I am working on finishing up the 2019 Back to the Classics Reading Challenge. Last night, I stayed up late to finish "Kenilworth" by Sir Walter Scott. It is a historical fiction novel set in the Elizabethan era involving court intrigue. I have been reading about his period of history with Meriel, so it was fun to read about some known characters. I did not know the full history of the main characters, so the ending was a surprise for me. (Hint: If you want it to be a surprise, don't search about Amy Robsart.)
I enjoyed the story of Sir Walter Raleigh and passing references to William Shakespeare. Certain descriptions of Elizabeth as proud and enjoying flattering were echoed in our history reader. Scott included some fun contemporary descriptions of celebrations and decorations for Queen Elizabeth at Kenilworth Castle.
This is my fifth Scott novel, and my least favorite so far. The only characters I really liked were not minor and did not feature as much as I would have liked. A happy union I had hoped for is only mentioned in passing. A joyful meeting of characters leading to a resolution does not happen quite in the way of his other tales. I'll leave it at that, so you can decide whether or not to read it for yourself.
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Book Review: A Town Like Alice
I really enjoyed "A Town Like Alice" by Nevile Shute (1950). I read this to fulfill the "Classic From Africa, Asia, or Oceania (includes
Australia)" category in the Back to the Classics reading challenge. The main part of the story began in Malaysia, which seemed like home since I live in the Thai-Malay Peninsula. When it moved to London or Australia, I was in a foreign land.
Books like this are how I travel, and also make me want to travel. Of course, if I went to the Outback now, it would not be like the 1940's, though it would still be huge and rugged and sparsely populated with tough people. I enjoy strong characters, and this one contained a lovely woman. She was brave, intelligent, humble, and flexible. With the help of an inheritance, she figured out what she wanted and set about achieving it.
This was a fun and easy read. I'm not sure I would have discovered it with this challenge. It was one of the few "classic" books I had access to about this part of the world.
Books like this are how I travel, and also make me want to travel. Of course, if I went to the Outback now, it would not be like the 1940's, though it would still be huge and rugged and sparsely populated with tough people. I enjoy strong characters, and this one contained a lovely woman. She was brave, intelligent, humble, and flexible. With the help of an inheritance, she figured out what she wanted and set about achieving it.
This was a fun and easy read. I'm not sure I would have discovered it with this challenge. It was one of the few "classic" books I had access to about this part of the world.
Book Review: War and Peace
Well, I did it. I read all 1,392 pages of "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy! It's a difficult book to write a review about, because it's much lauded. The story covers many characters, weaving in and out of their lives, traversing between the fighting men and those at home. It seems to give an in depth view of Russian upper class society during Napoleon's campaign against Russia and after. I didn't know much about this slice of history, and now I can say I know Tolstoy's impression.
Tolstoy doesn't just stick to a story. He includes his own theories of war and history and why people do what they do. To me, these were bumps in the narrative. I would be enjoying the story, and then Tolstoy's voice would jump in. Perhaps his views were novel and important at the time.
I haven't read any reviews about what is supposed to make this book so great. Other than its massiveness, I believe this tale tried to develop "true-to-life" characters. There are no heroes, few heroic events, tragedies drift into the past. People change - change their opinions, philosophies of life, romantic interests. The vast cast of character narrows to a handful in the end, about who the reader cares.
I read this over the year with a group of people. It was hard for me to read it on a schedule. I would read a bunch, and then wait a while before reading again. I was rarely eager to read it, though there were times I enjoyed it. It wasn't suspenseful; it was just there. A bit like daily life. So maybe that is what makes it special - we get to live a small section of life in Russia at the beginning of the 19th century.
Tolstoy doesn't just stick to a story. He includes his own theories of war and history and why people do what they do. To me, these were bumps in the narrative. I would be enjoying the story, and then Tolstoy's voice would jump in. Perhaps his views were novel and important at the time.
I haven't read any reviews about what is supposed to make this book so great. Other than its massiveness, I believe this tale tried to develop "true-to-life" characters. There are no heroes, few heroic events, tragedies drift into the past. People change - change their opinions, philosophies of life, romantic interests. The vast cast of character narrows to a handful in the end, about who the reader cares.
I read this over the year with a group of people. It was hard for me to read it on a schedule. I would read a bunch, and then wait a while before reading again. I was rarely eager to read it, though there were times I enjoyed it. It wasn't suspenseful; it was just there. A bit like daily life. So maybe that is what makes it special - we get to live a small section of life in Russia at the beginning of the 19th century.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Book Review: Three Men in a Boat
Both Philip (my husband) and I had heard good this about this 19th century comedy by Jerome K. Jerome, so he agreed to read this aloud to me. I think it was better read aloud, so we could enjoy our laughs together. There were a few times when I really did laugh out loud, though more times I just smiled or chuckled. The self-deprecating British humour is not really my style, I think. Philip appreciated it more, which made it more enjoyable for me.
The book is not really a story and most of it is not about "three men in a boat." It is a series of anecdotes that just happen to be centered around a boat trip up the Thames. Since I am currently studying two periods of British history with various children, I appreciated many references to places and historical events. These were the times I giggled or exclaimed with interested when Philip was silent. If nothing else, homeschooling is giving me a deeper appreciation for British literature.
This book has been listed as a travelogue, and in a way it is, but I believe the purpose for which it was written was as a comedy. It fit the bill well enough for me to agree. There are other purported comedies I read that did not seem funny enough to qualify for this category. I'm glad to have found one to tickle my funny bone, at least a bit.
The book is not really a story and most of it is not about "three men in a boat." It is a series of anecdotes that just happen to be centered around a boat trip up the Thames. Since I am currently studying two periods of British history with various children, I appreciated many references to places and historical events. These were the times I giggled or exclaimed with interested when Philip was silent. If nothing else, homeschooling is giving me a deeper appreciation for British literature.
This book has been listed as a travelogue, and in a way it is, but I believe the purpose for which it was written was as a comedy. It fit the bill well enough for me to agree. There are other purported comedies I read that did not seem funny enough to qualify for this category. I'm glad to have found one to tickle my funny bone, at least a bit.
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Book Review: The Shuttle
The Secret Garden is one of my favorite children's books, and I have enjoyed a couple of others by Frances Hodgson Burnett, but until recently I did not realize she had written any adult novels. I decided to try The Shuttle to see how if she captivates a mature audience as readily as the young (and young at heart). Written in 1906, this qualifies as a classic by a female author for Back to the Classics Challenge. After a rather slow start in which the analogy of a shuttle weaving between North America and England failed to engage me, I found myself engrossed by the protagonist within several chapters.
It is set during a time of history I hadn't know much about: when young American women married European men for their titles and impoverished European nobles married the American for their money. The main ladies in the story are Vanderpoels, the similarity to Vanderbilt is not an accident I presume. While the extravagantly wealthy can often become tiresome, Betty Vanderpoel managed to keep my interest. I identified with her dynamic and compelling personality. She planned and put her plans into action; nothing stood in her way because she had the intelligence and the finances to do them. Near the end, I did weary of her seeming infallibility, but then I regretted her one mistake.
This book has some of the charm of Burnett's children's books in her descriptions of the English country side and in a couple of characters. I enjoyed the English village vicar and the American typewriter salesman. However, particularly heinous character of the villain with a plot centered on deception and romance makes this solidly an adult novel.
I learn much of history from fiction books, and this provided a few good insights. I got more of the idea of the English village and how much the peasantry relied on the nobles and how the nobility were restricted by their societal standing. I've read many books that focused on the upper class English (Jane Austen) or the poor English (Charles Dickens), but not many that give insight on the intersection between the two. Shortly after finishing this book, I came across a non-fiction account of American heiresses and British lords, but I decided I had enough for now and would rather learn more about those who managed to visit Europe while making ten dollars a week.
Regardless to a person's opinion of The Secret Garden, The Shuttle is an entertaining book in its own right. I learned a something, met some lovely characters, and was satisfied with ending - overall a book worth reading.
It is set during a time of history I hadn't know much about: when young American women married European men for their titles and impoverished European nobles married the American for their money. The main ladies in the story are Vanderpoels, the similarity to Vanderbilt is not an accident I presume. While the extravagantly wealthy can often become tiresome, Betty Vanderpoel managed to keep my interest. I identified with her dynamic and compelling personality. She planned and put her plans into action; nothing stood in her way because she had the intelligence and the finances to do them. Near the end, I did weary of her seeming infallibility, but then I regretted her one mistake.
This book has some of the charm of Burnett's children's books in her descriptions of the English country side and in a couple of characters. I enjoyed the English village vicar and the American typewriter salesman. However, particularly heinous character of the villain with a plot centered on deception and romance makes this solidly an adult novel.
I learn much of history from fiction books, and this provided a few good insights. I got more of the idea of the English village and how much the peasantry relied on the nobles and how the nobility were restricted by their societal standing. I've read many books that focused on the upper class English (Jane Austen) or the poor English (Charles Dickens), but not many that give insight on the intersection between the two. Shortly after finishing this book, I came across a non-fiction account of American heiresses and British lords, but I decided I had enough for now and would rather learn more about those who managed to visit Europe while making ten dollars a week.
Regardless to a person's opinion of The Secret Garden, The Shuttle is an entertaining book in its own right. I learned a something, met some lovely characters, and was satisfied with ending - overall a book worth reading.
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Book Review: Rob Roy
I'm catching up on my book reviews for the Back to the Classics Challenge. I've read multiple 19th century classics this year. I am participating in an online reading group for Sir Walter Scott's novels. I am abashed to admit that before December of last year, I had never read one of his books. I am making up for that this year. Starting with Waverly, I have continued by reading Rob Roy, Ivanhoe, The Talisman, and currently Kenilworth. I'm not sure if Waverly or Rob Roy is my favorite so far, but since the former was read in a previous year and doesn't count for this challenge, I will write a review on the latter.
As many of Scott's book, Rob Roy begins with detailing the background and history of the chief characters before diving into the plot. I have come to appreciate this style more, as I realize how much I know about and care about each principal character before the story truly begins. For this particular tale, I was nearly a quarter of the way through the book before I was sure who the eponymous character was. (Hint: it is not the protagonist; that would be Francis Osbaldistone.)
The book has everything a romance novel should: a lady, an unlikely hero, fighting, intrigue, and a champion of dubious integrity. The Scottish dialect made a few sections of the book confusing, but usually the import of the conversation would become clear with continued reading. It was actually fun for me to try to figure out if I could understand what was being said before Francis Osbaldistone did. The plot was wrapped up rather quickly. After spending so much time drawing us into the lives of the characters, I would have appreciated a few chapters at the end to allow us to enjoy their fates.
Since I have gotten asked 4 times, "What's for snack?" I better wrap this up. Now I am caught up on the reviews for now, and can read guilt-free.
As many of Scott's book, Rob Roy begins with detailing the background and history of the chief characters before diving into the plot. I have come to appreciate this style more, as I realize how much I know about and care about each principal character before the story truly begins. For this particular tale, I was nearly a quarter of the way through the book before I was sure who the eponymous character was. (Hint: it is not the protagonist; that would be Francis Osbaldistone.)
The book has everything a romance novel should: a lady, an unlikely hero, fighting, intrigue, and a champion of dubious integrity. The Scottish dialect made a few sections of the book confusing, but usually the import of the conversation would become clear with continued reading. It was actually fun for me to try to figure out if I could understand what was being said before Francis Osbaldistone did. The plot was wrapped up rather quickly. After spending so much time drawing us into the lives of the characters, I would have appreciated a few chapters at the end to allow us to enjoy their fates.
Since I have gotten asked 4 times, "What's for snack?" I better wrap this up. Now I am caught up on the reviews for now, and can read guilt-free.
Book Review: Lady Susan
I admit that I am a fan of Jane Austen but somehow had never read her epistolary novella, Lady Susan. Written in 1871 with only 180 pages, this books qualifies for the "novella" category in my Back to the Classics Challenge. Lady Susan is as unprincipled of a character as I've ever met. Vain, avaricious, and cunning, she will balk at nothing to get what she wants. Although, I didn't feel as attached to the characters as in Austen's longer novels, I did find myself caring about what was going to happen to Lady Susan's various "victims" and hoping that virtue would win out.
Trying to write a story purely through letters and notes is a challenge. In Austen's day, letter writing was a common form of communication, so these letters don't feel like they're stretching too much to tell the story. Even Austen, however, couldn't quite figure out how to wrap everything up in this fashion and attached an epilogue to let us know how everyone fares in the end.
This story lacks the laugh out loud moments, I deeply prize in Austen's other works. It is not so poignant nor witty. From her other books, I know that Austen must have carefully studied human character and interactions. She portrays the character of Lady Susan amazingly well, giving us insights into her motives and her lack of remorse. Though it's certainly not a favorite of mine, I believe any Austen fan would enjoy a few evenings reading Lady Susan.
Trying to write a story purely through letters and notes is a challenge. In Austen's day, letter writing was a common form of communication, so these letters don't feel like they're stretching too much to tell the story. Even Austen, however, couldn't quite figure out how to wrap everything up in this fashion and attached an epilogue to let us know how everyone fares in the end.
This story lacks the laugh out loud moments, I deeply prize in Austen's other works. It is not so poignant nor witty. From her other books, I know that Austen must have carefully studied human character and interactions. She portrays the character of Lady Susan amazingly well, giving us insights into her motives and her lack of remorse. Though it's certainly not a favorite of mine, I believe any Austen fan would enjoy a few evenings reading Lady Susan.
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