It Seemed To Me a Situation Fraught With Embarrassing Potentialities Had Arisen

I find it difficult to describe what profound love and respect I have for the countries and culture of Great Britain. My semester abroad in London only magnified this admiration, and it is now my future goal to live there (much to the dismay of both my parents and my closest friends). My favorite "products" of British culture are too many to count, but among them is the television series "Jeeves and Wooster" (with excellent performances by both Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry in the title roles). The episodes are based off of various novels by P.G. Wodehouse and, needless to say, I was more than thrilled when one such novel, Thank you, Jeeves, appeared on this list.

Long story short, the "Jeeves" novels chronicle the innumerable mishaps of Bertie Wooster, a privileged and eccentric British gentleman and the unorthodox yet brilliant schemes devised by his overly-qualified manservant, Jeeves, that always seem to prevent complete disaster. As you can imagine, these stories are hilarious and, being written by a comedic British writer, incredibly witty and hilarious. These are just plain fun to read, and I cannot recommend them highly enough. A+.

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"Every author really wants to have letters printed in the papers. Unable to make the grade, he drops down a rung on the ladder and writes novels." (P.G. Wodehouse)

Show Us How Happy It Makes You To Write a Poem

If you asked my friends to describe me, somewhere along the way, the word morbid would pop up. Now, I’m certainly not serial killer material, but it's true that I am certainly fascinated by them. Generally speaking, I tend to gravitate to stories that examine some sort of emotional or mental anguish or darkness. Perhaps this is the reason that I enjoyed Sylvia Plath’s well known novel The Bell Jar so greatly.

What is most impressive about this specific tale of manic depression, however, is the first person narrative. As events progress, the reader does not just stand by and watch as the main character crumbles; rather, the reader experiences the same confusion, disillusion, and, eventually, resignation. It takes a masterful author to communicate such a singular state of mind, and Plath does so remarkably well. A solid B+.

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"And by the way, everything in life is writable if you have the outgoing guts to do it and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt." (Sylvia Plath)

To Air Differences and Remain Friends, the Essence of Civilized Existence, Don’t You Think?

As I have written previously, I was wholeheartedly disappointed with the first Ian McEwan novel I read. To this day, Atonement is still the only story for which I enjoy the film adaptation more than the original novel. I had been worried to see so many more of McEwan's novels on this list. Despite this, he survived his second chance, offering readers a beautifully written morality tale.

There is much lacking in this novel: it's characters seem to lose their luster halfway through the book, the excitement of the plot begins to lose steam, and the ending seems hollow. However, McEwan still paints an accurate portrayal of a dramatically conflicted friendship that is riddled with moral questions and debates; I have never read a book that examines euthanasia from such an interior perspective.

What struck me most about Amsterdam, however, really has nothing to do with the plot or themes. One of the main characters of the novel is a musical composer, and the way in which McEwan describes the way that character "sees" his symphony come together is brilliant. The imagery is beautiful and a true delight to read for anyone who loves music.

In the end, I still expect better from McEwan, an author who has four or five books on this list. I give this attempt a B+.

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"No one knows anything, really. It's all rented or borrowed." (Ian McEwan)

The More I Suffer, the More I Love

I had been looking forward to reading Bernhard Schlink's morality tale, The Reader, since hearing of the film and watching Kate Winslet cinch her Oscar win for it. I still haven't seen the movie, but I knew what it was about and anticipated an intense and dramatic novel to accompany its dark and tumultuous themes. Unfortunately, I found myself a bit underwhelmed.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading the novel. It's plot and themes (without giving away too much) are imaginative and thought-provoking, looking at the divisive nature of the holocaust from an entirely different perspective, but I found that the writing and character development left something to be desired. The whole novel just felt a bit flat. However, the part of the book from which the novel draws its title is beautiful and inspiring. It will be interesting to see if the movie follows along the same lines.

All in all, though, I'm giving The Reader a solid B+. It's minor plot twist and ultimate messages are wonderful.

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"People who commit crimes are not necessarily monsters. If they were, things would be easy. But they aren't, and it is one of the experiences of life." (Bernhard Schlink)

He Who Ruled Scent Ruled the Hearts of Men

Anyone that knows me well - actually, anyone merely acquainted with me - knows of my profound love of Alan Rickman. Whether my love is unhealthy or just enthusiastic is up for debate, but regardless, I was thrilled that Patrick Suskind's novel Perfume: The Story of a Murderer made this list. The movie (featuring Alan Rickman, of course) that this book inspired is brilliant, one of my absolute favorites. A subtle tale of horror, it's plot is so imaginative and the end is so unexpected that I acutely remember staring at my blank television screen in silence for about ten minutes after the credits were done rolling. Although I am generally of the belief that books are always better than their film counterparts, I admit being somewhat concerned that I would be disappointed; I did, after all, already know the ending.

However, the novel was the farthest thing from a disappointment. For fear of giving anything away, the most I will say about the plot is that the main character, the murderer, experiences the world not through sight or touch but through scent. It is truly an imaginative notion. To have such developed descriptions of his thoughts and feelings that are not explored within the limited narrative voice of the film was delightful. Reading the novel makes Suskin's ideas about scent and the emotions that they can inspire much more of a way of thinking about the world as opposed to mere plot points.

Stylistically, Perfume reads like a good mystery novel; suspense is always subtly building. At the same time, however, it takes the time to offer reflections on such important things as Beauty and Truth. It's fabulously written and truly one of a kind. I give it a resounding A and encourage everyone to read it AND see the film. You won't be disappointed... if not a little disturbed.

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"No human being can go on living in the same house with a pigeon; a pigeon is the epitome of chaos and anarchy." (Patrick Suskind)

I Hate Your City. It Has Standardized All the Beauty Out Of Life

We live in strange times. We are always encouraged to be individuals, to do what it is that will make us happy regardless of what others may think. At the same time, however, our society has a sneaky way of imposing conformity upon us. Most of us silently judge those who are too different. We generally prefer to socialize with those who think and feel the same way that we do. Don't forget, though, we're individuals.

It was not always this way. Conformity used to be much more obvious. Class divisions were more sharply defined; there were fewer visible symbols of ones wealth and prosperity. Even the most minute diversions from the path of acceptable behavior were seen as the worst of offenses. This is the society in which George Babbitt, the title character in Sinclair Lewis' novel, Babbitt, lives. Since Lewis' novel is, at its core, a satire, the unrelenting desire of the Babbitt family to successfully conform to society's standards is sickeningly desperate. Everything they do is measured in terms of the opinions of others; George routinely talks to himself about how wonderful it is that others will see his success and like him. Everything seems to be going perfectly for them. Slowly however, George becomes more and more tired of his work and family. As he finds even more about which to complain, he begins to resent everyone around him. He has grand visions of his own rebellion and, for a while, breaks the rules of prohibition and has affairs with various women in an attempt to break free of society's oppression. Before long, however, he is shamed back into conformity. This would all be utterly depressing if not for the next generation made up of young adults who still have time to break free and be true individuals if only they will try.

Generally, I am a huge fan of satire. However, I must admit that I don't find much appealing about the American 1920s, especially not when depicted with this extreme sense of conformity and contrivance. I found the incessant use of the slang of the times somewhat annoying, as I'm sure it was meant to be, but even so, it did lessen my enjoyment of the book. I give it a B-.

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"There are two insults no human being will endure: that he has no sense of humor, and that he has never known trouble." (Sinclair Lewis)

Scotland Takes Drugs in Psychic Defence

Growing up in a suburb of Philadelphia, I've lived a rather sheltered life. Sure, I've come across the random acquaintance who, on occasion, smokes weed or takes hallucinogenic drugs, but I have no absolutely no experience with "drug cultures" or junkies. This, however, is precisely the culture depicted by Irvine Welsh in his cult classic, Trainspotting. I had watched the film based on the book during my freshman year study abroad experience in London. The professor of my British Life and Culture course was obsessed with the evolution of British youth culture, and Trainspotting certainly defines a particular area its history.

The novel follows a group of friends in Scotland, bonded by their mutual need to shoot up. They share everything: drug cocktails, needles, AIDS, and girls. Of course, their destructive habits are not without consequences, and the book's plot serves as a chronicle of both their individual and mutual downfalls. This is, of course, not at all surprising. Fortunately for both the characters and the reader, it ends with a glimmer of hope.

What sets Trainspotting apart from other novels that examine the same dark subject matter is the language and perspective. Welsh writes his chapters from the viewpoints of a variety of narrators, each accompanied by his or her own distinctive Scottish dialect. The phonetic spelling of these dialects can be hard to read and understand at first (for example, my ignorance of the Scottish slang word for "baby" had me missing that one of the characters had an abortion in the opening chapters), but as the novel continues, this difficulty is almost completely erased. The confusion of the reader in experiencing the phonetic spelling of the Scottish accent, in my opinion, even enhances the confusion that the drug addled minds of Welsh's characters experience.

This book is a fascinating one to read, both as a character study and as a literary work. I give it a B+ and would highly recommend it, although it is certainly not for the faint of heart. Those opposed to reading graphic descriptions of unsafe drug injections or sexual acts, all told in extremely explicit language, should skip this one.

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"I didn't have any concept of Trainspotting being published. It was a selfish act. I did it for myself." (Irvine Welsh)

This Is the Sorcery of Cities

Arcadia (n): a region or scene of simple pleasure and quiet.

This is certainly not the definition with which Jim Crace is working in his novel of the same title: Arcadia. Rather, his theme focuses on the corruptive nature of cities in opposition to the rustic life that country settings provide. In the book's second half, the building of "Arcadia", what is supposed to be a modernized country-style market, only causes destruction and grief. His themes show clearly in his characters, who all carry some sort of burden as a result of their city-inspired ambitions.

His plot is not a fast paced one, nor is it particularly imaginative. The true gem in Crace's writing, here, is his imagery. He truly is a painter with words, making his descriptions wonderful to read. Reading the novel, I felt that I was seeing exactly what Crace, as an author, wanted me to see. While some might find that limiting, I am of the opinion that it serves to enhance his theme. A division between two alternatives cannot be completely understood if one does not have a clear picture of the two alternatives in and of themselves.

Crace does a wonderful job with a fairly slow-moving plot line, keeping the reader interested in the setting more than the action. Definitely worth the read; I'm giving it a B.

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"There is no remedy for death - or birth - except to hug the spaces in between. Live loud. Live wide. Live tall." (Jim Crace)

The Answer to the Great Question of Life, the Universe and Everything... Is... Forty-two

I have, since grade school, been meaning to read Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Once, when I was home from school, sick, a very good family friend lent me his VHS (yes, I just said VHS... I was in grade school, remember?) set of the BBC mini-series adaptation, and I absolutely loved it. Then, lo and behold, Marvin the manically depressed robot was voiced by Alan Rickman in the 2005 adaptation. Could I possibly love The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy more? Yes; I could read it.

What's there to love, you ask? What isn't there to love? This book is just plain fun. It's hilariously clever and sarcastic, and I found myself, on several occasions, laughing out loud. Don't be fooled, though, it's surprisingly poignant in some places. Isn't it just a book about aliens, you ask? Not really. True, it's "science-fiction-y" enough for those of us who enjoy that sort of thing, but it's not so far "out there" that it's rigidly genre-specific and off-putting to those who claim to hate sci-fi classics the likes of Star Wars. It has to be that way, in a sense, given Arthur Dent's whirlwind introduction to intergalactic travel. To that end, the excerpts from the actual Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy are not only helpful in acclimating the reader to new planets and their inhabitants, but they are written in a fun and light-hearted manner. It's as if much of the book is written like one big inside joke between Douglas Adams and his readers, and it makes it a true delight to read. Screw the quintessential chick-books often referred to as "summer reading" and pick this up instead. Sure, you might get some strange looks on the beach, but I have a feeling you'll be much more satisfied. Hands down, a well-deserved A+.

It should be noted that The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is only one of five novels that tell the entire story of Arthur Dent's journey through space. However, why stop there when it's end so clearly sets up the next novel's beginning? I didn't! Barnes & Noble *insert shameless pitch for my place of employment here* currently offers a beautiful leather-bound book with all of them in one; I strongly suggest purchasing it. It costs less than buying all five separately! Even less if you have a membership! *insert shameless pitch for the Barnes & Noble membership program here*

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"A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools." (Douglas Adams)

All of the Advantages of Christianity and Alcohol; None of Their Defects

I love when professors just happen to assign books on this list. Not that I find reading other course books useless, but there's a nice sort of satisfaction in reading something that will "double count" for something. It makes me feel much more productive. And so, as per my syllabus, I completely dove into Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World.

I must admit that I enjoy dystopian novels, especially those that serve to point out how humanity will destroy itself if it continues down the path on which it is currently venturing. Is that morbid? Perhaps, but these books, in my opinion, are fascinating to read. However, I admit that I most likely would not have liked this particular novel as much were it not for the humanities gateway for which I am reading it. Thus far in the semester, my class has been examining the shift between the classical and modern views of the world and how the scientific revolution served as the catalyst of this drastic change. We have considered whether what we view today as "scientific progress" is really progress at all, and how all of our contemporary conceptions of reality are altered if we look at the world as a series of forms that have their own intrinsic meanings. In Brave New World, reality takes one more shift away from us, serving to exaggerate the very principles by which we are living life now. The allusions to our previous class discussions abound. Rarely have I seen a work of fiction so well employed in a class that has previously been reading philosophical works and scientific treaties.

I still, however, maintain that I would not have enjoyed this book as much without this class. Huxley's novel is surely not a literary work of art. There is nothing particularly admirable about his writing style; his sentence structure is short and clipped. Yes, this partly serves to demonstrate the barren nature of the world he has created, but is nonetheless unimaginative. His plot is interesting, but, as I suppose must be the case considering the setting, there is little to no character development. The entire plot, especially the ending, is rather abrupt. I felt as though the book should have been longer.

But despite this, Brave New World leads us to ask questions that are vital for the world in which we currently live. And for that, I give it an A.

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"It's with bad sentiments that one makes good novels." (Aldous Huxley)

People Never Notice Anything

While J.D Salinger's The Cather in the Rye is the favorite book of a few of my close friends, I myself continue to harbor mixed feelings towards this classic novel. These sentiments are consistent with many of the other novels I have taken issue with thus far in this blog. As I've said many times before about various books, I should probably re-read The Catcher in the Rye, but here is what I remember from my experience reading it three years ago.

The Catcher in the Rye was my first exposure to a novel written in the "stream-of-consciousness" style. I understand the literary merit of writing in such a style, but the thoughts of a disgruntled teenager were perhaps too disjointed for me as my first attempt reading a novel fashioned in this way. In addition, I find certain dialects confusing and tiresome to read. Such was the case with this novel and I found myself being distracted by the language used by Salinger. Apart from these personal observances, I think there is much good to be said about The Cather in the Rye. I love the character of Holden Caulfield in all his obscene and confused angst. I think it is easy for any teenager to identify with his experiences. I like that he is skeptical and judgmental of those around him. Although some may view it as a vice, I think it is important to set standards for those you wish to associate and then hold new acquaintances to those standards. Sure, Holden might complain a lot, but he's a teenager. That's what teenagers do. Throughout the course of the story Holden learns many lessons, especially one of humility. As he learns, so does the reader, and for that I give it a B.

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"I am a kind of paranoiac in reverse. I suspect people of plotting to make me happy." (J.D Salinger)

I Think I'll Be a Clown When I Get Grown

I read Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird in middle school. I loved it then and I love it even more now. One of the things that strikes me most about this novel is the narrative voice. I think it's absolutely brilliant to write about social injustice, whether based on race or class, from the perspective of a child. These prejudices seem completely nonsensical to a child who manages to see the good in everything and everyone. Through the course of the novel, the children learn life lessons from the behavior of the adults around them, but the same can be said of the adults in this novel. It's a beautiful commentary of the coexistence of good and evil and how our perspectives on life can make all the difference in the world. It's truly an inspirational classic. A+.

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"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view." (Harper Lee)

He's So Dumb He Doesn't Know He's Alive

The Great Gatsby has been hailed by most of the literary world as "the great American novel". However, when I read it my junior year of high school I didn't like it. Like Ethan Frome I appreciated the plot and themes, but the characters and setting weren't my cup of tea. I don't deny that it's a good book, it just didn't interest me that much. Unlike many of my friends, I'm not that intrigued by the roaring 20's. I think that my general dislike for the characters of Daisy and Tom tainted my views on the entire novel, and I should probably give it a second chance. I did however, enjoy the character of Gatsby and the description of his estate. Regardless, for the time being I give it a C+ and I look forward to reading Fitzgerald's other work featured on the list.

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"Genius is the ability to put into effect what is in your mind." (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

It Was a Miracle, Considering How Sick She Was

I used to love sledding as a child. Whenever it snowed, my dad and I would trek up the hill near our neighborhood pond and I would sled right down the middle of the road (we don't live in a very hilly neighborhood). I reveled in the feel of the winter wind stinging my cheeks as I rode through our development. I remember one instance in which my mom had to throw herself in front of a tree to prevent me from running into it on my sled. After I read Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome I was never able to think of sledding in the same way. I didn't really like Ethan Frome too much the first time I read it. I loved the plot: an unhappy marriage in which a husband must take care of his sickly wife, an awkward affair, and a failed suicide pact, but I think the characters and the style of writing bothered me. Ethan's inability to commit is frustrating and Mattie's ultimatums come across as selfish and bossy. Zeena is self absorbed and unwilling to recognize the unhappiness of those around her. All in all I am unsympathetic with the plights of these characters. However, I enjoyed the premise of the story. This redeems the novel somewhat, in my opinion, and earns Wharton's work a B-. Hopefully I will be more impressed with her other novels on the list.

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"There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." (Edith Wharton)

Living Fire Begets Cold, Impotent Ash

The summer reading requirement for my freshman World Cultures class in high school was Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. I don't remember much from it in terms of plot, but I do remember being absolutely captivated by this book. I love learning about other cultures and ways of life, and I recall that this was a wonderful depiction of village life of the Igbo people in Nigeria. Their customs and beliefs were central to this story, which I particularly enjoyed. Because it's one of the few summer reading books that's stuck with me, I give it an A, but I should probably read this one again!

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"Art is man's constant effort to create for himself a different order of reality from that which is given to him." (Chinua Achebe)

J'aime Bien Les Couchers de Soleil

I first read Antoine de Saint-Exupery's The Little Prince in its original form during my fourth year studying the French language. I immediately fell in love with this children's story that makes several profound observations about life despite the age range of its intended audience. The Prince's travels, at their heart, is an examination of the follies of the human condition. He comes across those who are power hungry, money obsessed, drunk, and conceited. But the true beauty of this story comes when he meets and tames a fox who tells him that "it is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye." It is a wonderful message that seems to be more important now than ever as our society continues to place importance on what is material. For its sorely needed message of the mystery of love, I give it an A.

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"A civilization is built on what is required by man, not on that which is provided for them." (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)

For the First Time In My Life, I Feel Just Right

I first read Alice Walker's The Color Purple when I was a freshman in high school. I remember being utterly depressed by the story, and bewildered that it seemed that everything horrible that could possibly happen to a person happens to the character of Celie. However, I was pleased to see the hope and redemption that is present at the story's close. When I was younger, I didn't really appreciate novels that take the form of diary entries and letters, but thinking about it now, it really was the perfect way to write Celie's story. It's almost impossible to look at the events of her story as an outsider and understand the torment she experienced; it required a first person narrative. By writing to God, Celie felt as though she could voice her true inner thoughts instead of filtering them to please others. I loved the way her images of God transformed as a result of her writing. However, as was my problem with Wise Blood, I still didn't like reading Southern dialects. In this case though, considering that the Southern culture is so central to the story, it seemed to be more appropriate and less distracting. Not one of my favorite books, but definitely well done. I give it a B.

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"Deliver me from writers who say the way they live doesn't matter. I'm not sure a bad person can write a good book. If art doesn't make us better, than what on earth is it for?" (Alice Walker)

Faith Is What Someone Knows to be True, Whether They Believe It or Not

I'd always heard of Flannery O'Connor, primarily since she is regarded as one of the great female American authors, but had never read any of her work. However, my first exposure to her writings were less than satisfactory as I read the novel Wise Blood this past Christmas break. To begin with, I've never been particularly fond of books that make use of strong southern dialects, and that is exactly the mode in which this novel operated. Some lines of dialog were practically unintelligible, and I found myself having to repeat sentences in order to grasp their meaning. To make things worse, the story line in and of itself is difficult to follow. I still can't understand why one of the characters gets himself lost in the woods and then runs away in a gorilla suit that he finds on the ground.

Regardless, I suppose there is something to be said for the examination of religion that O'Connor presents. The main character, Hazel, rallies against the religion of his youth and founds "the church without Christ", in his attempt to spread the word that no one needs Jesus for salvation. His fervor is that of an anti-Christ, but as the story progresses, he finds that even he cannot escape the grace of God. The message is there, but it took a lot of effort to work it out of a mysterious and improbable plot. I give it a D+.

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"Whenever I'm asked why Southern writers particularly have a penchant for writing about freaks, I say it is because we are still able to recognize one." (Flannery O'Connor)

Those Had Been Wonderful Times and They Never Returned

In the postings of my mini-reviews of books I have previously read, I notice that I am tending to focus on those which I like. I figured I should break up all this praise with reviews of some works of which I am not as fond. The first is The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka.

There are a few other Kafka books on this list of 1001 that I have yet to read, and I am more than willing to give this author a second chance. However, there was little in The Metamorphosis that interested me. Anyone that knows me well can attest to my deep fear of insects, and to think of waking up as a giant cockroach is repulsive to me. The story doesn’t get much better from there either. After his transformation, Gregor is shunned by his family and left to die. Fortunately for Gregor, that happens rather quickly, and his family moves on seemingly unaffected. I very well admit that there could be some hidden symbolism and social commentary, but I wouldn’t go looking for it myself. As much as it pains me to dislike a work of literature, I give it a D.

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"A book should serve as the axe for the frozen sea within us." (Franz Kafka)

All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter, Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost

Where does one begin when discussing the epic tales woven so masterfully by J.R.R Tolkien? Along with the Harry Potter series, The Lord of the Rings defined by middle school years. My friends and I were obsessed. We read the books, saw the movies together, bought the soundtracks, and had LOTR calendars gracing the walls of our rooms. I still enjoy those rare snow days during which I can watch all three of the extended version DVDs in a row. I never doubted that The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings would be on this list, and was thrilled to see that my assumptions were correct.

The Hobbit: It is hard to separate this novel from The Lord of the Rings trilogy, since it serves as a prequel. That being said, the character development of Bilbo is what is crucial here. With the encouragement of Gandalf, my personal favorite character, Bilbo finds his own inner strength and is able to lead a hapless group of thirteen dwarves to their goal. At its heart, The Hobbit demonstrates the importance of staying true to oneself. Bilbo doesn’t allow his newfound courage to change him; he remains the humble Hobbit he always was. This is juxtaposed by the wealth driven character of Thorin, whose leadership skills suffer as a result of his own selfishness and greed. For the way it sets up the Lord of the Rings, I give it an A+.

The Lord of the Rings: I have so much love for this story. Epic nature of the story itself aside, I appreciate this trilogy for all of its relationships. The familial bond between Merry and Pippin is touching, especially in the moment during which they find out they are to be separated. The relationship of the fellowship is transcendent, demonstrating quite literally that people can overcome racial prejudices and stereotypes. The sacrifice of Arwen’s immortality to be with Aragon, the one she loves, is incredibly moving. And the devotion of Sam to his greatest friend, Frodo, ends up saving Middle Earth. All readers can find something of themselves in The Lord of the Rings. It is a true story for all ages. A definite A+.

Bottom line: Anyone can save the world. You’ll never know you can’t do something unless you try.

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"Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens." (J.R.R Tolkien)