Monthly Archives: July 2012

Masterpiece Monday: 5 Classics I Really Want to Read

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So if you’re like me, for some reason (boredom, intrigue, shame over your reality show obsessions like “America’s Next Top Model”), you’ve Googled “best books of all time.” I love reading the classics, and every now and then I like to spice up my reading with some intellect. Usually after a string of chick-lit novels, I’m craving a challenge.

Right now I’m enjoying Francesca Segal’s The Innocents, but often find myself feeling nostalgic for its inspiration: Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence. This, of course, makes me look forward to reading another Wharton novel waiting for me on my bookshelf: The House of Mirth.

Thus, I thought that I would share with you my list of the five classics that I really want to read soon, starting with The House of Mirth.

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton (1905): The title is derived from Ecclesiastes 7:4, which states, “The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.” That little tidbit of info alone tells me that this story is going to be dramatically tragic, and hopefully in the best possible way. When it comes to the struggles of upper-class women in the Gilded Age, Wharton is queen, and I am her humble reading servant.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1877): This tale covers two goals on my reading list–experience another great ‘fallen woman’ story and finally read a Russian author. I’ve been recommended this novel by a few of you guys, and I trust your judgment. Plus, I seriously can’t get enough of 19th-century women pushing the boundaries of femininity and morality. It’s like literary crack to me!

Animal Farm by George Orwell (1945): This is a story which I already know a lot about, since I watched the film adaptation in my high school European History class, and I routinely reference it as an example of allegory to my students. And frankly, I’m tired of mentioning a book that I still haven’t actually read. I fell head over heels in love with 1984, so there’s little chance that I’ll dislike Animal Farm. Why I continue to put off good reading, I’ll never know!

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (1961): I feel that if you’re going to use “catch-22″ regularly in conversation, you might as well read the book which originated the term. I don’t actively seek out war stories, but it sounds like Catch-22 is much more than that. I’m a big fan of satire and anything chock-full of mentally stimulating themes and allusions, so I’m pretty sure this fits the bill.

The Trial by Franz Kafka (1925): I already love Kafka after reading his amazing shorter works, such as “A Hunger Artist” and “The Metamorphosis.” His writing is unique: bizarre, existential, and humorously morbid. Even though he died before he could finish writing it, I don’t want to die before I can finish reading it!

So what are the classics that you haven’t gotten around to yet, but you definitely want to read? Share your picks, and offer your opinions on mine!

And check back next week, because I’ll be discussing the five classics that I NEVER want to read. Any guesses???

What Should You Read Next?

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Obviously, this isn’t directed at you guys. You have good taste!

I’ve just started reading The Innocents by Francesca Segal, which is a modern adaptation of Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence. I became quickly engrossed by the characters in this Jewish community in London, so it’s off to a good start.

I also came across this nifty website called “What Should I Read Next?” You just plug in one of your favorite books, and it gives you a list of similar reads. For example, typing in The Lord of the Rings will offer books by C.S. Lewis, T.H. White, and Douglas Adams. Some picks were on the odder side, including Dr. Seuss and Homer, but for the most part, I think it’s a cool tool.

I had to laugh though, because when I typed The Innocents, I got J.K. Rowling’s Quidditch Through the Ages as a recommendation! I highly doubt that there’s a connection between these two stories, but I guess we’ll see!

So test this site out, and let me know your results! Was it a hit or miss?

Masterpiece Monday: Book Versus Movie (Venn Diagram Edition)

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So I found this Venn diagram the other day on TheFrisky.com, and since we were discussing classic novels and their respective film adaptations yesterday, I figured you all would have plenty to say about this.

As for me, I completely agree that The Great Gatsby, The Scarlet Letter, and One Day are better as books. However, I think that Never Let Me Go is outstanding either way, and I’d avoid Beloved in any form.

I’d be hard-pressed to find somebody who hated The Godfather, Fight Club, and The Princess Bride as movies, but I’d add that Fight Club is just as kick-ass on paper. And obviously, Harry Potter and To Kill a Mockingbird deserve to overlap both categories.

Lastly, after reading interviews of the egotistical, pompous jerk that is Nicholas Sparks, I refuse to give him any money whatsoever. I only wish I knew about his arrogance before I watched The Notebook, because I admit that it was a great movie, for being a sappy sob-fest, that is.

I haven’t read or watched most of the others, so please enlighten me with your opinions. Did this diagram get it right? What would you add? Let’s keep the debate going!

The Booker Award and My Top 5 Books of All Time

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The real world is overrated, anyway!

One of my favorite blogger friends over at http://wantoncreation.wordpress.com nominated me for yet another award, this time “The Booker Award,” which can be given to any blogger who devotes at least half of their posts to reading.

While I’m never good at fulfilling the chain-letter-esque nominations and keeping the ball rolling, I will finally reveal my top five books of all time! I know a lot of you have been waiting with anticipation!

In order from greatest to oh-my-god-why-are-you-still-on-my-blog-and-not-reading-these-books-right-this-second! A few I reviewed for Masterpiece Monday, so click the links to learn even more!

5. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (1847). This novel combines two of my favorite things: Victorian literature and star-crossed romance. Many people despise the lovers Catherine and Heathcliff for their often selfish, cruel behavior towards each other, but I can’t get enough of this tragic tale of true–albeit, angsty–love. Heathcliff is the perfect brooding lead, and Bronte does a fantastic job on character development for the two generations of these families. Not to mention, she includes critical discussion of social and racial issues of the time period. Can you believe Wuthering Heights was the only novel she ever published? Talk about the literary jackpot!

4. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (2005). I first read this novel my freshman year of college, and I’m still a die-hard fan. When the movie adaptation came out a couple years ago, it gained a boost of popularity, and I would literally stop people in the bookstore if they were looking at it and say, “Don’t even think about it. Just buy it.” And if you don’t take my word for it, TIME named it the best book of 2005, and among the top 100 English-language books since 1923. I can’t really tell you anything about it without spoiling the story, but trust me, it’s breathtakingly haunting. Movie also highly recommended!

3. The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien (1954-55). I hesitated in determining where to place this series on my list, because I have a multifaceted opinion of LOTR. I truly believe that it is the greatest story ever created; however, I do not believe that it is the greatest written story ever created. I admit that Tolkien was more of a historian than an author, and I understand that many cannot swallow his dry, textbook-like style. I should also be honest with my fellow book bloggers: I watched “The Fellowship of the Ring” and then read the whole series before the sequels were released. I know, blasphemy! But I think that no matter how you come to this story, it’s worth it, because once a Ringer, always a Ringer!

2. Demian by Hermann Hesse (1919). This is probably the least known novel on my list, and I owe it to my English teacher senior year of high school for introducing me to it. Translated from its original German, it’s a coming-of-age story of Emil Sinclair, who befriends a enigmatic young man named Demian. Demian teaches Emil about philosophy, religion, and finding your true self. It’s a short read, but my absolute favorite to re-read, because I learn something new each time. If you’re looking for something mentally stimulating and completely engrossing, this is it. Total life-changer.

1. His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman (1995-2000). Hands down, favorite series of all time. Many critics label Pullman’s trilogy for children, but this modern adaptation of Milton’s Paradise Lost is anything but childish. I walked into a bookstore one day in middle school, suffering from Harry Potter withdrawals, when the cashier recommended the novels. I bought the Del Rey mass market paperbacks (which were located in the adult fantasy section, by the way), and since then, nothing has influenced my life so profoundly. These novels motivated me to question the status quo and think for myself, so on the off chance that Pullman stumbles upon this post, I want to say thank you. If my writing can affect someone a fraction of what His Dark Materials has done for me, then I can die happy.

I know that I can sound a bit dramatic, but who can’t when discussing their all-time favorite books? Of course, I’ve got decades of reading left to do, so this list may be subject to change. You never know!

I would LOVE to hear your top five books–we have to help each other in making our to-read lists even longer, right? So many books, never enough time!

Book Review: Wife 22

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Image via Goodreads

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

I’m certainly not new to the “chick-lit” genre, but Melanie Gideon’s Wife 22 was not the kind of book I usually read. I’m used to the courtship stories, the romances of 20 and 30-somethings way before reality sets in. But reviews for Gideon’s novel this year convinced me to take a chance. The result? Eh…

Even though the book clocked in at 400 pages, reading it was a breeze considering that the majority of it takes place in emails, Facebook messages, and Google searches. Alice Buckle is approaching many important milestones: her 20th anniversary with her husband William and her 45th birthday, the very age at which her own mother passed away in an accident.

Coping with her loss, Alice is going through the cliche mid-life crisis. Her career as an elementary drama teacher is flat-lining in this current recession. She’s dissatisfied with her marriage, in which she’s lucky if they’re intimate once a month. She’s also struggling with two teenage children: her 12-year-old son Peter, whom Alice is convinced is gay, and her 15-year-old daughter Zoe, who’s possibly suffering from an eating disorder.

And as if all of this wasn’t enough, Alice is recruited to participate in a research study on marriage. She becomes “Wife 22″ and quickly becomes addicted to her online conversations with “Researcher 101.” But what happens when a professional relationship evolves into a very personal one? Who is Researcher 101, and is Alice willing to sacrifice everything she’s ever known and leave her husband for him?

First off, this was a fascinating story that I believe many spouses can relate to. I enjoyed all the Internet chats, and the overall message that social networking is simultaneously alluring and dangerous. I don’t blame Alice for flirting with temptation, because anonymous confession is a rush that practically everyone has experienced.

What I do blame Alice for, however, is her disconnect. It’s easy to point fingers at smartphones and social media for creating a society of attention-deficit robots, but I don’t think that it’s the medium’s fault. Alice’s personality encourages her to ignore the needs of her husband and children, and she simply uses Facebook as an excuse to shut down.

I’m not saying that I have to like everything a protagonist does, but Alice is just lazy. She expects her life to magically turn around, and doesn’t want to put the effort into fixing it. Teenagers get accused of demanding instant gratification, but Peter and Zoe are light-years ahead of their mom in maturity.

There is a twist, and most readers won’t be surprised by it (I’m just really gullible), but whether you’re fooled or not, it doesn’t matter. I felt that the ending was anticlimactic, and it didn’t better my opinion of Alice. Maybe I’ll be more sympathetic in twenty years, but for now, I’m not impressed by these so-called mid-life crises.

My 1st Blogging Anniversary!

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All my blogging anniversary needs is a baby panda!

So I’ve decided to forego this week’s Masterpiece Monday, because tomorrow will be my first blogging anniversary! When I became “Book Club Babe” a year ago, I would never have guessed how fun and rewarding it would be. In the grand scheme of things, my blog may not make that much of an impact, but I’m proud to say that I’ve gained over 14,000 views from all over the world. My readers are the best a blogger could ask for, and I’ve decided to make a better effort this year to engage in more conversations with them.

To celebrate this important milestone, I’m recapping my three most popular posts. Feel free to follow the links to read them in their entirety.

Fifty Shades of Grey: My Rant on Crappy Books and the People Who Buy Them. It looks like I’ve caught the Fifty Shades bandwagon and shook things up a bit with my criticisms. Luckily, my readers have awesome taste in literature and shared their own complaints of the crappy series. It felt so good to preach to the choir! (Originally posted 4/18/12)

Most Hated Words in the English Language? I had discussed The Huffington Post’s list of disgusting-sounding words. You agreed with the grossness of “moist,” “hubby,” and “fetus.” It seemed that anything too medical was also bad on the ears. However, it was nice to end on a good note with our favorite words. (Originally posted 8/2/11)

Book Review: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. This was a popular read among my readers, who enjoyed the unique photographs. I’m so glad that I read this novel, which I borrowed from a friend after she recommended it, because it was a good experience to read outside my comfort zone. I rated it 4 out of 5, so make sure to put it on your to-read lists! (Originally posted 4/5/12)

So has anyone else reached the first blogging anniversary? Let me know how it felt, and we can virtually toast to another year of books and blogging!

‘Tis the Season! My 3 Favorite Books About Weddings

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I just got back from a bridal shower of a friend who’s practically family. I’m one of her bridesmaids, and it was great to spend such a special day with her…which, of course, got me thinking about literary weddings. I decided to make a list of my three favorite books which deal with the chaos, stress, but also fun of planning a wedding:

Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot (2009). This finale of the Queen of Babble trilogy follows Lizzie Nichols as she makes the difficult decision between Luke, the man to whom she’s engaged, or Chaz, Luke’s best friend, with whom she’s also in love. The twist here is that Lizzie happens to work in wedding gown restoration, so how does a woman who’s already knee deep in bridal manage to get to the altar? If you’ve read the series up until now, you’ll know who Lizzie ultimately chooses, but this book’s so entertaining that you won’t care. Another gem by Cabot!

The Little Lady Agency and the Prince by Hester Browne (2008). Another end to another great trilogy, this novel tells the tale of Melissa Romney-Jones, a curvy bombshell who dons a blonde wig and calls herself “Honey”–all for the sake of turning fixer-upper men into marriage material. Her current project is prince Nicolas von Helsing-Alexandros, who can’t seem to blind his wandering eye. And what happens when her fiance Jonathan Riley starts acting controlling? Can they work it out, or will she fall for her best friend Nelson? Clearly, there’s no shortage of love triangles in chick-lit!

I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella (2012). This book published on Valentine’s Day of this year has got to be one of the cutest stories I’ve ever read. Poppy Wyatt has just lost her engagement ring, an antique that’s been in her fiance Magnus’ family for three generations. So when she comes along a lost cell phone, what better thing to do than to enlist the phone owner’s employer to help find the ring? But when that boss turns out to be a sexy businessman named Sam Roxton, Poppy’s happily ever after just got way more complicated. The perfect book for the 21st-century reader, full of text talk, emails, and footnotes! Check out my full review here!

So there you have it! Three adorable stories if you can’t get enough of dresses, rings, cakes, and true love! I’m currently reading Wife 22 by Melanie Gideon, about a woman decades into her marriage, but it’s always nice to remind yourself of the newlywed stage! And for any of my readers attending weddings left and right, please share your own wedding reads!

Book Review: The Paris Wife

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Rating: 5 out of 5

I received The Paris Wife as a graduation gift from a friend, and I must say that it was a great gift indeed! This 2011 novel by Paula McLain narrates the relationship between Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley Richardson. Even if you don’t know or like Hemingway all that much, you’ll enjoy McLain’s wonderfully written and researched novel.

The book starts off with Hadley, eight years Hemingway’s senior, falling in love with the writer despite warnings from their friend Kate Smith. The couple married in 1921, and the rest of the novel follows their travels across America and Europe during their five-year marriage.

I loved feeling like a fly on the wall watching the most famous artists and authors of the 1920s, including Sherwood Anderson, Gertrude Stein, James Joyce, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. It’s noble how hard these people had to work to make a living with their words, but for some of them, it’s also tragic how all their fame and fortune masked deep, dark pain.

I empathized with Hadley, who never felt like she truly belonged to this group of literary giants. She called herself a hen among peacocks. And although she was a gifted pianist, she sacrificed her passions for Ernest’s career. I can understand Hemingway’s fierce devotion to his craft, but his selfishness and narcissism destroyed his marriage and most of his friendships.

I read The Paris Wife, knowing the basics behind Hemingway and his work, but McLain really brings the details to life, illuminating the atmospheres of France, Spain, and Germany. I felt that it was an accurate portrayal of the historical events and characters, but it was also so much more than that.

The emotion in this story was so honest and beautiful. It broke my heart witnessing Hadley and Hem suffer from depression, alcoholism, and extramarital affairs. Hadley gave everything to her husband, content with raising their son rather than share the spotlight, but their relationship collapsed due to Hem’s refusal to compromise and remain faithful.

Hadley could be criticized for allowing herself to be treated like a doormat, but she knew that she was a romantic in a modern world of promiscuity and partying. She may have wanted a simple life, but at least she remained true to herself. While Hem first resisted and then dove into the good life of the literary elites, Hadley was never impressed by the lifestyle. Instead of following other wives and entering into a perverse three-way with her husband’s mistress, she walked away. Lesser women would’ve accepted such behavior to be Mrs. Hemingway, so I admire her courage to start over.

Hadley stated that she may be just “the Paris wife,” but she got the best of Hem. In the end, she found true love with journalist Paul Mowrer, married from 1933 to her natural death in 1979. Hemingway, on the other hand, skyrocketed as an author but spiraled down into three more unsuccessful marriages and suicide by shooting.

I don’t think I’m spoiling much, since Hemingway’s downfall is just as famous as his writing. A man traumatized by his experiences as a soldier during World War I and his own father’s suicide, he paid the ultimate price for being one of the greatest American writers of all time.

Trust me, you might think you know this story, but you will still be amazed by The Paris Wife. Highly recommended!

Masterpiece Monday: The Sun Also Rises

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Ernest Hemingway seated in 1925 with the perso...

Ernest Hemingway seated in 1925 with the persons depicted in the novel “The Sun Also Rises.” The individuals depicted include Hemingway, Harold Loeb, Lady Duff Twysden; and Hadley Richardson, Ogden Stewart and Pat Guthrie. Original caption is “Ernest Hemingway with Lady Duff Twysden, Hadley Hemingway, and three unidentified people at a cafe in Pamplona, Spain, during the Fiesta of San Fermin in July 1925.” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Rating: 3 out of 5

Wow! I was so busy today that I didn’t have time to post, but I came home to over 100 views! I keep getting a ton of hits because of Fifty Shades of Grey, which is wonderful because I hope people are reading my rant on the series to know how crappy it is!

But back to real literature. I’m currently reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain, which is about Hadley Richardson, the first wife of Ernest Hemingway. Thus, I decided to review a novel of his for Masterpiece Monday, called The Sun Also Rises.

The book was published in 1926, and it’s a highly autobiographical tale of expatriates who travel from Paris to Spain to watch the bullfights. Hemingway based the story on his own experiences and friends, and its realism is what makes it one of his best works.

Hemingway can be seen in the protagonist Jake Barnes, who falls in love with the recently divorced Lady Brett Ashley, based on the also recently divorced Lady Duff Twysden. Although Hemingway was married to Hadley during this time, his wandering eye resulted in their divorce. It remains unclear whether Hemingway had an affair with Duff, but I wouldn’t be surprised. I am surprised, however, that The Sun Also Rises was still dedicated to Hadley and their son, due to their crumbling marriage come publication.

I wouldn’t call myself a Hemingway fan, but I did enjoy some of his short stories, namely “Indian Camp” and “Hills Like White Elephants.” However, I did not care much for The Sun Also Rises, because I felt that it was too autobiographical to be that interesting. Very character-driven, not a lot of action.

It has elements of soap opera in it, given that every male character fights for Lady Brett’s attention. However, most of the story consists of them dining, drinking, and watching bulls being gored. I abhor bullfighting, finding it cruel and barbaric, so obviously a novel surrounding the “sport” was not going to appeal to me.

I can put aside my biases enough, though, to appreciate what this book represents: the epitome of life in the Roaring Twenties. By writing life as he lived it, Hemingway immortalized the “Lost Generation” of American writers and artists in Europe. I don’t love Hemingway’s sparse, stripped-down style, but I love the history that he captured on paper.

I’m having fun reading The Paris Wife, because I’m learning so much about Hemingway and his relationship with Hadley. It would be interesting to re-read The Sun Also Rises to see if my opinion has changed. Maybe Hemingway can be an author I can learn to like professionally, even if I can’t stand his selfish, womanizing ways personally.

Favorite Quote: “Going to another country doesn’t make any difference. I’ve tried all that. You can’t get away from yourself by moving from one place to another. There’s nothing to that.’” (Ch.2)

Book Review: Truly, Madly

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Rating: 4 out of 5

I’m slowly joining the 21st-century book-loving world, as I just joined Goodreads! I love how I can chart my reading progress, rate and review books, and connect with fellow bibliophiles! My goal on this social network is to somehow recall every book I’ve ever read and rate it–I’m at over 230 books, so I’m sure I have a long way to go! You can add me by clicking this link.

Now back to my review. Truly, Madly was one of the two novels that I bought while I was in Japan, and I read the majority of it on my ten-hour-long flight back home. It was published in 2010 and written by Heather Webber.

I gravitated toward Truly, Madly in the bookstore, because I’m a sucker for cutesy covers. The curlier the font, the happier the ending, right?

The romance novel follows Lucy Valentine, who reluctantly takes over her father’s match-making business after he’s caught in an extramarital affair. The catch is that every Valentine in her family matches people based on the auras that they can secretly see–well, except for Lucy.

As a teen, Lucy’s supernatural aura-reading powers were zapped away in an electrical surge, only to be replaced by the ability to find lost objects. Just think of your missing item, shake Lucy’s hand, and bam! She’ll know where it is.

This skill comes in handy when she has a vision of a missing wedding ring–on a dead body–immediately embroiling her in a murder case. She asks the assistance of sexy private eye Sean Donahue…and I’m pretty sure you can guess what happens next.

I just hope you weren’t guessing sex, because unfortunately Webber makes the reader wait for the sequels for that. However, that’s not to say there aren’t any steamy moments, because Lucy and Sean have great chemistry. I enjoyed their witty banter and watching them slowly learn to trust one another and fall in love.

Like many romance novels, the mystery plot was a bit clunky and unrealistic, so hopefully the sequels will smooth out the rough patches. Other than that, I was pleasantly surprised by this book, which I bought on a whim. I guess you can judge a book by its cutesy cover!

Now that I’m back home, my blogging should be on schedule now, so check back next week for Masterpiece Monday!