Vicky’s Comments (group member since Apr 10, 2011)

Vicky’s comments from the Should have read classics group.

While visiting the bookstore on Sunday, I thought of this thread. I picked up a book and looked through it simply because I found it's cover attractive, about fifteen minutes later I saw my other half go by the same display and pick up the same book. We didn't buy it as the subject didn't strike a chord in either one of us, but I thought it was funny that the same cover would attract both of us enough to look through it.

So yes, a cover might influence me in buying a book simply because that is what attracts me first in a display. On the other hand, I've bought books whose covers made me shiver because they were so ugly but I either knew the authors or had read really good reviews. With a classic, I'll pick one edition over another mostly based on whether or not there are notes or foreword or afterword and depending on who has written them, with something that is not a classic, the cover of the edition (the format also) will have an influence. Why look at something displeasing when you could be looking at something that pleases your eyes, right?!!!

What a horrible thought, five books that's all? I'm afraid I would't survive long on that island or I would go out of my mind... Although I mostly read fiction, that's not what I'd bring with me, I would bring books that are thought provoking and to which I could go again and again without feeling like I've exhausted t hem, books for which the notions of beginnings and ends aren't really important:

The Essays of Michel De Montaigne but the complete ones, not the selected essays, so that's already 3 books right there but it's worthed, I'll go a long way with that. It instantly came to mind.

Les Fleurs du Mal, even though I know quite a few poems by heart, I never tire of it, I'd bring my old copy, the one that is full of notes made at different periods of my life and that I've had since my teenage years.

My last choice would be an illustrated dictionary of art history, I have a nice one by Larousse but I'd shop arround first to get the one that is most complete (assuming of course that I could read the futur and would know in advance I would become stranded on a desert island!)

With those 5 books I should be able to keep myself sane for a while, as long as the rescue party doesn't take too long!

Lisa wrote: "This is what I love about book groups! Someone can give you ideas on books and authors that you have never even heard of. Maybe, in the next few months, we could do a buddy read of Balzac? He se..."

I'm up for it!

Lisa wrote: "I was thinking that since the Count will take up all of the summer, how about an easy group read in July? Maybe, Animal Farm? It is in the challenge, plus it is only 90 some odd page..."

Sounds good to me!

And I would like to add Brave New World to the list above of the books I'd like to read again.

Some among the many Books that my culture is lacking of: One Hundred Years of Solitude, anything by Edith Wharton, anything by Ernest Hemingway, The Scarlet Letter, Vanity Fair, Moby-Dick or, The Whale
And others I would like to reread eventually: Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Madame Bovary, The Portrait of a Lady, The Brothers Karamazov

I've read quite a few as well (not sure of the titles in English tough): Le Père Goriot, Illusions Perdues, La Cousine Bette, Le Cousin Pons, Splendeurs et Misères des Courtisanes and Eugénie Grandet off the top of my head (there may be more...). One that I haven't read and would like to read eventually is La Peau de chagrin because it is his first successful novel but I think Lesa is right, Le Père Goriot would be an excellent introduction to Balzac, it is with Goriot that he started seeing the bigger picture of La Comedie Humaine and it is with that novel as well that he got the idea of the returning characters.

Balzac is quite easy and enjoyable to read. Although some of his novels are considered classics (saying he was a prolific writer is an understatement), he is not read that much in school in part because it is said that his works bear the trace of time, that to enjoy his novels you have to keep in mind the time at which it was written; for example Freud and psychoanalysis have greatly changed our outlook and comprehension of the human nature since it was written. I have some reservation on that but am informing you of the general opinion. On the other hand, although he is not taught much in class, he is a major figure in French Lit and anybody with an interest in French Lit is expected to have read some of Balzac. I for one would certainly enjoy a reread.

I just finished Uglies and I also enjoyed it very much. I will be reading the others. It's a light read but it's imaginative, well written and fast paced. Did I mention fun?!

Kaila wrote: "I just finished . I'm really enjoying this series, two more books to go. It's young adult dystopian set in the future."

The first one, Uglies, has been sitting on my to read shelf for a while completely forgotten. I think it's turn is coming.

I just finished Eleven Minutes, and was disappointed, I've enjoyed some of his books before but I just never managed to get into that one, I'm still trying to figure out why... Something to do with the writing style of metaphorical tales that mr Coelho is so good at, not quite fitting with the introspection needed for the main character, a prostitute, to be believable. As if his style of writing creates a distance which didn't allow me, as a reader, to care about the character, as if it always kept me at arm's length?...

Katherine wrote: "My library copy is a childrens classic copy and has only 31 chapters--the last called the Escape. Is that what the rest were?"

Yes, mine (ebook) also had 31 chapters and the last one is indeed called the escape. It looks like you're all set, hope you enjoy!

Although it has been a long time for TOTC for me as well, I also think that the Scarlett Pimpernel was more fun, and it was a lot of fun!

I finally had time to take a look at the list, great choice of books, I'm also very happy that out of 12 I have only read 2 of them, which I will of course read again.

I think I saw mentioned somewhere that one of the monthly reads each month (adult or children's) would be part of the battle of the books. I was wondering if it would be possible to know a little in advance what the monthly children's choice would be (at least for those included in this challenge and if possible for all)? As I found out for "Mr Popper's penguins" it can be a little harder for me to find the children's books since there's no English library in my neighborhood, not all children's books are available in ebook and although there's English libraries downtown as a working mom I'm afraid I can't always make it??? Please!

Those included in the challenge are listed here of course but i'd like to follow the reading order if some of those are monthly reads and apparently I might need time to order them if they aren't available in ebooks (not a problem for the adult classics they're all easily available). Thanks in advance and if it poses a problem, it's ok, I'll read what I can get. No drama.

I was it the mood for something short and fun this morning and found exactly what I was looking for. If you like short stories I recommend this one: THE LAWYER, THE GHOST AND THE CURSED CHAIR - Ruth Sims.

Such a fun little read. It's a very short story but this humorous ghost story is just what the doctor ordered when the need to have your spirits lifted arrises. It had me smiling from the first page to the last. The main character is just so ridiculous that you, as a reader, can't help but feel some empathy for him even though he represents everything we should find annoying and disagreeable in a person, it's impossible to avoid looking down on this "poor little so full of himself ridiculous rich boy". He is exquisitely painted by the author. The storyline is fast paced with no excessive details and the ending is just perfect in my point of view. It's the perfect little book to bring with you to pass the time in a waiting room at a doctor or dentist's appointment.

I'm sorry to be raining on your parade Lisa but unless you need a microscope to read your copy, it's definitely not the full version. I'm a fan of Dumas and I've got the complete works (or at least what is reputed to be his works), and am going to be rereading the count along with you although in French (of course) but my copy comes in four tomes and since it is written pretty small I'm sure yours isn't complete.

Good news is you've got plenty of time to find another copy since we're taking more than one month on this one... Sorry!

Amy wrote: I got a KOBO for Christmas and had that problem, after the WOW! stage ends you will balan..."

LOL. Marna and Amy don't worry, you're not alone! I've got a pile (2 shelves, double racked actually) of what must be about 70, 75 books to read (I don't dare count anymore), and since I got my IPad in march I've been accumulating ebooks as well... I lost count... The good news is, I'm not affraid to suffocate under the amount of accumulated books anymore since the ebooks don't take that much room which is a good thing since I didn't have any more physical room left for books (my profile picture can attest to that)... Now if I could only find the time!...

I am such a good girl ;) I actually never once in my life did that, but then again I never went searching for the christmas gifts before the actual day as a kid. I think the two are closely linked seriously, my mother always reads the end and is still unable to wait for a gift and dislikes surprises?!?!

What is there to dislike in a surprise? Same with the endings, I find the best ones are the ones that take me by surprise, the ones I couldn't predict. Besides I think there would be a lot more unfinished books in my life if I read the ending.

Lisa wrote: "Sounds like this one is a hit! What makes everyone like it so much?"

It's like an adventure novel, it's fast paced and very theatrical, those 3 things are what made it so much fun for me! It reminded me of the pleasure I had reading The Three Musketeers the first time! I don't dare say top much since some are probable not finished yet.

And Shannon those naps are so precious, a little time set aside for us mothers!

I've read about 3/4, I'm loving it and am waiting for my daughter's nap this afternoon to finish it since I'm reading this one on my IPad and, at 3 and 1/2, my daughter's monopolizing my IPad. What a fun read it is!

I also agree that life is too short and there's so many great things to read out there so why bother with something unpleasant? But I do admit that sometimes, for no good reason at all, I get stubborn and will keep on reading... I used to be unable to understand that something bad could get published and keep on reading determined to find something good in every book... Now that I'm older and wiser ;) Lol I've finally accepted that some people out there really have bad taste! ... And for all I know I might even be one of them (If I'm not worth a laugh I'm not worth much!) and frankly if that's the case I'm ok with that!

On a more serious note, some books I'm happy I struggled through, mostly classics because they're so often referred to and I know I'll never even attempt reading them again because it was almost painful (Proust being the best example I can think of).

I finished Mister Pip this morning... A beautiful, powerful and distressing poetic tale.

I believe Jane found an example and a role model in Helen Burns whose strength and quiet acceptance of her own situation made a profound impression on her at an age when one is in the midst of building their personality. And I agree that she also met some kindness, in Bessy yes, but also in Miss Temple, particularly when she cleared her in public of Mr Broklehurst's false accusations. That particular event, in my opinion symbolizes hope, symbolizes that no matter how bad things look there's always a chance that things might go the other way. I believe that public clearing of accusations is a key event in what defines Jane's character.

She is a complex character, her psychological profile well built and believable, yet full of shades and contradictions. For example she wants to be Mr Rochester's equal but she almost loses who she is in her desire to please St-John. On one hand we have a woman claiming her equality, her independence and asserting herself and on the other hand we have someone so eager to please, so pliant, so in need of approval that she is willing to set aside all that she is, needs or wants to help St-John achieve his goals. (well ok, not quite all, but close!) Those different aspects of her personality however do not make the character less believable, quite the opposite, it humanises her...