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. 

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.