tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64173420853569614392020-02-28T14:43:08.575+00:00The Everyday ReaderA simple little book blogSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-18001361505695236852018-12-12T21:20:00.000+00:002018-12-12T21:20:09.720+00:00The Classics Club . . . my finished list <img alt="" class="aligncenter" src="http://theclassicsclubblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/classicsclub1.jpg?w=166&h=185" height="176" width="166" /><br /><br />Hello, to anyone that by is any chance still reading. My last post on this little blog was three years ago. But today, a one time only return. Because I may have stopped blogging, but I didn't stop reading. And today, after 5 1/2 years I finished my list for The <a href="http://theclassicsclubblog.wordpress.com/">Classics Club Challenge</a>. 50 classic titles that I was attempting to read and review before <b>June 2018</b>. 6 months late, but got there in the end. See more about my original list <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/2013/06/the-classics-club.html">here</a>. <br /><br />Just so I feel like this list is well and truly finished, here's a summary post. Reviews linked where they exist substantively (either on this blog or on Goodreads), and two line mini-reviews where they don't.<br /><br />Overall there were few on this list that I truly disliked (I'm looking at you The Republic) and many that I loved. This list has installed reading the classics in me forever, though I have to admit I'm looking forward to picking them up in a less structured way now, and picking up titles that interest the me of today (rather than the me of 5 years ago!).<br /><br /><b>Progress as of 12/12/18:</b> 50/50<br /><ol><strike><br /></strike><li><strike>Adams, Richard: Watership Down </strike>Finished 19/10/2016 - This book is now on my "Books I will make my children read" shelf on Goodreads, and that's for a reason, but it's so much more than a children's book. Wonderful. </li><br /><li><strike>Alcott, Louisa May: Little Women</strike> Finished 19/7/13 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/2013/09/thoughts-on-little-women.html">Review</a></li><br /><li><strike>Anonymous: The Thousand and One Nights</strike> Finished 13/03/2018 - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35686201-the-arabian-nights">Review</a> </li><br /><li><strike>Atwood, Margaret: Oryx and Crake</strike> Finished 02/12/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/2014/12/fiction-review-oryx-and-crake.html">Review</a></li><br /><li><strike>Atwood, Margaret: The Blind Assassin</strike>. Finished 02/03/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/classics-club-spin-blind-assassin-adult.html">Review</a></li><br /><li><strike>Austen, Jane: <del>Sanditon</del> & The Watsons.</strike> Finished The Watsons 13/8/13 -<a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/thoughts-on-watsons-juvenilia.html">Review</a>, Finished Sanditon 5/8/13 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/thoughts-on-sanditon-austeninaugustrbr.html" title="Thoughts on Sanditon #AusteninAugustrbr">Review</a></li><br /><li><strike>Blackmore, R.D: Lorna Doone </strike> Finished 09/05/2016 - I'd heard this described as impenetrable, but I disagree. The use of local dialects adds to the atmospheric writing, and the story is great fun. </li><br /><li><del>Bond, Michael: A Bear Called Paddington</del> Finished 13/6/13 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/2013/06/review-bear-called-paddington.html" title="Review: A Bear Called Paddington">Review</a></li><br /><li><strike>Bronte, Charlotte: Jane Eyre</strike> Finished 15/03/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/thoughts-on-classics-jane-eyre.html">Review</a></li><br /><li><strike>Buchan, John: The Thirty-Nine Steps </strike>Finished 04/04/2017 - Enjoyable, and you really can see how many of the tropes we think of in an adventure novel have some of their roots in this work. </li><br /><li><strike>Bunyan, John: Pilgrim’s Progress</strike> Finished 25/10/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/thoughts-on-classics-pilgrims-progress.html">Review</a></li><br /><li>C<strike>apote, Truman: Breakfast at Tiffany’s </strike> Finished 16/09/2015 - Very different from the plot of the film, but worth reading in its own right. </li><br /><li><strike>Chaucer, Geoffrey: The Canterbury Tales</strike> Finished 03/07/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/thoughts-on-classics-canterbury-tales.html">Review</a></li><br /><li><strike>Christie, Agatha: Murder on the Orient Express </strike>Finished 16/11/2016 - I can't believe I managed to believe unspoiled as to the punchline of this one until I read the book! Great mystery writing. </li><br /><li><strike>Conan Doyle, Arthur: A Study in Scarlet</strike> Finished 17/11/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/thoughts-on-classics-study-in-scarlet.html">Review</a></li><br /><li><strike>Conan Doyle, Arthur: The Hound of the Baskervilles</strike> Finished 24/06/2017 - Like all of the Sherlock Holmes books I've read, this was an enjoyable, easy read. </li><strike><br /></strike><li><strike>de Saint-Exupery, Antoine: The Little Prince </strike> Finished 18/09/2016 - Philosophical and magical </li><br /><li><strike>Dumas, Alexandre: The Count of Monte Cristo </strike> Finished 29/08/2016 - One of the things I've learnt from my list is that the long classics are more often than not worth the effort. Took time to get going, but once we got there was worth every page. </li><br /><li><strike>Dumas, Alexandre: The Three Musketeers</strike> Finished 27/08/2018 - Dragged a little in places, but overall plenty of fun. </li><strike><br /></strike><li><strike>Fitzgerald, F. Scott: The Great Gatsby</strike> Finished 24/09/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/thoughts-on-classics-great-gatsby.html">Review</a></li><br /><li><strike>Gaskell, Elizabeth: Mary Barton</strike> Finished 18/04/2018 - This took me two attempts, and I'm glad I got there in the end, as the middle section of this was excellent (from murder to the end of trial), but the start and end both dragged.</li><br /><li><strike>Gaskell, Elizabeth: North and South Finished 12/12/2018</strike> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/402772575?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1">Review </a></li><br /><li><strike>Gaskell, Elizabeth: Sylvia’s Lovers</strike> Finished 27/05/2017 - My least favourite of Gaskell's work. A long and dragged out story full of unlikable characters. </li><strike><br /></strike><li><strike>Hawthorne, Nathaniel: The Scarlet Letter </strike> Finished 05/03/2016 - This one hasn't stuck with me, but I definitely enjoyed it while reading. </li><br /><li><strike>Hemingway, Ernest: The Old Man and the Sea</strike> Finished 08/06/2017. I enjoyed this, but can't say I loved it - not enough substance to get really stuck in. </li><strike><br /></strike><li><strike>Homer: The Iliad</strike> Finished 10/07/2018 - I'm glad I finally finished reading The Iliad, after several attempts over the years, but of the "Trojan War trilogy" as such (The Iliad, The Odyssey and the Aeneid) this was my least favourite. </li><br /><li><del>Hugo, Victor: Les Miserables </del> Finished 29/06/13 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/2013/07/fiction-review-les-miserables.html">Review</a></li><br /><li><strike>Hugo, Victor: The Hunchback of Notre Dame </strike>Finished 21/12/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/thoughts-on-classics-hunchback-of-notre.html">Review</a></li><br /><li><strike>Ishiguro, Kazuo: Remains of the Day</strike> Finished 16/07/2018 - Not my favourite Ishiguro, but still a quick and satisfying read. </li><br /><li><strike>Jerome, Jerome K: Three Men in a Boat</strike> Finished 18/06/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/thoughts-on-classics-three-men-in-boat.html">Review</a></li><br /><li><strike>Kingsolver, Barbara: The Poisonwood Bible</strike> Finished 12/05/2018 - I loved this. Gorgeously written, complex and thought provoking. </li><br /><li><strike>le Carre, John: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy</strike> Finished 15/11/2018 - A little hard to get into le Carre's writing style, but once past that hurdle, immersive and thrilling. </li><br /><li><strike>Marquez, Gabriel Garcia: One Hundred Years of Solitude</strike> Finished 16/09/2017 - Almost indescribable. Although some aspects of this magical realist story are really kinda crazy, somehow you get sucked in to Marquez's beautiful world. </li><br /><li><del>Mitchell, David: Cloud Atlas</del> Finished 06/07/13 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/2013/07/fiction-review-cloud-atlas.html">Review</a></li><br /><li><strike>Mitchell, Margaret: Gone with the Wind</strike> Finished 02/02/2018 - A gorgeous, thrilling epic. I've never seen the film and need to rectify that, but this was wonderful and one of my favourite reads of the list. </li><br /><li><strike>Montgomery, L.M.: Anne of Avonlea</strike> Finished 04/01/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/thoughts-on-anne-of-green-gables-and.html">Review</a></li><br /><li><strike>Montgomery, L.M.: Anne of Green Gables</strike> Finished 02/01/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/thoughts-on-anne-of-green-gables-and.html">Review</a></li><strike><br /></strike><li><strike>Moore, Alan: V for Vendetta</strike> Finished 03/08/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/thoughts-on-v-for-vendetta.html">Review</a></li><br /><li><strike>Nesbitt, Edith: The Railway Children</strike> Finished 25/12/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/thoughts-on-classics-railway-children.html">Review</a></li><br /><li><strike>Plato: The Republic </strike>Finished 25/09/2018 - Sometimes I curse my inability to give up on a book, and the day I finished this was one of those times. Ancient Greek philosophy in a one hundred year old English translation is just not my bag apparently (I did learn not to just download the free kindle version). </li><br /><li><strike>Priestly, J.B: An Inspector Calls </strike>Finished 07/03/2017 - A brilliant murder mystery, and I'm happy to have caught up with seemingly everyone else in my adopted country, who all read it at school. </li><br /><li><strike>Remarque, Erich Maria: All Quiet on the Western Front </strike> Finished 13/01/2017 - One of those books that you truly understand upon reading why it is a classic. Should be compulsory reading for all. </li><br /><li><strike>Rider Haggard, H: King Solomon’s Mines</strike> Finished 18/12/2016 - Ugh, not my favourite. Unfortunately this really showed its age in terms of attitudes towards Africans and Africa. </li><br /><li><strike>Scott, Sir Walter: Ivanhoe</strike> Finished 14/01/2018 - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17410835-ivanhoe">Review </a></li><br /><li><strike>Steinbeck, John: Of Mice and Men</strike> Finished 06/10/2017 - Sometimes simplistic, but still clever and interesting </li><br /><li><strike>Steinbeck, John: The Grapes of Wrath</strike> Finished 16/12/2017 - Harrowing, but gorgeous, and important.</li><br /><li><strike>Tolstoy, Leo: Anna Karenina</strike> Finished 27/10/2018 - I learnt my lesson re: reading foreign language classics in a modern English translation. Considering this is a tome I ripped through it and enjoyed every second - truly a classic for a reason. </li><br /><li><strike>Walker, Alice: The Color Purple</strike> Finished 04/08/2017 - Some books are genuinely difficult to read, and this was one of them, but it was worth the effort and the pain. </li><br /><li><strike>Waugh, Evelyn: Brideshead Revisited </strike> Finished 23/02/2017 - complicated, but satisfying. </li><br /><li><strike>Wodehouse, P.G: Life at Blandings</strike> Finished 13/05/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/2014/05/thoughts-on-classics-life-at-blandings.html">Review</a></li></ol>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-77853727048045348492015-03-16T19:47:00.000+00:002015-03-16T19:47:44.545+00:00Au RevoirAfter far to much consideration, I've decided to say au revoir my friends and call a permanent hiatus on this little blog.<br /><br />I've been here for over two years now, and in that time my life has changed somewhat dramatically. I underwent surgery, relieving some pain that prevented me from getting up and DOING things. I moved to the other side of the world.<br /><br />Perhaps most importantly, when I began writing here I was working in a public library and studying library science. Living and breathing books. Nowadays (and a surprise to me too) I have a job far away from books and in the private sector, with longer deadline driven hours. And I love it more than I ever would have imagined. Books have gone back from to being a lifestyle to being a much loved hobby. A hobby that blogging has lately felt like like an interruption, rather than a compliment too. <br /><br />For now, it feels like it's time to go back to reading just for me.<br /><br />I'll still be reading all your blogs though. Need to keep discovering great books somehow! And if you want to keep up on my reading (with snippet reviews as and when I feel like it) you can <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8876251-sarah">find me (and add me!) on Goodreads </a>or on Twitter @SarahJLisle. <br /><br />So long - I've got many good books to get back to! <br /><br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-29136586871202198242015-03-01T12:21:00.002+00:002015-03-01T12:21:58.751+00:00So, how much did I spend on books in: FebruaryMy spending series continues! You can find <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/2015/02/so-how-much-did-i-spend-on-books-in.html">January's installment here</a>. Unfortunately I can tell you now that my wallet is not going to be thanking me as much in February as it did last month. On the upside, most of these were accumulated because I got to attend some fantastic author events.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Physical Books Acquired</span></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1334416327l/13601659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1334416327l/13601659.jpg" width="146" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327783191l/6438305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327783191l/6438305.jpg" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1330891351l/12962345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1330891351l/12962345.jpg" width="130" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1369131369l/16070141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1369131369l/16070141.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1394039050l/18070753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1394039050l/18070753.jpg" width="129" /></a></b><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1422630313l/22549636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1422630313l/22549636.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><br /><br /><span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6438305-city-of-ghosts?from_search=true">City of Ghosts, by Bali Rai</a>: </span></span><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc">£7.99 </span>from Waterstones, picked up during an author event</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></b><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12962345-earth-girl?ac=1">Earth Girl, by Janet Edwards</a>: </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc">£5.50 (including shipping) from Serenity Bookshop via Amazon Marketplace, but covered by gift card so </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc">£0.00</span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16070141-the-elites?ac=1">The Elites, by Natasha Ngan</a>: </span></span></span></span></span><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc">£6.99 </span>from Waterstones, picked up during an author event</span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13601659-pea-s-book-of-best-friends?ac=1">Pea's Book of Best Friends, by Susie Day</a>: </span></span><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc">£3.68 (including shipping) from Sten Books and Toys via Amazon Marketplace </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18070753-murder-most-unladylike">Murder Most Unladylike, by Robin Stevens</a>: </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc">£3.50 from Waterstones (buy one get one half price)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22549636-arsenic-for-tea">Arsenic for Tea, by Robin Stevens</a>: </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc">£3.50 from Waterstones (buy one get one half price)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc"><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">E-Books Acquired</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1364347894l/17673307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1364347894l/17673307.jpg" width="122" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361586385l/17350829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361586385l/17350829.jpg" width="129" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1329949257l/13459177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1329949257l/13459177.jpg" width="128" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384925223l/18868940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384925223l/18868940.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1393012287l/11066361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1393012287l/11066361.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17673307-neanderthal-seeks-human?ac=1">Neanderthal Seeks Human, by Penny Reid</a>: Freebie</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17350829-a-bride-for-keeps?ac=1">A Bride for Keeps, by Melissa Jagears</a>: </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc">£0.96 (on sale), but covered by gift card</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13459177-with-every-letter?ac=1">With Every Letter, by Sarah Sundin</a>: Freebie</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18868940-the-4-seasons-of-marriage">The 4 Seasons of Marriage, by Gary Chapman</a>: Freebie</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11066361-mary-barton">Mary Barton, by Elizabeth Gaskell</a>: Freebie</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc"><b><span class="_Tgc"><span style="font-size: medium;">Total Book Money in February: </span></span></b><span class="_Tgc"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="_Tgc">£25.66</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc"><span class="_Tgc"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="_Tgc">Total Book Money in 2015: </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc"><span class="_Tgc"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="_Tgc"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc"><span class="_Tgc"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="_Tgc">£25.66</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc"><span class="_Tgc"><span><span class="_Tgc"><span><span><span><span class="_Tgc"><span class="_Tgc"><span><span class="_Tgc">Just like January was an unusually low spend month for books, I feel like February was an unusually high spend month. But, every physical book I purchased in Feb has been signed by the author, and considering I went to one author event that featured 35! authors, I feel like I've been rather restrained. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc"><span class="_Tgc"><span><span class="_Tgc"><span><span><span><span class="_Tgc"><span class="_Tgc"><span><span class="_Tgc">How does my spending feel to you? To much on books? Less than you would have thought (or less than you spent!). Lets discuss! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="_Tgc"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="_Tgc"><span class="_Tgc"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="_Tgc"></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span><br /><br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-68549635528947922442015-02-14T18:53:00.001+00:002015-02-14T18:53:47.652+00:00Fiction Review: The Chimes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1415612559l/23523012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1415612559l/23523012.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></b></i><span id="freeText6439163056576480889"><em>The Chimes is set in a reimagined London, in a world where people cannot form new memories, and the written word has been forbidden and destroyed.</em></span><br /><span id="freeText6439163056576480889"><em></em></span><br /><span id="freeText6439163056576480889"><em>In the absence of both memory and writing is music.</em></span><br /><span id="freeText6439163056576480889"><em></em></span><br /><span id="freeText6439163056576480889"><em>In a world where the past is a mystery, each new day feels the same as the last, and before is blasphony, all appears lost. But Simon Wythern, a young man who arrives in London seeking the truth about what really happened to his parents, discovers he has a gift that could change all of this forever.</em></span><br /><span id="freeText6439163056576480889"></span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Chimes, by Anna Smaill</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">2015, [Genre: Literary<i>/</i> I-don't-know-what-to-call-this]</span></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Source: </span></span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I recieved a copy of this book to review thanks to Spectre and Bookbridgr. I recieved no other form of compensation and all opinions are my own. </span></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b><br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23523012-the-chimes?ac=1"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Goodreads</span></a><br /><br />The Chimes is such a difficult book to review! I think if it proves anything, it's that I'm sometimes justified in my weird perseverance with books and inability to do-not-finish. For the first 127 pages I wanted to give up. Anna Smaill throws you into a world which is difficult to understand. We are following the perspective of Simon, a young man in an alternate London in which the written word is almost extinct and music is everything. Simon is struggling to hold onto his memories. How did he get to London and why is that important? Why are some events more significant than others? Why on earth do certain happenings seem to keep repeating themselves? (seriously, there was a lot of deja vu going on). There's no world building, we just get pushed straight down the rabbit hole. Combine this with an infusion of music into the language (which is beautifully done and by the end, gorgeously lyrical) and the whole thing is just hard to follow. <br /><br />And then something just shifts and clicks into place. The story is no longer difficult and you start to understand why everything has been so confused. Gradually, we as the reader can start filling in Simon's backstory and see how he has reached where he is now and why he has reached it. The alternate world itself becomes more plausible as you start to grasp what has made it so strange. Before I quite knew it, I was hooked.<br /><br />By the end, The Chimes had completely won me over. Anna Smaill has managed to achieve something incredibly difficult in a debut. It's a beautiful story, thematic and moving. If you can stick with it long enough, you realise that you're slowly unwinding a great mystery. There is a growing sense of purpose, with great commentary on the nature of good vs. evil, whether there can be some that have the right to make choices for all others, and whether not-knowing is better than knowing if not-knowing will save us from pain. Philosophical, inventive and with a breathtaking ending. It's also quite refreshing that The Chimes is obviously a stand-alone. If somewhat frustrating, because I'd be quite happy to see more of this world.<br /><br />I realise I haven't commented overly on the plot apart from the beginning. This is purposeful on my part, because it's hard to do so without giving stuff away. However, even if the pacing is a little off at times (the second half feels very rushed in comparison to the 127 page drag that sets the scene) it is well plotted and sort of like watching a great flower unfurl.<br /><br />On the whole? If you read for 'quick wins' The Chimes probably won't be up your street. But if you're happy to go into a book knowing that you're going to stick around for the long haul, I promise it's worth the wait. <b>4/5 stars.</b><br /><br />Also, isn't that cover gorgeous? Even more gorgeous in person. Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-80384206303863035522015-02-06T12:30:00.000+00:002015-02-07T14:56:06.512+00:00So, how much did I spend on books in: JanuaryI don't spend a lot of money on books. I make use of my library. My brother and I have a standing agreement where he gives me an Amazon gift card for my birthday, which gets used exclusively on Kindle books and pretty much covers me for the year. Etc. But still, I'm interested to know how much I really am spending on books exactly. So, for the sake of my own curiosity I'm going to keep a running tally this year on the books added to my shelves and how much I spent on them. And since this is a book blog I'm running after all, I thought I'd share my tally with you.<br /><br />So here goes January!<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Physical Books Acquired</span></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1414165852l/23443384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1414165852l/23443384.jpg" width="143" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1415612559l/23523012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1415612559l/23523012.jpg" width="130" /></a><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-tGH4M9JL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-tGH4M9JL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="200" width="143" /></a></div><br /> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23443384-a-year-in-120-recipes">A Year in 120 Recipes, by Jack Monroe</a>: Birthday gift <br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23523012-the-chimes?ac=1">The Chimes, by Anna Smaill</a>: ARC <br /><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mini-Cross-Stitch-Twenty-Make/dp/1844486575/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422910355&sr=8-1&keywords=twenty+to+make+mini+cross+stitch">Twenty to Make: Mini Cross Stitch, by Michael Powell</a>: <span class="_Tgc">£4.99 from Waterstones, but used a Bonus Bond voucher we got with our power company reward points. </span><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">E-Books Acquired</span></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396394307l/20801166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396394307l/20801166.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384803384l/18817756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384803384l/18817756.jpg" width="159" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20801166-a-little-something-different?ac=1">A Little Something Different, by Sandy Hall:</a> <span class="_Tgc">£1.03 (on sale), but covered by birthday gift card</span><br /><span class="_Tgc"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18817756-twelve-years-a-slave">Twelve Year A Slave, by Solomon Northup:</a> Freebie</span><br /><br /><b><span class="_Tgc"><span style="font-size: large;">Total Book Money in January: </span></span></b><span class="_Tgc"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_Tgc">£0.00</span></span></b></span><br /><br /><span class="_Tgc"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_Tgc"><span style="font-size: small;">This feels like a great start! I literally spent no money last month, while acquiring five books for my shelves. However I also feels like it's probably not representative of where I would normally be at. It was my birthday in January. I also received a WHOLE lot of books for Christmas, and picked up even more in the Kindle New Year Sale when it started on Boxing Day. Which on the whole meant my box buying tendancies were put off by an already massive new pile. I'm kinda already looking forward to seeing how this ends up comparing to next month. . . .</span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_Tgc"></span></span></b> </span><br /><span class="_Tgc"><br /></span>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-5551534656294311642015-02-03T15:00:00.000+00:002015-02-03T15:00:01.297+00:00January Fiction Mini-ReviewsJanuary has been, on the whole, a pretty great start to my reading year. Rounding up with some mini-reviews:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1410006861l/20555443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1410006861l/20555443.jpg" width="127" /></a></div><i><span id="freeTextContainer1317705915912506053"><strong><em>Apollo 13</em> meets <em>Cast Away</em> in this grippingly detailed, brilliantly ingenious man-vs-nature survival thriller, set on the surface of Mars.</strong></span></i><br /><br /><span id="freeTextContainer1317705915912506053">I absolutely loved The Martian. It was funny, clever and full of hard core science without feeling like hard core sci fi. Husband loved it too, and I feel like it's going to be one of those books that I'm constantly pressing on people, buying as a gift and generally convincing others to read. That includes you, get to it! <b>5/5 stars</b></span><i><span id="freeTextContainer1317705915912506053"><strong> </strong></span></i><br /><i><span id="freeTextContainer1317705915912506053"><strong><br /></strong></span></i><i><span id="freeTextContainer1317705915912506053"><strong><br /></strong></span></i><i><span id="freeTextContainer1317705915912506053"><strong><br /></strong></span></i><i><span id="freeTextContainer1317705915912506053"><strong><br /></strong></span></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1409804745l/23156005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1409804745l/23156005.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><i><b><span id="freeText18345793779316194287">Only nine people have ever been chosen by renowned children’s author Laura White to join “The Rabbit Back Literature Society,” an elite group of writers in the small town of Rabbit Back. Now a tenth member has been selected: Ella, a young literature teacher. Soon Ella discovers that the Society is not what it seems.</span></b></i><br /><br /><i><b><span id="freeText18345793779316194287"> <span class="readable reviewText"> </span></span></b></i><span id="freeText18345793779316194287"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview1161221068">One word keeps coming to mind with this book - ethereal. It's magical, sometimes funny, sometimes scary and deeply disturbing, but mostly just ethereal. Its that type of magical realism that makes you doubt yourself and the perspective of every narrator and character in the thing. </span></span></span><span id="freeText18345793779316194287">Unfortunately, it was slightly ruined for me by the unnecessarily disturbing aspects (the members of my book club who also read it agreed). <b>3.5/5 stars</b></span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406135006l/21869936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406135006l/21869936.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><span id="freeText18345793779316194287"></span><i><span id="freeText18345793779316194287"><b><span id="freeTextContainer13403599247529631724">Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it’s been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems besides the point now.</span></b></span></i><br /><br /><span id="freeText18345793779316194287"><span id="freeTextContainer13403599247529631724">Another LOVE read. Rainbow Rowell dives into the realities of a love that's been around for a long time like few writers have ever done before (that I've read anyway). It so perfectly captures married love, it's difficulties and it's triumphs. I'm so glad I have a hard copy (signed) because this is one I'll treasure for a long time. <b>5/5 stars.</b> </span></span><i><span id="freeText18345793779316194287"><b><span id="freeTextContainer13403599247529631724"> </span></b></span></i><br /><i><span id="freeText18345793779316194287"><b><span id="freeTextContainer13403599247529631724"><br /></span></b></span></i><i><span id="freeText18345793779316194287"><b><span id="freeTextContainer13403599247529631724"><br /></span></b></span></i><i><span id="freeText18345793779316194287"><b><span id="freeTextContainer13403599247529631724"><br /></span></b></span></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1393506535l/20913559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1393506535l/20913559.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><br /><span id="freeTextContainer578417021914803186"><i><b>Northern Iceland, 1829. A woman condemned to death for murdering her lover. A family forced to take her in. A priest tasked with absolving her. But all is not as it seems, and time is running out.</b></i></span><br /><br /><span id="freeTextContainer578417021914803186"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview1180266756">Beautifully written and lots of great themes/symbology going on (you know I love me some of that). But somehow it just didn't grab me like I expected it would. Perhaps because the storyline is somewhat predictable? I saw every turn a mile off and could have foretold the end accurately after the first two chapters.</span></span> <b>3.5/5 stars</b> </span>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-54229883611911857682015-01-30T15:51:00.000+00:002015-01-30T15:51:00.135+00:00Kindle Tracking LoveI have a new love in my life, reader friends. Kindle price tracking! I am loving <a href="http://uk.ereaderiq.com/">eReaderIQ.</a> I may be behind the times on this, but who knew I could just plug in a book, tell it what I want to pay for it and it will email me when it drops below that price.<br /><br />I feel like this may be a revolutionary discovery. . .<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UBvpzYHYBLI/VMaMipEVEYI/AAAAAAAAGgE/BT8Ft9TixMQ/s1600/eReaderIQ.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UBvpzYHYBLI/VMaMipEVEYI/AAAAAAAAGgE/BT8Ft9TixMQ/s1600/eReaderIQ.PNG" height="385" width="640" /></a></div><br />Yep, I snapped that deal up. Loving it!<br /><br /><b>Do you use a price tracker for your e-reading?</b>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-59908672674723877282015-01-26T18:22:00.000+00:002015-01-26T18:22:10.252+00:00Musing on Rainbow Rowell's Landline<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406135006l/21869936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406135006l/21869936.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21869936-landline"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Goodreads</span></a></div><br />So, I just finished Rainbow Rowell's <i>Landline.</i> I finally got around to it (it's been in my to-read pile pretty much since it was published) and I loved it. What's funny is, most people didn't. Perhaps one of the reasons I put it off so long is that I remembered all of the fairly middling to negative reviews I saw on blogs when it first came out. On Goodreads it has the lowest star rating average of any of her novels. Why? In almost every case it was because the reader felt <b>they couldn't identify with the main characters. </b>They didn't understand why Georgie loved Neal. They didn't understand why Neal loved Georgie. They didn't find their marriage an interesting subject.<br /><br />It's an interesting one for me, because the reason I loved <i>Landline</i> was because of how perfectly it resonated. <b>NOT </b>because my marriage is in trouble folks. But because Rainbow Rowell perfectly encapsulated what mature love is like. The real, deep love that comes with knowing someone for a very long time and continuing to love them after all that time. The love that comes with building a family with someone, and generally sharing a life. That's an extremely difficult topic to do well and I think Rainbow Rowell just did it the best I've ever seen it done. And I wonder how many reader's found that <i>Landline </i>(and Georgie and Neal's marriage specifically) didn't work for them because they don't know that experience themselves. A majority of the negative reviews I've seen have been by teenage reader and teenage bloggers (or those who are in general, by their own admission, not married). I've even seen a few of those who are more contemplative in their reviewing style <a href="http://readeroffictions.com/2014/07/review-landline-rainbow-rowell/">readily admit</a> that might be the root cause.<br /><br />I also wonder if this is at the root of those who don't understand why Georgie and Neal love each other. Rowell not only captures mature love, but she captures a <b>very specific love story</b> (as arguably, she has done in all of her novels so far). Georgie loves Neal because he complements her, and vice versa. It's worth thinking about - I think most people could look at almost any relationship outside of their own and ask why one person loves the other. Love isn't an obvious thing. Rainbow Rowell has this unqiue way of pulling out the details of a love story in a way that makes it feel more like truth than fiction. Like she has picked a random couple, got into their heads and written a novel about them (and a magical phone). I have my own love story. I love my husband. Other people might not understand why I love my husband, but that doesn't make my love for him any less important. And in some ways, I think the 'whys' of Georgie and Neal loving each other in <i>Landline</i> isn't all that important either. At the crux of <i>Landline </i>is a simple story - there is a life time of love, but the love has gone astray somewhere along the line. Can it be fixed? And even if it can, should it be? Is it enough? <br /><br /><b>What do you think? Is the fault in <i>Landline</i> that it's just not relatable enough? Or is it just not relatable for those who haven't experienced the type of relationship Rowell is writing about? Did you love <i>Landline</i> like I did? </b>(please note, I am not trying to offend anyone by my musings and am not being a pro-marriage advocate, disrespect single people etc. I just think these things are interesting to think about). <br /><br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-61495350301029483962015-01-17T16:29:00.004+00:002015-01-17T16:29:45.290+00:00Reading ResolutionsThis year I'm not signing up to many formal reading challenges. My Goodreads challenge number is set ridiculously low, so I don't feel the pressure of having to meet it. Towards the end of 2014 I was surprised by how much pressure I was feeling to hit that number, finish that challenge.<br /><br />This year, I'm taking a different approach. No set goals, no numbers. Just a mantra. <b>Widen my reading. </b>In 2015 I want to do this by:<br /><br /><ul><li>Reading more books in translation</li><li>Reading more books on nonfiction topics that I don't know much about, instead of sticking to the same old areas (history mainly). Science nonfiction especially. </li><li>Reading more books by authors that identify as a different ethnicity to myself, who are also not white British or white North American. </li><li>Reading more books by authors from my country of origin.</li></ul>To make the reasoning behind the last two points clear, I personally self-identify as Pākehā (New Zealander of European descent). As such, I find myself in the strange situation that I would like to read more books by those that identify differently, but already almost exclusively do - like many others, I fall into the trap of reading mostly white British, and white North American authors. I want to diversify my reading, while also recognising the diversity of my own ethnicity (as demonstrated by the offensive 'White, Other' box I have to tick on forms when living outside of my home country) and the need to read more books that come out of my own cultural landscape. <br /><br />By not pressurising myself with a specific goal, but publicising my process and progress here (I want to update on this topic from time to time), hopefully its something that will just incorporate itself into my reading life. Here's hoping anyway . . . we can do nothing but try!! Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-53791883155283523682015-01-13T19:59:00.001+00:002015-01-13T19:59:36.803+00:00A belated 2014 reviewSo, even though I'm well behind everyone else, I thought it was time to pull together some brief 2014 stats.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Some Basics</b></span><br /><br /><ul><li>104 books read (134 in 2013)</li><li>32,561 pages (42,329 in 2013)</li></ul>Even though this is a significant decrease on last year, I'm still more than happy. In 2014 I finished post-graduate study, started a new job, moved house and went through several other adjustments in my life. I'm genuinely surprised that I hit 100 books this year.<br /><br /><b>Longest book: </b>Catastrophe: Europe Goes to War 1914, by Max Hastings (672 pages)<br /><br /><b>Shortest book:</b> Burning Girls, by Veronica Schanoes (32 pages)<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">By Category/Genre</span></b><br /><br /><b>Adult Fiction:</b> 35<br /><br /><b>Non-fiction:</b> 19<br /><br /><b>Classic fiction:</b> 13<br /><br /><b>YA fiction:</b> 27<br /><br /><b>Children's fiction:</b> 5<br /><br /><b>Other (graphic novels, etc):</b> 5<br /><br />I'm a little surprised by this, as from my memory of the year YA made up a bigger proportion of my reading. Though this could be because a large proportion of my Adult reading in 2014 was 'genre' fiction (romance, fantasy/sci-fi, Christian). With a more settled life (hopefully) in 2015 I'm going to be trying to get some more non-fiction and literary fiction in the rotation. . . without giving up genre and YA of course. The pitfalls of being an eclectic reader. . .. struggling to fit everything in and get and even balance.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Favourites</b></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1394324513l/18657603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1394324513l/18657603.jpg" width="130" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1368362956l/17910198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1368362956l/17910198.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339593021l/1499952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339593021l/1499952.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328140929l/12958655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328140929l/12958655.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span> <br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Some Runners-Up</span></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384362444l/18243700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384362444l/18243700.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1379083526l/13206828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1379083526l/13206828.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361997427l/10194628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361997427l/10194628.jpg" width="138" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1346836299l/13707734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1346836299l/13707734.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1379133081l/18295861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1379133081l/18295861.jpg" width="126" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418488164l/22914373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418488164l/22914373.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><br />Back soon with some resolutions and plans for my reading this year.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-86508452346400280502015-01-04T16:54:00.000+00:002015-01-04T16:54:25.026+00:00Thoughts on the Classics: The Railway Children<div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328865877l/164531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328865877l/164531.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span></span></span><i><span id="freeTextContainer18218237112364987800">Three children, forced to alter their comfortable lifestyle when their father is taken away by strangers, move with their mother to a simple cottage near a railway station where their days are filled with excitement and adventure. First published in 1906, this beloved children's classic has charmed generations of readers.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeTextContainer18218237112364987800"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The Railway Children</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeTextContainer18218237112364987800"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Nesbit, E. (1906). </span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeTextContainer18218237112364987800"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Source: </span></span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Own copy, Kindle</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/164531.The_Railway_Children?ac=1"><span id="freeTextContainer18218237112364987800"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Goodreads</span></span></span></span></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span id="freeTextContainer18218237112364987800"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span> </span></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </b></span></span><i><span id="freeTextContainer18218237112364987800"> </span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>For some reason I always find myself reading Children’s Classics around Christmas. Last year it was Anne of Green Gables, this year <i>The Railway Children</i>. <i>The Railway Children</i> is another one of those children’s classics that I completely missed as an actual child. I went into it knowing only that a) my husband and his family all love the TV adaptation, b) there is a railway involved somehow, and presumably trains, and c) one of the children is called Phyllis. </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>I’m glad I’ve now crossed it off the list, and although it was enjoyable enough, I don’t think it has gone straight into the list of ‘books I can’t wait to read to future children.’ The story is a set of loosely interconnected adventures had by three siblings who are uprooted from their upmarket London home and go to live in a country cottage after their father mysteriously leaves with some gentlemen that come to call one evening. Unsurprisingly, many of their adventures centre around the railway that goes past the cottage and the nearby station. </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>The stories are entertaining enough, in the same sort of tradition as many such books I enjoyed as a child (Enid Blyton, Swallows and Amazons etc.) – the children are all genuinely good, with a desire to help those around them, with just enough mischief that children will identify with them rather than despise them. Unfortunately though, there were more elements that frustrated me about <i>The Railway Children</i> as an adult reader than many of the other children’s classics I’ve read for the first time as an adult. I found the lack of explanation about the father’s disappearance until late in the novel unnecessary. Perhaps a child reader would empathise and understand more with children who aren’t always told what is going on, but on the whole it just seemed a little off, especially as it causes a dramatic and ongoing change in the families circumstances and three young children are left to continually imagine the absolute worst. I think this added to my distaste generally about how the change of circumstances is treated. Nesbitt seems to have attempted to put a commentary on social class and wealth into a novel for young children, and because this is ultimately a children’s story failed a little in terms of continuity – sometimes the ‘poor’ of the rural community are (rightly) portrayed as everyday human beings living their lives, while at other times they are distinctly defined by their lack of wealth, depending on what suits the story best at the time. I have to admit, every time we turned back to the later portrayal I felt a little sad. The families’ new state of being ‘poor’ is also a central theme of the story in a way that is romantic rather that practical i.e. at times there is ‘not enough food’, but when an opportunity is given to plant a garden the children grow flowers and destroy the planted vegetable patch by playing toy soldiers with no repercussions. </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>On the whole? <i>The Railway Children</i> may grow on me given time, as the story itself was charming and produced wonderful imagery reminiscent of many of my childhood favourites. But the more problematic aspects mean it may have to wait until we have children ourselves, who won’t notice the issues that frustrate me now, before I revisit it. </span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><b>The Railway Children is book 19/50 on my <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/p/classics-club.html">Classics Club </a>list</b> </span></span></span>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-49512751710730606672014-12-26T22:42:00.002+00:002014-12-26T22:42:51.485+00:00Back to the Classics 2015 Sign-Up<div style="text-align: left;">I'm cutting back on challenge sign-ups this year (more on that to come, perhaps), but I can't resist re-signing up to the <a href="http://karensbooksandchocolate.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/announcing-back-to-classics-challenge.html">Back to the Classics Challenge hosted by Books and Chocolate</a>. Because I can play chicken and not list particular books, it makes it a nice relaxing challenge that still encourages me to do some Classic reading.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RLSbkpOjJvM/VHvkSnERe-I/AAAAAAAADv8/tCiHp_n0LCY/s1600/backtotheclassics2015BUTTON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RLSbkpOjJvM/VHvkSnERe-I/AAAAAAAADv8/tCiHp_n0LCY/s1600/backtotheclassics2015BUTTON.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Unlike this year, I'm not giving myself a stated aim for 2015 in terms of the numbers of categories I want to hit. We'll just see how we go! Here at least, are the categories I'll be putting my Classic reading into. . .</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">1. </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>A 19th Century Classic </b> </span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">2. <b>A 20th Century Classic</b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b> </b> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">3. <b>A Classic by a Woman Author</b>. </span></span><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">4. <b>A Classic in Translation</b>. </span><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></div></div></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span">5. <b>A Very Long Classic Novel </b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b> </b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">6. <b>A Classic Novella</b> </span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">7. <b>A Classic with a Person's Name in the Title</b>. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">8. <b>A Humorous or Satirical Classic</b>. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span">9. <b>A Forgotten Classic</b>. </span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">10. <b>A Nonfiction Classic. </b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">11. <b>A Classic Children's Book</b>. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span class="Apple-style-span">12. <b>A Classic Play</b>. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Lets see how we go!<br /><br /></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-91424476686948108682014-12-22T16:24:00.000+00:002014-12-22T16:24:00.155+00:00Back to the Classics 2014 Wrap Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gUkJSl5NdFY/UqeHXOdM4QI/AAAAAAAADW8/eQe9aVAXm4k/s320/classics2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gUkJSl5NdFY/UqeHXOdM4QI/AAAAAAAADW8/eQe9aVAXm4k/s320/classics2014.jpg" /></a></div><br />This year was my first year participating in the <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/p/back-to-classics-challenge.html">Back to the Classics Challenge</a>, host by Karen at <a href="http://karensbooksandchocolate.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/announcing-back-to-classics-challenge.html">Books and Chocolate</a>. I decided to not be to hard on myself and aim for all of the required categories, plus three optional ones. Surprisingly, I exceeded all of my expectations this year and filled in every single category!! This means I get 3 entries in the prize draw. My books were:<br /><br /><b>Required </b><br /><br /><b>1. A 20th Century Classic: </b>Daddy-Long-Legs, finished 02/02/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/thoughts-on-classics-daddy-long-legs.html">Review</a><br /><b>2. A 19th Century Classic: </b>Three Men in a Boat, finished 18/06/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/thoughts-on-classics-three-men-in-boat.html">Review</a><br /><b>3. A Classic by a Woman Author: </b>Jane Eyre, finished 15/03/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/thoughts-on-classics-jane-eyre.html">Review</a><br /><b>4. A Classic in Translation: </b>The Canterbury Tales, finished 03/07/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/thoughts-on-classics-canterbury-tales.html">Review</a><br /><b>5. A Classic about War: </b>The Enormous Room, finished 13/04/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/2014/04/reading-wwi-enormous-room.html">Review</a><br /><b>6. A Classic by a New to me Author: </b>Life at Blandings, finished 13/05/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/2014/05/thoughts-on-classics-life-at-blandings.html">Review</a><br /><br /><b>Optional</b><br /><br /><b>1. An American Classic: </b>The Great Gatsby, finished 24/09/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/thoughts-on-classics-great-gatsby.html">Review</a><br /><b>2. A Classic mystery, suspense or thriller: </b>A Study in Scarlet, finished 18/11/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/thoughts-on-classics-study-in-scarlet.html">Review</a><br /><b>3. A Historical Fiction classic: </b>The Hunchback of Notre Dame, finished 21/12/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/thoughts-on-classics-hunchback-of-notre.html">Review</a><br /><b>4. A Classic that's been adapted into a Movie or TV series: </b>Anne of Green Gables, finished 02/01/14 - <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/thoughts-on-anne-of-green-gables-and.html">Review</a><br /><b>5. Write a review of the adaptation from category 4: </b><a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/2014/08/book-to-film-anne-of-green-gables.html">TV mini-series of Anne of Green Gables - review</a><br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed the Back to the Classics Challenge this year. It helped me keep on track with my <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/p/classics-club.html">Classics Club list</a>, encouraged me to generally do more Classic reading and meant I read some great books. All of my picks this year were first time reads and I enjoyed nearly all of them! The Enormous Room was the only stinker in my opinion. I absolutely loved Daddy Long Legs, Anne of Green Gables, Life at Blandings and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.<br /><br />Here's to even more Classics next year!<b> </b>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-63976567803195475342014-12-21T12:32:00.002+00:002014-12-21T12:32:30.180+00:00Thoughts on the Classics: The Hunchback of Notre Dame<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388342667l/30597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388342667l/30597.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span id="freeText10636675474416979837">In the vaulted Gothic towers of Notre-Dame lives Quasimodo, the hunchbacked bellringer. Mocked and shunned for his appearance, he is pitied only by Esmerelda, a beautiful gypsy dancer to whom he becomes completely devoted. Esmerelda, however, has also attracted the attention of the sinister archdeacon Claude Frollo, and when she rejects his lecherous approaches, Frollo hatches a plot to destroy her that only Quasimodo can prevent. Victor Hugo's sensational, evocative novel brings life to the medieval Paris he loved, and mourns its passing in one of the greatest historical romances of the nineteenth century.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeText10636675474416979837"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The Hunchback of Notre Dame</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeText10636675474416979837"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Hugo, Victor (1831). [Genre: Gothic Romance]</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30597.The_Hunchback_of_Notre_Dame"><span id="freeText10636675474416979837"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Goodreads</span></span></a><span id="freeText10636675474416979837"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeText10636675474416979837"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love Victor Hugo, I really do. The beautiful writing combined with the social commentary combined with the random tangents on subjects of interest to the author just wind up with something magical. <i>The Hunchback of Notre Dame</i> was no exception to this rule. It sweeps the entire social make-up of Paris, from the King to the underworld, and draws them all together in the shadow of Notre Dame in a story of tragedy, loyalty and romance. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeText10636675474416979837"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I loved the vivid characterisation throughout the novel. The naivety and gentle compassion of Esmeralda. The pompous attitude and heartlessness of Captain Phoebus, the man she believes herself to love. The conflicted villainy of Claude Frollo. The sweet charm of Gringoire. The complexity of Quasimodo. All of these characters are fully fleshed, with many important side characters also playing a part (you know it's good characterisation when you find yourself falling in love with a goat). Their fates tug on your heartstrings and it is here you can see the inspiration for the Disney movie. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeText10636675474416979837"><span style="font-size: small;">That being said, <i>The Hunchback of Notre Dame</i> is not a Disney movie. It is at its core, a Gothic romance, and </span></span><span id="freeText10636675474416979837"><span style="font-size: small;">has the truly tragic ending typical of the genre. No one comes out of this story unscathed and I have to admit I wasn't expecting the gruesome, graphic and heart wrenching nature of parts of the storyline. It will make you laugh, but their were moments when I truly did cry for these characters, like early into the novel when Esmeralda is bought to the executioner still crying for Captain Phoebus, while he looks on indifferently, happy to see her die so long as his reputation is upheld. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeText10636675474416979837"><span style="font-size: small;">Hugo's customary tangents are still in place. We delve into the significance of Gothic architecture, the history of Paris and various other sidetracks. While in Les Mis I initially found them irritating, this time I was expecting them and even looked forward to them with fondness. I'm now not sure whether I would enjoy Hugo as much without them. He also weaves social commentary more thoroughly into the storyline of <i>Notre Dame</i> than Les Mis. I thoroughly enjoyed the subtle contrast between the lowest of the low and the highest of the high, and the way Hugo continually questions whether those places are right and how our expectations can twist reality - such as when Quasimodo fights off the street mob who have come to save Esmeralda, believing them to be villains, but happily shows the King's Men (who have actually come to execute her) where she should be as he believes they are 'good'. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeText10636675474416979837"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeText10636675474416979837"><span style="font-size: small;">Overall, Victor Hugo continues to build up his place in my heart. <i>The Hunchback of Notre Dame</i> is both beautiful and heartbreaking, with stunning writing that truly transports. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeText10636675474416979837"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeText10636675474416979837"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>The Hunchback of Notre Dame is another title off my <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/p/classics-club.html">Classics Club list</a>. I'm also counting it in the Historical Classic category of the <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/p/back-to-classics-challenge.html">Back to the Classics</a> Challenge (published in 1831, set in 1482). </b></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-84574675965465713922014-12-11T21:57:00.002+00:002014-12-11T22:00:34.848+00:00Wrapping up the TBR Challenge 2014I really didn't think I'd make it to the end of my <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/p/tbr-challenge.html">TBR pile</a> challenge (hosted by <a href="http://roofbeamreader.com/">Roof Beam Reader</a>) this year. At the start of November I still had a few books to go and really wasn't in the mood. But here we are. Turns out the mood comes if you just keep reading!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://roofbeamreader.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/2014tbrbutton.jpg?w=604" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://roofbeamreader.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/2014tbrbutton.jpg?w=604" /></a></div><br /><br />I'm wrapping up having finished all 12 of my picks for this year, and one of my alternates to boot.<br /><br /><br />1. <strike><i>The Pilgrims Progress</i>, by John Bunyan (1678)</strike> <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/thoughts-on-classics-pilgrims-progress.html">Review here</a><br /><br />2. <strike><i>The Canterbury Tales</i>, by Geoffrey Chaucer (1372)</strike> <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/thoughts-on-classics-canterbury-tales.html">Review here</a><br /><br />3. <strike><i>The Swerve: How the world became modern</i>, by Stephen Greenblatt (2011)</strike> <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/non-fiction-review-swerve.html">Review here</a><br /><br />4.<strike> <i>Paris in Love</i>, by Eloisa James (2012)</strike> <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/non-fiction-review-paris-in-love.html">Review here</a><br /><br />5. <strike><i>Blood River</i>, by Tim Butcher (2007)</strike> <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/non-fiction-review-blood-river.html">Review here</a><br /><br />6. <strike><i>Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep</i>, by Philip K. Dick (1968) </strike><a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/2014/09/fiction-review-do-androids-dream-of.html">Review here</a><br /><br />7. <strike><i>Daddy Long Legs</i>, by Jean Webster (1912)</strike> <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/thoughts-on-classics-daddy-long-legs.html">Review here</a><br /><br />8. <strike><i>Terrier</i>, by Tamora Pierce (2006)</strike> <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/ya-review-terrier.html">Review here</a><br /><br />9. <strike><i>V for Vendetta</i>, by Alan Moore (1982) </strike><a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/thoughts-on-v-for-vendetta.html">Review here</a><br /><br />10.<strike> <i>Oryx and Crake</i>, by Margaret Atwood (2003)</strike> <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/fiction-review-oryx-and-crake.html">Review here</a><br /><br />11. <strike><i>Blackout</i>, by Connie Wills (2010)</strike> <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/2014/04/fiction-review-blackout.html">Review here</a><br /><br />12. <strike><i>Jane Eyre</i>, by Charlotte Bronte (1847)</strike> <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/thoughts-on-classics-jane-eyre.html">Review here</a><br /><br /><b>Alternates:</b><br /><br />1. <i>Europe and the People without History, </i>by Eric R. Wolf (1982) <br />2. <strike><i>New Life Stories</i>, by David Attenborough (2011)</strike> <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/non-fiction-review-new-life-stories.html">Review here</a> <br /><br /><br />Favourites? Hard to pick! I had a good year!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328140929l/12958655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328140929l/12958655.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1357936711l/6696927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1357936711l/6696927.jpg" width="129" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339593021l/1499952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339593021l/1499952.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><br />Least favourites . . . .<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1405982367l/29797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1405982367l/29797.jpg" width="125" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1343668985l/5805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1343668985l/5805.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><br />I'm so pleased I've managed to 'finish' (who's TBR pile is ever finished?) this challenge for the second year running. Sign ups for next year are open over at <a href="http://roofbeamreader.com/">Roof Beam Reader</a>. Time to start constructing my pile. . .. . . . .Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-349478933058566972014-12-08T22:45:00.001+00:002014-12-08T22:45:24.245+00:00Fiction Review: Oryx and Crake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1378836205l/18479697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1378836205l/18479697.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span id="freeText8366537806461949593">Oryx and Crake is at once an unforgettable love story and a compelling vision of the future. Snowman, known as Jimmy before mankind was overwhelmed by a plague, is struggling to survive in a world where he may be the last human, and mourning the loss of his best friend, Crake, and the beautiful and elusive Oryx whom they both loved. In search of answers, Snowman embarks on a journey–with the help of the green-eyed Children of Crake–through the lush wilderness that was so recently a great city, until powerful corporations took mankind on an uncontrolled genetic engineering ride.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeText8366537806461949593"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Oryx and Crake</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeText8366537806461949593"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Atwood, Margaret (2003). [Genre: Speculative]</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeText8366537806461949593"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Source: </span></span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Own copy</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18479697-oryx-and-crake"><span id="freeText8366537806461949593"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Goodreads</span></span></span></span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have always loved Margaret Atwood in the past, but <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/classics-club-spin-blind-assassin-adult.html"><i>The Blind Assassin</i> </a>is one of my least favourite books from this year, so I was a little apprehensive going into <i>Oryx and Crake</i> (despite it having been on my to-read pile since 2008!). Obviously though, <i>The Blind Assassin</i> was an aberration to my general love of Atwood.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Oryx and Crake</i> is ‘speculative fiction’ – it takes where society is now to a logical extreme (not ‘the’ logical extreme, but certainly one of many possibilities as to where humanity could end up). Jimmy (AKA Snowman) has found himself as possibly the last homo sapien left and an unwilling caretaker of a newly adapted form of the human genus, known as ‘Crakers.’ Through flashbacks we follow Jimmy’s life thus far, which slowly reveals how he and humanity have ended up in the position that they have, and what it has to do with two important people in his life – Oryx and Crake.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">As always, Atwood demonstrates her absolute mastery of the English language. I truly don’t think I can name another writer living today that writes in such a consistently beautiful and thought-provoking manner. Her use of imagery is carefully considered and she just has such a way with description and dialogue. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The story itself is both fascinating and horrifying. The chain of events that leads to a lonely Jimmy reflecting back on his life is one that is rooted in realism. Not only are the scientific advances portrayed easily extrapolated from where we are now, the portrayal of society and societal breakdown is eerily familiar to scenes that we see on the news today. Humanity could easily progress, and then break down, in exactly the way that Atwood hypothesises. That being said, I enjoyed some of the ins and outs of the story slightly less. Upon reflection, I felt like one of my major problems with The Blind Assassin is that it is often shocking seemingly for the sake of being shocking, rather than to prove any particular point. There were parts of <i>Oryx and Crake</i> where I found the same feeling creeping up on me, particularly when Atwood goes into the back story of the character Oryx. Fortunately this trope wasn’t as prevalent in <i>Oryx and Crake </i>as it was in <i>The Blind Assassin</i>, and it was generally made up for by the far more compelling story. Atwood has a true talent for taking a facet of today’s society and building it up into something that is scary because it is so recognisable, and it is this side of her writing that I love (another favourite example is The Handmaids Tale). </span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Oryx and Crake</i> was originally written as a standalone and can easily be read as such. I’m looking forward to picking up the next two books in what has become a trilogy, but I think I will leave it sometime so I can let <i>Oryx and Crake</i> sink in a little more. It leaves many unanswered questions, but they are the type worth thinking about. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Overall? <b>4.5/5 stars</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Oryx and Crake is the final book in my <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.uk/p/tbr-challenge.html">TBR Challenge</a> this year! Yay! </b></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeText8366537806461949593"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span> </span></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span> </span> </b></span></span><i><span id="freeText8366537806461949593"> </span></i></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-30173446854016258842014-12-01T21:35:00.002+00:002014-12-01T21:35:29.122+00:00YA Review: Terrier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1398029898l/13829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1398029898l/13829.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="elementOne" id="freeTextContainer2593542902078758812">Hundreds of years before Alanna first drew her sword in Tamora Pierce's memorable debut, <em>Alanna: The First Adventure</em>, Tortall had a heroine named Beka Cooper - a fierce young woman who fights crime in a world of magic. This is the beginning of her story, her legend, and her legacy....</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="elementOne" id="freeTextContainer2593542902078758812"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Terrier</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="elementOne" id="freeTextContainer2593542902078758812"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Pierce, Tamora (2006). [Genre: Fantasy]</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="elementOne" id="freeTextContainer2593542902078758812"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Source: </span></span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Own copy</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13829.Terrier"><span class="elementOne" id="freeTextContainer2593542902078758812"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Goodreads</span></span></span></span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tamora Pierce’s Tortall books are the stand-outs of my later childhood. <i>The Protector of the Small </i>quartet is </span><span style="font-size: small;">probably still the most influential piece of fiction in my life, and I reread her series often. Somehow though, I just never got around to her latest series set in Tortall – the Beka Cooper, or Provost’s Dog series, depending on who you ask. Now I’ve finally picked it up and it was like sinking into a warm bath. </span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I really enjoy Pierce’s writing. It’s straight-forward enough, but full of active imagery, and she doesn’t shy away from the knitty gritty details. She’s one of the few teen authors I’ve ever read who actively reference the need for sleep, toiletries etc. in everyday life. And <i>Terrier</i>, the first book in the Beka Cooper series, is Tortall through and through. Like in every other Tortall novel, Pierce also doesn’t shy away from diversity and <i>Terrier</i> contains strong, fully-fleshed and powerful female characters intermingling with people of colour (who are also major characters) and people of many different social classes, beliefs and backgrounds. Pierce excels at characterisation – even the most minor of characters is unique and interesting. Nobody is a cookie cutter in Pierce’s novels. This in itself makes the book a joy to read.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The story is grittier perhaps than its predecessors, following a trainee policewoman in the Lower City of the capital, Corus. Life is tough and the writing and story reflects it – there’s no lack of violence here. It’s a testament to Pierce’s writing that she can meld fantasy and hard-core detective fiction (which to some extent this story is) so seamlessly without it losing the YA quality, and although the violence is both harsh and graphic it continues to add to the story rather than being shocking for shocking’s sake. The detective element is extremely effectively done – like the best detective fiction, all the clues to both mysteries (Children being kidnapped, and mass-murder committed over some gems of unknown origin) are there from the beginning and the reader can race to pull the threads together as Beka does. It was also lovely to see some familiar characters and places pop-up. Although the book reads easily as a stand-alone and you certainly would not have to have read any of the previous Tortall novels to enjoy it, those who are familiar with Tamora Pierce will enjoy seeing how things loop back (this series is set approx. 300 years before The Song of the Lioness) – we find out the origin of the Dancing Dove for example, and a certain feline character seems extremely familiar. Like I said, like sinking into a warm comforting bath.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">If I have one small quibble it is that the story didn’t feel old enough. For all that <i>Terrier</i> is set hundreds of years before the other Tortall novels, it could easily have been concurrent. There doesn’t seem to be any major societal differences and although there is definitely a language sub-set, it feels like it could easily be a regional dialect of the Lower City rather than a previous iteration. Change the name of the current King and slide in a few references to the right war and Terrier could be taking place at the same time of any of the other books. But this is an extremely minor quibble. Pierce remains a favourite and <i>Terrier </i>continues her run. I don’t know why I put this series off for so long and now find myself in the difficult position of wanting to both run and get the rest of the series straight away, or put it off for just as long so I can savour Pierce’s Tortall novels for just a little bit longer. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Overall? 5/5 stars </b>(although I freely admit one star might be for sentimentality's sake). If you haven’t picked up Tamora Pierce yet. . . . WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?? And. . . . . what are you waiting for??</span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="elementOne" id="freeTextContainer2593542902078758812"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Terrier is the 11th book crossed off from my <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/p/tbr-challenge.html">TBR Challenge list 2014</a></span> </span> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </b></span></span><i><span class="elementOne" id="freeTextContainer2593542902078758812"> </span></i></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-31589093326480811642014-11-24T22:12:00.000+00:002014-11-24T22:12:01.575+00:00Thoughts on the Classics: A Study in Scarlet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348362236l/102868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348362236l/102868.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span></span></span><i><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText4519720947835694425">In the debut of literature's most famous sleuth, a dead man is discovered in a bloodstained room in Brixton. The only clues are a wedding ring, a gold watch, a pocket edition of Boccaccio's Decameron, and a word scrawled in blood on the wall. With this investigation begins the partnership of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Their search for the murderer uncovers a story of love and revenge-and heralds a franchise of detective mysteries starring the formidable Holmes.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A Study in Scarlet</span></b></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Conan Doyle, Arthur (1887). [Genre: Mystery]</span></span></b></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/102868.A_Study_in_Scarlet?from_search=true"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Goodreads</span></span></span></span></span></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </span></b> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Is it weird that I can no longer read Sherlock Holmes without imagining Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman? Anyway . . . </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><i>A Study in Scarlet </i>was an enjoyable read, if a little odd. Being the first appearance of the famous characters, much is made of initial introductions – we are introduced to Watson, and are introduced to Holmes through him as they meet each other for the first time and subsequently move into rooms on Baker Street together. It takes a little while to rev up into the actual mystery, which involves a man found dead in the middle of a room, with the German word for ‘revenge’ painted in blood on the walls (lovely). </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>We get sucked into the mystery for a while and all seems to be moving along nicely, until we hit Part 2 of the novel just as Holmes is hitting his explanatory climax – at which point the story very very suddenly becomes a book about a father and daughter lost in frontier USA who are rescued by Mormons. At the point I hit this part I was reading on the train, during my commute home after a rather long day, and in all honesty I found myself a chapter into Part 2 and wondering whether in my tired state I had accidentally hit the wrong button on my Kindle and was now reading a different book. And once I’d established that wasn’t the case, whether (and you can tell from this how tired I obviously was) the free Kindle edition I had downloaded had been hijacked by radical members of the faith. It quickly became obvious that this wasn’t the case, as the Mormon focused part of the novel took a turn and we find that they are the ‘badies’ of the story. In some ways this was just as odd - Mormonism is portrayed as evil, its members as murderers and child snatchers. The viciousness with which Conan Doyle attacks it seems a little unjustified? There is no rhyme or reason. </span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>It all connects together in the end and as it turns out, the interlude does have relevance to the overall story (just, not enough perhaps to justify literally half the novel). Here came my second point of contention, although it is admittedly more due to the newness of the genre at the time Conan Doyle was writing - the reader cannot predict 'whodunnit.' There is literally no way in which the reader could possibly guess until Holmes reveals his conclusion . . . there is no foreshadowing, no hints. Indeed we don't even meet the culprit until the moment Holmes reveals him as such.</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>I enjoy Conan Doyle's writing greatly and will return to Sherlock Holmes without a doubt. But <i>A Study in Scarlet</i> certainly felt like a literary debut (as indeed, it is) - it just doesn't have the polish of the mysteries that follow it. </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><b>A Study in Scarlet counts both towards my <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/p/classics-club.html">Classics Club list</a> and the 'A Classic Mystery' category of the <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/p/back-to-classics-challenge.html">Back to the Classics Challenge</a>.</b></span></span></span>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-24738283414338176672014-11-18T23:11:00.000+00:002014-11-18T23:11:11.465+00:00Nonfiction November: Diversity in Nonfiction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cork-w-books-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cork-w-books-300x300.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Back into Nonfiction November - this week hosted by <a href="http://imlostinbooks.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/nonfiction-november-diversity-and.html">Becca at I'm Lost in Books</a>, where we are talking about diversity. This week's prompt:<br /><br /><em><strong>Diversity and Nonfiction:</strong> What does “diversity” in books mean to you? Does it refer to a book’s location or subject matter? Or is it the author’s nationality or background? What countries/cultures do you tend to enjoy or read about most in your nonfiction? What countries/cultures would you like nonfiction recommendations for? What kind of books besides different countries/cultures do you think of as books of diversity?</em><br /><br />Like <a href="http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/2014/11/nonfiction-november-diversity-and-nonfiction/">Kim</a>, I'm going to divide it up survey style!<br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>What does “diversity” in books mean to you? Does it refer to a book’s location or subject matter? Or is it the author’s nationality or background?</span></span></span></b></i></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>To me it’s definitely all of the above! And I readily admit I do better on some of those criteria than others, and SHOULD do better on some. ‘Author’s nationality or background’ has particular resonance with me. Perhaps because I studied cultural anthropology, particularly the need for cultural relativism. I think it also has something to do with being from a country that often has UK and US cultural norms imposed upon it simply because it has a predominantly white population and is considered ‘First World’, when those norms often don’t apply within its socio-cultural context. For whatever reason, I think it’s extremely important to read diversely in terms of background, and particularly to read diversely in terms of reading works by those that have the cultural authority to write about a subject (one of the reasons I found Tim Butcher’s Blood River problematic earlier this year), although of course external perspectives on any topic are also deeply valuable. </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Personally, from a quick analysis of my own reading non-fiction reading in the last year, I have an almost even split of male vs. female writers and definitely read books of different locations and subject matters! But, I’m not meeting my own standard in terms of author nationality and background, and reading authors writing about their own cultural context. I’ve managed ONE non-fiction book this year that would fit that criteria. Time to improve!!!! </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>What countries/cultures do you tend to enjoy or read about most in your nonfiction?</span></span></span></b></i></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>I really enjoy reading about French culture – particularly the perspectives of foreigners living in France. I wouldn’t really consider myself a Francophile, but I guess I’m trying to realign my own experience (I lived on-and-off with my boyfriend/fiancé/husband in France while he completed his Master’s degree, firstly in Lyon and then in a rural town in the French Alps) and understand my husband’s experience (he lived in France for upwards of 6 years, through his late teens and early twenties, and due to his multi-national upbringing considers himself as much French as any other nationality). A favourite of late is <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17675004-mastering-the-art-of-french-eating?ac=1">Mastering the Art of French Eating,</a> by Ann Mah. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1365871514l/17675004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1365871514l/17675004.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>I also really love reading about colonial forces and the impact they have had on the world today. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/347610.King_Leopold_s_Ghost?from_search=true">King Leopold’s Ghost, by Adam Hochschild</a> is a great example of the genre, but I’ll pick up pretty much anything on the Scramble for Africa and the South Pacific colonial eras in particular. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348621563l/347610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348621563l/347610.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1343300495l/15771021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1343300495l/15771021.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><i><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #111111;">What countries/cultures would you like nonfiction recommendations for?</span></i></strong></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #111111; font-weight: normal;">I’d love some great recommendations for non-fiction set in the Middle East. I’ve read very little from this part of the world and it feels like time to expand my horizons! The America’s is also ripe for exploration in my non-fiction reading (yes, even North America!). </span></strong></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><i><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #111111;">What kind of books besides different countries/cultures do you think of as books of diversity?</span></i></strong></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #111111; font-weight: normal;">I think the first thing that comes to mind is books by authors of colour. As I admitted above, this is something I don’t do great at and should make an effort to improve on. It’s very easy to get stuck in a rut of 'white heterosexual male' perspective simply because they tend to be the books most often at the forefront. I think reading widely in terms of subject diversity in non-fiction is also important. I tend to read non-fiction with a historical focus because that’s just my area of interest, but I feel like I would be a more well-rounded person if I made more of an effort in the next year to read non-fiction on more current issues around the world. Recommendations anyone? </span></strong><span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span></span></span><br /><br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-36014077690328382172014-11-16T19:18:00.000+00:002014-11-16T19:18:28.142+00:00YA Fiction Review: Prisoner of Night and Fog <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1395460449l/18667452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1395460449l/18667452.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText2026725708268848495"><i>In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.<br /><br />Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler. And Gretchen follows his every command.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText2026725708268848495"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Prisoner of Night and Fog</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText2026725708268848495"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Blackman, Anne (2014). [Genre: Historical]</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText2026725708268848495"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Source: </span></span></span></b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I recieved a copy of this book for review from the publisher via BookBridgr. I received no other form of compensation and all opinions are my own.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18667452-prisoner-of-night-and-fog"><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText2026725708268848495"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Goodreads</span></span></span></span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText2026725708268848495"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have this weird thing where when I'm not reading historical fiction, I convince myself I don't like historical fiction. That it's not as good as historical non-fiction reading. Then something compels me to pick up something and I prove myself wrong. Happens every time. Prisoner of Night and Fog was no exception to that rule. In fact it's probably the proof of it, because I loved it. Blackman just seems to know how to weave a historical tale and all the elements you could wish for were there. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText2026725708268848495"></span><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText2026725708268848495"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">First of all, it's incredibly accurate (I also love that she included an authors note on the historical background and a selected bibliography). Gretchen and Daniel, the main characters, are woven into real events with such skill that you find yourself questioning how the story can be fiction. They slot in seamlessly and no historical event is missed out because it doesn't fit the story - the story fits around the history.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText2026725708268848495"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blackman's writing is also extremely compelling. Although Prisoner of Night and Fog has a slow start, soon it's rocketing along at an almost horrendous pace. I almost felt like I needed to put the book down so I could breathe! The characterisation is beautiful. Gretchen and Daniel are both deeply three-dimensional characters and Blackman doesn't fall into the trap of making Hitler a straight out monster. Although evil, his character is fully rounded and the reader can see exactly why people follow him, even sympathise with him, all the while willing Gretchen to run away as fast as she can from 'Uncle Dolf.' No mean feat in fiction. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText2026725708268848495"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> To be honest, </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">I can't say enough good things about Prisoner of Night of Fog. It's an extraordinary debut, packed full of historical goodness, romance and all the elements of a stunning psychological thriller. I better not talk myself out of reading part two -the hype for Blackman's follow up is already building online. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText2026725708268848495"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>5/5 stars. </b> </span></span></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-85840996297487800002014-11-12T22:50:00.000+00:002014-11-12T22:50:00.146+00:00Nonfiction November: Ask the Expert<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://regularrumination.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cork-w-books-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://regularrumination.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cork-w-books-300x300.jpg" /></a></div><br />Yay I'm caught up with Nonfiction November! Today I'm linking up with <a href="http://regularrumination.com/2014/11/10/nonfiction-november-week-2-become-the-expert-2/">Regular Rumination</a> for this week's topic:<br /><br /><blockquote><b><i>Be The Expert/Ask the Expert/Become the Expert:</i></b><i> Three ways to join in this week! You can either share three or more books on a single topic that you have read and can recommend (be the expert), you can put the call out for good nonfiction on a specific topic that you have been dying to read (ask the expert), or you can create your own list of books on a topic that you’d like to read (become the expert).</i></blockquote>This year I'm Asking the Expert. I need your help! This year I started a casual project to read more on WWI over the next few years in commemoration of the centenary. Good thing it's casual, as I've only managed two this year so far! E.E Cummings' fictionalised memoir <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/752951.The_Enormous_Room">The Enormous Room</a> and the historian Max Hasting's tome <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18488993-catastrophe">Catastrophe 1914</a>. If the later taught me anything, it's that I already know the basics of the war (I did study it in-depth at university). I want some unique stories, the personal stories. Nonfiction that goes beyond and-this-happened-on-this-date-and-these-soldiers-moved-to-this-place-on-the-Western-Front. <br /><b><br /></b><b>What can you recommend folks?</b> Let me at 'em . . . .<br /><br /><br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-5104520190035359952014-11-11T22:23:00.001+00:002014-11-11T22:23:07.731+00:00Remembrance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vx2eUnrK_K4/VGKLZwSWR6I/AAAAAAAAGdk/PXRczG8s7lU/s1600/20141111_112600.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vx2eUnrK_K4/VGKLZwSWR6I/AAAAAAAAGdk/PXRczG8s7lU/s640/20141111_112600.jpg" width="384" /> </a> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3aMajMbAeGg/VGKLe-nt0EI/AAAAAAAAGds/fnzSoj9zD_Q/s1600/20141111_112617.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3aMajMbAeGg/VGKLe-nt0EI/AAAAAAAAGds/fnzSoj9zD_Q/s640/20141111_112617.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I'm lucky enough that my work's London office overlooks the Tower of London. What a lovely day to be able to visit the poppy installation. Humbling and beautiful.<br /><br />We will remember them. Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-90111381149079531422014-11-10T22:14:00.000+00:002014-11-10T22:15:19.314+00:00Nonfiction November: My Nonfiction Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cork-w-books-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cork-w-books-300x300.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />So due to moving house and having no internets I fell off the blogging bandwagon for a week or two there. Which means I missed the first week of <a href="http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/2014/11/nonfiction-november-my-year-in-nonfiction/">Nonfiction November, hosted by Sophisticated Dorkiness</a> (each week will have a different host). But because I just love this event so much I'm playing catch-up and joining in anyways! <br /><br /><br />The topic this week is:<br /><br /><i><b>Your Year in Nonfiction: </b>Take a look back at your year of nonfiction and reflect on the following questions – What was your favorite nonfiction read of the year? What nonfiction book have you recommended the most? What is one topic or type of nonfiction you haven’t read enough of yet? What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?</i><br /><br />Nonfiction makes up about a quarter of my reading. I try for some nonfiction each month, don't always achieve it, but don't beat myself up about it because I tend to make my way back there eventually (I find myself craving nonfiction and genre fiction in turn). Here's my nonfiction year thus far<br />:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1372314253l/3321252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1372314253l/3321252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320455903l/2184798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320455903l/2184798.jpg" width="135" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328140929l/12958655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328140929l/12958655.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1313507439l/11474482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1313507439l/11474482.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1369156429l/17621099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1369156429l/17621099.jpg" width="129" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339359437l/6557001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339359437l/6557001.jpg" width="125" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408926951l/18859983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408926951l/18859983.jpg" width="130" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333576665l/13414676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333576665l/13414676.jpg" width="139" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356619584l/13129429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356619584l/13129429.jpg" width="129" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1395907117l/21721765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1395907117l/21721765.jpg" width="130" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384813480l/18829855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384813480l/18829855.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1394324513l/18657603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1394324513l/18657603.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1372314253l/3321252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1372314253l/3321252.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347348293l/7928964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347348293l/7928964.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1385185109l/18898455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1385185109l/18898455.jpg" width="130" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1346836299l/13707734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1346836299l/13707734.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1387758361l/19787885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1387758361l/19787885.jpg" width="130" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1410528842l/23204582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1410528842l/23204582.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><br /><br />I'm also currently working on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17724751-the-monuments-men">The Monuments Men</a>. Now for some questions I guess. . .<br /><br /><b>What was your favorite nonfiction read of the year?</b><br /><br />It's hard to pick, so many stand out for different reasons! But my gut reaction is <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857634-empress-dowager-cixi?ac=1">Emperess Dowager Cixi. </a><br /><br /><b>What nonfiction book have you recommended the most? </b><br /><br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12958655-paris-in-love?ac=1">Paris in Love</a>. It's an easy read for those that don't usually go to nonfiction and just a lovely story.<br /><br /><b>What is one topic or type of nonfiction you haven’t read enough of yet?</b><br /><br />I'm looking to get some more WWI stories and science into my nonfiction diet this year (we'll see if that happens).<br /><br /><b>What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?</b><br /><br />Great recommendations! You guys added so much to my to-read list last year. And general nonfiction geekery, coz why not. . . . .<br /><br />Yay nonfictioness!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-31384299914966326272014-10-30T23:09:00.000+00:002014-10-30T23:09:07.882+00:00Heading home . . .Heading home from a lovely book event. Costa and new books. . . what else does a girl need?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Displaying 20141030_212932.jpg" class="aLF-aPX-J1-J3" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=2fb1c9ade6&view=fimg&th=14963508c79276ba&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=1483431427057909760-local0&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ_EZqXxrxEU6_pd0pMgR27ddmbEMqFDDQNkQKSjonIqRBR1OuhU3NK66ZNkkwCvJi_6km1TBtqLHJEGaeajKU3yzvR81IEkuXz_r5oFjrlMf0xGu5shY97YQv0&ats=1414710468150&rm=14963508c79276ba&zw&sz=w1332-h470" /></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417342085356961439.post-80900510948330036312014-10-25T11:32:00.001+01:002014-10-25T11:32:38.792+01:00Thoughts on the Classics: The Pilgrim's Progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1405982367l/29797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1405982367l/29797.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i><span id="freeText4135693429206866181">Often rated as important as the Bible as a Christian document, this famous story of man's progress through life in search of salvation remains one of the most entertaining allegories of faith ever written. Set against realistic backdrops of town and country, the powerful drama of the pilgrim's trials and temptations follows him in his harrowing journey to the Celestial City.<br />Along a road filled with monsters and spiritual terrors, Christian confronts such emblematic characters as Worldly Wiseman, Giant Despair, Talkative, Ignorance, and the demons of the Valley of the Shadow of Death. But he is also joined by Hopeful and Faithful.<br />An enormously influential 17th-century classic, universally known for its simplicity, vigor, and beauty of language, <em>The Pilgrim's Progress</em> remains one of the most widely read books in the English language.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeText4135693429206866181"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The Pilgrim's Progress</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeText4135693429206866181"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Bunyan, John (1678). </span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29797.The_Pilgrim_s_Progress"><span id="freeText4135693429206866181"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Goodreads</span></span></span></span></a><i><span id="freeText4135693429206866181"> </span></i></div><br />I have to admit, <i>The Pilgrim's Progress</i> is probably the book I have struggled with the most since I started actively recording my reading. I DNF books with such rarity, but with <i>The Pilgrim's Progress </i>this was my fourth attempt at it! I'm glad to say that this time I made it to the end.<br /><br />I kept on trying, and to some extent I'm glad I did, because it's one of those books that I felt like I 'should' read. It's a work that's regarded as perhaps the most important work of fiction to the Christian faith - my own personal faith meant that that was reason enough. And I certainly got something out of it. That being said, I probably didn't get as much out of it as one could have hoped.<br /><br />There is something to be said for the concept of works that are important because 'they were revolutionary in their time.' We read/watch them because of their importance, rather than because they are particularly impactful today. I feel like <i>The Pilgrim's Progress</i> is one of those works. It's a revolutionary allegorical presentation of anthropomorphic temptation (and admittedly, there is something quite nice about the though of cutting down temptation with a sword) and since its publication has impacted many. But now, anthropomorphic representation of temptation is not a new concept by any means, and the prejudices of the day stand out to the modern reader - black men are used more than once as a representation of Satan or other forms of evil. Although I probably personally identified more with the second part of the progress, in which Christina and her children trace the pilgrimage that her husband Christian made before her, it also had problematic aspects from a modern perspective. Christina's womanly faith and the journey she takes from unbeliever to strong shepherdess is to be admired. However, it's also made clear that women do not get to fight their own battles for their beliefs and Christina is placed behind a male saviour type character, Mr Great-Heart.<br /><br />On the whole? There are parts of <i>The Pilgrim's Progress</i> that may stick with me. But really, I'm just glad it's off my book bucket-list. <br /><i><b><br /></b></i><i><b>The Pilgrim's Progress is another book off my <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/p/classics-club.html">Classics Club </a>list, and it's also a book toward my <a href="http://ted-reader.blogspot.co.nz/p/tbr-challenge.html">2014 TBR challenge</a> list. </b></i>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146620986831885505noreply@blogger.com0