Where is your bookmark?

[Andrew✌️]

Yesterday I've finished Neverwhere, a fantastic story by Neil Gaiman and now I'm reading Prince of Thorns for a group here on goodreads. I also started The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales

[Malcolm]

Allie wrote: "Found out the reason was for "the apparent switch in genres from a political view in the beginning chapters to a domestic one in the later chapters". Anyway, I'm just glad there's a new fan of Mary around :) ..."

You're probably right about which angle some critics chose to take. But almost from the start it has had a strong hint of romance even if it is a love unrequited with regard to Jem Wilson's love for Mary. This appears to come to a head in Chapter 7 Jem Wilson's Repulse, when Mary makes it clear that she is not interested in Jem the same way he is interested in her.

I see most of the first 10 chapters as scene setting and Gaskell has left little doubt about the domestic conditions of the central character of her romance.

I understand poor Mary is sought after by the son of a wealthy mill owner, so I assume the early part of the novel depicting the abject poverty of John Barton's fellow factory workers living conditions while on hard times serves as some sort of binary opposition to the comfortable lifestyle of the Carsons.

To me, it sounds as if the critics you allude to are a tad over-critical.

I'm preferring to read the novel first, then have a good laugh at the critics later ;o)

However, one could easily be forgiven in thinking the romantic novel Mary Barton was written with much insight, sympathy and wit by Mrs Friedrich Engels rather than Mrs Elizabeth Gaskell, however, John Barton's political views is part of his character. They are noted, but they do not dominate the early chapters and does not make me think that the novel is primarily political or heavily political. The reader has to have an understanding of the characters and where they are coming from.

Also, in the early part, Mary is only a kid, her life is hard but relatively dull. Although her childhood and back story is detailed it is covered quickly and gets interesting only when Henry Carson makes an appearance in her life.

Before that, there's not one mention of a kiss or hint of sex concerning Mary, because she is an innocent kid.

Sex is implied with the absent Esther, and later we discover that she had become a prostitute.

There are hints that John Barton does not want Mary going down that route by getting factory work, as it appears to be the start of the slippery slope into prostitution.

The lack of obvious romance in the early stages of Mary Barton, to show the reader that she is not a saucy flirt, or girl of loose morals

I suppose, back then even some critics preferred only romance and sex on every page regardless of the political situation which drove the female characters to loosen their morals in the first place :o)

[Allison]

Whew! That's some post :)

Your "preferring to read the novel first and laugh at the critics later" haha, love it.

[Andrew✌️]

After finished Prince of Thorns, now I'm reading Life of Pi. After so much words about it, I was curious to read it.

[Jurgen]

I'm reading the 1960 novel Butcher's Crossing by John Williams.

[Marie-pier]

Just reading The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn...I'm Canadian so I never read it in school

[Karena]

Reading The Valley of Amazement and The Gift of the Magi

[Lea Ann]

I teach 6th grade, so right now I'm reading a book off of my school bookshelf called Circle of Secrets. I read a lot of middle school stuff so I can share it with my students. I am, however, about to start teaching A Christmas Carol to my reading class. We tackle it each year - kind of a rite of passage for my class.

[Andrew✌️]

Now, I'm reading The Scarlet Letter, taken from the library. It's smoother than I thought.

[Pam]

Reading CITY OF LIGHT. It is a novel about Buffalo in the 1900's and the effect the harnssing of electric power from the Niagara Strait had on the community, the workers, etc. It is extremely interesting. The author threw in a murder to make it even more interesting.

[Maricarmen]

I'm almost done with The Man in the Iron Mask, and kind of going slowly as not trying to finish, lol!... I've been reading the whole series of the D'Artagnan Romances, and I love these characters, don't want it to end! I wish a great movie or series would be made, but based on this great story, not the awful versions out there that have nothing to do with these remarkable books

[Maricarmen]

I'm also reading our book of the month The Bell Jar, and enjoying it a great deal so far. I had never read Sylvia Plath before, and I love the fact that I've read several new authors (for me) with this group and there have been some nice surprises.

[Allison]

Finished The Bell Jar. Not many people seem to be reading our December book, there's hardly any posts about it. Moved onto some nonfiction with The Conquering Family book one in a 4 part history of the Plantagenets.

[Andrew✌️]

Maricarmen wrote: "I'm almost done with The Man in the Iron Mask, and kind of going slowly as not trying to finish, lol!... I've been reading the whole series of the D'Artagnan Romances, and I love these characters, ..."

I remember with pleasure the first book of this series. Unfortunately, I watched the movie of "The Man in the Iron Mask", but I haven't yet read the book.

[Maricarmen]

Andrew wrote: "I remember with pleasure the first book of this series. Unfortunately, I watched the movie of "The Man in the Iron Mask", but I haven't yet read the book.."

The book is very different from the movie, so you didn't miss anything and you haven't seen any spoilers.

[Lea Ann]

Reading a not so classic - Salvaged Love - a book that weaves the history of Key West, Florida into a historical romance.

[Lea Ann]

I'm 60 pages into Love in the Time of Cholera.

[Andrew✌️]

After finished The Princess Bride, now I'm reading And Then There Were None, a good Mystery, easy to read and never boring. In a word, a classical!

[Karena]

Lea wrote: "I'm 60 pages into Love in the Time of Cholera."

How are you liking it, Lea? It's on my TBR list for next year.

[Colleen]

Karena wrote: "Lea wrote: "I'm 60 pages into Love in the Time of Cholera."

How are you liking it, Lea? It's on my TBR list for next year."

Mine too.

[Allison]

Lea wrote: "I'm 60 pages into Love in the Time of Cholera."

I read this a few years back because Ted from How I Met Your Mother was obsessed with it lol. I ended up being severely disappointed.

[Lorna]

Im reading the final installment of Philip Pullman's dark materials:The Amber Spyglass .
I have just started it and have no idea what to expect yet,but I loved the first two so we will see....!

[Andrew✌️]

I finished yesterday And Then There Were None,and now I'm reading The Shadow of the Wind, a wonderful book, full of mystery and drama with a bit of suspance

[Jurgen]

I'm reading the second book in the "Heaven and Hell"-series by the Icelandic author Jón Kalman Stefánsson: The Sorrow of Angels. Real beautiful novels.

[Andrew✌️]

I'm reading for a group The Graveyard Book, till now a wonderful book, in part for younger, but written with a style not always for younger.

[Lea Ann]

Allie wrote: "Lea wrote: "I'm 60 pages into Love in the Time of Cholera."

I read this a few years back because Ted from How I Met Your Mother was obsessed with it lol. I ended up being severely disa..."

Oh! Don't tell me that! Interesting reason to read a book. lol

[Lea Ann]

Karena wrote: "Lea wrote: "I'm 60 pages into Love in the Time of Cholera."

How are you liking it, Lea? It's on my TBR list for next year."

So far, so good. The author is extremely descriptive so the story seems to progress slowly. I'm 100 pages in now. Hoping to have most of the day tomorrow to read.

[GW]

Travis of NNY wrote: "I never read apocalyptic books but I did and highly recommend Swan Song"

Your the second person to suggest this book. I bought a copy of it and sat it on the shelf for ten years. So please tell me why I should read this book.

[GW]

I just finished The Kestrel and liked it because it had some sense of history being made interwoven into the fantasy. But, right now I'm reading The Inner Game of Tennis I've found it just ok. I've wanted improvement in the preforming arts for years and I thought this book might help. I played tennis in high school and could have helped my playing abilities if I had read it then. But, I'm stuck in the what if's and overwhelmed by my self 1 on this subject. I'm 60 pages in and still can't get to my inner voice. It seems to be a psychology self improvement book.

[GW]

Travis of NNY wrote: "Gulliver's Travels so far from what I remember 25 years ago having watched it many times as a kid the movie was better"

I differ with your comparison of movie and book. I could just sit and read the novel for hours, but I was irked by the movies. The book itself opened avenues of thoughts about political science and philosophy. I was inspired to read other books after reading it and a movie has never opened further discussion at all.

[Colleen]

OK, inspired by the above posts and knew the book has sat on my shelf too long have now started Love in the Time of Cholera. Perfect timing as have nothing else to read pending and this is a book that will take time.

[Travis]

Gary wrote: "Travis of NNY wrote: "I never read apocalyptic books but I did and highly recommend Swan Song"

Your the second person to suggest this book. I bought a copy of it and sat it on the sh..."

For me I have found I just generally like the writing of Robert McCammon for one thing. I have read more of his books since and liked them. I liked the whole idea of the survivors separating into mini armies. It still does kind of a good vs evil thing but in some ways you could see people really splitting ways and going against each other. There is also some action thrown into the mix especially toward the end. There are a couple ways it is similar to the Stand, but many more differences. Definitely more action than The Stand and moves at a faster pace. I just enjoyed this book basically the whole way through from what I recall.

[Andrew✌️]

I' ve finished yesterday The Graveyard Book, a good book, with funny characters. I started Rabbit, Run, a more complex novel, written in a way a little bit heavy, not so easy to understand or to read.

[Lea Ann]

Colleen wrote: "OK, inspired by the above posts and knew the book has sat on my shelf too long have now started Love in the Time of Cholera. Perfect timing as have nothing else to read pending and this..."

Just finished it yesterday. Interested to know what you think.

[Lea Ann]

Allie wrote: "Lea wrote: "I'm 60 pages into Love in the Time of Cholera."

I read this a few years back because Ted from How I Met Your Mother was obsessed with it lol. I ended up being severely disa..."

I was disappointed too. :(

[Lea Ann]

I've just started A Tale of Two Cities.

[Roderick]

Lea wrote: "I've just started A Tale of Two Cities."

Hi Lea, a tough read, but worth the effort in my opinion...

[Jurgen]

I begin reading the last novel by Haruki Murakami Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage right now.

[Andrew✌️]

I ended the year with the book The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales, a last minute rush. I must say that the stories are a bit different from the time I was a child, a little more raw.
But the charm is always the same.

[Barbara]

The Brothers Karamazov

[Jurgen]

Barbara wrote: "The Brothers Karamazov"

Began reading "The Brothers Karamazov" in the beginning of last year, never finished it. Maybe I'll read it this year..

[Roderick]

There will be a group read on "The Brothers Karamazov" in June on one of the groups. I'm waiting till then. I think they will have a Dostoyevsky month.

[Colleen]

Lea wrote: "Colleen wrote: "OK, inspired by the above posts and knew the book has sat on my shelf too long have now started Love in the Time of Cholera. Perfect timing as have nothing else to read ..."

3 stars - not sure what else to say. It had a lot of great viewpoints, beautiful writing, nice story I guess. I just found it a little tedious, not much happening - more descriptive than anything. I know I'll like my next book better.