And We're Back!

Okay, so I've been reading and reading, and I'm getting way too behind with reviews that I have to write. So, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to list the books I've read thus far but haven't reviewed. Then, I'll begin reviewing again. Technically I'll be "caught up". There's just no realistic way that I'll sit down and write all of these reviews. Anyway, here we go!

34: Barchester Towers - Anthony Trollope - A
35: Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro - A
36: Anna Karinena - Leo Tolstoy - C
37: Little Women - Louisa May Alcott - A
38: The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood - B
39: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime - Mark Haddon - A
40: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twian - C
41: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - Robert Louis Stevenson - A
42: Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson - A
43: Les Miserables - Victor Hugo - A
44: The Hunchback of Notre Dame - Victor Hugo - A
45: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man - James Joyce - B
46: The Death of Ivan Ilych - Leo Tolstoy - B+
47: Tender is the Night - F. Scott Fitzgerald - A-
48: Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert - A
49: The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway - B-
50: Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll - A
51: Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There - Lewis Carroll - A
52: The Lambs of London - Peter Akroyd - A
53: The Virgin Suicides - Jeffery Eugenides - B+
54: The Invisible Man - H.G. Wells - B-
55: David Copperfield - Charles Dickens - B
56: Les Liasons Dangereuses - Choderlos Laclos - A
57: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle - A

58: The Hound of the Baskervilles - Arthur Conan Doyle - A

58 down, 943 to go!

I Have Listened To All the Sounds of the Woods For Thirty Years

I honestly cannot remember much about Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans. I read it when I was in seventh grade or so. However, I can imagine that I didn't care for it much. As a child, I was never fascinated by stories of the Native Americans or the French and Indian War. Seeing as the plot of this novel is a story during that very time period, I have decided to give it a solid B. My indifference and lack of memory here speaks for itself.

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"The Americans...are almost ignorant of the art of music, one of the most elevating, innocent and refining of human tastes, whose influence on the habits and morals of a people is the most beneficial tendency." (James Fenimore Cooper)

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)

The Cost of Oblivious Daydreaming Was Always This Moment Of Return

It is a strange business, turning well known and loved novels into films. No matter how much producers, directors, and actors may try, it has been my experience that a film adaptation of a book rarely lives up to my own imagination. True, the BBC has managed to capture some of my favorite classics adequately on film, but only in mini-series form, which takes 4 or 5 hours to view. It was completely by surprise then, that I finally discovered a situation in which I enjoy a movie more than the book it depicts. That was the film based on Ian McEwan's Atonement. It is rare that I see a book-based film without first reading its accompanying novel, but such was the case in this scenario. I was quite impressed with the film. I immediately loved the story, not only for the plot as constructed by Briony, but the way the story changes after the twist at the end. It offers a beautiful commentary on the power of literature. Although she is too late to change the past, Briony attempts to find atonement through her writing, giving those in her life that she has injured a "happily ever after". In addition to the story itself, the way the film combined cinematography with a brilliant score was stunning, and I loved the way McAvoy and Knightly crafted their characters. I found myself becoming emotionally attached to the characters, which is precisely why I love film and literature. As a result of this experience, I was looking forward to reading the novel.

Unfortunately, as with The Woman in White, McEwan's novel did not live up to the epic beauty I expected after watching the film. My preconceived notions of the characters were challenged, and I favored their on screen counterparts to the way they expressed themselves in the written word. The story itself was no less captivating, but was rather slow moving in the novel. I finished the book severely disappointed. Regardless I applaud McEwan for his imaginative commentary on literature and authorship. Judging the book itself rather than the film, I give it a B-.

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"Politics is the enemy of the imagination." (Ian McEwan)

This Is God's Curse On Slavery

For some reason or another, I thought it would be a good idea to read Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin when I was in middle school. I'm sure it had something to do with my fascination with the musical The King and I which mentions this very novel. I don't think I was quite prepared then for the thorough treatment of slavery that this novel presents. I remember finding it long winded and rather boring, as I read about a pair of slaves being sold from one plantation to another. I should probably give this book a second chance now that I'm older, but since I don't remember hating it, for the moment I'll give it a solid B.

30 down, 971 to go!

"Any mind that is capable of real sorrow is capable of good." (Harriet Beecher Stowe)

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)

Through Error You Come To the Truth

For a while now, Criminal Minds has been one of my favorite shows on television. I find watching profilers asses the mental conditions of various sadistic criminals absolutely fascinating. In essence, Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment is such an examination. My senior classmates and I had a difficult time keeping all the Russian names straight, but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. Like the ever changing mental anguish of Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter, Raskolnikov's true punishment comes from himself rather than the law. His relationships with the outside world become schizophrenic after he commits his intended murders and Raskolnikov is forced to alienate himself as a result. Being alone with one's sins can be a horrible experience and only makes Raskolnikov's self scrutiny worse. It's a wonderful study of the power of the human mind and is worth sorting out the Russian names to read. I give it a solid B+.

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"Beauty is mysterious as well as terrible. God and devil are fighting there, and the battlefield is the heart of man." (Fyodor Dostoevsky)

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)

Fear of Danger Is Ten Thousand Times More Terrifying Than Danger Itself

I love Survivor. I've been watching since the first season aired 10 years ago and can't seem to get enough. Sure, it started the reality show craze that has since been plaguing nearly every television station, but Survivor continues to set itself apart. It truly requires skill to be a contestant on Survivor and I love watching the strategies and alliances play out just as much as I love watching the tribes struggle to build shelters, find food, and sleep through monsoons. Needless to say I loved reading Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, the original survivor story. I loved reading of the adventures he has on what he begins to call "his" island. He is resourceful and determined as he builds a canoe and outwits a group of cannibals. His re-assimilation into society after being rescued is speedy and he succeeds in creating a fortune for himself. The whole of his story is an admirable one and exciting to read. I give it an A-.

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"The soul is placed in the body like a rough diamond. It must be polished or the luster of it will never appear." (Daniel Defoe)

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)

I Am No Bird; and No Net Ensnares Me

This past year I spent four months studying abroad in London. And, as one should do when they visit London, I spent an afternoon touring Westminster Abbey. Among the notable kings and queens buried there, is the infamous niche dubbed "the poets corner". It is here that Charles Dickens is buried. In addition, the corner is filled with memorials to Jane Austen, T.S Elliot and William Shakespeare as well as many other great writers. I'm not above admitting that being in such a magnificent place brought a tear to my eye. One of the most touching areas of this corner is the memorial to the three Bronte sisters. I've only read works from two of the Bronte's but I'm certainly anticipating more great things from all three of them as I continue to trudge through this list of books. The two Bronte works I have read however, are two of my favorite books of all time.

Jane Eyre: Words cannot describe how much I love this book and its characters. Jane is everything I could hope to be. She values intelligence and never gives up her beliefs, even for Mr. Rochester, the love of her life. She is not afraid to break the customs of her time; her strength and conviction is inspiring.Her personal struggles in her search for for freedom in the midst of love is beautiful. And then there's her relationship with Mr. Rochester. Their love is one filled with passion. The reader experiences the painful longing that Jane feels for him, and the agony that accompanies her discovery that Rochester is, in fact, a married man. In addition, the reader is made keenly aware of the passion Rochester has for Jane. He makes it clear at all times (except the exposition of the story, of course) that he values and loves Jane for her intelligence and spirit. Their relationship is exactly of the kind I envision for myself, an admiration of both personality and ability founded on mutual love and respect. A story worthy of an A+, hands down.

Wuthering Heights: I loved Wuthering Heights. Despite is oppressive and tragic nature, it offers one of the most interesting character studies in the person of Heathcliffe and capitalizes on my interest in the theme of revenge. Heatcliffe sets out on a mission to get revenge on those who have wronged him, and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. This story offers a beautiful examination of the dangers of obsessive love and poses a rather interesting question. The reader is left to decide if the passion of Heathcliffe and Catherine is heroic or immoral and destructive. There is a wonderful juxtaposition of nature and culture here, and the novel is definitely worth a thorough reading. I give it an A.

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"I feel monotony and death to be almost the same." (Charlotte Bronte)

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)

A Pure Hand Needs No Glove to Cover It

I first read Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter when I was in sixth grade. At the time, I certainly didn't understand the implications of Hester Prynne's crime and the way her puritan society had shunned her so brutally. Reading it much later with greater knowledge of the world, in my junior year of high school, I was able to fully appreciate the novel. It's one of my favorite works of American literature, and I'm looking forward to reading Hawthorne's other four works that are featured on this list. For some reasons, I seem to love stories that have some sort of a focus on revenge and psychological manipulation. I am completely fascinated by the mental conditions of both Chillingworth and Dimmesdale and enjoyed watching the way their relationship unfolds and becomes more and more destructive. I was disappointed that much was left unsaid about Hester's character, but I admired her strength and independence in the face of adversity. Pearl's innocent but perceptive character is truly a delight to watch. Many of my classmates failed to love this novel, but it remains one of my favorites. An A+.

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"Happiness is a butterfly which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you sit down quietly, may alight upon you." (Nathaniel Hawthorne)

Only a Man Who Has Felt Ultimate Despair Is Capable of Feeling Ultimate Bliss

I love epic adventure novels. I find it terribly exciting in reading about characters that have once in a lifetime experiences to do something truly extraordinary. Such stories usually exhibit a wonderful spectrum of human emotions and explore many different kinds of relationships. Alexandre Dumas is a master of these types of novels. I have read two of his three novels that on the 1001 book list, and I am really looking forward to reading the third. As should be expected, I've read his two best known stories, and here are my thoughts.

The Count of Monte Cristo: I absolutely adore this novel. If I were ever wronged and decided to take revenge on those that unjustly accused me of a crime, I would want to do it on the epic scale that Edmond Dantes achieved. I am always touched by the relationship that Dantes and Faria develop while in prison together. During this time, Edmond learns the importance of knowledge and patience, an understanding that will be vital in his method of revenge. His plans are expertly laid out before him, and he bides his time while befriending his very enemies in the hopes of manipulating them. I continue to be impressed by how interwoven the subplots are in this story, and this interconnectedness magnifies the sheer intelligence and brilliance of Dantes' plans. A wonderfully told adventure story and well deserving of an A+.

The Three Musketeers: This is the epitome of an adventure novel. D'Artagnan and his friends encounter an almost impossible number of dangerous sword-fighting adventures on their quest for love, glory, and the illustrious title of "musketeer". It doesn't have the same level of complexity that The Count of Monte Cristo has, but greatly enjoyable nonetheless. A solid A of a book.

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"One's work may be finished someday, but one's education never." (Alexandre Dumas)

The Voice of the Sea Is Seductive

I've always considered myself to be a sort of Anglophile. I love everything about British culture, especially its literature. So when I had to leave behind the British lit class of my sophomore year of high school and move on to American lit, I was less than thrilled. Unfortunately, the selections we studied did little to stir my passion for American authors. Kate Chopin's The Awakening was one such work. I can't exactly put my finger on why I didn't like The Awakening. I enjoyed the plot and thought the ending was fitting. I appreciated the use of the theme of music and art to demonstrate the important nature of self-expression. I am all in favor of Edna's self-empowerment, non-conformist nature, and decision to be independent. But I think the ambiguity of the story is what must have bothered me when I read it three years ago. Chopin never makes a judgement, through her text, about whether or not Edna's quest for independence and her eventual suicide was heroic or cowardly. Don't get me wrong, I think it is important for the reader to be given an opportunity to have their own opinions about the way the characters of a story act, but I don't see the point of an author writing a piece of literature without putting forward a position on the very events they themselves created. An author should by no means expect every reader to agree with their point of view, but it is difficult for a reader to make a judgement on the message of a work without knowing what that message is. Final verdict: like the message of the novel, I'm indifferent. I give it a C.

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"And moreover, to succeed, the artist must possess the courageous soul...the brave soul. The soul that dares and defies." (Kate Chopin)

Life Is Very Much More Exciting Now Than It Used to Be

Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short story The Yellow Wallpaper was required reading for my freshman literature course. I haven't read it since then, but I remember vividly my love for this story. It was twisted and bizarre and wonderful. Like The Color Purple, the first person perspective of a journal is vital in order to understand the changing mental condition of the narrator. The dramatic irony of the story is spectacularly played out. While the narrator attributes the "strange rings and things" on the walls, the barred windows, and the fixed down furniture in her room to her belief that it was previously used as a nursery, the reader slowly comes to realize that in actuality it was most likely used to restrain an insane person. How ironic that the room would come to serve the same purpose that it did in the past! The evolving pattern and smudges of the yellow wallpaper reflect the slow decline of the narrator into insanity, as she sees a trapped woman trying to escape it's repeating and menacing pattern. The changing of the woman's activity directly reflects the increased nervousness of the narrator's own psyche. Despite the tragic ending, the reader is somewhat satisfied in seeing the shock of her husband/doctor, who must admit that his methods of treatment and neglect failed miserably. This story is an excellent study of the human mental condition, and I highly recommend it. An A in my book!

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"To swallow and follow, whether old doctrine or new propaganda, is a weakness still dominating." (Charlotte Perkins Gilman)

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)

I Am a Citizen of the World

My first experience with Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White was listening to the soundtrack of its musical adaptation written by Andrew Lloyd Webber. In this way, I was able to familiarize myself with the story, and found it both mysterious and exciting. I purchased the book with the hopes that it would mirror Lloyd Webber's soaring musical, but this was not to be the case. I suppose that I ruined my reading experience by already knowing the mystery's conclusion, but I found the plot to be slow moving and somewhat dull. This is surprising since this novel has been praised as the creator of the new genre of "sensation novels". Perhaps I was thrown off by the constant changing of narrators, each offering their different perspectives on the events occurring at Limmeridge House. Maybe I ignored Collins' character development since I had already made up my mind about which characters I liked and which I didn't. Looking back on it now, I should probably read this again to see if I find it more captivating, but for the moment, I give it a C.

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"I have always maintained that the one important phenomenon presented by modern society is the enormous prosperity of fools." (Wilkie Collins)

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)