Treasure Island

I finished two books recently- Treasure Island and Sense and Sensibility. I can only add one to my list though (Sense and Sensibility was for fun). 

Well, Treasure Island is what I describe a "boy book."  Full of pirates and fighting and treasure.  It was a fun novel, but somewhat hard to follow since there was so much ship talk.  You almost need to know a little about boats to follow.  It started out good but sort of came to a hasty conclusion, in my opinion.  Bonus- at least I know where the name Long John Silver comes from!

Sense and Sensibility was awesome.  A definite "girl book".  It was almost as good as Pride and Prejudice.  Nicely developed characters and story line.  Jane Austen had definitely grown on me.  I also love the movie.

I'm reading Bleak House now.  It was slow to start, but I'm definitely warming up to it now.

Have you noticed I'm just reading from the BBC list now?  It's because I can download a lot of the classics for free to my Kindle.  I've got quite a few on my Kindle now, so I'll be tackling those before I go back to the Time's List (which I'll have to request from the library).  

Oh Mr. Darcy . . .

I can absolutely see your appeal.  I finished Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and can say, with absolute certainty, that it is my favorite Jane Austen book.  I can't even answer why it is so appealing, but I could not put it down and I even know how it ends.  Mr. Darcy is not even that likable of a character for the first 2/3 of the book, but you root for him anyway!  That, my friends, is a good author.  I was impressed- Ms. Austen has won me over.  So much so that I'm reading Sense and Sensibility right now- you know, just for fun.

Black Beauty and Others

I realize it's been awhile since I've posted anything about what I've read.  I'm really trying to keep the t.v. off during the day and there's not much else I can do when we are both downstairs together.  She's in that stage where she moves really fast and still likes to put everything in her mouth, so I don't dare try to sew or clean when she's awake and at play!  Not much left to do except read.  But that's not a bad thing!

I finished Emma by Jane Austen.  This book was the easiest to read of Jane Austen's work for me (so far).  Since I knew the movie so well it probably helped me to keep the characters straight, which, you know, is kind of important when you read.  Overall, I really did enjoy this book.  I liked the characters and I understood what was going on.  I have never read Pride and Prejudice (gasp), so I'm reading that now.  I'm finding that it is also easier to read and understand.  I don't know if it's because I know the story so well or am getting used to Austen's style.

I also read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  Super easy read.  I didn't think the story was very well developed but it was certainly enjoyable.  I guess that's it on that one.

My favorite recently has been Black Beauty by Anna Sewell.  Wow, that is a beautiful book to read!  If there are any animal lovers (especially horse lovers) out there, you MUST read this book.  It's told from the horse's perspective.  A reoccurring theme (for the humans) was to stand up to injustice.  Stand up for those who don't have a voice.  Much easier said than done, I know. Besides that, it emphasized how kindness and gentleness were the best ways to treat horses.  I've never trained horses, but I can imagine that is very true and extends to other animals.  I was so afraid it would have a bad ending, but it doesn't.  Thank goodness.  Anyway, it's a fabulous, easy read.   

That's it so far!

Little Women

I loved, loved, loved this book!  I mean, seriously, how did I not read this when I was little?!  It's incredibly sweet, charming and full of wisdom.  Yes, it's a little too sweet at times- did anybody else feel an urge to slap one or more of the characters at some point for being too good?!  No, just me. 

Sigh . . . I always wanted a "Laurie" in my life.

Seriously, it's a great book and full of great pieces of wisdom which are still relevant today.  This is a book I look forward to reading to Coraline or having her read when she can.

I've already put the movie Little Women on my Netflix queue- the one with Christian Bale, because he's the perfect Laurie and I think he's super cute.  And, yes, I know I'm 30.

The Woman in White

I finished two novels on the BBC list- The Woman in White and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.  Both were really good reads. 

I especially liked The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins.  It was written in 1859.  I was nervous that it would be a long, cumbersome read but it was anything but.  The novel is divided up into different sections and penned by different characters.  It's actually considered one of the first mystery novels.  Naturally, I loved it.

I loved the female character of Marian who was depicted as strong, competent (but plain) woman.  I really disliked the character of Laura who was weak, stupid and beautiful.  Of course, Laura got all the boys. 

Both were fun reads.  I would recommend both!

Reading shall commence once again

Grant got me a Kindle for Christmas this year.  I did not ask for it- he came up with the idea all by himself.  After scoffing about the whole idea of it for a year I am here to publicly eat my words!  I thought the whole thing was ridiculous- really, you can't just read a book.   Well, yes, you can most definitely read a book, but believe it or not the Kindle makes it so much easier to read a book! 

I can't read a book and watch Coraline at the same time.  There is something about holding the book and turning pages that I can't do while on the ground playing or while nursing her.  But the Kindle is flat, so I literally just have to use one hand (or none, just a finger) to read.  The difference it makes is amazing.  It has previously taken me weeks to finish a book (with Coraline here), but now I can finish them in no time (I've read 4 books in the span of 1.5 weeks).

Awesome. 

I think I can work on my Time's and BBC list again.  

If you ever thought about getting one (but just thought it was ridiculous), I can wholeheartedly recommend it!

Call It Sleep by Henry Roth

The name just about sums up the book. I found this book terribly boring and long. I listened to it on tape (I couldn't have read that thing if you paid me), so it was 15 min. here and 15 min. there, which made for a long listen.

This is a book about a recent immigration of a Jewish family to America in the early part of the twentieth century. The problem with this novel was not the story line, but the fact that I disliked every single main character. The main character, David, a 6 year old boy was whiny and such a momma's boy that it made me sick. The father was cruel and abusive. The mother aided in David's "babyness" and coddled him way too much. Yuck. How can you like a book when you dislike every character?

This was just not interesting to me at all. At all. So glad it's done.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

I listened to this book by Ken Kesey on tape. Boy, was it hard to follow- there are so many characters that I forgot who was speaking at times. This was most definitely not my favorite novel. I found it rather boring and long. Full of men and their antics. Not a read one would just pick up for enjoyment! But at least I can cross it off my list.

I think I am going to watch the oscar-winning movie though- if anything, to help remind me what I've been listening to for the past two weeks!

Have you read this book? What did you think?

Rebecca

Just finished the book Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier. One of BBC's top picks. It was a good book.

I thought it would be a lot scarier than it was (probably because Alfred Hitchcock directed the Oscar winning movie) and the line on the cover says "unsurpassed . . . romantic suspense." However, the last chapters were the most suspenseful- and it takes you awhile to get there. I also thought it would be a lot wordier than it was since it was written in the late 30's- thankfully, it was not.

And as usual, I fell in love more with the house than with the characters of the book. I'm a sucker for an old English manor!

It is an easy read, although a little long. I was able to get through all of it during sporadic quiet times at work.

The movie is on my Netflix queue.

The Lovely Bones

I had some spare time at work this week (can you tell), so I was able to catch up on some reading. I ran out of books from the Times and BBC's list, so I went to my own personal stash at home and wouldn't you know, there was a book that I had been wanting to read (and was about to request from the library) sitting on my own shelf- The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Ironically, I bought this book at a garage sale before the movie had come out.

It was such a fast, easy read. Not as upsetting as I thought it would be (judging from the movie previews and the back of the book.) It was touching and sweet in its own way. Basically, a story about a murder and heaven. The way that lives change. The way people cope with death. The way life keeps on unfolding.

Highly recommend this book if you want a fast, easy read. And I didn't even shed a tear- although I was close when Holiday, the dog, joins Susie in heaven. I can't help it, I'm a sucker for animals.

Birdsong

Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks was an interesting read. One of BBC's top picks, it seams clear to me why it made the list.

It is one of the best novels I've ever read that deals with war, in this case WWI. It's heart wrenching to see what these men went through and how they had to deal with loss of life. It's so easy to see why there is post-traumatic stress with soldiers after war. How war changes the lives they lead and the way they interact with people after war. It made me hate war even more than I do now.

The novel also deals with love (and is very passionate in the beginning). A sordid tale of an affair and an illegitimate daughter. It's not particularly happy, but then again, not every affair is.

It's a good read, albeit a long one. Not bad Mr. Faulks, not bad at all.

Real Food for Mother and Baby

Here is another excellent book by Nina Planck. I wrote about another one of her books last year- Real Food What to Eat and Why. It was so inspirational that I pre-ordered her Real Food for Mother and Baby before I was even pregnant.

Again, she did not disappoint. It definitely echos the sentiments in her first book, but focuses on what do eat for fertility, pregnancy, nursing and babies first foods.

I love how she breaks down the three trimesters into very simple categories: first trimester- vitamins and minerals (this is where baby is forming all those body parts); second trimester- calcium and protein (this is where baby is building bone and muscle); third trimester- good fats, especially fat from fish (this is where baby's brain is being developed and her fat stores are being built up).

What does this boil down too? Lots of milk, dairy, meats, and eggs for me this trimester. And lots of fish for the next trimester.

It's basic, common sense guidelines- eat what your ancestors ate.

Highly recommend this book and her other book. Life-changing stuff it is.

Brideshead Revisited

I am still wondering why this novel by Evelyn Waugh made it to both lists. It was just okay in my opinion. It had a nostalgic feel to it. It left me with questions. I was a little sad (more about the Marchmain house than the characters themselves). I don't know-- it was just okay.

It wasn't a fast read, but it wasn't too difficult. I honestly don't have much more to say on the subject.

I am going to watch the movie that was recently made. I'm hoping that the movie will be better than the book.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Oh my gosh. I loved this book. I'm kind've embarrassed that I had not read it up to this point, but I never had to read it in school and what kid reads classics in their free time? Anyway, it was fabulous.

I loved the lessons to be learned throughout. So many applicable life lessons for kids, for parents, for people in general. I love the title (it's a sin to to kill a bird whose only reason for being on the earth is too sing). I just loved it.

If you have never read this book- you should. There's a reason it's ranked so high on the BBC's list and made it to the Time's list.

Silas Marner by George Eliot

Oh my. I loved this book. I mistakenly picked it up thinking it was on the BBC's list, but it was not. I decided to read it anyway (since I had it) and it was a short read.

It is the sweetest book. It's about a weaver losing everything he had only to be transformed by the power of a little golden-haired orphan girl. It's a story about redemptive love and the just/unjust getting what they deserved. It was written in 1861, so at first I didn't have high hopes that I would enjoy it. But, wow, I couldn't put it down.

I definitely would recommend this to anyone. It's short (183 pages) and is pretty easy to follow.

Interesting note: George Eliot is the pen name for Mary Anne Evans (It makes sense that a woman would have written this story)!

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Well, it wasn't my favorite book. Her writing style takes a little getting used to. It took me awhile to be able to differentiate between the characters and to be able to remember their histories. So admittedly, I was lost during parts of the books.

However, it was nice to read a book with a good ending. Finally.

I look forward to reading some more of her work. Maybe, by then I'll be used to the writing style.

Light in August by William Faulkner

I was drawn to this novel because of its title. I am an August baby, so naturally, I assumed this book would be a good one! Well, it was good, but I have yet to figure out how the title fits the novel and even Wikipedia didn't have a great answer (his wife suggested the title).

Well, it's a book about racial tension/isolation in the South. It also has many blatant Christian themes throughout (which I did not pick up on while reading), the most obvious being Joe Christmas (J.C.) I'm not in school anymore, so I'm not going to beat myself over the head for missing important themes. I'm just reading for pleasure and then checking out Wikipedia for any details that I missed.

I like the novel's characters and how they are intertwined in each other's stories. I wish Faulkner would have given some more pages to the female character, Lena. She was the most interesting to me.

Overall, it was a good book and pretty easy to read. It's a long one though at 500+ pages.

The Corrections

What a LONG book. I thought it had potential since it was one of Oprah's Book Club picks. Sadly, this novel was just awful (in my opinion). It was boring. It was depressing. It had a lot of bathroom talk (I'm talking literal bathroom talk). It did open my eyes to the struggles of living with someone with Parkinson's disease, but other than that there was not much I could appreciate.

I finished it because I wanted to cross it off my list. But I would not recommend this to anyone.

Update

Just in case you were wondering-- I have NOT given up on my book challenge. In fact, I'm reading two books right now. One is incredibly huge and incredibly boring, but I'm almost finished with it, so I might as well persevere. And I just started a second book, Persuasion, by Jane Austen. So far it is a good read.

I'm also quilting. Trying to get a good stock up for the craft show in November. I also need to start focusing on my card and paper crafts (I'll be selling those at the craft fair too). So much to do!!

I'm dancing again. I've cut it back to two nights a week this year. So far, so good. I need some SYTYCD inspiration though (which will start getting good in the next couple of weeks). Woo-hoo!

That's all the major things going on right now. Okay, back to work now.

Anne of Green Gables

I adored this book. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series when time permits. It's so sweet and inspiring. And a trip to Prince Edward Island seems like a great place to vacation!

The "Anne" series was one of my favorite movies as a child. I can't even imagine how many times we watched those movies. I think the movie did a great job depicting the book, so I've no complaints there.

This is most definitely a series I want my children (probably girls) to read and watch. Love it.