Ah, Madame Bovary. I read this in the English translation, obviously - you would be waiting for some time for this review if you waited for me to plough through it in French. This is the terribly tragic tale of Emma, who makes a good, solid marriage to the sensible and not overly exciting Dr Bovary. Unfortunately, it doesn't take long for her to become disillusioned as her marriage has not brought the rollercoaster of passion and excitement that she expected. They move to a quiet country town where Charles sets up his medical practice.
Without giving too much of the story away, Madame Bovary then embarks on a life of seeking romance, love and excitement outside her marriage. There are moments of ecstasy, moments of despair, against a background of spiralling debt to fund her lifestyle. Charles is resolutely oblivious.
It doesn't end well.
It was very readable, but to be honest, left me completely cold. I just wanted to shake Emma, and tell her to pull herself together. She was so deluded and silly that I had no sympathy for any of her difficulties or traumas, particularly during her increased neglect/ignoring of her daughter, and I found it really difficult to believe the debt-related strand of the novel. I can understand why it is a classic, but it isn't for me - the characters held no appeal for me, and I didn't really care what happened to them.
This probably displays that I'm not a purist, but I do prefer a story with an element of redemption in it...something that doesn't feature in Madame Bovary.
In other news, I can't find my Kindle - I'm pretty sure it's in the house somewhere but the exact location is a mystery. Hmm. My next reading project will have to be something in real paper...
Monday 31 January 2011
Monday 24 January 2011
Bram Stoker's Dracula
It's amazing how quickly you can read a book when it's totally gripping, you don't have any prior engagements for the weekend, and you then have to spend Monday lying flat on your back because your back seizes up for no apparent reason...
Dracula is one of those novels which has contributed so much to subsequent literature, film and general popular culture that it's definitely worth reading in order to understand all of those references.
It is also a cracking read.
The story is told through the diaries and letters of the main characters - a style which took me a chapter or so to get into, but once I got used to it, the narrative device is used really well & smoothly to create dramatic tension and move the story along.
Although I was obviously already familiar with the general outline of the story I didn't really know any of the detail, and so came to it fresh. It's really refreshing to read a novel of that period that is so geographically mobile, beyond the European Grand Tour - Van Helsing appears to travel to and from Amsterdam in a day or so, and the trip to Transylvania is undertaken with the minimum of planning and trepidation (other than the natural fear of hunting Count Dracula down in his homeland!)
**pauses for brief hiatus in blogging whilst lying on back as cat decides to stand on my chest between me and the keyboard**
It is easy to see how this earned its classic status - the mix of tension, horror, strong characters, and exactly the right level of description to create atmosphere and location without dragging the description out. Definitely worth a read, if only to understand the contribution it has made to so many other works. Interestingly, I can't help but suspect that JK Rowling got the idea for Voldemort & Harry's mental connection from the link between Dracula and Mina...just one of the many contributions!
Dracula is one of those novels which has contributed so much to subsequent literature, film and general popular culture that it's definitely worth reading in order to understand all of those references.
It is also a cracking read.
The story is told through the diaries and letters of the main characters - a style which took me a chapter or so to get into, but once I got used to it, the narrative device is used really well & smoothly to create dramatic tension and move the story along.
Although I was obviously already familiar with the general outline of the story I didn't really know any of the detail, and so came to it fresh. It's really refreshing to read a novel of that period that is so geographically mobile, beyond the European Grand Tour - Van Helsing appears to travel to and from Amsterdam in a day or so, and the trip to Transylvania is undertaken with the minimum of planning and trepidation (other than the natural fear of hunting Count Dracula down in his homeland!)
**pauses for brief hiatus in blogging whilst lying on back as cat decides to stand on my chest between me and the keyboard**
It is easy to see how this earned its classic status - the mix of tension, horror, strong characters, and exactly the right level of description to create atmosphere and location without dragging the description out. Definitely worth a read, if only to understand the contribution it has made to so many other works. Interestingly, I can't help but suspect that JK Rowling got the idea for Voldemort & Harry's mental connection from the link between Dracula and Mina...just one of the many contributions!
Saturday 22 January 2011
Tale of Two Cities
I approached this with some trepidation. My only previous positive experience of Dickens has been the more child-focused - Oliver Twist (finished it, not overwhelmed, easy to read because I knew the story and - hanging head in shame - had seen the musical), and A Christmas Carol (likewise, knew the story, and it only takes about 10 minutes to read - definitely more impressed by this). The only "grown-up" Dickens that I'd attempted was Nicholas Nickleby. Now, there are very few books which have defeated me - as I read so quickly I tend to plough through to the end even if I'm really not enjoying what I'm reading. However, NN has defeated me not once, not twice, but three times - I think on the third attempt I even got past half way, and then realised that I just didn't care enough to make it through to the end. This left me with a bit of a Dickens hangover, and I have been kind of ignoring his works on this list in the vain hope that they'd go away and I wouldn't have to read them. That clearly isn't going to happen, and I realised that if I didn't start making headway I would get to the end of the list with just Shakespeare, Ulysses, and a pile of Dickens - a depressing few months' reading!
So, A Tale of Two Cities. One of the interesting things about reading on a Kindle is that you don't get to read the blurb on the back of the book - I didn't bother reading it when I downloaded it, as I knew I had to read it anyway, and so started reading this with absolutely no idea of what it was about. This is quite reluctant praise, but I have to say that it has entirely transformed my opinion of Dickens - I really didn't think that was possible! ToTC is set in the period of the French Revolution, and takes place across Paris and London. First and foremost, it is a cracking story. It did take me a little while to get into it, but as the revolutionary action really kicked off, it gained momentum and completely gripped me. There were unexpected twists and turns, peril, love stories (requited and unrequited), long-held grudges...brilliant, and all set against the context of a historical period that I know a little about, but not a great deal, so I felt that I was learning too. Always a bonus. I think that part of the reason I found it so gripping was, knowing nothing about it, after the initial period in Paris, when the action moved back to London, it appeared to be settling down into genteel 18th century life, with minor excitements such as marriage and (greatly understated) childbirth, and I prepared to lose interest. So, when it actually then plunged back into the danger and excitement of revolutionary Paris and la Sainte Guillotine, it definitely drew me back in.
The characters were also well-realised. Miss Pross and Mr Cruncher bring the element of comedy (particularly towards the end as they plan their escape, and as Miss Pross faces off with Madame Defarge), and Madame Defarge presents a fantastic image as she grimly listens, and knits the names of the enemies of the revolution into her coded woollen register of people to be punished. Minor characters such as the Vengeance add colour and interest. One interesting facet, in terms of characterisation, is that the "main" characters - Lucie and Charles - are fairly one-dimensional. They are worthy, and good, and act honourably, and Lucie faints at every appropriate juncture. The story revolves around them, but in actual fact it is the characters of Mr Lorry, Sydney Carton, Dr Manette and the Defarges who come to life, hold the story together, and move it forward. I don't know whether this is in some way reflecting the social order at the time, where those who were traditionally in charge lost control and were reliant on their "inferiors" for their lives - or, it may just be that I have no patience for the 18th century "good wife" kind of character, who is passive, quiet and good!
On getting to the end, I can see why the first third of the book, which seems to meander around talking about peasants and villages, is important, so it is definitely worth getting through, as the remainder is a more than adequate reward!
So, I didn't think I'd ever say this, but - I would definitely recommend reading this!
As a bit of light relief, I took a mid-novel break from a ToTC to read The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, which I had for Christmas. Based in the American South in the 60s, it explores the relationship between white women and the black women they employ to run their homes. Please read this - it's brilliant. It's really easy to read, but at the same time well-written and has great substance. The implicit and explicit racism of the society explored will make you angry, but it's not written in that "righteous indignation" tone which can sometimes make books feel too "worthy" to enjoy - it is simply placed before you as part of the novel, and you are left to form your own opinion. I won't go into the detail of the story, as I think it's all best discovered as you go along, but do take my word for it - I can't recommend it highly enough as a relaxing but engaging read!
So, A Tale of Two Cities. One of the interesting things about reading on a Kindle is that you don't get to read the blurb on the back of the book - I didn't bother reading it when I downloaded it, as I knew I had to read it anyway, and so started reading this with absolutely no idea of what it was about. This is quite reluctant praise, but I have to say that it has entirely transformed my opinion of Dickens - I really didn't think that was possible! ToTC is set in the period of the French Revolution, and takes place across Paris and London. First and foremost, it is a cracking story. It did take me a little while to get into it, but as the revolutionary action really kicked off, it gained momentum and completely gripped me. There were unexpected twists and turns, peril, love stories (requited and unrequited), long-held grudges...brilliant, and all set against the context of a historical period that I know a little about, but not a great deal, so I felt that I was learning too. Always a bonus. I think that part of the reason I found it so gripping was, knowing nothing about it, after the initial period in Paris, when the action moved back to London, it appeared to be settling down into genteel 18th century life, with minor excitements such as marriage and (greatly understated) childbirth, and I prepared to lose interest. So, when it actually then plunged back into the danger and excitement of revolutionary Paris and la Sainte Guillotine, it definitely drew me back in.
The characters were also well-realised. Miss Pross and Mr Cruncher bring the element of comedy (particularly towards the end as they plan their escape, and as Miss Pross faces off with Madame Defarge), and Madame Defarge presents a fantastic image as she grimly listens, and knits the names of the enemies of the revolution into her coded woollen register of people to be punished. Minor characters such as the Vengeance add colour and interest. One interesting facet, in terms of characterisation, is that the "main" characters - Lucie and Charles - are fairly one-dimensional. They are worthy, and good, and act honourably, and Lucie faints at every appropriate juncture. The story revolves around them, but in actual fact it is the characters of Mr Lorry, Sydney Carton, Dr Manette and the Defarges who come to life, hold the story together, and move it forward. I don't know whether this is in some way reflecting the social order at the time, where those who were traditionally in charge lost control and were reliant on their "inferiors" for their lives - or, it may just be that I have no patience for the 18th century "good wife" kind of character, who is passive, quiet and good!
On getting to the end, I can see why the first third of the book, which seems to meander around talking about peasants and villages, is important, so it is definitely worth getting through, as the remainder is a more than adequate reward!
So, I didn't think I'd ever say this, but - I would definitely recommend reading this!
As a bit of light relief, I took a mid-novel break from a ToTC to read The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, which I had for Christmas. Based in the American South in the 60s, it explores the relationship between white women and the black women they employ to run their homes. Please read this - it's brilliant. It's really easy to read, but at the same time well-written and has great substance. The implicit and explicit racism of the society explored will make you angry, but it's not written in that "righteous indignation" tone which can sometimes make books feel too "worthy" to enjoy - it is simply placed before you as part of the novel, and you are left to form your own opinion. I won't go into the detail of the story, as I think it's all best discovered as you go along, but do take my word for it - I can't recommend it highly enough as a relaxing but engaging read!
Monday 3 January 2011
Anna Karenina - finished!
I've been half-heartedly reading this for some time (see previous post) and realised that I couldn't bear to go back to work after such a long time off after Christmas without finishing it. This has meant that I've spent a lot of time reading in the last couple of days - there are worse ways to spend a very cold holiday.
Firstly, I'd like to thoroughly recommend to you keen readers that a slanket (blanket with sleeves) is a fantastic addition to your reading equipment. I was given one for Christmas by my brilliant friend Jo - I have rarely left the sofa since due to the extreme comfort (and occasional electric shock from the static it creates), and it has most definitely facilitated reaching the end of a difficult read.
Secondly - Anna Karenina. Hmm. As I read this, I couldn't shake the feeling that Tolstoy had about three different books in mind, and at least 6 essays on philosophical and religious concepts, as he wrote and, rather than writing separate works, rolled it all into one. My overwhelming feeling at the end was word fatigue. I think this is mainly due to the way Tolstoy seemed to be working towards a grand ending, then veered off for a few thousand words to discuss the rights and wrongs of war, before shoe horning the story back towards his ending...I think it would have been more powerful as a culmination without this diversion.
There are three main strands to the story - Anna & Vronsky, Kitty & Levin, and Dolly & Stiva. Anna & Vronsky are an exploration of what might happen if you follow your heart at the expense of previous commitments and promises - the social quagmire they find themselves in, the realisation of how much has been given up, and the guilt all chip away at the happiness of their new-found love and it is never going to end well. Dolly & Stiva as a storyline kind of hovered in the background - they feature strongly at the beginning but, once Dolly accepts Stiva's adultery and decides to move on with their marriage, fade into the background as a constant reminder of the stresses and strains of living beyond your means. Stiva seems to play the part of a catalyst for other events in the novel, often coincidentally popping up in unexpected places to facilitate meetings between other characters or the moving on of the story. Kitty & Levin were, I think, the most interesting characters, in the way that they develop and grow a happy and fulfilled relationship despite Levin's best efforts to sabotage it by over-thinking.
It is a majestic work. I suspect it would be made vastly more readable by removing the sections on the peasantry & musings on the best way to manage farmland and there were also times when it seemed to drift for 50 pages or so before moving things on. I suspect Tolstoy's aim in writing was more about the leisurely exploration of concepts than creating a tight, fast-moving tale...or if not, this is certainly what he achieved. I can't see myself reading it again - I actually didn't find any of the characters particularly believable, and also didn't think that any of them moved much beyond the initial character sketch/characteristics laid out for them. I suspect that each character represented a particular type of belief or person in society but I'm just not interested enough to do the reading which would give me that background knowledge...sorry! I would not venture to argue that it shouldn't be considered one of the greats - but it is probably one I won't even dip into again. As Daniel commented in my previous post - it's useful to have read it to understand other allusions to the work but that's about as far as it goes.
So, next - slightly unenviable choice between the three as-yet-unread Dickens novels on the list. I need to read one now or I will find myself at the end with all Dickens to go, and I can't think of anything worse!
Firstly, I'd like to thoroughly recommend to you keen readers that a slanket (blanket with sleeves) is a fantastic addition to your reading equipment. I was given one for Christmas by my brilliant friend Jo - I have rarely left the sofa since due to the extreme comfort (and occasional electric shock from the static it creates), and it has most definitely facilitated reaching the end of a difficult read.
Secondly - Anna Karenina. Hmm. As I read this, I couldn't shake the feeling that Tolstoy had about three different books in mind, and at least 6 essays on philosophical and religious concepts, as he wrote and, rather than writing separate works, rolled it all into one. My overwhelming feeling at the end was word fatigue. I think this is mainly due to the way Tolstoy seemed to be working towards a grand ending, then veered off for a few thousand words to discuss the rights and wrongs of war, before shoe horning the story back towards his ending...I think it would have been more powerful as a culmination without this diversion.
There are three main strands to the story - Anna & Vronsky, Kitty & Levin, and Dolly & Stiva. Anna & Vronsky are an exploration of what might happen if you follow your heart at the expense of previous commitments and promises - the social quagmire they find themselves in, the realisation of how much has been given up, and the guilt all chip away at the happiness of their new-found love and it is never going to end well. Dolly & Stiva as a storyline kind of hovered in the background - they feature strongly at the beginning but, once Dolly accepts Stiva's adultery and decides to move on with their marriage, fade into the background as a constant reminder of the stresses and strains of living beyond your means. Stiva seems to play the part of a catalyst for other events in the novel, often coincidentally popping up in unexpected places to facilitate meetings between other characters or the moving on of the story. Kitty & Levin were, I think, the most interesting characters, in the way that they develop and grow a happy and fulfilled relationship despite Levin's best efforts to sabotage it by over-thinking.
It is a majestic work. I suspect it would be made vastly more readable by removing the sections on the peasantry & musings on the best way to manage farmland and there were also times when it seemed to drift for 50 pages or so before moving things on. I suspect Tolstoy's aim in writing was more about the leisurely exploration of concepts than creating a tight, fast-moving tale...or if not, this is certainly what he achieved. I can't see myself reading it again - I actually didn't find any of the characters particularly believable, and also didn't think that any of them moved much beyond the initial character sketch/characteristics laid out for them. I suspect that each character represented a particular type of belief or person in society but I'm just not interested enough to do the reading which would give me that background knowledge...sorry! I would not venture to argue that it shouldn't be considered one of the greats - but it is probably one I won't even dip into again. As Daniel commented in my previous post - it's useful to have read it to understand other allusions to the work but that's about as far as it goes.
So, next - slightly unenviable choice between the three as-yet-unread Dickens novels on the list. I need to read one now or I will find myself at the end with all Dickens to go, and I can't think of anything worse!
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