to love another? The doctor who casted him aside and acted as if he did not exist?
The book raises some excellent questions and I encourage you all to read. Tell me your thoughts if you are reading this.
Also, I only have 300 pages left in the The Count of Monte Cristo. I cannot wait to be done and write one hell of an extensive entry. So much to be said in 1400 pages.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Reading for Class: Things Fall Apart and an update
I have been so busy, but I have been definitely been making some time for my reading. I still am working on the novel that is The Count of Monte Cristo and I only have 400 pages left. That's a whole other novel I could be reading! However, it really is an enjoyable novel and definitely has been one of my favorites that I have read so far. It's hard juggling that massive novel and trying to keep up with my other readings. This book is definitely taking me much longer than any other novel I have read. One of my favorite things that I love about reading is when the book completely engrosses you and you do not want to put it down and The Count of Monte Cristo has done that to me numerous times but because of work/school/other time constraints, I have to stop when I don't want to!
However this blog is not about The Count of Monte Cristo, but I figure I would update everyone on my progress because I was suppose to have finished this book June 30 as was the timeline for my book club, and I still haven't even re-read Pride and Prejudice, but I have been trekking along and trying to keep up with my other readings.
A book I have just finished was Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. I actually had to read this book for my Anthropology class and the subject is based on Southern Nigeria and Igbo culture. I did not have to read this for a book club but I am glad I was reading a book that was on my 1001 Book List. I read this book as we were told to, about 50 pages a day so we could discuss it. I really enjoyed learning about the Igbo culture, but was unsettled by some of the cultural traditions of the Umuofia clan. My professor made a good point as to make us realize that this novel takes place between the years 1890-1910. Not everything is the same as it is today. The main protagonist, Okonkwo, is really a conflicted person who is fearful of becoming his father and also struggling against the new culture that the white people are bringing. Okonkwo to me really is a tragic hero, and reminds me of the greek tragic heros, ala Odepius Rex. It is an easy read and definitely enjoyable.
What is everyone else reading? I would love to hear from you guys. If anyone is out there!
Until next time...
However this blog is not about The Count of Monte Cristo, but I figure I would update everyone on my progress because I was suppose to have finished this book June 30 as was the timeline for my book club, and I still haven't even re-read Pride and Prejudice, but I have been trekking along and trying to keep up with my other readings.
A book I have just finished was Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. I actually had to read this book for my Anthropology class and the subject is based on Southern Nigeria and Igbo culture. I did not have to read this for a book club but I am glad I was reading a book that was on my 1001 Book List. I read this book as we were told to, about 50 pages a day so we could discuss it. I really enjoyed learning about the Igbo culture, but was unsettled by some of the cultural traditions of the Umuofia clan. My professor made a good point as to make us realize that this novel takes place between the years 1890-1910. Not everything is the same as it is today. The main protagonist, Okonkwo, is really a conflicted person who is fearful of becoming his father and also struggling against the new culture that the white people are bringing. Okonkwo to me really is a tragic hero, and reminds me of the greek tragic heros, ala Odepius Rex. It is an easy read and definitely enjoyable.
What is everyone else reading? I would love to hear from you guys. If anyone is out there!
Until next time...
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There
I have been gone for a couple of weeks, school has been very busy. I've been having a hard time with juggling school and all of my reading for my groups. I have been tacking the Count of Monte Cristo, and I am way past the deadline nor did I read Pride and Prejudice (although I have already read it) so I will have to get through the readings and keep my other ones on time. School and reading 1400 page books does not mix well!
But anyway, I have just finished reading Through The Looking Glass and What Alice Found There by C.S. Lewis. A book of whimsy. It really is a children's book and I really wish I still had the imagination of a child because I wish I could fully understand the book. Youth is wasted on the young. To me, reading the book was like speaking to a young child. There really is no rhyme or reason as to how things come about, it is really lots of action that happens and you have no idea how any of it all came about. It definitely has more of a linear story line than Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, but still very one scene happens, then the next, but really no cohesiveness. I realize it was one of the style of writing of the times so I suppose it would make sense. It is a short story, only 80 or so pages. It really is a whimsical book, I really wish that I was a child so that I could fully appreciate the story. Alice is such a wonderful character, a wonderful child and I really wish I could connect with this character. Definitely read this book to a child, as I am much sure they will appreciate the book much more than I wish I could. On to the next!
But anyway, I have just finished reading Through The Looking Glass and What Alice Found There by C.S. Lewis. A book of whimsy. It really is a children's book and I really wish I still had the imagination of a child because I wish I could fully understand the book. Youth is wasted on the young. To me, reading the book was like speaking to a young child. There really is no rhyme or reason as to how things come about, it is really lots of action that happens and you have no idea how any of it all came about. It definitely has more of a linear story line than Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, but still very one scene happens, then the next, but really no cohesiveness. I realize it was one of the style of writing of the times so I suppose it would make sense. It is a short story, only 80 or so pages. It really is a whimsical book, I really wish that I was a child so that I could fully appreciate the story. Alice is such a wonderful character, a wonderful child and I really wish I could connect with this character. Definitely read this book to a child, as I am much sure they will appreciate the book much more than I wish I could. On to the next!
Monday, June 14, 2010
The Map of True Places
The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry is not a book on the 1001 Book List, but I got for free (also signed) and read it as part of the book discussion for this month for one of the book clubs I am in. This is definitely a change of pace from what I have been reading, very heavy books and it was nice to go back to some of the chick lit. However, this book definitely touched me, especially with the relationship between the main character Zee and her father Finch. Finch is suffering from Parkinsons, and he has kicked his boyfriend Melville out of the house and this leaves Zee, who is becoming a successful shrink in Boston, but is unsettled at the suicide from one of her patients, to take care of her ailing father.
Their relationship made me cry, as my grandfather only recently passed away from lukemeia and watching a loved one suffer and there is nothing that you can do is so hard to go through and I felt as if I was reliving it all over again. Same thing between Finch and his home aide Jessina. Jessina reminded me of my grandpa's CNA at the Veterans Home. There is one scene in the book where Jessina is dressing Finch and another where she is baking him cookies and I cried as well. It was so vivid and so real. It is interesting to note that Barry's father passed away from Parkinsons so this really is coming from the heart, from someone who has been there.
The book was a good read, though there are plenty of spots where I was left unsatisfied, especially with Zee's fiance Michael, who leaves her. Also, the relationship that occured between Hawk and Liliana was a little to unbelievable to me. However, I do recommend this book, definitely enjoyed the imagery and the writing style.
On to the next, The Red Tent. Which also isn't on the list, but the one after, The Count of Monte Cristo is!
Happy Reading
Their relationship made me cry, as my grandfather only recently passed away from lukemeia and watching a loved one suffer and there is nothing that you can do is so hard to go through and I felt as if I was reliving it all over again. Same thing between Finch and his home aide Jessina. Jessina reminded me of my grandpa's CNA at the Veterans Home. There is one scene in the book where Jessina is dressing Finch and another where she is baking him cookies and I cried as well. It was so vivid and so real. It is interesting to note that Barry's father passed away from Parkinsons so this really is coming from the heart, from someone who has been there.
The book was a good read, though there are plenty of spots where I was left unsatisfied, especially with Zee's fiance Michael, who leaves her. Also, the relationship that occured between Hawk and Liliana was a little to unbelievable to me. However, I do recommend this book, definitely enjoyed the imagery and the writing style.
On to the next, The Red Tent. Which also isn't on the list, but the one after, The Count of Monte Cristo is!
Happy Reading
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