J. Pratt Books

Pulitzer Worthy...

2011-07-05T18:44:00.000-05:00

Book Review of “A Visit from the Goon Squad” by Jennifer Egan

This month we wanted to read something on the Pulitzer list and selected “A Visit from the Goon Squad” by Jennifer Egan which one the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Generally, when you think of a Pulitzer Prize Winner, you think 300+ pages, subject matter will be well above Harry Potter, and has anyone really even read it. In fact, is it even “good” if no one even knows about it? Come on ladies, you know you have thought it... But you might be surprised to know that there are actually some great novels that have won - “The Color Purple,” “Tinkers” (won last year), “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and “The Stone Diaries” to name a few. The novel, “A Visit from the Goon Squad,” is possibly like no other novel on this list. So much so, that it left us wondering “What qualifies a book to win a Pulitzer?” I did some research, and here is what I found out.

For Fiction, a book has to be published in Hard Cover or Paperback for sale to consumers, and it has to be submitted to the Pulitzer Prize Board by a certain date of its original publication. The author must be a US Citizen. The Pulitzer Prize was established by the first Joseph Pulitzer at Columbia University - where it remains today. Columbia University awards the prizes based on the recommendations from the Pulitzer Prize Board. They recommend three per category. There are currently 18 people on the board who have positions ranging from Dean at prestigious universities and colleges to editors from the top newspapers. As far as criteria goes, I think this from the FAQ section of the main Pulitzer website www.pulitzer.org explains it best -

‘6. What are the criteria for the judging of The Pulitzer Prizes?

There are no set criteria for the judging of the Prizes. The definitions of each category (see How to Enter or Administration page) are the only guidelines. It is left up to the Nominating Juries and The Pulitzer Prize Board to determine exactly what makes a work "distinguished."’

As you can see, there is not a plethora of criteria. Which, if you think about it, is probably a great thing as any book by an American author can be submitted for review by the board. Which is how we get to “A Visit from the Goon Squad.” As we’ve now learned, it qualifies for a Pulitzer in Fiction.

So what is this book all about. “A Visit from the Goon Squad” is a collection of stories from numerous characters that are vaguely connected to one another in some way. The back drop is the music industry. Each chapter is from the perspective of a different character and may be told in the past or present. Although it is slightly difficult to understand just what “present” is since the timeframe hops around so much, even going into the future in the end. The topics range from drugs, sex (I mean we are in the music industry), affairs, kleptomaniac’s, parenting, and the music industry itself. Overall, it received mixed reviews from the group. Which, with a book of this nature, is probably to be expected. With so many characters though, you are bound to find one that you can either relate to (although if you relate to Sasha, I would like to know!), or at least empathize with. At the end of the day, check it out. You’ll at least have read a Pulitzer Prize Winner.

Bariola's Pizza Restaurant June Book Club

YA Books to Movie Trend Continues...

2011-05-26T12:07:00.000-05:00

Attention all Young Adult Readers, (And please, let's not kid ourselves that we are all out there!), the latest Trilogy Series has been picked up by Disney and Offspring Entertainment. It is the trilogy by Ally Condie. Only the first book in the series, Matched, is out at this time. The second book, Crossed, is set to be released November 1, 2011 and the third book (name yet to be released) is set for November 2012. Yes, a full year and a half away! See attached link for the full details.

You might be unfamiliar with this trilogy since only the first book, Matched, has been out. I fell in love with the book, the characters, and the story. It is similar to The Hunger Games Series with the consistent YA "formula" (special thanks to CC for identifying that one). It makes you think what life would be like without any choices. For you to be born with all decisions, including who you are to spend your life with (hence the title), has been decided for you based on facts and science. As a single person, the idea of having my mate decided for me has some natural appeal! But, this is more than just that one decision, it is about EVERY decision. Its about do you follow, or do you lead... I plan on following (pun intended!) this trilogy to the end and to the theater.

Check out the writer - Ally Condie http://www.allysoncondie.com/category/crossed/

A must read memoir...

2011-05-03T17:31:00.000-05:00

I just finished a book that I never thought I would read, let alone thoroughly enjoy. It is A LONG WAY GONE Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah, and what an amazing story it is. AMAZING.

Something is to be said for stepping out of your "boundaries" and trying something new. This book was actually selected for me. And not in the "I think this looks like your type of book" kind of way either. I mean if you have been reading this blog, then you have caught on as to the types of books that I typically read, so surely anyone close enough to me to select a book for me to read would pick up on that subtle (okay, not so subtle) clue. This was definitely a book that the anonymous selector would read for themselves. So, sidebar moment, let someone pick a book out for you now and then. You might just find a true gem!

I knew that this story would be sad going into it. The cover has a young boy carrying a weapon walking with broken flip-flop's for Pete's sake. BUT sad is an understatement. The details that he was able to remember and describe are so specific with so much emotion and depth that you feel you are right there. Which is scary as this is about a war in Africa. Scary or no, you will find yourself not able to put this book down for there is a hope that is spread throughout the book. It is this hope, hope of a child nonetheless, that keeps you captivated throughout the story.

I won’t give away the details, but I will say that the story is about Ishmael Beah as he is a young boy and the start of the war in Sierra Leone. It is about his travels through the war, his experiences before, during, and after, and how he saves himself at the end of the day. Ishmael Beah is a true storyteller and an amazing survivor of what can only be described as a horrific tragedy (and that might even be an understatement). So pick up this pick and read it, buy it for your friends to read, whatever. You won't regret it.

APRIL BOOK CLUB - THE HELP by KATHRYN STOCKETT

2011-04-27T15:19:00.000-05:00

This month's book, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, was another home run read for our group. Recommended by one of our members (thank you Renee!), everyone was excited to read it as we had all heard very positive things about it. But I am not sure that we all expected the book to have the impact on us that it did. Not because we are not familiar with life in the South or because we haven't lived, read, or watched all about it, but because this book really hit your heart as a mother, daughter, singleton, and as anyone in any sort of women's only club!

As the title elude's, the book is about the help that white people in the 1960s would hire to help clean the home, cook dinner, and raise their children. This last part had a significant impact as it was very eye-opening to say the least. To learn how Abileen and all of the other maids had such a significant role in raising the children that these children were closer to them than their own mother was something. And specifically Abileen's role with Mae Mobley, well, that just about broke your heart every time it came up in the book. When Abileen would tell Mae Mobley that "you kind, you smart, you important" because her own mama would never tell or teach her these things, I think we all stopped and thought Am I doing that?

The book is great as it explores both sides, if you will, of the story. I think there is one quote that sums up the perspective that white women and men had from that era, and it is from Miss Skeeter -

“They say it’s like true love, good help. You only get one in a lifetime.”

This is being rather positive, as there are obviously some very racist view points described throughout the book, and even in real life, but I think this best explains the point of The Help. Now the quote that I believe sums up the perspective from the black women and men from that era is when Abileen addresses Mae Mobley’s question about why she is colored,

“Cause God made me colored...And there ain’t another reason in the world.”

Need we say more...

Some additional memorable quotes that our group enjoyed were:

Ch 3 Miss Celia, "I want him to think I'm...worth the trouble."

Ch 19 Callie (a maid being interviewed), "If any white lady reads my story, that's what I want them to know. Saying thank you, when you really mean it, when you remember what someone done for you...it's so good."

Ch 24 Abileen "All I'm saying is, kindness don't have no boundaries."

Ch 27 Skeeter "I always thought insanity would be a dark, bitter feeling, but it is drenching and delicious if you really roll around in it."

Ch 27 Skeeter "Everyone's asleep in this town in every way possible."

Ch 33 Skeeter "Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought."

As you know by now, our group has a way of finding the funniest quotes and putting them to good use. Here are some of those, and yes, for some reason the word 'shit' seems to be in most of them!

Ch 6 Mister Golden describing Miss Myrna to Skeeter - "Miss Myrna's gone shit-house crazy on us."

And this has a "shit-house crazy" story to go along with it. Our beloved CC ran across this quote first and sent it to me to tell me a story about it. Low and behold she sent it to the wrong person! Another Jennifer Pratt. Who knew that was even possible. I hope that she has as good of a sense of humor and loves books as much as this Jennifer Pratt!!

Ch 13 Miss Skeeter when referring to her date with Stuart - "shit-dog drunk"

No worries, we weren't "shit-dog drunk" while discussing this book!

Ch 24 Minnie describing Miss Celia "...a juke joint hussy"

I am sure we all know a few of these lovely ladies...

So please read this book if you have not already. It is eye-opening, inspiring, and down right hilarious!

MARCH BOOK CLUB - WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by SARA GRUEN

2011-04-26T12:20:00.001-05:00

Just this week the movie "Water for Elephants" premiered to rave reviews (yes, totally my interpretation!). Our book club wanted to make sure we read the book prior to the movie release, for, as all book lovers know, the movie is never quite as good as the book. We are, of course, holding out hope for this one though as the movie premiers are what hooked several of us into wanting to read the book in the first place.

As you all have most likely heard by now, the book is mainly about the love story between Jacob and Marlena and one could even say with Rosie, the elephant that, from everything I have read, steals the scenes in both movie and book. More on this later...

But the story has so much more that will have an impact on your mind and your heart. The story is set in modern time with the elder Jacob (is he ninety or ninety-three...) telling the story through his memories of when and how it all came about back in 1931. This alone adds two elements. The elderly and how they are treated at the end of their life and The Great Depression.

We all have thought, read, watched movies about the elderly and what life might be like at the end, who can forget Cocoon. Don't we all hope that we could get our groove back just by swimming in a pool? But in Water for Elephants we find ourselves immersed in the grim but true details of life after "life.” This is the first chapter of the book, and I must say, it will take the breath out of you. From eating "mushy peas"..."tapioca"...and, my personal favorite line, "gravy that must have been waved over a piece of beef at some point in its life.” I mean so depressing, right?! Naturally, the book makes you think, and we all discussed this at our meeting, what are we going to do with our parents? Or with ourselves? As a single person this is the sole reason my niece gets fantastic gifts for any, and all, holidays. I clearly have to line up my care-taking with years of spoiling! But is this what life can really be like? Infrequent visits by your family, forgetting their names or the day of the week...or worse, year? Do we really send our family off to live out their remaining years to only be "filed away like some worthless tchotchke"? The answer is yes. Everyday. Personally, this part was not only sad to think about the major lack of respect society as a whole has for our elderly, but it also was rather eye-opening into what the future can really hold for us. We were not afraid to all say, "SCARY!". But, it is also inspiring to hope that one could live a long life of love, happiness, and hope as Jacob had. Again, more on this later...

And then there is the second element, the Great Depression, in an era of 1931 when times were hard and people made unthinkable sacrifices just to survive. We all know that work was rare, money scarce, causing food to be little to nothing. But the backdrop of the Benzini Circus brought a whole new meaning to the word 'sacrifice". There were many times when I was literally disgusted with the aspects of circus life. In fact, I am not even going to go into it here. Suffice it to say, it has a lot to do with their creative means for feeding the animals. Props to Sara Gruen for her over-the-top descriptions in this regard. But the point was most likely for us to get a sense of how serious The Great Depression really was. I can say I will never doubt that again...

So finally, the love story. From Jacob and Marlena to Jacob and Rosy, it is hard to pick which one we all loved more. But it is safe to say that the elder Jacob is what makes us fall in love with their story. From the very beginning when he tells us that she died of cancer and says, "Losing her was like being cleft down the middle. It was the moment it all ended for me, and I wouldn't have wanted her to go through that." Well...that sold it right there. I mean, isn't that what we all want when we say we want to find our one, true love? Love that after sixty-one (yes, sixty-one!) years, finds you wanting to be the survivor just so they don't have to suffer life without you? I mean, yes, we do get enamored with the young Jacob and hope he can be the hero somehow and save Marlena from being the wife of what one can only describe the man as Evil reincarnate himself. And yes, we do fall in love with Rosy herself. This animal has a way of making you smile and laugh, and she cannot even understand English. But, in the end, I have to think that the whole point of having the elderly Jacob tell the story from his perspective is to show us that love, true love, can last and make it all the way to the end. And when you find it, like Jacob and Marlena did, you must grab it before it passes you by. Before you miss your chance...

February Book Club - Picture of Dorian Gray

2011-02-23T23:08:00.000-06:00

While we should all be used to the month of February having the least amount of days in it, February book club was upon us before we knew it (along with about 16" of snow!).

This month we read the classic novel Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. And while we new it was considered "scandalous" for its time, I don't know that any of us were prepared to find it relative to today's world or, more importantly, to enjoy it as much as we did.

Now, that's not to say that this book was splendid or captivating the entire way through. We all admitted that there were some parts not to our liking. One member (Rachel) had a great point that there were parts where it was like we were eavesdropping on a conversation that went on and on and on about nothing but nonsense. So true! But the overall story definitely made up for it in the end.

Let me first explain the history of this book. It is known for aiding in the conviction of Oscar Wilde in 1895 for homosexual offenses. He received two years in prison as a result. TWO YEARS for writing this book and having an unapproved lifestyle. And now it is considered a classic that should and must, in the literary world, be read by all. It is amazing what 100 years can do...

On the flip side, it has been over 100 years, and we are still obsessed with beauty and trying to stay young forever. There are more ways now (injections, diets, creams and lotions, and who all knows what else) to try and stay young than there are people to try them. And why? Well, the obvious answer is who likes wrinkles? Certainly not me, but seriously. Have we all gone too far? This was the case for Dorian Gray. It became his obsession. As it has for so many in today's world. And anyone or everyone dealing with this issue should really read this book. And when you get to the very, very end of this book, if that doesn't make you stop and think twice, then read it again!

It would not be a book club without much laughter and lot's of discussion, and this month was no exception. In fact, we even had a prop... One of our members (Renee) had actually been to Oscar Wilde's tomb in Paris (see below). How great was that to have her explain her experience! People are to leave roses and/or to kiss the tomb for good luck and for love. Yes, I have already tried to express that right on over here...no luck. Those Parisians are pretty fond of their history!!

There are really two great things about this book - how relative it still is over a 100 years later and the vast array of poignant quotes that are still popular today. In fact, there are too many quotes to list, but I've pointed out some of our favorites.

Quotes from the book:

"...beauty, real beauty, ends where an intellectual expression begins." said Lord Henry - This sparked quite the conversation at dinner. I mean, who defines beauty? And this suggests that one cannot be both smart and beautiful. Really??? With six wonderfully smart (they are in book club after all) and beautiful women discussing this topic, we were the life of the restaurant, no doubt!

"There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." - said Lord Henry

"She behaves as if she was beautiful. Most American women do. It is the secret of their charm."

"Punctuality is the thief of time."

"Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing."

"Men marry because they are tired; women, because they are curious: both are disappointed." - said Lord Henry

"It is better to be beautiful than to be good. But it is better to be good than to be ugly." - said Lord Henry. And this would be the premise of the book and why Dorian Gray is willing to give up his soul to remain youthful and beautiful.

"To be in love is to surpass one's self." - it is this quote that gives the reader hope.

Favorite quote from the meeting:

"We're going to Urban Dictionary the s*!% out of this book" - said by our Renee. God love you girl. So funny. One member was discussing how she kept translating the verbiage into our modern day lingo. We, of course, began immediately translating quotes. I'd list them out, but I don't think I can repeat all of it and be considered PG-13 still! We were clearly revved up by this point.

In closing, another great classic read and marked off our list. Someone (Renee) pointed out that reading classics aren't as hard as to read as we might think. It is so much easier to discover the themes, purpose, symbolism, and moral lesson than in new books. Why is that I ask? Have we lost the need or desire to have a purpose behind the book? I don't think so. Maybe we just cannot see what is right in front of us and writing in our own words must be so obvious that we miss it. More reasons to continue to pick up those classic novels.

Oh, and where did we meet this time? We ate at a great new restaurant in Downtown Rogers - The Rail. Pizza was delicious as were the breadsticks. We'd all recommend checking it out!

218 S 1st St

Rogers, AR

January Book Club

2011-01-24T20:55:00.000-06:00

Just last week, we had our very first book club meeting for the year, and what a great start to 2011. Not only did we double our size at our very first meeting in 2011, but we have trippled our membership base! Thank you ladies for bringing along your friends and welcome new members!

My favorite part about our book club is that the group continues to be diverse bringing a fantastic mix of opinions and knowledge to each meeting. Well, we all do have one thing in common...our passion for reading. Actually, there are two things as I cannot leave out our love for wine!

FAVORITE QUOTE of the Meeting: "It's not shallow it's eclectic" (CC)

For January, we decided to start the year off with everyone getting to select their own book for the month to read. And speaking of diversity, we had everything covered in this group - Young Adult, Bestselling Fiction, Comedy, Romance, Christian Fiction, and Biographies.

Here is a list of what everyone read and what they thought about the book. If there isn't at least one book on here that you can relate to or find to enjoy, then you might be (dare I say) on the wrong blog. As I said, I think we have every potential subject covered. Or at least the important ones. Great job ladies!

Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family by Condoleezza Rice - "Literally gave me chills!"
Someday by Karen Kingsbury - "Cried all the way through this one!"
Jane by April Lindner - Remake of Jane Eyre for the teen audience.
Matched by Ally Condie - Follows the Young Adult "formula" (I am hooked & bought it myself to read)
The Strain by Guillermo del Toro
Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks - "Suspenseful"
Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin - "All time FAVORITE author." Good read.
The Reef by Nora Roberts
The Bride Quartet Series by Nora Roberts
The Confession by John Grisham - "Last third of the book kept me on edge."
Straight Talk, No Chaser by Steve Harvey - A great follow up to the first book.
Room by Emma Donghue - "Not worth all of the hype."
Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler - "Funny" It is Chelsea after all!
Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain by Portia de Rossi - "Graphic, detailed, and eye-opening"
Helen of Pasedena by Lian Dolan - A thumbs down...
Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick - "Really good. A smutty Little House on the Prairie."
Dirty Secret: A Daughter Comes Clean About Her Mother's Compulsive Hoarding by Jessie Sholl
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins - Did not find this as good as the first two.

Year in books: 10 books we loved reading by USA TODAY

2011-01-13T07:23:00.002-06:00

USA Today published their top 10 books from 2010 they'd recommend.
Click HERE for the link to the USA Today article.

FICTION

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

The most buzzed-about book of the year — a sprawling, addictive yarn about the way we live now — lived up to the hype.

Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes

This startlingly vivid account of U.S. Marines fighting in Vietnam makes a reader feel as if he's experiencing boots on the ground.

So Much for That by Lionel Shriver

This delicious black comedy about cancer and health-insurance woes (tough sell!) nabbed a well-deserved National Book Award fiction nomination.

Fall of Giants by Ken Follett

A sweeping and fascinating epic that follows five families at the outbreak of World War I, the first installment of a planned trilogy.

The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman

A delightfully smart debut novel, filled with humor and heartbreak, about the likable misfits who work at a struggling newspaper.

NON-FICTION

Anne Frank: The Anne Frank House Authorized Graphic Biography by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon

Anne Frank's struggle to endure under the Nazis is brought to harrowing, powerful life through the graphic-novel format.

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

An epic job of reporting tells the history, in novelistic detail, of the great migration of blacks from the South and how it changed the entire nation.

Let's Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell

A moving yet unsentimental memoir of Caldwell's friendship with writer Caroline Knapp, who was dying of cancer.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Oprah Winfrey (who has bought the rights) is among the fans of this moving true story about a black woman whose cells were used extensively in research after her death — without her family's knowledge.

Just Kids by Patti Smith

In this lovely memoir (winner of the National Book Award for non-fiction), rocker Patti Smith celebrates the time when she and photographer Robert Mapplethorpe were young, art-obsessed bohemians.

Use What You Have To Get What You Want

2011-01-11T14:36:00.000-06:00

by Jack Nadel

http://ideasthatmeanbusiness.com/about/

With so many people these days starting over in the work force or looking to change their career, this book is a great read to kick start you on your new path.

Jack Nadel is a decorated U.S. Army air Corps navigator that started his career as an American entrepreneur in 1946 with a high school education and no money. He is now 87 and has 65 years of success. He shares his rules for success in his book Use What You Have To Get What You Want sharing 100 specific lessons and ideas that mean business. Jack Nadel has created thousands of jobs and products as he built Jack Nadel International into a powerhouse global leader in promotional products.

My favorite part about what this book has to share is their profound statement that "you do not need to learn anything new, but you must learn to use what you have." Therefore, we all should be able to not only learn something new but to be able to apply it to our current situation or plans.

The Test - Can you find a book for everyone in your family?

2011-01-03T15:35:00.000-06:00

The answer: YES!

So, for Christmas, I did a test to see if I could find a book for everyone in my family. Sure, I could find a book, but could I find one that they actually wanted, one that they would actually open up???

So I went on my mission. For the women in my family, I had the opposite problem. Narrowing down which book I wanted to buy. They are avid readers like myself.

I bought A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick for my sister and Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls. Both books came highly recommended to me by other avid readers, so I assumed I could not go wrong. Plus, I am guessing that they will switch the books once they have read them...

But the real challenge was for the men in my family. My brother does not read much, but he does enjoy John Grisham. So, naturally, getting him The Confession seemed like a no-brainer. And I was right. He was excited to get it. Now, for my other brother, that was a different story. He has a lot of interests that have a ton of books about them - military, history, sports, and electric guitar. But, he is not much of a reader. So I solved the case when I found a great book about legendary guitar players that taught how to play their key songs. Genius... He not only loved it, but it was a book he would not have bought for himself.

Two men down, two to go... My cousin also does not read (apparently, the women in my family have sucked up the reading gene). But, he is a new, single father of a two year old. I found a great book on parenting infants to toddlers with month by month explanations of what to expect. An overall reference guide for him to answer the basic questions. Unless he is a horrible liar, which I seriously doubt, he was also thankful for the book. Whew...

Now, for the final, and maybe most difficult, man my brother-in-law. He recently just got his paramedics license and was DONE with reading. But, I was not about to give up or leave him out. So I kept my eyes open as I perused the bookstore for idea's. Thank goodness he has a sense of humor, and that Jon Stewart released Earth (The Book): A Visitor’s Guide to the Human Race.

Result is that if you think hard enough of the interests of the person you are buying for, then you are most likely going to find a book for them that they could not only use but love.

2010-12-21T20:36:00.000-06:00

Attention all eReaders...

http://books.google.com/ebooks

Google has recently joined the eReader world by launching an eReader app called Google eBooks as well as launching the new Google eBook Store!

I haven't used it myself, nor have I spoken to anyone who has (If you have, please share your thoughts!). But from everything that I've been reading, it is definitely worth checking out. It seems that it will be THE thing to give Amazon a run for their money. Which means a lot to us, the consumer, as there is little to no competition for Amazon currently. Therefore, prices, promotions, service, and product array should only improve all around for everyone.

So what is the premise? On Google eBooks you can download your digital book (some are free, some cost money). All of your books are stored in a central online library that is, of course, password protected. Similar to the Amazon Kindle, the eBooks they sell are functional on a variety of devices. But what is unique to Google is that you can download an eBook on your home computer and start reading it, then pick up where you left off on your phone or other device. A Web connection is not necessary to read a book. Not only is this extremely convenient (no need to carry one device everywhere with you), but, to me, it seems to open up the world of reading. No one can complain that they left their eReader at home...or worse, on a plane!

So far, the devices Google eBooks are compatible with are web browsers, Androids, iPhones, IPads, IPod touchs, Nook (which is huge!) and other eReader devices. At this time, it does not support Amazon Kindle, BlackBerry (mine is too small to read on it anyway!), Kobo, or Windows Mobile 7. But from what I've read so far, Google is in the process of expanding to these devices. Hopefully, it is only a matter of time...

Below are some links to articles I've found. Check it out for yourself and send me your feedback.

Google ebookstore site: http://books.google.com/ebooks

NY Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/07/business/media/07ebookstore.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=barnesandnobleinc

betanews article: http://www.betanews.com/article/Google-launches-eBooks-crossplatform-ebookstore-and-reader/1291654034

American Consumer News article: http://www.americanconsumernews.com/2010/12/google-nasdaq-goog-launches-ebookstore.html

December Book Club - A Christmas Classic

2010-12-15T20:35:00.000-06:00

This month we read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens in honor of the holiday. While we all know the general plot, most likely from years of watching the various movies on TV, no one in our group could remember actually having read the original story. What a better time to read it than before Christmas. And no doubt the fact that it is less than 100 pages was an added benefit (let us not forget CC's "you had me at 200 pages!").

For this meeting, I was more of a fly on the wall than a participant. I unfortunately had lost my voice! But it was great to listen to everyone review the book. They unfortunately had to listen to me cough.

In usual form, we were wrong about this being a quick read. All of us agreed that it was more difficult to read than we had anticipated. Some of it is due to the old English that we are not used to reading or understanding (my Penguin Classics version had footnotes that were most helpful and informative), but a lot of it is that Dickens narration tends to drag on at points throughout the story. Of course, the overall theme to be the best you can be to your friends, family, and just mankind in general is still there. And, more importantly, it is still an applicable lesson that all of us needed reminding of. I would definitely encourage everyone to read this story and take to heart the lesson that it gives to all that will listen.

November's Book Club Review

2010-11-21T14:30:00.000-06:00

Freedom
by Jonathan Franzen

After two months dedicated to reading this book, about half of us were able to finish it. Some due to extremely busy schedules but others had a hard time getting through the book. So we asked ourselves, why? Why was this book such a challenging read?

One idea we had was that there was SO much going on at any given point. Also, there were SO many details were provided that didn’t seem to fit into the overall point of the book. For instance, the Warbler or the over population theory that Walter focused on. We understood how they fit in, but to have SO much detail about each really mad the book seem to drag on.

We also felt that there was never one major climatic event in the book. No major crescendo. There were several smaller climatic events, but it really just seemed that right when the story started to lift, it would move to another character or another topic.

And, then there is the all important question - why was this book called Freedom? There are a couple of direct discussions about the word “freedom” that I found. First there was - “People came to this country for either money or freedom. If you don’t have money, you cling to your freedoms all the more angrily.” Okay, this does have some truth to it. But what does it really have to do with the everyday lives of Patty, Walter, and Richard that we keep reading about for 562 pages of this book? And another quote - “You may be poor, but the one thing nobody can take away from you is the freedom to fuck up your life whatever way you want to.” No character in this book was poor. So while this quote has some merit to it, it surely cannot have enough impact on the story to drive the name Freedom. So then we ask ourselves, why? Why Freedom? The bottom line seems to be that there is no ONE answer. After reading 562 pages you’d think it would be obvious. But I think that this one word “freedom” is wrapped up throughout the entire story line like the air we breathe. It is always there. You don’t really notice it until you don’t have it. And your life depends on it.

All of this is not to say that we didn’t find numerous topics to relate with or discuss because we did. One main topic seemed to be Patty - from who she was as a person, a wife, a lover, to the main point as we saw it - her life as a mother. Her own daughter, Jessica, sums it up the best when she says - “she never really made anything of herself except being a good mom. The one thing I know for sure is I’m never going to stay home full-time with my kids.” Motherhood was what Patty yearned for more than anything. She went to college, but had no desire to start a career. In fact, all of Patty’s life choices seemed to support her one decision to be a mother. The biggest choice was in who she married. She married the man that could give her the motherhood she so desired. Not without sacrifice though. When Patty says - “...craving sex with her mate was one of the things (OK, the main thing) she’d given up in exchange for all the good things in their life together.” - we find out just how much she has indeed sacrificed. The saddest part about Patty’s story is that while she was chasing to be the perfect mother, she only chased her two children, Joey & Jessica, further away. It isn’t until the end of the book and after much, much change in their lives, that Patty finally even gets to be close to her children. Maybe because we are all women in the book club or maybe because we all have mothers, but we all found ourselves not only liking Patty, but rooting for her as well. I think she was a reminder to us all that no one can be a perfect mother. And look at the consequences that can happen if you force the idea into reality...

Another favorite character was none other than Richard Katz. Anyone who has read this book most likely saw that one coming... Why Richard? Of course one obvious answer is that he is the typical “bad” boy, garage band rocker that your mother’s pray and your father’s threaten you NOT to date, let alone marry. That naturally drew our attention. Even more so was the “love” affair he had with Walter. Sure they were college roommates. Sure they were each in need of a best friend given their family circumstances, but as you are reading their story, we find out that they are much more than best friends. Richard describes it better than anyone - “No other man had warmed Katz’s loins the way the sight of Walter did after long absence. These groinal heatings were no more about literal sex, no more homo, than the hard-ons he got from a long-anticipated first snort of blow, but there was definitely something deep-chemical there.”

Need I say more???

And finally, I must mention Walter. From Patty’s husband to Richard’s best friend, he was a character in the book that you could just never decide how you felt. Some of THE most boring parts of the book are the chapters from his point of view. The Warblers (these are birds, by the way, that Walter was passionate about saving) had ZERO excitement about them. The topic of over population had more depth to it, but was just over used in the book. The most climatic part for Walter turned out to be the biggest cliche of them all. But I guess that Jonathan Franzen had to have some way to make Walter interesting...so of course he has an affair with his all too young assistant. Yes, it turns out that the “nice” guy can make just as poor decisions as the “bad” boy. We discussed that after all is said and done, wait for it - Walter really isn’t a nice guy. Despite that we are set up to believe that he is over and over again. Both Patty and Richard discussed at great lengths as to what a great, sweet person Walter really is. Even Walter himself believes he is nice when he describes why he married Patty - “...he didn’t marry her in spite of who she was, he married her because of it. Nice people don’t necessarily fall in love with nice people.” But as the reader, it was just too hard to believe this same opinion. Maybe it was due to the fact that we were in Walter’s mind and thoughts and they all weren’t...

Overall, it seemed that everyone in book club was on the same page in regards to this book. Freedom wasn’t the best book we ever read, but we were glad that we did read it. It is a book that none of us would have picked it up to read on our own. It definitely stretched our minds and made us think differently. Which was probably the point.

Need a House Warming Gift?

2010-11-15T20:24:00.000-06:00

I recently received a fantastic and original house warming gift that I just had to share. Of course, if I'm writing about it, then you probably already know that it must be a book. And you are right.

The book is Occasions by kate spade. Yes, THE Kate Spade. Could there be a better person to provide advice and tips to become the ultimate hostess?? No, there could not.

As if you'd expect anything less than this tip from Kate Spade, but her number one ingredient that ultimately defines "the good hostess" is grace. So true...

This book covers it all. Tips on decorating the room, what to keep well-stocked in your cupboard, music (and yes, even tips on specific songs), how to solve for the common surprises and disasters, recipes for mixed drinks, and guidance for toasting. It is a reference for anniversaries (who can remember what year 7 is...it is wool!) and birthdays with the birthstones and flowers by month. And much, much more...

Favorite quote - "Hospitality makes for infectious fun." -anonymous

Favorite tip that I hope to remember, but know I never will - "Question: Whatever shall I wear? Answer: Whatever you love."

So where do you find this book? When I did some research, here are two of the top sites I found.
http://books.google.com/books?id=A8DRphaBgaUC&dq=occasions%20by%20kate%20spade&source=gbs_similarbooks

http://www.amazon.com/Occasions-Lifestyle-Books-Kate-Spade/dp/0743250656

Now you can also go to katespade.com, but I will let you know that when I did, it took me forever to find the book. And when I did, they were out of stock. Not that I still don't love Kate Spade and their website!!

When I was researching, you can imagine my surprise, when I found two additional books by Kate Spade - Manners and Style. Both sure to be as enlightening and fashionable as Occasions.

Special thank you to my friend Renee for the gift!!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2010-11-14T11:01:00.000-06:00

I’ve already told everyone that The Hunger Games series came to me highly recommended. BUT, now I am HIGHLY recommending it. Or at least the first novel, The Hunger Games. I admit I wasn’t sure I would like this series. I thought it might be more sci-fi than what I usually read. And, let us not forget, it was written for the tween population. But to say that I loved this book, might be an understatement. I literally didn’t want to put it down. I was reading it during commercials, at the nail salon (where I may have shed a tear when one of the tributes was killed), and even seriously considered reading it at stoplight’s! Don’t worry, safety first. Everyone I know who has read it, feels the same. So definitely check it out. And, I cannot wait to start the second book, Catching Fire.

Attention John Grisham Fans...

2010-11-01T20:38:00.000-05:00

John Grisham is back again with “The Confession”!

John Grisham’s latest novel was released October 26th, “The Confession”. Already receiving top accolade’s from across the nation, fans are sure remain in suspense while reading his latest legal thriller. Here are some links that provide a review of John Grisham’s latest novel.

The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/25/AR2010102504789.html

John Grisham The Official Site

http://www.jgrisham.com/the-confession/

goodreads

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7933437-the-confession

Other Reviews:

“The secrets of Grisham’s success are no secret at all. There are two of them: his pacing, which ranges from fast to breakneck, and his Theme—little guy takes on big conspiracy with the little guy getting the win in the end.” —Time magazine

“The law, by its nature, creates drama, and a new Grisham promises us an inside look at the dirty machineries of process and power, with plenty of entertainment” —Los Angeles Times

“With every new book I appreciate John Grisham a little more, for his feisty critiques of the legal system, his compassion for the underdog, and his willingness to strike out in new directions.” —Entertainment Weekly

“John Grisham is about as good a storyteller as we’ve got in the United States these days.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Grisham is a marvelous storyteller who works readers the way a good trial lawyer works a jury.” —Philadelphia Inquirer

“A mighty narrative talent and an unerring eye for hot-button issues.” —Chicago Sun-Times

“A legal literary legend.” —USA Today

What Others Are Reading...

2010-10-23T09:34:00.000-05:00

Hidden Brain
by Shankar Vedantam
How Our Unconscious Minds Elect Presidents, Control Markets, Wage Wars, and Save Our Lives

Washington Post Review -
www.washingtonpost.com/wp
dyn/content/article/2010/01/22/AR2010012201974.html

The Almond by Nedjma

"Nedjma", the novels pseudonymous author writes about love and sex in the Islamic world.

Book Review Blog - http://lailalalami.com/2005/nedjmas-the-almond/

The New York Times Review - http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/12/books/review/12HARRISO.html

Never Let Me Go

By Kazuo Ishiguro

This book has been made into a movie starring Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan and is in theater's now.

The New York Times Book Review - http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/17/books/review/17KERRL.html

The New York Times Movie Review - http://movies.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/movies/15never.html

Book Club - October 19th Meeting

2010-10-20T21:31:00.000-05:00

This month's Book - Freedom

Favorite book related quote of the meeting - “You had me at 200 pages.”

Favorite YHTBT quote of the meeting - “You’re in the soup with that shirt Pratt.”

(YHTBT - You Had To Be There)

For our first book, we picked something light, easy, and fun to read to give everyone a feel for participating in a monthly book club. So we thought we were ready for a more serious and challenging book for the second month. Boy, did we over shoot! We picked Freedom by Jonathan Franzen. Definitely a book that has drawn major attention in the media. We even picked it before it was announced to be on Oprah’s Book Club. A sure sign we were on the right track! But to finish in one month would take some major dedication. And I believe I mentioned previously that those who have joined so far have careers and families and obligations, right? No. One month is ABSOLUTELY less than doable. Therefore, we will be spreading this out across October and November. And you know, we all decided last night, that there are SO many things to discuss with just the first half, that we were glad we were taking two months to read and discuss it.

The book is somewhat of a slow start. Not because it is boring, but because you have so much information coming at you all at once. Names, places, dates, basically all of the characters are laid out in the first chapter. It can be a little overwhelming. But don’t get discouraged. I suggest downloading the list of characters to keep as a reference. Sounds like an over achiever move I know. But trust me, it works. I found a list on Oprah.com under the book club section - www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/Quick-Character-Guide-for-Freedom-by-Jonathan-Franzen-Oprahs-Book-Club.

Best advice - get to chapter three. Do the best you can to keep up until then using the characters guide, writing in the margins, whatever it takes. Once you get to Chapter 3, it will all become clear and much easier to read. And furthermore, a much more enjoyable book. Once you get here, you really start finding out more about the main characters - the Berglunds, and let us not forget Richard Katz. Stories that seemed random and out of place in Chapters 1 and 2, will have more meaning once you begin Chapter 3.

Some key themes or highlights that we are seeing so far are:

People try to be the opposite of what their parents were, trying to be perfect, and sometimes end up being exactly how their parents were making the same mistakes.
Making the “smart” choice when marrying - who will get you what you want, the life that you desire. Where does this get you in the long run?
The similarities between the Berglunds drama and reality TV - specifically Patty and how fake she acts with neighbors and friends.
One circumstance can alter your entire life.
Being the cool parent vs. being THE parent.
Will my child turn on me after all of the hard work I’ve put in raising them?
As a parent, there is such a thing as over sharing with your children.

One of our members (aka, CC) pointed out some great quotes:

p148 - “...he didn’t marry her in spite of who she was, he married her because of it.”
p148 - “Nice people don’t necessarily fall in love with nice people.”
p125 - “...she’d run to a guy who physically didn’t do for her what his best friend did.”
p137 - “If you want to have friends, you have to remember that nobody’s perfect.”
p140 - “...craving sex with her mate was one of the things (OK, the main thing) she’d given up in exchange for all the good things in their life together.”

Highlights we discussed...

When crazy Eliza is referred to as Eliza Doolittle, is that in reference to The Eliza Dolittle in My Fair Lady?
Why are we looking up so many words for an understanding? Well, let’s be clear. Most of us are moving on ignoring those words, but some (okay one) is actually looking up the words that are foreign to us. Examples - Bulgar, assonant, concentric.
Is Lindsay Lohan in prison? I googled, and no, she is in Betty Ford. But goes to court on Friday. Yes, we talk about EVERYTHING!
Picking out a book to read is all about your mood.
“Freedom is the least commercial book I’ve read lately.”
HOW does this author, or any author, know so much about so many aspects of life in order to write content of this nature?

Until November...

Penguin Classics Releases Seven More...

2010-10-18T22:02:00.001-05:00

Just when you thought you were caught up with having purchased all (or in my case all but two) of the 13 Classic Editions by Penguin Classics, they release seven new ones. Who is complaining. We love these hardback covers designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith. I have mine out on display, and I get so many compliments. My favorites are the ones from people who consider flipping through US Weekly Magazine skimming the captions as getting caught up on their reading. Is it possible these designer covers will turn magazine picture readers into a reader of actual words...or even literature?! Well, maybe not. But definitely a start.

You may go online at http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/classics/hardcoverclassics/index.html
Or online at borders.com. Borders carries them in their stores as well as online.
I have also found some on amazon.com.

The new Classics released are:

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

The Hound of Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

The Sonnets and A Lover's Complaint by William Shakespeare

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri

A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings by Charles Dickens

Book Club - 1st Meeting Highlights

2010-09-22T22:08:00.000-05:00

Our very first Book Club meeting was last night, and I must say, what a great and enjoyable experience it was. In fact, so many highlights that I will have to provide more than just one update. Yes, there really is that much to share!!

While we had a small, quaint group of six, it was the perfect amount to start off with. Don’t get me wrong, those of you who were not able to make it were GREATLY missed. And we hope and expect you to be at the next one. And I think after you read some of the highlights, you’ll not want to miss it anyway!!

Where to even start...

I know, funniest moment. And book club ladies, I hope I get this right!! Okay, this will require a set up. This book club has women from mid-twenties to early forties (of course, we are all blessed with good looks and great skin so age is not an obvious characteristic!). And while I know everyone’s ages (mainly since I’m the only person who knows everyone for this first meeting), the rest of the group is not as informed at this time.

We were discussing Courtney Cox and her age and how she doesn’t really look as old as she is. Everyone agreed it must be the lighting on set to make her seem so young. Person A (we’ll call her CC) referenced that Courtney Cox was close to her age and begins discussing this with the group. Person B (we’ll call her FIM - Foot in Mouth) has not caught on that we are talking about an actual person in our group, which is CC. And when she hears someone say to CC “You don’t look that age at all”, FIM says “It must be the lighting”. Clearly, we are all shocked. Granted, FIM isn’t one to hide her opinion in fear of what others think, but really... It must be the lighting?? Thankfully, a friend (someone FIM should obviously consider adding to her will to even come close to paying her back for catching this whole show down) caught on and pointed out that we were actually talking about CC and not Courtney Cox. You can imagine FIM’s shock... We of course laughed hysterically and continued to do so for the rest of the evening.

So now, we of course have our very first inside joke - “It must be the lighting”. LOVE IT.

Let me guess...you want to know if we even got around to talking about the book??? Well, of course we did. We ARE book lovers after all.

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner

When I picked this book, I did so believing that it would be a light read which would be perfect to start off our book club. Get everyone into the idea of having a deadline, etc. I was completely mistaken. We all agreed that this book went way beyond a light read. In Best Friends Forever, you will find serious topics such as cancer, obesity, rape, and neglect. Yes, there is humor sprinkled throughout. Although, I should mention that one member, did not find as much humor in it as she felt there would be from reading the jacket. So the humor was maybe not as obvious to everyone, so you might not find it as humorous either. Nevertheless, the book was one that could relate to so many women...and from so many different angles.

For instance, as we were discussing the book, I heard throughout the group, women comparing their real life stories or situations to that of the book. For one woman, it was about Addie’s brother Jon reminding her of her own brother. Jon was in a terrible accident and left handicapped - mentally and somewhat physically. He was never the same and required someone to take care of him. For others, it was about the pressure of crossing the 30 year old threshold and not being married and not having children. This is the pressure Addie is under in the beginning of the book. She must get out there and date and find her “soul mate” before her eggs rot and die.

And I know that for me, I consider a book one that I just love when I can’t put it down. Either the suspense of the story line has me. Or I am so in tune with what the characters are going through, that I want to know how they are dealing with it to show me how I can. I must say that Best Friends Forever has both.

I could go on with more about the book. And not to mention that there are so many stories, funny moments, and great dialogue about so many books to share with everyone that I will have to spread this out as I previously mentioned.

Until the next post...

Latest Books I've Purchased...

2010-09-13T21:11:00.001-05:00

Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence

Obviously this book is considered to be one of the classics, but I recently purchased it to add to my collection. Borders is selling the classics in these fantastic hard cover designs by Coralie Bickford-Smith. They are colorful, beautiful, and so flattering compared to many of the classics found at mainstream bookstores. You know...the ones that look like death and boredom! This new line would sit proudly on the shelves in your home. Seriously, I’m addicted to them and cannot wait to own the entire collection. So far, there are thirteen available. I own more than half!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Do you ever hear about a good book from different sources and think “This is a sign. I must have it.” Well, that is what happened to me with The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Two women in completely different circles raved about how addictive these books were (it is a trilogy). So naturally, I ran to the bookstore to check them out. I admit I was somewhat nervous when I had to search for them (in the young adult section I might add), and I only found one or two copies of the first book. I mean how good could they be with such limited display on shelf? I even looked around to check to see if there was a massive display taking up all of the copies. No such display. However, my sources were two very passionate readers, so I knew that they could be trusted. When I was checking out, a young man noticed I was buying this book and volunteered that while he didn’t read mainstream novels (yet I must add that he was working at a mainstream bookstore), he loved this series and couldn’t stop reading them. Indeed. Now I haven’t started this book yet, so I cannot verify if any of what I have been told is true. Once I start, I will, of course, let everyone know if all of they hype is fact or fiction (no pun intended...okay, maybe a small one!!).

The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Bedtime Lullaby by Roger Priddy

These next two books, I purchased as a gift to an upcoming baby shower. First time mother with a baby boy on the way, these two books just seemed perfect. The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery is a classic. And it is out with a “fresh new translation”. The second book, Bedtime Lullaby by Roger Priddy, is perfect for new parents to remind or teach them all of the classic lullaby’s. After all, how many of us really know all of the words to Brahm’s Lullaby? Or what does happen after papa buys you a diamond ring in Hush Little Baby? I’ve found that these words do not come to you when the child is screaming. Learn them now I say. Plus, this book even comes with all of the songs on a CD that is included. What gets better than that?

2010-09-08T23:20:00.000-05:00

Okay, in my previous review of Wuthering Heights, I mentioned the couture-inspired design for the cover of the book. I feel that I should bring to light this illustrator and encourage everyone to pick up the three books designed by this man, Ruben Toledo.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Who is Ruben Toledo you might ask? And why does he stand out in the literary world? Mainly he stands out as he is not from the literary world in the least. He is in fact from the fashion industry. Ruben’s has had drawings appear in high-fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Visionaire. Which explains why these books do not look like an ordinary book cover and completely stand out from most books on the shelves today. I say, thank goodness someone understands how to sell a book. Does the cover not say everything? Isn’t it similar to first impressions last? Don’t most women enjoy fashion? And if not fashion than at least art? Why a publishing house would want to put covers on a book that look like a Private Label version of Mac & Cheese is beyond me.

So where might you find these illustrations of these classics? They are with the Penguin Classics of Penguin Books. You can search online of course. But, Powell’s Books at www.powells.com has them. Or, and you won’t believe this, you can find them at Borders. I encourage everyone to at least find them in a bookstore and check them out for yourselves. Seeing them in person will definitely change your opinion about these classics. I, in fact, am hoping Ruben Toledo will illustrate more than just these three. But for now, I am enjoying these, as I hope you will.

Latest Book I've Read...

2010-08-29T12:51:00.000-05:00

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Book Review by Jennifer Pratt

If you are a book lover like me, then you know it is your literary obligation to read and to know the classics. Such was my thought when I began my endeavor to read Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Yes, the new couture-inspired design on the cover caught my attention at the bookstore. But it is, after all, considered to perhaps be the most passionately original novel in the English language. I mean, who hasn’t heard of the classic love triangle of Catherine, Mr. Heathcliff, and Edgar Linton?
Catherine is torn between her first love, Mr. Heathcliff, and the more prestigious, educated Edgar Linton. Heathcliff is not of her “upbringing” and has nothing to offer - no education, no money, no position in society. Whereas, Edgar has all of those things and more. But as in so many love stories, we find ourselves rooting for the underdog.
Who didn’t root for the forbidden love of Rose and Jack in Titanic? As if the sophisticated Cal would have stood on the front of the ship and shown Rose how to fly! And who can forget the infamous “No one puts Baby in a corner” line from Dirty Dancing. Didn’t we all want our love to stand up for us like that! Back off daddy. Or the unprecedented love that Noah has for Allie in The Notebook. Their love followed them until the very end. That scene in the end when Noah is trying to get Allie to remember their love...well, it kills me every time I see it. Yes, these are all heart wrenching, pass me a box of tissue, make your eyes hurt from the all of the tears love stories. Wuthering Heights is not one of these stories my friends...
Yes, there is the love triangle. And yes, there is the underdog. And yes, when Heathcliff returns to claim his love, Catherine, after being gone for so many years, we naturally hope she leaves Edgar for Heathcliff. Trust me though when I say you will only be rooting for the underdog, aka Heathcliff, for about two sentences after his return. The remainder of the novel you will want him to be killed off in a torturous war that gets more gruesome and detailed in your mind as the chapters continue.
This story is so dark and perplexing that it makes you wonder what Emily Bronte was thinking when she wrote it. So, of course, I had to find out more about this Emily to understand why on earth she’d write the darkest love story we’ve ever seen. I mean, surely, love has not changed this much since her time in the early 1800’s. Has it? The answer is probably not. My sleuthing led me to her history of growing up with her two sisters in a bleak parsonage under their aunt after their mother and two older sisters died. Okay, rough childhood. Got it. Now everything is coming together.
So, the question begs itself to be asked. Should you read Wuthering Heights if it is as I say and filled with a darkness that will leave you perplexed, confused, and at some points even with a sadness? Of course you should. It is an American Classic and should be read by all. If for anything else other than to appreciate the life we have now. Can you imagine having to marry your cousin? Such was the case in this novel. But nonetheless, Wuthering Heights is about a love that goes through time. Granted Heathcliff led a miserable life leaving little to no inspiration for those reading about it up until the very end when he met his Catherine again. But such is the hope that we are all searching for or believe we have found. Such is love...