29. Vern, Jules. Journey to the Centre of the Earth. 291 pages. 3.24.09. *
Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth was nothing like I expected. I have never read any Verne before, but I thought I was familiar with some of the basic ideas of the novel. However, this "popular" knowledge was largely erroneous, and the book turned out to be more academically interesting than entertaining in a common sense.
I expected Journey to the Centre of the Earth to be a more traditional adventure story, similar in tone and style to Treasure Island. Instead, the novel reads more like a 19th-century scientific travel narrative, focusing on internal struggles and academic achievements over physical catastrophes and encounters. The details I expected - those concerned with prehistoric life existing in the center of the earth - are only briefly described towards the end of the novel. In the space of a couple chapters Verne discusses these phenomena, before returning to the description of the journey at hand. As the title itself suggests, I found that the novel is actually concerned with the journey, as opposed to what may be discovered at its end.
I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I decided to read this novel to my son as his latest bedtime story. Many of the locations, names, and scientific terms threw me for a loop, and I found myself mumbling more than once. Luckily, my son is only one and didn't know the difference.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
28. Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan. The Hound of the Baskervilles. 243 pages. 3.22.09.
The Hound of the Baskervilles was my first expedition into the world of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes, and I greatly enjoyed the experience. As I have no means of comparison, I am not sure whether the style of the novel is consistent or singular in terms of Sherlock Holmes novels and stories, but I was delighted by the narration provided by Dr. Watson. As a narrator, he was faithful and consistent, and Doyle skillfully manipulates the character to both gain the reader's confidence and sense of security, while keeping many important facts close to his chest. Holmes, on the other hand, was detestable. From his very first introduction I felt repulsed by the character. For that reason, I am glad that the narrator was Watson and not the infamous detective himself. In the end, he played a relatively minor role, and the novel itself is very enjoyable.
The Hound of the Baskervilles was my first expedition into the world of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes, and I greatly enjoyed the experience. As I have no means of comparison, I am not sure whether the style of the novel is consistent or singular in terms of Sherlock Holmes novels and stories, but I was delighted by the narration provided by Dr. Watson. As a narrator, he was faithful and consistent, and Doyle skillfully manipulates the character to both gain the reader's confidence and sense of security, while keeping many important facts close to his chest. Holmes, on the other hand, was detestable. From his very first introduction I felt repulsed by the character. For that reason, I am glad that the narrator was Watson and not the infamous detective himself. In the end, he played a relatively minor role, and the novel itself is very enjoyable.
Monday, March 16, 2009
27. Cast, P.C. and Kristin Cast. Hunted. 323 pages. 3.16.09.
I have very low standards when it comes to judging popular fiction - especially popular fiction intended for teenagers. I have always viewed the genre as a rather simple form of entertainment and try to judge it as such. Likewise, when I read young adult fiction I always keep in mind that I am actually seven to ten years beyond the intended audience. That being said, the most recent novel in the "House of Night" series is atrocious. The quality of the writing - which was not great to begin with - seemed to deteriorate as the series proceeded, and the latest installment supports this observation. Mrs. and Miss Cast seem to have very little faith in their readers, and as such write far below the typical expectations of the genre. Despite her reported intelligence (and other positive qualities), Zoey Redbird is written like a thirteen-year-old as opposed to the seventeen-year-old she is supposed to be. The text itself moves awkwardly between standard fiction and the amateur scrawling of an overly romantic and naive preteen, and the first twenty pages or so of the novel are completely useless. The language itself, which is intended to create a sense of familiarity for young readers, is already dated and out of touch, and it won't be long before it will completely fail to connect readers to the characters. While the conclusion is more satisfying than previous novels, Hunted does little more than illustrate the weaknesses obvious in previous novels, and will do little to recommend any further additions.
I have very low standards when it comes to judging popular fiction - especially popular fiction intended for teenagers. I have always viewed the genre as a rather simple form of entertainment and try to judge it as such. Likewise, when I read young adult fiction I always keep in mind that I am actually seven to ten years beyond the intended audience. That being said, the most recent novel in the "House of Night" series is atrocious. The quality of the writing - which was not great to begin with - seemed to deteriorate as the series proceeded, and the latest installment supports this observation. Mrs. and Miss Cast seem to have very little faith in their readers, and as such write far below the typical expectations of the genre. Despite her reported intelligence (and other positive qualities), Zoey Redbird is written like a thirteen-year-old as opposed to the seventeen-year-old she is supposed to be. The text itself moves awkwardly between standard fiction and the amateur scrawling of an overly romantic and naive preteen, and the first twenty pages or so of the novel are completely useless. The language itself, which is intended to create a sense of familiarity for young readers, is already dated and out of touch, and it won't be long before it will completely fail to connect readers to the characters. While the conclusion is more satisfying than previous novels, Hunted does little more than illustrate the weaknesses obvious in previous novels, and will do little to recommend any further additions.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
26. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. 189 pages. 3.12.09.
Last night I turned to an old favorite, and another "school" classic - F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. This short but poignant novel paints a beautiful but macabre portrait of a period dripping in character, scandal, and self-involvement. Entirely unforgiving, Fitzgerald is faithful to his ideas and opinions, and shows no fear in humanizing his subjects. This is a novel that I am sure I will return to again and again.
Last night I turned to an old favorite, and another "school" classic - F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. This short but poignant novel paints a beautiful but macabre portrait of a period dripping in character, scandal, and self-involvement. Entirely unforgiving, Fitzgerald is faithful to his ideas and opinions, and shows no fear in humanizing his subjects. This is a novel that I am sure I will return to again and again.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
24. Harrison, Kim. White Witch, Black Curse. 504 pages. 3.2.09.
Not as entertaining as her previous novels.
25. Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. 284 pages. 3.10.09.
As part of my reading list this year I have decided to return to some of the classics I read in grade school, and To Kill a Mockingbird was at the top of my list. At this point I'm not quite sure how I feel about the novel - I neither liked it, nor disliked it. The choice of narrator was brilliant on Lee's part, and I greatly appreciated seeing such poignant events through the eyes of children. Lee's writing style itself gives much to be admired, and is a wonderful example of a marriage between creativity and craftsmanship. However, the novel has left me with a feeling of melancholy that is keeping me from joyous praise.
My husband (who has never read the novel) insists that if we ever have a daughter he wants to name her Harper Lee. While the novel itself gave me no reason to reject the idea (as I originally thought it would), I still don't think I can agree. I recognize Lee's rightful place as a literary great, but didn't appreciate the novel enough to spend my life with her namesake.
Not as entertaining as her previous novels.
25. Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. 284 pages. 3.10.09.
As part of my reading list this year I have decided to return to some of the classics I read in grade school, and To Kill a Mockingbird was at the top of my list. At this point I'm not quite sure how I feel about the novel - I neither liked it, nor disliked it. The choice of narrator was brilliant on Lee's part, and I greatly appreciated seeing such poignant events through the eyes of children. Lee's writing style itself gives much to be admired, and is a wonderful example of a marriage between creativity and craftsmanship. However, the novel has left me with a feeling of melancholy that is keeping me from joyous praise.
My husband (who has never read the novel) insists that if we ever have a daughter he wants to name her Harper Lee. While the novel itself gave me no reason to reject the idea (as I originally thought it would), I still don't think I can agree. I recognize Lee's rightful place as a literary great, but didn't appreciate the novel enough to spend my life with her namesake.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
23. Kesey, Ken. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. 281 pages. 2.28.09. +
Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a whirlwind of eccentricity and brilliance. In a plot that is completely character-driven, Kesey skillfully manipulates stock characters to reflect on larger ideas regarding the individual and his place in society (both on the ward, and at large). The evolution of character and self - highlighted by the "reality" of life on their ward - is fascinating; Kesey attempts to prove that insanity is a product of contemporary culture, and that reality is not as fixed as those in power would have the masses believe. I am currently teaching this novel in an introductory-level English class, and it has proved to be through-provoking and inspiring - even to students who otherwise have no interest in reading novels. This is a novel everyone should read at least once.
Friday, February 27, 2009
21. Hamilton, Laruell K. Swallowing Darkness. 365 pages. 2.22.09.
22. Briggs, Patricia. Bone Crossed. 309 pages. 2.27.09.
Patricia Briggs is very consistent in her writing; the characters and events in her Mercy Thompson novels always seem to read true from one to the next. Bone Crossed clearly follows Iron Kissed, although the beginning follows so closely that I felt lost for the first few paragraphs. While the plot itself seems to be even more outlandish than expected (as much as a fantasy/horror series can seem outlandish), the latest installment will continue to entertain Mercy Thompson fans.
22. Briggs, Patricia. Bone Crossed. 309 pages. 2.27.09.
Patricia Briggs is very consistent in her writing; the characters and events in her Mercy Thompson novels always seem to read true from one to the next. Bone Crossed clearly follows Iron Kissed, although the beginning follows so closely that I felt lost for the first few paragraphs. While the plot itself seems to be even more outlandish than expected (as much as a fantasy/horror series can seem outlandish), the latest installment will continue to entertain Mercy Thompson fans.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
To Kindle, or Not to Kindle?
So, I'm pretty much hot for the new Kindle. I haven't read any reviews so I don't know how well it actually performs, but it sounds pretty fabulous. I've always thought it'd be great to throw in a bad, so I always have a book with me. And good lord, it would be so much easier to take a Kindle on vacation than the stack I usually drag around.
But ... it doesn't look like it's as cost-effective as I thought it would be. New cheesy horror book I just bought? $14.29 on the Kindle. But it's only $15.59 to buy the actual printed book on Amazon (and we all know how neurotic I am about my books). So in the end, the only advantage would be the fact that no one could tell I was reading a cheesy book, but I own up to my junky fiction addiction.
But ... it doesn't look like it's as cost-effective as I thought it would be. New cheesy horror book I just bought? $14.29 on the Kindle. But it's only $15.59 to buy the actual printed book on Amazon (and we all know how neurotic I am about my books). So in the end, the only advantage would be the fact that no one could tell I was reading a cheesy book, but I own up to my junky fiction addiction.
Friday, February 20, 2009
20. Plath, Sylvia. The Bell Jar. 244 pages. 2.20.09.
I am almost sorry to say that my reading of Sylvia Plath's novel The Bell Jar was not nearly as moving or thought-provoking as it seems to be for so many. In my opinion, The Bell Jar's Esther Greenwood is entirely unsympathetic, to the detriment of the novel. While I recognize the necessity of emphasizing her deterioration, I found her to be overly melodramatic and weak (while still recognizing her "condition"), and I loathed her from the start. While I will allow that Plath's prose is more eloquent than her poetry I failed to find evidence of the brilliance so often extolled.
I am almost sorry to say that my reading of Sylvia Plath's novel The Bell Jar was not nearly as moving or thought-provoking as it seems to be for so many. In my opinion, The Bell Jar's Esther Greenwood is entirely unsympathetic, to the detriment of the novel. While I recognize the necessity of emphasizing her deterioration, I found her to be overly melodramatic and weak (while still recognizing her "condition"), and I loathed her from the start. While I will allow that Plath's prose is more eloquent than her poetry I failed to find evidence of the brilliance so often extolled.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
19. Sebold, Alice. The Lovely Bones. 328 pages. 2.17.09.
I read The Lovely Bones for the first time when I was a sophomore in college, and rereading it all these years later has greatly altered my perception of Alice Sebold's novel. At first, I was charmed and delighted by Sebold's willingness to cover such gritty subjects as pedophilia, murder, adultery, and grief. However, now I find myself questioning her motives and techniques. Is The Lovely Bones an unflinching but sympathetic examination of suburban disasters and the bonds of family, or is it merely an exploitation of the gruesome, like an adolescent's macabre stories intended to do no more than unsettle the school counselor? Characters that seem sincere and grounded will become flat and unbelievable within the space of a few pages. Sebold transitions between the poignant and the trivial with an unsettling ease, making it difficult for me to speak to the novel's overall worth with confidence. While I am glad I read the novel - both times - I doubt I will return to it for a third (increasingly dissatisfied) examination.
I read The Lovely Bones for the first time when I was a sophomore in college, and rereading it all these years later has greatly altered my perception of Alice Sebold's novel. At first, I was charmed and delighted by Sebold's willingness to cover such gritty subjects as pedophilia, murder, adultery, and grief. However, now I find myself questioning her motives and techniques. Is The Lovely Bones an unflinching but sympathetic examination of suburban disasters and the bonds of family, or is it merely an exploitation of the gruesome, like an adolescent's macabre stories intended to do no more than unsettle the school counselor? Characters that seem sincere and grounded will become flat and unbelievable within the space of a few pages. Sebold transitions between the poignant and the trivial with an unsettling ease, making it difficult for me to speak to the novel's overall worth with confidence. While I am glad I read the novel - both times - I doubt I will return to it for a third (increasingly dissatisfied) examination.
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