Picnic at Hanging Rock

 

This was a pretty cool Australian book about a few girls who disappear at a picnic. The novel is more concerned with the aftermath that it has on the other characters and the town. The author leaves it a mystery. Apparently, Joan Lindsay gave away the secret in one of her sequels, but I don't care to read it. Somethings remain best a secret. The movie is an awesome adaptation and is a classic in its own right.  

I used to live here once

 

This was a pretty good biography of the writer's life. It talks about her Caribbean childhood which inspired Wide Sargasso Sea then goes about her relationship with Ford Madox Ford who discovered her and also used Jean. I think it's cool, that Jean wrote her masterpiece in her old age and then her old books were rediscovered. The only problem that I had with the book is that I felt like the writer was making fun of the squabbles Jean had with her neighbors when she was elderly. I felt like it could have been done with more compassion. 

Philosophers

 

This book which has the biographies of several philosophers has mixed opinions on goodreads but I liked it. People wanted more to know more about the philosophers' ideas. I liked just getting the gist and reading about their biographies. There's a lot of people who got exiled here and some eccentrics too. I was also surprised at the number of mathematicians and scientists among the thinkers.  I was pleased with the contribution of female thinkers. I especially found the story of Heloise and Peter Abelard intriguing. There's also plenty of paragraphs written about minor philosophers. I enjoyed reading this.  

The Tempest

 

I tried reading this a few years ago but got confused. Then I tried again this week. It's good but I wouldn't say this was one of Shakespeare's best. This was one of the last plays that Shakespeare wrote himself. I've heard rumors that Francis Bacon wrote his plays. But something tells me the guy was a genius and people are reluctant to give him all the credit. This play concerns a magician who raises a tempest and leaves a group of people shipwrecked on an island. There are many themes within the play like family for example Miranda, Prospero's daughter and Prospero's own family. Another theme is revenge with Prospero wanting to get revenge on his brother Antonio for taking over his position. It's too bad the movie with Helen Mirren is supposed to be bad. 

Mexican History: A Captivating Guide to the history of Mexico

 

I'm trying to broaden what I read. Since I could be more informative about history, I've been adding some nonfiction book. This book on the history of Mexico was enough to capture my interest throughout. I learned some about the Aztecs and the Mexican Revolution. Now I know the roles that Pancho Villa and Zapata played in the Mexican revolution. I would have liked the book to have more pictures but aside from that minor complaint it was all right. 

Anne of Green Gables

 

I just finished watching Anne with an E on Netflix and I decided it was time to return to the original source. I didn't read Anne of Green Gables until I was an adult. As a kid it was always a book I kept putting off. I've read it a few times as an adult and I also read three other books in the series.  But nothing is like the original book. I liked Anne as an adult but there was something about her as a child. I think it was her precociousness that won me over. There is a reason why this is a classic. The orphan wins over your heart. I'm pretty sure in another 100 years there will be many retellings of Anne of Green Gables.  It's the kind of thing that demands to be retold over and over again. 

My Marriage

 

This wasn't fun to read. It's about the downfall of a marriage as it turns into divorce. Neither character is likable. The guy's unfaithful but you start to even get on his side after her misuse of his money. This was semi-autobiographical, and you can tell. It was published after the writer's death. It was done well but it was exhausting. Still, I am curious about Jakob Wassermann's career as a writer. 

Japanese Mythology

 

I bought this on a whim from Amazon because of the cool cover. You really shouldn't judge a book by its cover because this was the worst mythology book I've ever read. Half the book deals with Japanese history which I didn't really see the point of. The other part of the book categorized alphabetically talking about gods and other things. I walked away feeling I really didn't learn anything from Japanese mythology. I've already started another book on the subject.

The Whitsun Weddings

 

This is English poet's Philip Larkin's most famous collection. I liked The Less Deceived more. Three poems stuck out for me. "First Sight" suggests that nothing is everlasting in life. He goes on about how lambs learn to walk in snow, kind of like how humans start out in innocence begin they begin their journey through this world alone. In "Ignorance" he goes on about how we really aren't aware of the people around us and the unpredictability of life. "Wild Oats" was the poem I remembered the most. He talks about how he chose a plain girl over a beautiful one because he found it easier to talk to the other. He goes on about how he regrets his choice. At first, I was annoyed, but then this really explains the way of life. I've had unrequited crushes like that too. Larkin seems like he was more likable than the usual poet. He didn't live an extravagant life. He kept the same librarian job through the rest of his life but the little poetry he wrote is truly outstanding. 

Princess of Cleves

This had a mediocre rating on Goodreads. I'm glad I ignored it and read it anyway. It's not a masterpiece but I enjoyed it. This classic was written in the late 1600's anonymously probably because I'm guessing it was a female writer. A woman is infatuated with another man during her marriage. She doesn't have an affair, but she does confide in her husband about the man. The news brings about her husband's death. Seeing her mistake, the woman changes her life and becomes holy.  I thought it was involving. The book apparently was the first psychological novel written. 

The Less Deceived

 

I was surprised by how much I liked this book. It's really good poetry. It's simple to the point where it's easily comprehensible without being pretentious. I never heard of Philip Larkin before so that was where some of my skepticism came from. He's not as giant of a name as Sylvia Plath. However, I still have a lot to learn about poetry. There were three poems that stood out for me. "Maiden Name" takes a different approach on marriage saying that a girl has something to lose when she gets married. Her old identity gets lost in the process. "Born Yesterday" goes on about how happiness can be found in just being average. "Triple Time" is about the missed opportunities of adulthood. It doesn't look like Larkin wrote a massive amount of poetry which is a shame because he really was talented.   

The Broken Heart

'Tis Pity's she a Whore so far as been my favorite John Ford play, but this was good. This play was written in the late 1600's.  Because of her brother Ithocles' unwise decisions Penthea has to marry the overbearing jealous Bassanes instead of Orgilus. Her brother soon realizes the error of his ways, but Orgilus sets out to get his revenge. The title of the play refers to the fate of Calantha, Ithocles love.  This covers topic like murder and suicide but 'Tis Pity was juicer. 

The Critic

 

This was just ok. Frankly I thought it was easily the worst Richard Brinsley Sheridan play I've read. It's about a critic Mr. Dangle and him seeing an atrocious play by a man named Mr. Puff. The play Mr. Puff wrote is supposed to be a satire of the plays of the time. I have to admit I probably would have appreciated this play more if I was more familiar with the plays of the late 1700's which is my own fault. Still, Sheridan's The school for scandal is an excellent play and The Rivals was good too. The man had talent. 

Boston Adventure

 

I love Jean Stafford, and this was her first book. It's promising but she did way better later with her masterpiece The Mountain Lion and her short stories. I loved those works so much that I read a biography of the author. This is probably loosely based on her life, a book where she talks of a childhood with a father who deserts them and a mother who eventually becomes mentally ill. Jean becomes a secretary for a rich woman writing her memoirs later on. The problem for me laid with the length. It was over 400 pages. I loved the first hundred, but it started to run out of steam. 

Loving

 

This was all right. It wasn't bad but it wasn't exactly a page turner either.  It concerns the life of the servants of the Tennant household during World War II. We go through the loves of the servants and various situations like the theft of a ring. I got lost because little happened. I kept thinking that maybe I missed something, but I didn't. The plot line of the IRA was kind of interesting, but I'll be surprised if I read another book by Henry Green. 

The Hairy Ape

 This was a good existentialistic play from Eugene O'Neill. The character Yank is a strong dumb man who works on a ship. When a wealthy girl refers to him as a beast at work, Yank loses it. He goes on a journey and realizes that both the rich and his own social class reject him. The ending is truly ironic when he comes across an ape itself. I found this play to be about the struggle to belong as well as a message on the social class. Eugene O'Neill was one of the better playwrights in the 1920s and his work is still riveting to read today. 

Time Cat

 

This was a pretty cute book from Lloyd Alexander about a boy and his cat time traveling. They see how cats were revered in Egypt and feared in Salem, Massachusetts. They even run into Leonardo da Vinci. This would be liked by history buffs or just parents who want wholesome fun entertainment. The Chronicles of Prydain would come later and then Lloyd Alexander would truly make his mark on children's literature.

Anna Christie

 I haven't read this play since I was eleven. I've seen the Greta Garbo movie a few times though. I was pretty impressed. It's about a prostitute whose father rarely saw her growing up just abandoning her to a farm. She comes to visit him as an adult with the intention of making a clean slate and lying about her past. She falls in love with a sailor. She enjoys the reputation of being a good girl, but guilt eventually creeps in. Anna doesn't feel worthy of the sailor. The truth comes out. While it does end on an upbeat note I think this is a pretty grim book about one's past. None of the characters are saints in this play. It's one of O'Neill's better plays. I need to revisit him. 

Poetry for Dummies

 

I know. It's not literature. I got this because I wanted an overview of the history of poetry and some vocabulary. I've been reading poetry for two years, but I needed the basics still. Most of this book is about writing poetry and going to poetry slams and such, things I would never do. I don't have the interest to pursue that, but I admire the art. This did give me a reading list of books to read though so it was worth the purchase.

The High King

 

The final book in The Chronicles of Prydain won the Newberry Medal. It is a good book, and he deserved that award for the Prydain series was exceptional children's literature. Still, I think it's the weakest in the series. Taran Wanderer and The Black Cauldron were more magical and involving. However, The High King did its purpose of wrapping the series up. It's sad it took me until my late 30's to finally get around to this series. I know I would have liked it as a kid, but I enjoyed it immensely as an adult. How many adults can say that about children's literature? 

A Midsummer's Night Dream

 

This makes the eighth play that I've read from Shakespeare. I didn't really read him growing up so it's time to play catch up. My high school experience just consisted of teachers showing two movie adaptations. Yeah, they did a really bad job. This comedy is about four people, two men that love a girl Hermia, but she only loves Lysander. Demetrius the other man is pursued by another girl Helena. Then some faeries enter the plot. It was amusing and enchanting at the same time.  I'll probably read it again a few years later. I'm interested to watch the old movie.

Australian Mythology

 

This was an ok book by regular mythology writer Matt Clayton. While there are stories about koalas and kangaroos the story I liked the best was the one about two bachelors. Their competition with each other eventually leads to murder. Like Clayton's other books this one went by pretty quickly. I wish his books had illustrations. That would make it so much cooler. 

Copenhagen

 

This was a Tony award winning play about two physicists and the mysterious meeting that they had. This explores the ethics and other questions of the atom bomb that the two of them discussed that day. Something was missing for me in this play. I wasn't exactly turning the page. I did get it done in a few days but I didn't find it that involving. I have a feeling it would have been better seen live.  

Taran Wanderer

 

Lloyd Alexander's four book in the series was pretty cool. Taran goes on a quest to find out about his origins hoping to find he's of noble birth to please Eilonwy the girl of his dreams. Only his journey makes him change his priorities. Along the way he tries pottery, weaving, and making swords. What he finds in the mirror at the end is pretty cool. The book wasn't predictable. It surpassed my expectations and Taran came out more likable in the end. 

The Morning Watch

 

A Death in the Family has been one of those books I've been meaning to read since I was a kid. I read this short novel by Agee although people say it's like the sequel to A Death in the Family. It's about a boy grieving over his father's death but it's mostly about his thoughts on religion. There were some pretty powerful passages on Jesus' sacrifice. I didn't think this way as a kid. My thoughts on religion weren't so deep so I related to the book more on this time of my life. It is also a rewarding coming of age book. 

The Castle of Llyr

 

This was another cool entry into legendary The Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander. It was a series that I kept putting to the back burner when I was a kid. I'm 39 now and finally getting around to it. The characters are pretty likable, and you can really tell that the author was really inspired by mythology and used it well to enrich his series. In this book Eilonwy is set out to become a lady. A prince takes to her which bothers Taran, the assistant-pig keeper who realizes his love for her but doesn't reveal his feelings due to his station. Eilonwy gets kidnapped by Magg, and they are in danger once again by Achren. Taran goes on a quest to find her with Prince Ruhn and others. I've already started book 4. 

The Black Cauldron

 

I think that Disney did a good job with this but theirs was more whimsical. The book is more of an adventure piece. I like them both, but the approach was different. I never read The Chronicles of Prydain series when I was a kid. I just kept putting it off. I missed off. I may be 39 now but it is never too late. The characters are more drawn out in the book. Taran, the assistant pig keeper and a couple of men are on a quest to destroy The Black Cauldron from Arawn. The scene with the witches though was pretty fun in the Disney movie. 

The Night in Question

 

I watched A Boy's Life when I was nineteen and immediately read the book which was an autobiography written by Wolff. I'm surprised it took me twenty years to read another book by the author. He's a good writer. I just kept putting it off. This is a pretty good short story collection. My favorite story here has to be The Chain. It's about a man who lets his best friend get revenge on the people who've done him wrong. The story shows that this man is far from a good man. His sense of justice is twisted and does more harm than what took in his own life. I also liked The Life of the Body which was about a man's obsession with a woman he meets at a bar. Wolff has got his stories published in places like The New Yorker which generally means he's a good writer. He's worth a read.

The Long Christmas Ride Home

 

I liked "How I learned to drive" even though it wasn't a comfortable read. This play about a dysfunctional family during the holidays is ok, but definitely I felt like this was more of a play to be seen than one to read. This is because the play used Asian puppetry. It would have been cool to see on stage. I admire the writer for trying something different, but it gets lost in print.

The Pillowman

 

This was an ok play by Martin McDonagh. It's my introduction to the playwright. It's about a writer whose stories of child murders bares a strong similarity to recent murders. At first, he thinks the police is making up stuff but finds out the murders were actually carried out by his handicapped brother. This was not an easy play to read. The stories that the writer has written aren't half bad. I'll read another play by McDonagh soon.

Anne Sexton Complete Poems

 

It took me more than a year to get through this. I read it here and there. Anne Sexton was definitely one talented poet. The poetry in the beginning mostly focused on mental illness. There it was the most powerful. She dabbled in other topics like fairy tales which was just an ok attempt. Her confessional topics were the ones that struck me the most. This uneducated housewife rocked the poetry world in the twentieth century. It's proof that you don't have to be stuffy to be a successful poet. She was one of a kind.

Dangerous Liaisons

 I found out about this book through the fun but crappy movie Cruel Intentions. I probably should not admit that. I was surprised to find it was a book written through the correspondence of letters. That's not everyone's taste.For example I recommended Theodore Sturgeon's Some of your blood to my older sister only to have her tell me she refused to read a book of letters. But with Dangerous Liaisons it works. Marquise de Merteuil schemes to have a young teenager Cecile de Volanges deflowered by the dishonorable Vicotme de Valmont who used to be her lover. The girl is however in love with her tutor Danceny. Vicotme also wants to seduce the innocent married Madame de Tourvel. Eventually he gets both women but unexpectedly falls in love with de Tourvel. I hate to say it but the movie kind of runs out of steam by the end. Nevertheless it deserves to get the status of a classic. It's the only famous book by the author Pierre Choderlos de Laclos but then how many writers get a book that's remembered hundreds of years later.

The Harness Room

 

I really like the British novelist L.P. Hartley. This was his homosexual novel. It wasn't the first one to have a theme. My Sisters' Keeper had a gay character. It's a coming-of-age story about a chauffeur and his employer's son. The employer wants his sensitive son to man up, so he hires the chauffeur to teach him how to box. Eventually the two fall in love but the book ends in tragedy. This was a novella, so I finished it pretty quickly. It's not his best. I think The Go-Between is, but it was captivating.