Got behind...

Here are my latest quick reviews of the books I have read in the past year. I decided classic literature is my style and have discovered the joy and ease of books on CD. I have read/listened to more books just driving here and there than ever before. 

1- All of the Jane Austens- just make me happy. Grandma let me borrow the complete works and I enjoyed those until Jan 2011. All of these books are so well written and just enjoyable like the icecream of literature. You just feel happy when the characters who are so good and have been treated unjustly are given their happy ending.

2-The next big book in my life was Les Miserables (read the 2nd time) to prepare for our Anniversary May 27, 2011 broadway treat. Love it. Most people don't realize it is a story intertwined with Hugo's quite liberal philosophies for his day and age. The thing I like about Hugo is he like many authors is very spiritual and christian ideals guide his criticism of an unjust society and highlight the true forms of love and sacrifice in the human spirit. 

3- 2012 was the year of re-reading Harry Potter. This is like the onion of juvenile literature because of all the layers of enjoyment. I so admire JK Rowlings ability to create an entire world of magic. And yes I love that she doesn't sacrifice her story for an easier ending.

4- The candy and chips of literature came next as I explored Twilight, and other simple but enjoyable (but not filling) literature.

5- 2013 I discovered books on CDs and just 20 minutes here and there after 6 weeks gets you through War and Peace- who could imagine.

So, War & Peace- has confirmed my love for Tolstoy. His style is so similar to Hugo's, very spiritual and philosophical. War & Peace is like reading a Jane Austen story in between a review and critique of the War of 1812. One thing I noticed in myself while reading this book was increased gratitude for my world. And yes my world has problems but I don't have to pack up all of my belongings and move to another city because of an invasion, and I don't have to send my Brad off to war wondering if I will ever see him again. As far as the Jane Austen type story goes, it was deeper and better than icecream. The happy ending comes but much like real life- not in the way it was hoped for or anticipated, and the characters you love show growth as the story progresses- their character is strengthened through deception, hurt, and death. But they keep going and living and peace and happiness comes.

Next, Bleak House. At first I was annoyed. I think I wanted more twists and turns because I had just finished Tolstoy. But after reflecting on it and watching the movie I do agree this is probably Dicken's greatest novel. He criticizes the judicial system while also analyzing the many types of hidden motives people have that direct their behavior. This might seem like a simple task but from a psychologists point of view it is very complex and he addressed the complexity. However I most like this book because of the irony it harshly portrays when we wait for that golden ticket. In this situation a promised court settlement. But in life how many of us put our life on hold as we wait for what we deem our entitled rights and determine we cannot be happy until they come. And then when and if they come we sadly realize that so much of our life has slipped by without really living because we were so focused on our golden ticket/ship coming in/miracle so long sought. Dickens so subtly professes with this story- happiness is found in the present moment if we only allow ourselves to see it.

Madame Bovary

I am finding that most of the famous classics written by men involve a female character tempted with adultery and fornication- Anna Karenina, Madame Bovary, Portrait of a Lady, Tess of the D'Ubervilles, Vanity Fair, The Scarlet Letter ect. In these books women are tempted, tried, and then suffer the consequences of their immorality. 18th century authors and beyond definitely have a double standard in the consequences they impose on the women in the adulteress relationships versus the men. But I won't go into a tirade on the double standard of morality. Instead I compliment the authors of most of these books on portraying how the immorality changes and destroys the woman. Madame Bovary in particular was driven mad by living a double life. All unhealthy aspects of a relationship end up ruining the love affairs- jealousy, control, and vanity. Th irony of this book is that she is searching for an ideal image of love created by her youth and fails to see the only real-lasting- forgiving love given to her was by her husband, daughter, and father. Her husband is to blame as well by putting her on a pedestal and spinelessly letting her rule him. His character is weak till the very end where he fully understands of her unfaithfulness and instead of rising above the power of his wife with anger he wishes he could be more like the man of her love affair. The selfishness of his love for her on a pedestal and her love with an ideal image of love end up destroying them both and their families. I always like to find the noble characters in these books and it seems none of the main characters were noble but only "the child" who was innocent but destroyed by her parents.

The Last Lecture

So January and February were very busy months. So a short book like this ended up being shelved for a bit. I enjoyed it accept for some of the "logical viewpoints-tips"t on living- he is a scientist, I am a psychologist, two different personalities to looking at life. I was surprised by the sense of happiness the author had as he looked back at his life nearing the end of it. At the end of the day what would make a satisfied, well fed, happy with the middle type of life? I think his focus on passion, family, and service say it all. It gets you thinking, though. At the end of the day I hope I look back on my life with fulfillment. The main message of the book is fulfilling your childhood dreams. And so I thought back about mine. A growing dream all my life was being able to counsel with children which is my career and passion. Another dream was finding love actually the fairy tale soul mate happily ever after type. Yes I know modern day psychology and church leadership frown upon this idea of love, but anyone who knows me knows I was always in love with love, as "unrealistic" as that may be. The funny thing is that my experience finding my Brad fulfilled these dreams and continues to- he was made just for me and I was made just for him. Another dream was going to Italy which I was able to do last year. Of course I have some unfulfilled dreams I am working towards- being a mom, serving a mission, traveling to Ireland, reading all the great classics, being a foster parent, ect. As I look at my life today I'm quite happy with where I've been, where I am, and where I am going and I guess if at the end of the day I feel this way that will be fulfillment.

One Hundred Years of Solitude

Creative, somewhat entertaining, liked the Latino creative writing, not my favorite but made me think. Solitude. What is solitude. Can you be completely alone though you are surrounded by people. Do we all live a life of solitude at some time in our life. Each of the main characters in this book are drawn to inevitable solitude and have to find ways to negotiate with it. Interesting book. I'm not exactly one of those people who likes solitude though I know it is necessary at times. I always dreaded weekends in high-school when, and they happen to us all, I didn't have plans. The same dread occurred in college when all my roomates had plans but me. I even made a list once of things I could do by myself and be happy. I'm simply a social person, but even social people need to find ways to negotiate with solitude. As luck would have it my husband is a PhD student spending immense amounts of time with his work- though he spends time with me each week and is a sweetheart- so I'm not complaining too loud as I've been a graduate student and spent all of my time with my studies too. But the point is I have come to negotiate with solitude- though I have ample friends and family-you can't be with people all the time or if you are, like many evenings with my husband while he works, you still feel alone. In order to negotiate with solitude like the characters in the book I create projects, goals, clubs, blogs and I simply have to organize my week to have a social agenda.

Some Favorites

The problem with not having a record of what you have read is that you forget. Yet there are still some favorites that stand out from the past years of reading enjoyment.

A Tale of Two Cities
A Separate Peace
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Les Miserables
The Huncheback of Notre Dame
Anna Karenina
Gone With the Wind
David Copperfield
Vanity Fair
Portrait of a Lady
Roots
East of Eden
The Agony and the Ecstasy
Tess of the D'Ubervilles
The Hiding Place
The Book Thief
The Kite Runner

The art of reading

I am a lover of a good book and like most lovers I am quite particular about what makes a good book. I'm not very good with book clubs or timetables but I do always seem to have a book to read and when I am done I like to share my thoughts about it. I am not an English major and more often than not favor a psychological scrutinization of literature. A good book makes me think, makes me evaluate life and people, and often makes me look at life and people differently after reading it. A good book can also be fun and entertaining but still steps beyond the superficial feeling of a weeknight sitcom and has depth and structure that makes you think wow and admire the artist who created it. And so I start this record of the books I read and my thoughts about them.