Review: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre

by Charlotte Bronte

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Jane Eyre on Goodreads

     Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is a 19th century gothic classic that many people have to read in high school literature classes. I actually borrowed the copy I read from someone who had to do just that. So I got a few weird looks when I told people I was reading it for fun, but I feel like this is just one of those books everyone should read at some point. It's not on the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list for nothing. Although some of their choices are actually pretty questionable (Things Fall Apart? Notes from Underground? Is this just me?), the majority of the books I've read from that list have been quite good. But I digress. I suppose my point in starting off this way is to tell people not to be intimidated by this book. Yes, the antiquated language is hard at first to understand. But trust me, you will get the hang of it. By the end of the book, I rarely had to stop and reread a sentence in order to fully understand it. And I actually think the language adds a lot to the book. It's beautiful once you can follow it. My other point is that this book isn't just for English teachers or English majors. It's like Pride and Prejudice but darker. 

     My main issue with this novel is that it was hard to get into at first for reasons beyond just the slight language barrier. Not much happens in the first 100 or so pages and so one might almost be tempted to give up. But don't. It's worth it. And later you see that at least a good portion of those pages actually were there for a reason. There were a few other places that got a little slow but it always picked back up. For the most part, I actually really enjoyed the plot. Jane's journey is not your cliched romance novel journey and she has to go through some pretty dark times. I actually found myself surprised by some of the plot twists, which was something satisfying and refreshing in contrast to the many books that follow a relatively generic pattern. I also really liked most of the characters because most had at least one fundamental flaw, which made them seem more human and real. What more does a book really need besides great writing, an interesting plot, and realistic characters?

*******

"Love is not so much a matter of romance as it is a matter of anxious concern for the wellbeing of one's companion." 

*******

COMING SOON: A review of Shiver by Maggie Steifvater

Review: Como Agua Para Chocolate (Like Water For Chocolate) by Laura Esquivel

Como Agua Para Chocolate

(Like Water For Chocolate)

by Laura Esquivel

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Como Agua Para Chocolate on Goodreads

Laura Esquivel's 1989 novel Como Agua Para Chocolate (Like Water For Chocolate) is a masterpiece of magic realism that takes place in 1910 revolutionary Mexico. I should start by saying that magic realism is definitely not a style loved by all readers. Many people like it, but many people don't. Including me. Usually. However, I was still captivated by this story and was not at all put off by the sometimes strange, unrealistic, exaggerated, and fantastical events. I read this book for my Literary Criticism Spanish class and my professor was able to give us some insight into cultural differences in reactions to magic realism. This style is apparently much more common in Mexico where their values and beliefs foster acceptance of abstract, almost folkloric stories such as this one. In the United States, however, we are raised in a society of literalism where not everyone wants to suspend disbelief when reading a story. In general, we don't believe in the abstract effects that food has on the characters in this novel and their emotions. But for most Mexican readers, it's not all that strange. While reading this novel in its original Spanish form, I was convinced and I began to believe along with them. That, in itself, speaks tons for the power of the story. Laura Esquivel uses this style to her advantage and she executes it well. I watched the movie based on Como Agua Para Chocolate and it was terrible. Many scenes were awkward and laughably absurd while the corresponding scenes in the book were interesting and magical, if a tad unlikely and abstract. Esquivel's writing succeeds where the movie fails -- in execution of a style that, if not done right, can go terribly awry.

There were so many things to love beyond just the style. The story is action-packed and drama-filled. The Mexican revolution forms a nice historical backdrop and gives cultural context and significance to the novel. I loved the relationships between characters and the emotions that are evoked and described throughout the story, even if I did prefer John to Pedro. Mama Elena is a superb villain. And I really liked that the chapters were split up by month/dish. 


Two things that weren't my favorite -- the in-depth description of each recipe and Pedro. I am not a cook and so more than a cursory description of how to make a dish doesn't exactly interest me and often confuses me (especially when I'm reading it in another language!). I did like the food premise and that each chapter was based on a different recipe. I even liked the fact that food had such a strong, emotional effect on those who consumed it. It only became a negative part of the book for me when the story would stop for a paragraph or two or even a page just to explain how exactly the dish was made. However, this is merely a personal preference and I'm sure that many, especially those who love to cook, will actually like this bit of the story. And finally, Pedro. Oh Pedro, how I loathe thee. I love a good romance. And I did like the romance in Como Agua Para Chocolate. But I did not like Pedro. He is selfish, rude, controlling, and at times violent. None of the qualities I look for in a guy. But hey, to each his own. I just felt like he was a rather unlikable character. *SPOILER ALERT* One scene in which he locks Tita in a dark room and practically rapes her seems like such a casual part of the story, which was rather shocking to me. I suppose I can appreciate that in the end she followed her true feelings of passion and love but I just can't understand why she had them for Pedro. *END SPOILER* 

In conclusion, I highly suggest this novel. And I do believe that it is somehow even more magical when read in Spanish.

*******

"Ella conocía, pues lo había sentido en carne propia, lo poderoso que puede ser el fuego de una mirada" (59). 

"She knew, since she had felt it in her own flesh, how powerful the fire of a look can be" (59)

*******

COMING SOON: A review of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

Review: Bodas de Sangre (Blood Wedding) by Federico García Lorca

Bodas de Sangre

(Blood Wedding)

by Federico García Lorca

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Bodas de Sangre on Goodreads

I read Federico García Lorca's 1932 play, Bodas de Sangre, this past semester for my Literary Criticism Spanish class and didn't like it. The play is essentially about a love triangle that develops between the three main characters - el Novio (fiancé/groom), la Novia (fiancée/bride), and Leonardo. El Novio and la Novia are engaged to be married but la Novia is in love with Leonardo. Despite la Novia's supposedly genuine attempt to follow through with her marriage to el Novio, things go terribly wrong on their wedding day. While I can admit and appreciate that this play does have many laudable literary characteristics and was probably a good piece of literature for the purpose of the class, I just didn't like it. I'm not generally a fan of reading plays anyway* so maybe that added to my dislike of it. It also may be because I find its content to be a bit, in my opinion, outdated? Or at the very least, not relatable for me, personally. I think I connect most with literature when I can relate to the characters and their experiences. In addition, the play was a bit too pessimistic and violent for my taste. I found it hard to sympathize with la Novia despite her and Lorca's insistence on the role of sino (fate) in the events of the play.

However, as I've mentioned, there were plenty of redeeming qualities that make this work a valuable piece of literature, if not an extremely enjoyable one to read. For one, it paints a good picture of the social dynamics of rural Andalucía, the southernmost region of Spain, in the 1930's. It depicts the difficulty of life during that time due to the severe heat and dryness, as well as the violence  prevalent in the region. The traditional gender roles of the time are also clearly differentiated. From the very first scene, Lorca shows that men dominate in the violent world outside the home while women are the hardworking masters of the domestic realm. Bodas de Sangre is a rich and lasting piece of this culture. The literary aspect of this play is also impressive. It is teeming with symbols, imagery, foreshadowing, and dramatic irony. And this side of the play is where I get the 2.5 stars. I'll take away 50% of the stars because I didn't enjoy reading it but I'll give it 50% because it really is an important piece of Spanish literature. 

If you do want or have to read the play for some reason, I highly suggest the edition pictured above with Allen Josephs and Juan Caballero as the editors. It is an annotated edition which is VERY helpful with understanding all of the literary devices and such that I mentioned above. Especially if you are reading it in Spanish and that is not your native language, the footnotes will help tremendously. 

"CRIADA: ¡Pero niña! ¿Una boda, qué es? Una boda es esto y nada más. ¿Son los dulces? ¿Son los ramos de flores? No. Es una cama relumbrante y un hombre y una mujer" (119). 

"MAID: But child! A wedding, what is it? A wedding is this and nothing more. Is it sweets? Is it bouquets of flowers? No. It is a dazzling bed and a man and a woman" (119).

COMING SOON: A review of the other big piece of literature I read for that class, Como Agua Para Chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate) by Laura Esquivel. 

*On a side note, my favorite play I've read to date and one of the few I've actually liked was Six Degrees of Separation by John Guare. I highly suggest reading it and/or watching the movie. 

Review: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden

by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Rating: 2/5 stars

The Secret Garden on Goodreads

In The Secret Garden, Mary Lennox moves to England after the death of her parents to live in a lavish mansion belonging to her uncle. She discovers a secret garden that had belonged to her uncle's late wife but was abandoned after her death. Mary makes it her mission to find a way to get into the garden and bring it back to life. The garden, in return, teaches Mary many life lessons and inspires her to pass her wisdom onto her cousin, Colin. 


I'm not sure that I liked the book, but I don't think I particularly disliked it either. After going back and forth, I finally ended up giving it 2 stars but I'm still not sure. I think I would've given a higher rating to an abridged version. I found myself forcing myself to continue reading, which is never a good sign. For a good portion of the book, I used the Librivox audiobook which I think helped some, especially with being able to hear the Yorkshire accent. I honestly don't think I would've gotten through the book without it. If you really want to tackle this book, for whatever reason, I suggest using it. The first 1/2 of the book dragged on and on so much that I was kind of bored by the time I got to the 2nd half where the book is (in my opinion) actually likable. 

The secret garden is charming. And so are the characters. Dickon and his mother were my favorite. But something about the book just doesn't do it for me. Not enough happens for this book to be 300 pages and it gets rather repetitive. However, I can definitely see how this book would appeal to children. The garden is presented as a forbidden but wondrous land with almost magical powers. I can see where children would love that aspect of the book and the fact that it was written from the perspective of a child. I know I read it in about 3rd grade but I don't remember whether I liked it then or not. Perhaps it just doesn't have the same appeal for older readers. 

It certainly does have some life lessons in it that might be particularly useful for younger readers. However, we could all learn a thing or two, even if it's just a reminder. I think the whole point of the book is summed up in the first paragraph of chapter 27.

I really didn't like this book as much as I wanted or expected to and ended up being rather disappointed. 

The 10 Books I Got For Christmas

Books are always the first thing I put on my Christmas List. This year I went through the books that I still want to read (which is ridiculously long, by the way) and made a diverse list of 9 or so books that I wanted to start with. Luckily, I got 6 of those plus 3 different books from my mom and 1 of them from my aunt. YAY!

  

1. Sleepwalk With Me: and Other Painfully True Stories by Mike Birbiglia

Mike is my hero. And yes, we are on a first name basis. Okay not really, but I wish. He is the most hilarious stand up comedian I have ever listened to. I could never really get into Dane Cooke or Sarah Silverman or most anything on Comedy Central because while explicit and profane can be funny, it gets old rather quickly. Mike sprinkles it in occasionally but for the most part his jokes are hilariously awkward stories about his own life.  I listened to his two CDs and have seen him various other places - This American Life, Comedy Central, YouTube, and one of those late night TV shows. If you have never listened to his stuff, stop reading this blog immediately and look him up on YouTube. I've started this book and at 30 pages in, I'm really liking it. I think I may like his stand-up slightly better though because the way he says his jokes makes them 5000 times better. From the reviews that I read on GoodReads, I noticed a lot of people suggesting that future readers listen to his stand-up first because  it will help them read the book as if Mike, himself, is narrating it in their heads. I can vouch for this. I agree completely. Even though I've only read 30 pages, I am already suggesting it. Read it. It will make you laugh. That's what comedy is all about, right?

2. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortensen and David Oliver Relin

I've been wanting to read this for a while and after it was mentioned multiple times in my English class last semester, I figured it was time to follow up on it. As an aspiring teacher, the fact that he wanted to build a school first drew my attention to the book. Hopefully it will be as interesting and inspiring as I've imagined.

3. That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo

Last spring I read Russo's Empire Falls for my American literature English class and loved it. Generally when I read a book I like, I plan to sometime in the future read at least one other book that author has written. I don't quite remember why I chose this one out of all of Russo's books. Perhaps because I like the cover (I admit that I do sometimes judge books by their covers when I can't otherwise decide which ones to read) or the fact that it takes place near the ocean. Either way, I have high hopes for this one.

4. Passage to Juneau by Jonathan Raban

This one has a similar story. I read Raban's Hunting Mister Heartbreak: A Discovery of America for my travel literature class this past semester. I was captivated by his descriptions of people, places, and events. Such descriptions are a very important aspect of travel literature and he consistently nails them. They are dense yet you end up wanting to read every minute detail. He has an interesting perspective, as well, since in both Hunting Mister Heartbreak and Passage to Juneau he is an Englishman travelling to and observing places in the United States. I chose Passage to Juneau of all his books because I've actually been to Juneau and I wonder if we had any of the same observations. Somehow I think his might be a bit more profound and more eloquently articulated.

5. An Eagle Named Freedom: My True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Jeff Guidry

Last year I got half a year's subscription to People magazine for Christmas. My favorite part every week was the books section. I'm pretty sure this is where I saw this one. Every one needs a true inspirational story  every once in a while.

6. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

No Christmas list is complete without a young adult and/or chick lit book and this was my first choice from those categories. I've heard only great things about this book. Can't wait to start it!

7. Model Home by Eric Puchner

As I suspected (Google is a wonderful thing), I must have also seen this in the book section of People magazine. Am I the only one who reads People to discover new books? Okay maybe I secretly like the celebrity gossip part, too. But seriously, the books are my favorite part. I suppose I picked this one because it got a great review - 4/4 stars - by People's Richard Eisenberg. And who doesn't love a story about a dysfunctional family going crazy? I certainly do.

The following 3 are books that weren't on my list but that my mom picked out for me. She tends to be pretty good at picking out books that I'll like so hopefully this time won't be any different (and it doesn't appear it will be).

8. A Darcy Christmas: A Holiday Tribute to Jane Austen by Amanda Grange, Sharon Lathan, and Carolyn Eberhart

This is a collection of three novellas all having to do with the Darcy family from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (which I thoroughly enjoyed and hope to reread at some point). What a perfect book for Christmas! I will probably save reading it until next Christmas since I think it would be best enjoyed around my favorite holiday but I can't wait to read these stories of the oh-so-lovable Mr. Darcy. If only Colin Firth were on the cover…

9. All We Ever Wanted Was Everything by Janelle Brown

I can't help but think that my mom picked this up with me in mind because of the title. Cue a slight twinge of guilt. But all that guilt could totally melt away if I could just get my hands on that taunting, delectable ice cream sundae on the cover. The cover is reason alone for owning this book (even if you never read it). I might buy another copy, tear off the cover, and hang it up as wall art in my dorm room. I'm only kidding. I think. I don’t know much else about this book, but from the back cover it sounds interesting.

10. Testimony by Anita Shreve

This book had me at "a New England boarding school," the first words of the description on the back of the book. Any elite boarding school somewhere up North is bound to have loads of drama to keep me fully satisfied. Add in the sex scandal that is the central plot of the novel and drama is more than guaranteed. Good choice, Mom!

And now you may be wondering (if you've made it this far) which 2 books on my list didn't quite make their way under my tree.

Happy Isles of Oceania: Paddling the Pacific by Paul Theroux

I read a Paul Theroux article in the travel lit class I talked about earlier and I was drawn to his writing. I've always wanted to go to Australia and New Zealand. If I can't go there, may as well read about someone else going.

AND

Sweet Love by Sarah Strohmeyer

If the title is any indication, this is in some way a love story. If the cover is any indication, the book in some way involves delicious cupcakes (my favorite!). Already a winner. My observational skills must be fantastic because the book is actually about two people with a past falling in love yet again while doing none other than baking wonderful desserts. Mmm… my mouth is watering.

Hopefully there will be reviews of some of these up sometime in the future!

First Review: Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Along for the Ride

Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen on Along for the Ride

Rating:  5/5 stars

Let me just start by saying that I love Sarah Dessen. She is one of my favorite authors of all time (along with J.K. Rowling, Nicholas Sparks, Roald Dahl, etc.) and she is by far my favorite young adult and chick lit author.  Her books are chick lit at its finest and Along for the Ride is no exception. This is the sixth book by Sarah Dessen that I've read and it seems that she keeps progressing further and writing better books as she continues into her career. And this is as it should be. I really liked Someone Like You and Keeping the Moon but I LOVED her last four books: The Truth About Forever, Just Listen, Lock and Key, and now Along for the Ride. I gave each of these latter four books five stars and they all made it onto my list of favorite books. All of them.  And I cannot wait for What Happened to Goodbye.

Along for the Ride is narrated by an overly studious, ambitious, and intelligent 18 year old, Auden West (whose literary name reflects both the personalities and career paths of her divorced parents). She decides to go to a beach town called Colby to live with her father for the summer before she goes off to college at the prestigious Defriese University. The laid-back nature of the town and people she meets and befriends there teach her to loosen up and have some fun. Through many late-night adventures, she meets and falls in love with Eli and together they overcome their pasts.

One of the reasons I loved this book so much was because of the narrator, Auden, and how well I related to her. I, too, focus a bit too much on academics at times and even my parents often try to persuade me to have a little bit more fun. Also, like Auden, I am a night person and literally have only gone to bed before 4am once in the past two weeks since I'm on Christmas vacation and home from school. She also has one of the same major flaws as I do - not knowing how to accept failure and ask for a second chance. This is one of the most important pieces of wisdom in Along for the Ride. But there are so many more. I found myself taking note of page numbers quite often  so that I could go back and read a paragraph or two that resonated in my mind.

I also particularly liked the imagery of the bikes that ran throughout the entire book. It was well done with relevant and significant metaphors and symbolic meaning but I never felt that it was ever TOO present or overused. The imagery, of course, begins with the cover and the title of the book. Many of the main characters work at a bike shop in Colby and ride competitively. One of the pivotal points in the novel is when Auden finally learns how to ride her bike. And Adam, one of the bike shop workers and a friend of Auden's, repeatedly tells her that "the bottom line is, what defines you isn't about how many times you crash, but the number of times you get back on the bike" (325).

I also enjoyed the parent/child dynamic between Auden and her parents and her stepmother Heidi. Her parents each had their own problems and it was interesting to see their characters develop throughout the novel, especially her mother. I found Heidi to be a surprisingly likable and admirable character. I loved the interactions between the four of them.

Other themes in this novel included judgements and first appearance, not fitting into stereotypes, one's childhood and past, the nighttime and darkness as a liberating escape, living up to expectations, a person's ability to change, and second chances. Both Heidi and Maggie, Auden's friend and coworker, greatly surprise Auden with their intelligence . She immediately judges them as stupid girly girls because they like pink, fashion, gossip and boys. Throughout the summer she is able to let go of her judgmental attitude (much like her mother's) and give people a chance to show her who they are. This also helps her realize that she can relax and have some fun every now and then, especially over the summer when she isn't in school. She learns how to interact with people and, most importantly, she learns that people can change if they are offered a second chance.

"Life is full of screwups….You're supposed to fail sometimes. 

It's a required part of the human existence" (260) -- Eli

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys young adult literature, love stories, chick lit, or Sarah Dessen and to anyone looking for a great introduction into this genre or a new author to read.

Along for the Ride on Goodreads

More reviews to come!