2009-06 - Classics - Post June Reviews Here

[Luann]

O Pioneers! by Willa Cather. 4 stars.

This was a pleasure to read! Willa Cather's writing is straightforward and plain, yet beautiful at the same time. It completely mirrors the characters and the land written of in "O Pioneers!"

I've been thinking about what makes a classic, since this book is a classic yet isn't like many others I've read. I see this as a classic because it gives you a chance to step back and see your life through new eyes and compare it through the light of new experiences that you've never actually had, but feel like you have now that you've read about them. A classic is a book that changes you, even just a little, in a profound way, just because you've read it. And that's how I feel having just finished this. I've been changed, just a little, because I read this book.

Two favorite quotes:
"She had never known before how much the country meant to her. The chirping of the insects down in the long grass had been like the sweetest music. She had felt as if her heart were hiding down there, somewhere, with the quail and the plover and all the little wild things that crooned or buzzed in the sun. Under the long shaggy ridges, she felt the future stirring."

"People have to snatch at happiness when they can in this world. It is always easier to lose than to find."

(This is also on the Lost literature list, for those who are interested.)

[Luann]

Too weird! I just watched Jeopardy and they had both a Willa Cather category and an "O Pioneers!" category today. :)

[Sarah]

I have finally finished Bleak House by Charles Dickens. It's one of my favourites so I give it 5 stars.

It is a long read (I actually started it the last week of May) but a good one. I love the legal history side of it almost as much as the mystery. When the book was written the Law of Equity was only just being developed and now it's old law, so it's interesting seeing where it came from knowing where it will go.

For those who are not legally trained there is a series of interwoven mysteries which will all, eventually, come together at the end of the book.

A beautiful classic and one that will stay a personal favourite for many future readings.

[Tango]

Sarah I loved Bleak House too. The BBC miniseries was really good also (it inspired mt to read the book).

[Laura]

I read Rebecca and give it four stars.

Wonderful imagery. I had a vivid idea of Manderely and its long dark drive, beautiful gardens, and pretty beach. It was very suspenseful and just the right amount of creepy to keep you on edge. I think my very favorite part was how Mrs. de Winter would play out situations in her head and sometimes get so into her imaginations that she would be acting them out in her facial expressions. She was caught by Maxim once. I think I do this from time to time as well, so it struck me as very funny

[Tara]

I read The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy. I gave the book 4 stars, but if I could I would have given it 4.5 stars.

A wonderful story about a man who saves aristocrats from the guillotine during the French Revolution. My favorite characters where Lady Blakeney and her husband. I loved their dynamic as a husband and wife. The Scarlet Pimpernel is like many superheroes of today, saving those he did not know and doing his best to do what he can. I loved that he was so tricky and outwitted those who were trying to stop him. There were several parts that were very witty.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

I love the movie of it that was made in the 1930s.

[Tara]

I was actually thinking of trying to find one of the movies to watch. I think there have been several variations, so maybe I will try to find the 1930's one.

[Emily]

I'm reading treasure island!

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Just finished The Grapes of Wrath and give it 4 stars. This book was easy for me since I am a John Steinbeck fan. Although this book has a more political bent to it, in retrospect the history and the story are spectacular. As always, Steinbeck's writing is beautiful. His description of a time and era that were painful for a lot of people is a joy to read. The characters were real and honest. I think my favorite was Ma Joad. At a time when men were more prominent than women, especially in farm culture, Steinbeck did an excellent job of showing how the women were the backbone. They kept everything going and focused so the men could do what was necessary.

A great book, although I still think my favorite Steinbeck is East of Eden. Now on to Robinson Crusoe, hopefully I can read it by the end of next week.

[Luann]

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. 3 stars.

I just finished one additional classic that I've been toting around on my Palm as an ebook since the first Shelf-a-Thon. I decided I HAD to get to it this month. It's a novella, so it wasn't painful as far as the length, and it was quite simply written as well. It IS quite strange and different, as the first line will show: "One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin." (Some translations give that as "monstrous vermin.") In my review, I allude to the ending, so I've marked it with a spoiler alert. You can read it here, if you like.

[Lynne]

Lyn wrote: "Just finished The Grapes of Wrath and give it 4 stars. This book was easy for me since I am a John Steinbeck fan. Although this book has a more political bent to it, in retrospect the..."

Aren't women still the backbone even though we are more in the forefront as well? My husband was just saying today that if it weren't for me remembering all the different parts of the uniform and all the different documentation, our kids would NEVER get to play in the all-stars because he could never remember or coordinate all the details. His words, not mine. (I didn't disagree though) :)

[Tara]

I read Breakfast at Tiffany's, by Truman Capote.
I gave it 3 stars.
I enjoyed the book, but I think I felt more sorry for Holly Golightly than I did when I watched the movie. She seemed to be more of a darker character than I remembered from the movie. I guess this means I will be watching the movie again so that I can compare and contrast.

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Lynne wrote: "Lyn wrote: "Just finished The Grapes of Wrath and give it 4 stars. This book was easy for me since I am a John Steinbeck fan. Although this book has a more political bent to it, in re..."

I always knew your hubby was a smart man. Where would either or our husbands be if we weren't here to make sure things ran smoothly, huh.

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Tara wrote: "I read Breakfast at Tiffany's, by Truman Capote.
I gave it 3 stars.
I enjoyed the book, but I think I felt more sorry for Holly Golightly than I did when I watched the movie. She s..."

I just finished this book for another GR group, and from the discussions I got the impression that the book is VERY DIFFERENT from the movie. Let me know what your take is.

[Lynne]

Lyn wrote: "Lynne wrote: "Lyn wrote: "Just finished The Grapes of Wrath and give it 4 stars. This book was easy for me since I am a John Steinbeck fan. Although this book has a more political ben..."

Tara, did you see that you are the "Shelf Picker" for July. Congratulations! Can't wait to see what we will read next.

[Tara]

I already posted it. It was harder than I thought it would be to pick a shelf.

[Luann]

Sunflower wrote: "Aha. You're right. Thanks. How do you get the author in there too? Or is that superfluous? BTW I love the way you can edit things on this site. If you make a complete prat of yourself you can remov..."

Sorry, Sunflower! I completely missed your question until now. There is a tab for author on the "add book/author" box. So you click on that tab and then search your author - or if you've already searched a book, the author is already there for you. You just have to click to add the link to your post.

[Sunflower]

Thanks. I don't know how you figured all this stuff out!

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Because she's the bomb!! And sunflower - I agree about the edit button. I have used it a few times to edit myself when I say something stupid, or just when I read what I wrote and realize it isn't what I meant.

[Lynne]

I use the edit button all the time when I read what I wrote and realize I made a typo. Why I cna't do that BEFORE I hit "post" I have no idea but oh well, I will just thank my lucky stars that the edit button exists! :)

P.S. Guess what? I had to use the edit button on this post because I typed "thank my lucky starts". No joke.

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Ya - I wasn't going to mention the typos since half the time I miss them until someone else points them out. I used to be really good at typing, now - not so much.

[Joanie]

I just finished Pride and Prejudice-5 stars. This was my first time reading it but I was familiar with the story from different movie adaptations. I really enjoyed the book and I'm glad I finally read it but I definitely found it more time consuming than other books. I think a lot of it has to do with the density of the language. I just felt like I needed to pay closer attention to the language so it took me longer to finish. Not that I didn't enjoy the ride, I did.

[Lynne]

No kidding about the density of language. I still am not finished with "A Tale of Two Cities". At first I was barely even understanding what was going on in the story. It definitely took me a while to get into the rythm of the language and the metaphores. Also, there is very little dialogue to hold onto. It really makes me realize how "dumbed down" a lot of today's literature has become. It will be interesting to go from this to "Confessions of a Shopaholic", one of the books I plan to read in July.

I am really enjoying "A Tale..." but find it very different from the usual Dickens fare, which is much more character driven. There are, of course, main characters in this book, but I get the feeling that the REAL main characters are the two cities themselves (hence the name of the book?)with all their strengths and weaknesses.

My favorite parts of the book so far have been the metaphores and analogies (I always get those two confused) that Dickens uses. Fate and Death are a Woodsman and a Farmer. Grave robbing is "fishing", with all the proper tools attached. I guess partially I am just proud of myself for figuring them out (LOL) but mostly it is a joy to read such beautiful use of language.

[Haley]

Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger...I've already read the Catcher in the Rye but THIS one made me want to read all his other books.

[Lynne]

Okay, I finished "A Tale of Two Cities", and only 2 days late. I am sooooo proud of myself! I really liked this book and would give it 4 1/2 stars, but since I can't really mark that, I will probably give it 4, I usually only give 5 stars to books I would read again.

First of all, as I said before, the language and imagery in this book are amazing. The way Dickens describes the brutality of the French Revolution is brilliant, he captures the horror and yet never loses his sympathy for why the citizens reacted the way they did.

But I must say, one of the things I really enjoyed about the last third of the book was the way all of the various characters, who had seemed unconnected throughout, ended up being related, or carried a deep seded (?) grudge against each other, or knew secrets about each other etc. I know it was a literary affectation, but what a ride!

I had figured out what was going to happen between Carton and Darnay way back in the book when Carton spoke with Lucie, but I could not figure out how it would come about. It was fun to see it all work out. I also really enjoyed the scene between Miss Pross and Citizeness Defarge. That bitch, if you will pardon my French (and pardon my pun) got EXACTLY what she deserved! And although she had but a minor part, I believe I will remeber the sweet little French seamstress each time I think of this book.

All in all, although the plot was slow to get rolling, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to add another classic to the list of books they have read.

[Sarah]

I also read Uncle Tom's Cabin before the end of June. What can I say about this book? It's amazing. Five stars.

[Leonie]

I read Lady Chatterley's Lover. I found it a bit slow going at first but well worth persisting with. It really is a beautiful book and not just about two lovers from different classes. Lawrence's descriptions of the English countryside, right down the the flowers growing wild in the wood made me feel like I was there. This is a classic that I finally got around to reading.

[Cathy]

I am still slogging through the last pages of Bleak house - too difficult to concentrate on when you are tired!

[Lynne]

Cathy wrote: "I am still slogging through the last pages of Bleak house - too difficult to concentrate on when you are tired!"

If you get a chance, watch the BBC miniseries. It was one of the few cases where I thought the movie was MUCH better than the book.

[Cathy]

Lynne wrote: "Cathy wrote: "I am still slogging through the last pages of Bleak house - too difficult to concentrate on when you are tired!"

If you get a chance, watch the BBC miniseries. It was one of the f..."

Hi Lynne - I remember seeing it when it was on here, and I enjoyed it - I wondered if this was why I didn't love the book - it didn't hold too many surprises. Have finally finished it and I'm glad to be able to say I've read it but sorry I didn't find it as enjoyable as I expected.

[Lynne]

I have to say I thought the book was really boring compared to the miniseries.