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A few weekends ago there was a bookfest at a church down the road from me. I convinced my housemates to go with me even though they aren’t big readers. There were so many books, though half of them were rather uninteresting (like the complete history of bathroom cleaning or things like that). I however came away with three good books, one of which was ‘To Sir, With Love’. Most people of my mother’s generation had to read this book in school, I didn’t and after reading it was disappointed that is wasn’t on our English class list. It only took me two days to read it but afterwards it is something I will keep with me for longer.
Mr Braithwaite is a Negro (term from the book) with a good education and skills and yet he is turned away from every job that he applies for. Feeling isolated and resentful to the rest of the British population he finds solitude in a local park. In this park with the help of a stranger, Braithwaite is put on the path of teaching. Through the difference between him and his students, he overcomes his annoyance at society and the students develop into tolerant, well mannered, young adults.
While reading this book I had the feeling I had heard this story somewhere before. After much thinking it finally came to me. Not that long ago I had watched ‘Gangster Paradise’ with Michelle Pfeiffer. The story is a bit different but the theme is the same. Schooling and dedicated teachers provide the life lessons for young people about to enter society.
What I really liked about this book is that although it was written in 1959 and is a simple story it has a strong message. I think young people should read this book and take the morals provided in the story with them into life. It is still as relevant today as it was back in the 1950’s. In the end I felt very appreciative of my education and the teachers that provided it. Without education I wouldn’t be the well adjusted, well read person I am today. Thank-you to the over worked under appreciate teachers. Without you our world would be very different.
As I stated in one of my early posts, although I’m trying to work my way through the top 100, I’m very easily distracted by other books. ‘Snow Falling on Cedars’ is not on the list but ever since the movie came out I have been wanting to read it. I am one of these people that tries to read the book before seeing the movie. Although sometimes I’m disappointed with the film adaptation I find it easier. If I see the movie before I read the book I can’t visualize the characters and the ending is already given away.
Set at the end of World War II the story is seen through the jaded journalistic eyes of Ishmael Chambers. The plot traces the trial of a young American-Japanese man who is suspected of having murdered an American fisherman. Ishmael however is not on the outside looking in, he is as emotionally involved in the outcome of the trial as is the defendant. Through a series of flashbacks and painful memories this mystery along with the secrets of Ishmael’s past is unraveled.
There are beautifully written passages describing the pristine snow and the harshness of the island weather. This makes you feel that if you went outside you could feel the icy winds biting at your skin. The story is in depth and provides each character’s point of view on the events that unfold. The problem I found with this book is like many others, the story takes a while to unfold and piece by piece it all falls into place, but the ending was so abrupt that I left the book feeling a little disappointed. I had a lot of questions and the story felt not completely resolved.
I have always wanted to be one of those people that reads and has a comprehensive knowledge of the classic. So when I looked at the top one hundred list and saw ‘Jane Eyre’ at number seventy-two I felt maybe I could kill two birds with one stone (though not literally).
Although a classic I found this book really easy to read, sometimes when reading older literature you feel overwhelmed and the text really drags on. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.
This book is primarily a romance but with a difference. Jane Eyre is an orphan that grew up in the unhappy house of her Aunt Reed. She is then given the opportunity to escape through education. The escape to school is not what she expected (from the frying pan into the fire comes to mind). Her life was cruel and humiliating until she took the job as governess to Adele the young ‘charge’ of Mr. Rochester. Little did she know love was to follow her to Thornfield Hall.
This is the story of unremarkable, unhollywood love between two ordinary and unremarkable people. Although it is romantic it doesn’t provide unreal expectations, it is a realistic romance. Not everyone that falls in love is beautiful and not everyone falls for someone handsome. It made me feel that there is someone for everyone.
Although I would describe this book as a romance there are some mysterious elements, such as the character of Grace Poole: Who is she, why is she there and what is she hiding (ah, you must read it to know the answers)?
This book gave me that warm fuzzy feeling and thinking about it now I feel it. I also left feeling empowered as a female (no wonder it was an instant hit in 1847):
‘I am no bird and no net ensnares me. I am a free human being with an independent will’
I recommend this book to any girl who wants a heart warming and enduring story to curl up in bed with (books never disappoint in bed 
).
Almost FrenchWhile shopping at the local shopping center I went into the book shop, it is a must stop whenever I’m there. This time I discovered they had a top one hundred list of books as chosen by the general public. I myself love making lists and thought wouldn’t it be great if I could work my way through all one hundred (though personally I don’t think I can read the Bible)? So my quest (which I will document here) to read all one hundred began. This is number fifty-eight and when I read the blurb I knew I had to read it.
Sarah Turnbull is an Australian journalists who one night in Bucharest meets a French man who will change the course of her life forever (very dramatic I know but a true story). On an invite from the man she has known for forty-five minutes she visits him in France as a detour until she falls in love.
This book explores the cultural difference between a down to earth Australian and a culturally elite French man. While reading it was hard not to laugh out a loud, cringe and at the same time feel the sadness of constantly being an outsider. Though despite the cultural ostracism by the end of the book you want to pack up your life and move to France. This book is the stuff of fairy tales. How many of us haven’t dreamed of falling in love in a foreign country? I know I have.
I think this is a book for any romantic at heart or people like me dating others from different cultures. Despite all the differences in opinion and embarrassing moments you know you wouldn’t have things any other way. This book proves that people from different cultures can pull together and make a mostly perfect life for themselves.
I hate to admit it but I chose this book by its cover. I know, I know your not supposed to do that but I was looking at a book catalogue and decided I would buy it. I’m thankful I did because it is the best book I have ever read (bold statement but true). It is now one of, if not my favourite book. This is because I so believed it and became emotionally involved to the point of not being able to read the end very easily. It is hard to focus on the words with tears streaming down your face.
It is impossible not to be effected by ‘The Book Thief’ which is set during the time of Nazi Germany. Markus Zusak has made this story unique by telling it from the point of view of Death. At first it made the book a little hard to get into but once I was in I was hooked.
The story is about Liesel Meminger a young girl taken away from her family (thought to be communists) and placed in a foster home. Though this may well be one of the best things to happen to Liesel. It is here that her life changes, a special bond is formed with her foster father when he teaches her to read. From these lessons Liesel appetite for the written word increases and this leads to the book stealing. Through out this book you like Liesel begin to understand the power that words can have. This is evident in the descriptions in the book, the meeting of a Jewish fist fighter and the role that ‘Mein Kampf’ plays.
Right from the first couple of chapters in the book you are told the horrible things that are going to happen but it still doesn’t give you time to get ready for them. The shock still hit me hard and it devastated me until the very end.
Books based on wars are always powerful but this one helps you find the passion for reading and makes you want to pass it on. It is a book that will stay with me forever and I recommend it to anyone who is not afraid of crying while reading.
I always think how you choose a book to read make an interesting story in itself. It also gives you some insight in to the reader. Do you choose a book by its cover (a cardinal sin) I have to admit sometime yes. Do you read the back? Most people do and this is the little taste of what is to come. I have just finished reading ‘Love in the Time of Cholera‘ by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The reason I chose this book was because I was home alone watching Serendipity with John Cusack. He meets a woman and if destiny is supposed to bring them together they will find each other by the woman writing to her details inside the ‘Love in the Time of Cholera’ and sell it to a used book shop. If he finds the book, he finds her. I also heard the book mentioned in High Fidelity another John Cusack move. So it got me wondering.
The book is set on a Caribbean and as the name suggests during the time of cholera. It was an interesting and at the same time I wasn’t sure if I had the reaction to it that the author desired. Fermina Daza is young a courted by Florentino Ariza a thin, intense and ghostly presence of a man. They exchange frequent and passionate love letters until her father finds out. A 424 page story cut short she doesn’t think it is love and breaks off there engagement. He dedicates his whole life to become worthy of her and waiting for her husband to die. Eventually her husband dies and on the night of his death Florentino repeats to Fermina that he still loves her and always has. She writes him a hateful letter to which he replies and a friendship and eventually a romance forms. Ending with them forever sailing on a river boat together (by the way they are around 70ish by now).
I guess the reaction the author wanted is one of romance and that love never dies. If you love someone no matter the time and obstacles you can eventually be together. Unfortunately while I was reading the book I like Fermina Daza’s husband Dr Juvenal Urbino more than I liked the main romantic lead character. Am I unromantic? I believed that if you love someone and have to pursue them for “fifty-one years, nine months and four days”. I don’t think they share the same passion. Sure her husband had flaws but don’t we all?
On the whole I liked the book but I wasn’t as satisfied as I think I was supposed to be. It is hard to really enjoy a book when you are rooting for the other guy not the one you are meant to and you loose out. Maybe love does conquer all but for me not this book.
