In February, I did this post about my goal to finish reading Charles Dickens in the year 2012. Since that post, I have read three more of his novels--David Copperfield, The Pickwick Papers and Oliver Twist.
I have discovered that there are times in our lives, when we are better suited for reading certain authors than others. About 15 years ago, I attempted to read all of Charles Dickens and after reading one, and starting David Copperfield, I couldn't do it. I would read the first few pages and get "stuck." I tried multiple times and could never get through it.
Well, this must be my time for Charles Dickens because I have absorbed and loved these three books and look forward to reading the rest of his novels. Honestly, I have had NO trouble with them and have been very sad when I have completed each story.
Another thing I learned years ago, when I read all of Jane Austen in about a month time period, is that it is necessary to take a break and read other authors in between. By the end of reading Jane Austen, all of her books seemed to blend together and to this day, I have a hard time remembering where one story ended and another one began (with the exception of Emma because she is such a silly character.)
So, this time around, I read one of Charles Dickens' novels, read a few other books in between and then pick up Dickens again. The authors I read in-between seem "poor" in comparison to Dickens. Dickens has such a beautiful way with words and his ability to describe a scene is almost matchless. I was talking to my mom about this and I said, "It is like drinking a fresh glass of cold, filtered water when I pick up Dickens after reading another author. I didn't realize I was thirsty or that the other drinks I had been drinking in-between were unsatisfying until I pick up Dickens again and realize what I have been missing."
So, Monday, I will pick up "Bleak House." I have been warned by many that this is a "hard" Dickens. We shall see. Maybe this will be my "foil" with Dickens but I doubt it. I wasn't planning on loving Oliver Twist but I did. So much so, that what I am reading now (which has come highly recommended and is well written) is nothing compared to Oliver Twist.
I am loving my time with Charles Dickens.
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Friday, April 13, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Happy 200th Birthday Charles!
Today is Charles Dickens 200th birthday. Several years ago, I set out to read all of his works. But, I have learned after reading all of Jane Austen in about a month period, that reading the same author back to back is not as good as savoring their works with breaks in between. When I set out on my quest about 14 years ago, I finished A Tale of Two Cities and was so moved by it, that I said, "For now, I rest with this work of Dicken's in my heart. " Honestly, that book changed me.
Well, the time has come again to revisit Charles Dickens. This past December I did read, "A Christmas Carol", "The Chimes" and "A Cricket on the Hearth" and "The Life our Lord". "The Life of Our Lord" is absolutely wonderful and really shows Dickens in a unique light. It is a fast read and I highly recommend it. For various reasons, that book is often not included with his works. (If you buy the book, the forward explains it).
Anyway, below is a list of his novels. I hope to read most of these this year. I have already read about 1/2 on the list, so I think this is doable.
Well, the time has come again to revisit Charles Dickens. This past December I did read, "A Christmas Carol", "The Chimes" and "A Cricket on the Hearth" and "The Life our Lord". "The Life of Our Lord" is absolutely wonderful and really shows Dickens in a unique light. It is a fast read and I highly recommend it. For various reasons, that book is often not included with his works. (If you buy the book, the forward explains it).
Anyway, below is a list of his novels. I hope to read most of these this year. I have already read about 1/2 on the list, so I think this is doable.
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Friday, January 20, 2012
Aerobie Fun at the Park
Yesterday, after my kids came home from school, I said, "Tomorrow, we are going to the park whether it is to sled (if there was snow) or just play. But go to the park, we will."
I planned on reading my current book, "The Jungle Books" by Rudyard Kipling while my kid's played but then I remembered my word of the year and decided to join my kids.
Toothsome #1 and I started playing "Playset Aerobie". He climbed all around the playset and I tried to hit him while he tried to catch it. In turn, when he threw it, I had stay in one place, (where the Aerobie landed previously) while he tried to land the Aerobie over my face and into my neck. Below, he is demonstrating the goal.
Trying to take a picture of us together with my iphone.
He was getting ready to throw the Aerobie at me when I took this picture.
Meanwhile, my other kids climbed up these trees. If you look closely, you can see them.
Great Aerobie fun. Way better than a traditional frisbee.
It almost made me forget how upset I am by the lack of snow this year.
BTW: Last night, I hosted my book club. We read, "A Town Like Alice" by Nevil Shute. Wonderful book and wonderful discussion. And, the Kneaders, Raspberry Bread pudding with their vanilla sauce was awesome too.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Book Review: Faithful, Fit and Fabulous by Connie E Sokol
This book by Connie Sokol is a great read just before the New Year because it gives simple, easy ideas to improve your life in meaningful ways. I love that the theme of personal responsibility runs throughout the whole book and how once we personally take charge of our lives, after seeking spiritual guidance, we can make big changes.
She uses eight basic ideas to focus on and then gives easy to implement suggestions on how to improve in each area. It is a great, short read that definitely leaves you feeling like you can improve things in your life.
This book can be purchased here. The Kindle version is a steal.
Full discloser: I was given this book to read and review. But I agreed to review it because I was eager to make some simple changes in my life to make things go more smoothly. Having babies 2 1/2 years apart made a lot of sense when they were babies but having school age kids 2 years apart in school is exhausting at times and I was eager to figure out a way to make better use of my time. This book definitely has given me some great suggestions to do just that.
She uses eight basic ideas to focus on and then gives easy to implement suggestions on how to improve in each area. It is a great, short read that definitely leaves you feeling like you can improve things in your life.
This book can be purchased here. The Kindle version is a steal.
Full discloser: I was given this book to read and review. But I agreed to review it because I was eager to make some simple changes in my life to make things go more smoothly. Having babies 2 1/2 years apart made a lot of sense when they were babies but having school age kids 2 years apart in school is exhausting at times and I was eager to figure out a way to make better use of my time. This book definitely has given me some great suggestions to do just that.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The Alias by Mandi Tucker Slack
I was asked to review this novel by Tristi Pinkston.
This novel is a fact-paced, fun read. Jacey Grayson is a divorced mother who moves to a small town in Utah to try and hide from her abusive ex-husband. There are a few twists and turns in the plot that make this a "keep on reading" type of book.
I enjoyed the character development in this novel as well as the little bits of romance mixed in with the action. The end, while not surprising was satisfying and this book was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon.
You can purchase it here. Notice the Kindle version is only $3.99
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Pulitzer Prize Winners for Fiction
For some reason, several of the books I have been reading lately have been either Pulitzer Prize winners or finalists in the fiction category. It got me thinking how many have I read since the prize was first awarded in 1947. Sadly, the answer is just 10 but interestingly, I have read five of them in the last year. Here is the list, taken from the Pulitzer web-site:
More detailsMore detailsMore details
Winners
For "A Visit From the Goon Squad," an inventive investigation of growing up and growing old in the digital age, displaying a big-hearted curiosity about cultural change at warp speed.
A powerful celebration of life in which a New England father and son, through suffering and joy, transcend their imprisoning lives and offer new ways of perceiving the world and mortality.
A collection of 13 short stories set in small-town Maine that packs a cumulative emotional wallop, bound together by polished prose and by Olive, the title character, blunt, flawed and fascinating.
Finalists
A contemporary, wide ranging tale about an elite Manhattan family, moral bankruptcy and the long reach of wealth.
A haunting and often heartbreaking epic whose characters explore the deep reverberations of love, devotion and war.
An imaginative collection of linked stories, often describing a memorable encounter between a famous person and an animal, underscoring the human folly of longing for significance while chasing trifles.
A collection of beautifully crafted stories that exposes the Western reader to the hopes, dreams and dramas of an array of characters in feudal Pakistan, resulting in both an aesthetic and cultural achievement.
A haunting novel that explores racial discord, loss of land and changing fortunes in a corner of North Dakota where Native Americans and whites share a tangled history.
A memorable novel that focuses on the senior class at an exclusive all-girl Manhattan prep school where a beloved student battles a rare cancer, fiercely honest, carefully observed and subtly rendered.
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