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.