Forsyte Saga - Complete

The Forsyte Saga - Complete by John Galsworthy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, it took me quite some time to actually finish this one off. I definitely was suffering from book ADD. However, while it was hard to stick with it, the story was well written and in parts enjoyable. Certainly not edge of the seat action, it is typical Brit Lit character study following several generations of Forsytes. However, it was interesting if not exciting, and definitely has soap opera moments. The writing is brilliant and is the reason that I kept with it even if I had to put it down and pursue something different.

One of my favorite passages was describing the automobile, "The thing typified all that was fast, insecure, and subcutaneously oily in modern life."

I am glad that I stuck with it. It brings up some interesting points and is a very well written character study.

One more off the 1001 list!

View all my reviews

Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was very different than my preconceived notion of it. I am not sure what my preconception was based on, but while it was a love story, of sorts, it is more like what I would imagine would come out if Stephen King decided to write a love story. Everyone in the story is miserable because they are in love with someone and not honest about it and have to watch life play out in a different direction. The story is much more twisted and dark than I had expected, and I liked it. It was like watching a train wreck. I had to keep reading to find out what horrid turn would occur next. I found it fascinating and imminently readable. For those who are intimidated by or enamored of the classics, I would recommend this one.

View all my reviews

Catching up - Count of Monte Cristo

I have been reading, just haven't been writing my reviews due to pregnancy and child birth. So, I will attempt to catch up in the coming days. Here is my review of The Count of Monte Cristo which I finished in October, 2013. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. While it is definitely lengthy (I actually read it for a 1000+ page challenge), I love the study of the human mind and spirit and this has that in spades. What a human soul can endure and overcome is amazing. This story is a classic for a reason. It examines the complete spectrum of human emotion and I would highly recommend it to all.

The part that stuck with me, though, is the re-examination of the revenge plan when unintended consequences occur. Edmond is not so blinded by revenge that he is unable to question whether he is on the right path.

View all my reviews

Everything is Illuminated? I'm not so sure...

Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Certainly entertaining, but definitely hard to follow. I couldn't tell which parts were supposed to be real and with so many of the characters sharing the same name or being referred to by relationship, I found it very difficult to keep things straight.

I can't say that I'm sorry I read it, but I am still trying to figure out what the take away message is. Maybe that's the point.

Also, a little put off by the use of the "f" word in 1791. Maybe it is just in my head, but in my head people didn't talk like that back then.

View all my reviews

Wise Children by Angela Carter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The writing style of this book really through me off. Stream of consciousness combined with a slew of characters all who also have nicknames... it was hard to keep up. Separate from that, I did find that there were aspects of the book that I really liked. It makes an interesting commentary on the true meaning of family, and it is a fantastical view of a very interesting period of time from WWI through the 80's between London and Hollywood.

These are my two favorite quotes:
"I've done many a quick change, in the wings, in panto, in revue, but never one as quick as this. And so it came to pass that it was as Bottom the Weaver in plus-fours and an ass's head, that I went to my own wedding. I was beginning to see the funny side. It isn't every day you see yourself get married." - p. 157

""'D'you know, I sometimes wonder if we haven't been making him up all along,' she said. 'If he isn't just a collection of our hopes and dreams and wishful thinking in the afternoons. Something to set our lives by, like the old clock in the hall, which is real enough, in itself, but which we have to wind up to make it go.'" - p. 230

So, there were some enjoyable points. The bottom line is the story is a good one. I just found the chosen narrative style in combination with the wide variety of characters to be confusing and sometimes distracting. But, I did like the book.

View all my reviews

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I can certainly understand why this book is on the 1001 Books list. It is hard to believe that what is described is truly one day in prison life. So much happens even though so little happens. The constant jockeying to survive. Getting an extra portion, begging a last drag, working in freezing temperatures. It is mesmerizing. I am going to have to track down a copy of The Oak and the Calf to learn more about Solzhenitsyn's life.

View all my reviews

Casino Royale

I actually picked this book up at the library solely because Ian Fleming and Raymond Chandler were good friends, and I had never read any of the Bond books. Imagine my surprise, when I found that it was also a 1001 Books list book! My French is a little rusty as I only took it in 7th and 8th grade, so I feel that I might have missed some details (important or not, I don't know), but I enjoyed the story and having seen the movie first (which I usually try not to do), the story was familiar, but the movie was remote enough in my mind that I don't really know how closely it compares. It is dark, but that is unsurprising, and the details of the drink and the car come through very well in the writing, so you do not miss out at all on the 007 experience. I would recommend it. 3 out of 5 stars

Wise Blood

Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I didn't get this one. Nothing particular that I didn't like about it, but I am pretty sure I missed the point. Comic Novel the author says? I definitely missed something. On to the next!


View all my reviews

I'm on a roll in 2013! Farewell, My Lovely

Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just started this one, but had to note this quote, "...the voice dragged itself out of her throat like a sick man getting out of bed." Who wouldn't enjoy reading a book with such specific and magnificent description! :) Had to note another doozie of a quote, "She's a charming middle-aged lady with a face like a bucket of mud and if she has washed her hair since Coolidge's second term, I'll eat my spare tire, rim and all."
More when I finish...

I love Philip Marlowe! He is just the right mix of hard-edge, softie and insane. Another great one by Raymond Chandler (see quotes above). I love the writing style, I love the description. The story was great with lots of twists and turns, some obligatory red herrings and just all around good fun for the mystery reader! Highly recommended!

View all my reviews I read The Big Sleep first as Farewell, My Lovely is the second Philip Marlowe book, and I am a little bit nutty about things like that. My local library(ies) seemed to be missing their individual copies of both books, so I have the pleasure of reading other short stories by Raymond Chandler and The Big Window from the omnibus that I was able to check out next! Then, onto Wise Blood as my next List conquest!

Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy L. Sayers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This would have gotten a 5 star rating except for that the reveal chapter was written set at a cricket game, which I know nothing about. So, that was a bit frustrating. However, the rest of the story was quite enjoyable, and the premise was quite interesting. Lord Peter Wimsey is entertaining as always in this case working under cover at an advertising agency to sort out strange goings on. Lots of characters to keep track of, but that doesn't seem to be unusual for Dorothy Sayers. I look forward to reading her other book on the 1001 Books to Read list.

View all my reviews Next up, Farewell My Lovely by Raymond Chandler...

Frankenstein

I finished this one over the holiday.  It took a while as I put it down in favor of a couple of other books. That is not to say I did not enjoy it, though.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Very much enjoyed this story. I found it to be very different than expected, and I very much enjoyed it. Certainly nothing like the popularized version we all think we know. Quick and enjoyable read.

View all my reviews And, bonus! I just figured out what I was doing wrong in copying my goodreads posts! Hooray! and Happy New Year! Hope to be more active this year. Last year was a tough reading year as I had a shoulder injury that ended up requiring surgery and that put a damper on my reading. However, I hope to do better this year. I have re-committed to 50 books, and I currently am reading one from the list and have another in the chute.

The Great Gatsby

This was the latest pick for the on-line Goodreads group doing this challenge.  I gave it 2 out of 5 stars. This book unsettled me and I also felt that the story was hidden somehow.  I felt like I almost got to know the characters, that I almost thought I know where the author was going.  Definitely an odd book that I didn't know what to make of or what the resolutions for the characters really were.  Did Daisy and Tom carry on with their marriage?  What happened to the narrator?  What did the narrator ultimately feel about Gatsby since it seemed that his opinion changed in the end, but it was hard to tell.  I felt like I was reading an Oprah book.  So, I don't know if the unsettling was challenging thought patterns or just not getting a grasp of the story and the why behind it.  Not sure what I am reading next. Hubby has suggested Count of Monte Cristo, as I am not sure that I can easily get hold of the next on-line pick.  As Halloween is approaching though, I might pick up Frankenstein.  We'll see!

Out of Africa, the latest 1001 conquest!

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I found this book hard to get into as the stream of consciousness narration combined with my complete lack of knowledge of life in Africa in the 1900s made it a bit hard to follow.  But, I did find that I was glad that I kept with it, as the people and the stories were endearing.  I am looking forward to seeing the movie, as I have not as yet seen that either and comparing it to my experience of the book.  It was an interesting glimpse into the juxtaposition and assimilation of European and African culture, which I did, ultimately find enjoyable once I got over the seeming disjointedness at parts.  One thing that I did wish was that there were translations for some of the poems and phrases that were left in other languages.

Not sure which one is next, as I have a couple of non-list books that I am committed to reading.  The adventure continues!

A Secret History

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While I definitely enjoyed the story, I wish the author had organized it differently. 500 pages and only 8 chapters is a rough read. However, the story was very interesting, and I did not feel that I was slogging through the 120 page chapters too much. Definitely interesting character study that keeps you guessing. I am happy to see so many mysteries on the 1001 Books to Read list!

View all my reviews

The Time Machine

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this a little late for the 1001 Books to Read November group read. Easy one to knock off the list. Given when this book was written, I find it a fascinating take on the future state of man and earth and wonderfully imaginative. It is a short read, so it did not go into the depth that I might have hoped for, but thoroughly enjoyable and still stands up today. Would definitely recommend.

View all my reviews

Another one down

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was the group read for October for the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die group. I am so glad that I read it! You can tell that Maya Angelou is a poet. The language she uses to describe such circumstances as she experienced growing up is mesmerizing. I was fascinated and enthralled and it made my heart ache that human being can treat each other like this. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!

View all my reviews

Another one down!

The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was beautifully written, but difficult to read from the standpoint that it examines the depths of human suffering. And yet, the author manages to make everything ok in the end, even if not in the traditional sense. It is a very powerful book, and I look forward to reading more by this author.

View all my reviews

School starts... more time or less?

I am still trying to determine whether school starting last Thursday allows for more time to read, or less. On the one hand, I am definitely up earlier... On the other hand, there is more to do and most of it has associated time frames.

On the up side, one of my Goodreads group has decided to read a 1001 book as a group read. Not because it is on the list, but because it is a mystery. So, while I am still working on Crime and Punishment (currently at 5% and liking it so far), I will be reading "the curious incident of the dog in the night-time" by mark haddon.

It is apparently told from the point of view of an autistic boy who is accused of killing a neighbor's dog. From the reviews I have read, the POV is done very well, giving a glimpse into the autistic world. The author worked with autistic children, so has some insight into their world.

I am looking forward to it, and will keep you posted!

2006 version - 1001 Books to Read - Completed

#43 The Corrections – Jonathan Franzen

#93 Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden

#117 A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry

#196 A Prayer for Owen Meany – John Irving (currently reading)

#238 The Cider House Rules – John Irving

#301 The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams

#303 The World According to Garp – John Irving

#400 The Master and Margarita – Mikhail Bulgakov

#436 One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest – Ken Kesey

#444 Stranger in a Strange Land – Robert Heinlein

#456 To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee

#547 Nineteen Eighty-Four – George Orwell

#564 Animal Farm – George Orwell

#574 The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (in English AND French)

#603 Rebecca – Daphne du Maurier

#610 The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien

#689 The Sun Also Rises – Ernest Hemingway

#695 The Murder of Roger Ackroyd – Agatha Christie

#767 The Jungle – Upton Sinclair

#780 Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad

#809 The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde

#837 The Brothers Karamazov – Fyodor Dostoevsky

#840 Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy

#863 Little Women – Louisa May Alcott

#897 The Scarlet Letter – Nathaniel Hawthorne

#904 Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë

TWENTY-SIX (and that includes two that I am currently reading). Sad, sad, sad.

There are a couple that I think I might have read, but since I wasn't sure, I didn't include them. For example, I am almost positive that I have read The Color Purple, but not entirely, so I am being conservative and not including it.

So, this is a classic turning point moment... Glass half full or half empty? Do I concentrate on the fact that it is pitiful that I have only read 26 of these books, or do I enthuse because of the opportunity to read so many more? I think I am going for the adventure....

Thank you to my mostly public school education (there were two years of private school in there), Oprah's book club (although I am behind and would have a few more under my belt if I had read all of her picks), and my Russian literature class in college. Master and Margarita is a very entertaining read.