Reading Review

The Woman in White

The latest from the classics list, I read this one for free through the Kindle app.

It's an older story, set in the 1800s but it was unlike any other I have read. It's a crime novel told from the points of view of several different characters.

I feel like it was almost ahead of its time in how it was written, but the content fits to the time and it kept me guessing until the end.

The Little Prince

Another from the BBC list, I was quite looking forward to this one. It's a children's book and was a quick read. It's a nice little story of a prince who comes to Earth and passes on some of his life lessons.

I did find it sweet and amusing but I also found myself wondering how children were supposed to understand it. I think it's linked to the fact that it was written in 1945.

I'm saving it for when Isabella is older.

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

I read about this one through one of the blogs I read and bought it for my mum and me. It was another quick read and very interesting.

The book introduces a principle and is therefore less practical than I expected. However, I did like the theory. It's based around keeping things that 'spark joy' and getting rid of the rest. I would love to do this but I can't afford to replace so many things - the clothes that spark joy in me would not last until wash day.

When I'm out of debt I will be revisiting this one.

Book Review

Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame

I read this as a child but could barely remember it and as it was on the classics list, I decided to read it again anyway.

It's quite a sweet little tale full of morals. It really took me back to childhood but I'm not sure how I got to grips with that vocabulary at that age.

Winter of the World - Ken Follett

The final part of the trilogy. I was sooo looking forward to this one and it didn't disappoint. Again, it was history I have studied but brought to life in a whole new way. Fantastic! And highly recommended.

Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad

Before embarking upon my classics adventure, I had never heard of this one.

It's the story of an old sailor's former foreign adventures. It was easy reading and not too long but I can see why it's not so well known.

Atonement

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I first watched this film about six years ago and quite honestly, I didn't 'get it'. I found it quite confusing and didn't really connect with the characters.

As part of my 100 classics goal, I recently read the book. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed it. The tragic story was compelling and I connected with all the characters, even feeling sorry for Briony. Of course, I often enjoy books more than their film adaptations. It was so good, I decided to revisit the film.

And I was pleasantly surprised! Having the whole story to mind, the film is much easier to follow and more enjoyable. I still found some of the characters difficult but on the whole it was a good experience.

I don't often read the book and watch the film so close together when I make comparisons but will be doing in future. It made the film much more enjoyable as I wasn't constantly trying to remember the book to see how true to the story they stayed.

Reading Round-up

Great with Child - Beth Ann Fennelly

I picked this book up on a tip from one of my favourite bloggers who had a baby last summer and I wasn't disappointed. The book is a series of actual letters sent from the author to a friend over the course of the friend's pregnancy.

It covers a range of topics, both practical and emotional relating to pregnancy and motherhood. I really enjoyed it and will recommend it to all mothers-to-be.

The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared - Jonas Jonasson

This was top of the best sellers list here in Germany. I used the last of my Christmas vouchers to buy it and read it in German. At first, I found it very hard to get into but once I got going I couldn't put it down. 

It tells the very story described in the title and features flashbacks throughout the man's life. It reminded me a little of Forrest Gump. By the halfway point it was almost like reading two stories and both kept me on the edge of my seat. Very good read.

Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh

Back to the BBC top 100 challenge with this 'classic'. I'm afraid it also took some getting into and I only really continued past a certain point because I refuse to give up once I have started a new book. 

It's also set in the period between World War One and World War Two and focuses on the lives of some upper class characters. The story basically follows their lives over that period. It provided an insight into a very specific time and class but otherwise held very little interest for me. 

To be honest, I never really 'got' The Great Gatsby and this was like an English version of that for me.

Reading Review

Tess of the d'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy

This was the first book I read using the kindle app and I loved that. I liked this novel but it was quite different from the classics I am used to. It follows the story of Tess and her complicated marriage and life. It really shows how difficult those times were or women.

What I found different in this novel was how descriptive it was. The story or action was quite slow and not at all character driven. Sometimes it was a little too slow but it didn't wander into the realm of whole irrelevant chapters like 'Les Mis' or 'Anna Karenina'. Overall a nice read.

Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier

I'd heard of this book but knew nothing about it until I started reading. It was completely addictive. It really reminded me of Downton Abbey but with a lot more mystery. It was another interesting take on marriage. 

The narrative kept me on the edge of my seat guessing away the whole time. I'd highly recommend this novel.

A Street Cat Named Bob - James Bowen

We spotted this little gem shopping for a German book with my Christmas vouchers and didn't know it was originally English. It was up in the bestsellers here along with its newly released sequel.

It tells the story of a ginger cat named Bob and how he found and changed the life of his owner (the author). It's a fairly regular biography but had me laughing, crying, and on the edge of my seat. I'm not sure if the book would hold the same appeal for non-cat-lovers but I suspect it would. It took me three days to devour - in German. Very excited about the sequel!

Reading Round-Up

Wolf Hall -Hilary Mantel

I kind of did this one the wrong way around. I bought and read 'Bring Up the Bodies' last year when I read all the hype about it and really enjoyed the book. Maybe it's because of that but I didn't enjoy Wolf Hall quite as much. It was still good - strong characters and a big history focus which I always love. 

If you are into historical fiction, this is for you. I really recommend reading these in chronological order though.

Nicholas Nickleby -Charles Dickens

When we rearranged the bookcase lately I became truly aware of just how many Dickensian novels I have read in the last year or so. Yes, classics can take a bit more effort to get through but I never get bored with Dickensian. He writes fantastic, entertaining characters and brilliant stories which have so many strands which come together - I love it! Nicholas Nickleby is no different, I really enjoyed it for all of the above reasons. And this isn't even one of his most popular ones! I'm so looking forward to working through the rest of his work.

The Keys to the Kingdom Series - Garth Nix

This one is kind of a guilty pleasure for me in that it is written for teenagers but I started it years ago and always wanted to read the other six books. (There are seven in all, based on the days of the week.) I bought them last year and finally got around to reading them this week.

I got through these at a rate of one a day!! Yes, I'm on holiday at the moment but they are also that easy to read. Nix creates a whole new world with seven realms for the protagonist Arthur to discover and rescue. Arthur is a teenager from Earth who kind of gets dragged into this adventure - something of an underdog who is easy to identify with. That, along with the fantastical worlds, characters and creations as well as the constant action make the series seriously addictive. Highly recommended for readers of all ages.

Reading Round-up

A little update and review of some of the books I have read so far this year...

One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

This was a Christmas present and I have loved getting into some different Latin American literature this year.  I thought it would be quite heavy going since it is a classic but it is actually a much easier read than I expected, telling the story of the Buendia family over a century.  The story is interesting - at times a little crazy and unbelivable and the characters are fascinating too.  I would recommend this book to anyone who likes family sagas although it is not a particularly typical one.  Very enjoyable.

The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle

This self-help book was recommended to me by a friend who found out I had an interest in Buddhism and yoga.  At first this book really fit in to both of those other interests as almost the spiritual side of the yoga practice.  There are definitely some ideas that I will take away from this book and try to put into practice.  However, I did feel that I kind of lost touch with the message of the book as I got closer to the end.  The focus became very intangible and unclear for me.  Then again, maybe I just ploughed through the material too quickly.  Definitely one to consider - I may read it again at some point.

The One I Left Behind - Jennifer McMahon

Another Christmas present, I really enjoyed this book.  It's a murder mystery with a twist.  It jumps between the present and the protagonists (Reggie's) childhood when a serial killer was on the loose.  Reggie's mother was the final victim but the only body never found.  It was very difficult to put this one down.  Easy, interesting reading - with a good twist.  Big recommendation.

Little Women

I've had this book for a long time - so long that I couldn't entirely remember the story.  So while we were home at Christmas, I brought it back with me and devoured it this week.  (I was actually surprised to learn that I received this book as a Christmas present in 1993 when I was eight.)

Reading it again reminded me why I enjoyed it so much.  It is such a lovely story.  It's very moral and similar to other classics written around that time.  However, this one is more aimed at children and I love that.  

I think just about every little girl can identify with one of the main characters - sensible eldest sister Meg, tomboy Jo, sweet little Beth or proud Amy.  All of the characters develop throughout the story and it really made me look at myself too.

Every little girl should read this book.

The Matrix

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Just fourteen years late to the party, I finally got around to watching this film on Sunday, while Nico was working on a new computer project.

I believe I have seen at least part of this film before but I either was concentrating, got bored, or fell asleep.  This time, I managed the whole two hours plus and really enjoyed it.

The stars were great, I loved the concept and didn't even mind the overt religious connotations.  It popped up on a lot of the 'one to watch' film lists that I have browsed through and I can see why - highly recommended (if there is anyone else left out there who hasn't seen it).  I'm looking forward to the sequel.

Oliver Twist

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I picked this book up when I was stocking up on classics last year.  I really wanted to read more Dickens but they didn't have a huge range.  I wasn't particularly keen to get Oliver as I already knew the story, or so I thought.

This was the first time I have really been so surprised how different the book is to the well known version - through the film and musical.  There are so many more characters and a much more intricate story line.

I finally felt like I understood the characters and story more.  I would recommend the book to anyone who likes the story.  I'm not sure if it was a classic that is much easier to read or if I'm just getting faster after reading so many novels from the same time now.

Les Miserables

It took two months but I finally finished the doorstop that is Les Miserables.  Trouble is, it's no longer on at the cinema - guess I will have to wait for the DVD.

Actually, this novel reminded me of Anna Karenina.  There is a great story - quiet a saga and it is couched in whole chapters on boring historical episodes.  

The characters are fantastic and during the chapters which focused on them, I was engrossed.  However, the parts in between - how the sewers of Paris were built or the battle of Waterloo - I could have done without. 

I'm glad I read it but I am looking forward to some lighter reading in between.

Anna Karenina

After about four weeks (it feels a little longer) I've finally finished this epic novel.  I really wanted to read it before watching the film and I managed it!  

I've loved reading so many classics over the last year or so and this was no exception.  It was another look at 'high society' - this time in Russia.  I had already heard and totally agree that it is similar to Madame Bovary which I read last year.  

I loved the way the characters and the story developed.  I also loved that the story focused on several characters' lives instead of just one but also interlinked them all.  

What I didn't like so much were the huge sections of the story which were only focused on economics or politics, they lost me a little.  It's not that I didn't understand entirely - I took a lot of Russian history at school and university - but it's not what I want to read for fun and the book could have been a fair bit shorter for it.  The philosophical bit was okay though.

Next classical project will be Les Miserables before watching that film but in the meantime, I'm excited to see what this film version is like, roll on Friday.

Classics

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I think Nico thought I had lost the plot a little bit when I picked this old gem up in the supermarket the other day.  

When I was little, we had a whole range of Disney classics on VHS and for me, it's a big memory from my childhood.  I've talked before about the Little Mermaid and how that was the first film I ever saw at the cinema.  Well, Lady and the Tramp, or Susi und Strolch as it's known here, is another of those classics for me, along with Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin - so now you know what is next on the list Nico.  :-)

To balance our collection out a little, I did order Braveheart the other day.  Firstly, because I'm looking through old Oscar winners lists for inspiration and also to show Nico a little of the country and its history before we head there on honeymoon this summer.

Northanger Abbey

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Last week, I finished working my way through the novels of Jane Austen.  For some reason, the complete works that I bought a few years ago didn't include this little beauty.  My Dad bought me it for Christmas though (I loved the fact that the cover matched the collection but that's my OCD for you) .  Actually I really don't understand why this was considered the sixth book because I think it could be my favourite.  I couldn't put it down and so it was finished in a week.

It has all the elements of a great novel, strong characters, a complex story line and suspension throughout.  I loved her descriptions of the abbey and I loved how Catherine came across as a normal person and even a bit of a modern heroine.  Like me, she didn't even fully understand all the social complexities of the time and it was really endearing.  

Highly recommended for anyone who likes the classics.

P.S. I've now started my first German novel of the year - Tintenherz - and it may be a little longer until my next literary update...

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

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My classic for December was this lovely novel from Anne Bronte.  At first it was a little hard to get into the language again but once I got going, I really enjoyed the story.  What surprised me the most is how ahead of its time this novel was.  It's quite feminist as it wasn't a time when women really left their husbands, no matter what and it was told from different points of view which helped to break up the story too.

Of all the Bronte novels and Jane Austen novels, I think this is possibly my favourite.  Brilliant!

Journey to the Centre of the Earth

My classic book of the month for November was Jules Vernes' Journey to the Centre of the Earth.  I've never seen the film, I had no idea about the story other than the title.  The combination of the title and the era in which the book was written made me think that this could be a challenge of a book on the scale of Moby Dick but I was really pleasantly surprised.  

First of all, the book has a European connection which always improves a book in my eyes.  Secondly it wasn't overly detailed in its scientific references.  At no point was I bored or made to feel too stupid to understand.  Finally, it wasn't too fantastical.  It probably was considered it at the time it was written but I found it much more believable than some of the books I have read.  

Overall the book was really enjoyable, with likeable characters and a brilliant adventure story line.  It almost reminded me of the Lord of the Rings in parts.  A thoroughly good read.  I highly recommend this book.

Dracula

Well, I've just finished reading the latest on my classics list and it was possibly the best yet.  I managed to finish it in just a week - a record for a classic and me.  It was really well written and the language was much less taxing than some of the others I have read this year.

I have to say, despite my knowledge of Dracula and vampire mythology, I had no idea what to expect of the story itself.  I know of the kind of ideas that have built up around the idea of the Vampire but I never knew what the story itself was about.  

The story covers such a range of locations and view points that it really broke the narrative up, helping make it such a pleasure to read.  I love that Whitby plays such a huge part in the story as it is a town I love and one of the first places we took Nico to visit in England.  I also love that the story takes the reader through Europe and some German speaking places! 

I have to say that I am not big on horror stories and did spend a large proportion of the week I was reading this novel, scaring myself silly when alone but I would really recommend the book to anyone who likes a good read.

The Graduate

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At the weekend, we finally got around to watching this old classic.  I already knew the premise of the story but what really surprised me was Dustin Hoffman - he does look so much younger but I was left wondering whether he was actually twenty when he took the part and just looked older because of the style of the day or whether he played it when he was older.  I had to research it and discovered he was actually thirty at the time.  He is really quite a classic actor, one of my favourites.

I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it but it is worth the watch and one of my favourites from the classics we've seen lately.  The music is also excellent.

The Saturday Update

It's been a busy week at work again this week.  First we had the last two days of induction week for year five and then we had to get back into normal lessons.  It went quite well.  We managed to keep a trip on the schedule despite thunderstorms on Tuesday and with my regular classes, there are just two I really need to keep an eye on control wise.  As well as that we had year team meetings to plan the class trip in October, Whiteboard training and unfortunately, our first call to parents for a particular naughty pupil in our class but at least we are on top of things!  

On a personal level, it was my first week back at Weightwatchers and so far I'm feeling good.  Even though I don't entirely trust them any more, my scales at home say I have lost three pounds (and that's despite the delicious Hawaiian Chicken on Sunday) so we will see on Monday.  I only got on them to give me an extra boost to stay on track over the weekend.  I need to get back into running ready for the 10k but for the second week running, I've cycled to work every day, earning me an extra 20 WW points!

This morning I'm heading to Ikea with Loreto as we are out of DVD space now.  Apart from that we're planning on a quiet weekend.  The weather really turned this week and I'm really feeling it with the sniffles and a cold sore on the way so need to rest!  I finished Robinson Crusoe - my classic for the month and started re-reading Cloud Atlas in anticipation of the film later this year.  We've also booked our trip to the Harz in October with Dad, staying in Goslar this time - looking forward to that.

Moby Dick

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Yesterday I finally finished ploughing through Moby Dick.  I bought it when I stocked up on classics at Thalia earlier in the year in order to fulfil my target of one classic a month this year.  All I new about the story was that it was about a whale.

I'm not sure if I still want to call this book the worst that I have ever read - as an avid reader I am loath to say that about any book, especially one that someone clearly considers a classic.  However I did have some major issues with this novel.

First of all, I didn't appreciate the many scientific chapters.  I didn't need to know the ins and outs of the anatomy of a whale.  There were also chapters which were seemingly irrelevant to the story and hard to follow.  For this reason, I think there are several sections of the book I probably wouldn't recall, I caught myself having to read some pages two or three times to let it sink in.

The book may have been half as long without the unnecessary chapters but it would have been much more readable for me.  

Even though I'm against the whaling industry, the novel is a sign of its times and I'm a big fan of the character - Moby Dick even if the book wasn't entirely my thing.