The Annotated Northanger Abbey by David M. Shapard
Although Northanger Abbey is not my favorite novel by Jane Austen reading the annotated version definitely made me like the novel more. Never having studied Austen in any English class and having the parody
explained in detail was very helpful to understand where Austen was
coming from when writing the novel. Having read the Mysteries of Udolpho and Cecelia both of which are mentioned in Northanger Abbey rereading the novel and the editor's notes on the parody between the heroines of gothic novels and Austen's made better understand the social commentary. The editor's notes on society certainly broadened my understanding of the Regency era and the events of the time.
The only thing I disliked about the annotated version was the definitions of period vocabulary, which I understand as being important when reading Austen for the first time but distracted me from the more interesting historical facts. After reading the annotated version of Northanger Abbey I'm excited to read one of the other annotated Austen novels that the editor has produced.
October 5, 2013
August 18, 2013
Grad School, Audio Books, and Terrible Novels
Obviously not much has been posted in the last year, such is the life of a graduate student, although I have managed to listen to a lot of novels. Thank God for Project Gutenberg and their audio recordings through LibriVox.org for making my long drives much easier to bear. Courtesy of LibriVox and Project Gutenberg I've listened to all of Jane Austen's novels; Cecelia by Fanny Burney and The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe both of which are mentioned in Northanger Abbey; This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald; Tarzan of the Apes, Return of Tarzan, Beasts of Tarzan, and currently I'm listening to The Son of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Gossip Girl, You Know You Love Me, All I Want Is Everything by Cecily von Ziegesar
This series follows the lives of upper-East-siders Serena Van Der Woodsen, Blair Waldorf, Chuck Bass, Nate Archibald, Dan Humphry, Jenny Humphry, Vanessa Abrams, et al. The first novel covers roughly two weeks of all of which is covered in the first episode of the T.V. series. Unfortunately these novels have little to do with the T.V. series which is actually much more involved and intriguing than the books. I hadn't expected the novels to be gripping but I had hoped to be at least mildly entertained. For being published as young adult novels there is an absurd amount to cussing and blunt wording of sex, drugs, abortions, and catty girl drama.
Alphas, Movers and Fakers, Belle of the Brawl, Top of the Feud Chain by Lisi Harrison
Is another catty young adult book series but has more of a twist than most. The books follow a group of 100 girls at an elite school for talented girls as they compete to be the alpha bitch. I thought the books were fairly standard but filled with enough unexpected twists to make them very entertaining, although not thought provoking.
Gossip Girl, You Know You Love Me, All I Want Is Everything by Cecily von Ziegesar
This series follows the lives of upper-East-siders Serena Van Der Woodsen, Blair Waldorf, Chuck Bass, Nate Archibald, Dan Humphry, Jenny Humphry, Vanessa Abrams, et al. The first novel covers roughly two weeks of all of which is covered in the first episode of the T.V. series. Unfortunately these novels have little to do with the T.V. series which is actually much more involved and intriguing than the books. I hadn't expected the novels to be gripping but I had hoped to be at least mildly entertained. For being published as young adult novels there is an absurd amount to cussing and blunt wording of sex, drugs, abortions, and catty girl drama.
Alphas, Movers and Fakers, Belle of the Brawl, Top of the Feud Chain by Lisi Harrison
Is another catty young adult book series but has more of a twist than most. The books follow a group of 100 girls at an elite school for talented girls as they compete to be the alpha bitch. I thought the books were fairly standard but filled with enough unexpected twists to make them very entertaining, although not thought provoking.
September 15, 2012
All books by Julia Quinn
Julia Quinn
I've read a number of romance novels by Julia Quinn and they are all fabulous reads. All are set during the Regency period (1800-1825 roughly) and amazingly witty. The Bridgerton novels are definitely my favorite novels as they cover the romances of the eight Bridgerton siblings. The siblings are named alphabetically; Anthony, Benedict, Collin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth; although the novels are not in order of the Bridgerton childrens' ages. Through out the novels there is a treasure hunt, a black croquet mallet of death, a duel (or two), a masquerade ball, a dash of malaria, a wedding stopped, and more than one special license. I would highly recommend these books to anyone with an interest in Regency England or Jane Austen or British comedy.
I've read a number of romance novels by Julia Quinn and they are all fabulous reads. All are set during the Regency period (1800-1825 roughly) and amazingly witty. The Bridgerton novels are definitely my favorite novels as they cover the romances of the eight Bridgerton siblings. The siblings are named alphabetically; Anthony, Benedict, Collin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth; although the novels are not in order of the Bridgerton childrens' ages. Through out the novels there is a treasure hunt, a black croquet mallet of death, a duel (or two), a masquerade ball, a dash of malaria, a wedding stopped, and more than one special license. I would highly recommend these books to anyone with an interest in Regency England or Jane Austen or British comedy.
September 4, 2012
Mockingjay
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
The final book in the Hunger Games trilogy was certainly the best. The plot was gripping, the characters had plenty of drama to deal with, and of course it was the final book. Everything with Peeta and Gale manages to get resolved along with President Snow and District Thirteen. I still didn't connect well with Katniss and think she could have been a little more angsty. Despite my lack of love for the characters, with the exception of Finnick, the series is quite good; although, I do think it should have been published as adult fiction since most children and young adults do not analyze the novels they read thus missing all of the social commentary.
The final book in the Hunger Games trilogy was certainly the best. The plot was gripping, the characters had plenty of drama to deal with, and of course it was the final book. Everything with Peeta and Gale manages to get resolved along with President Snow and District Thirteen. I still didn't connect well with Katniss and think she could have been a little more angsty. Despite my lack of love for the characters, with the exception of Finnick, the series is quite good; although, I do think it should have been published as adult fiction since most children and young adults do not analyze the novels they read thus missing all of the social commentary.
Bared To You
Bared To You by Sylvia Day
This novel is similar to Fifty Shades of Grey in that a newly graduated college student working as an assistant gets involved with a dominant and emotionally stunted multi-billionaire. Instead of having a BDSM relationship the characters are emotionally scarred from abuse they suffered as children. Unlike Fifty Shades of Grey the characters are more dynamic and generally more believable; except for the fact that the female character still tries to "fix" the incredibly troubled male character, just like the Fifty Shade trilogy and the Twilight quartet.
This novel is similar to Fifty Shades of Grey in that a newly graduated college student working as an assistant gets involved with a dominant and emotionally stunted multi-billionaire. Instead of having a BDSM relationship the characters are emotionally scarred from abuse they suffered as children. Unlike Fifty Shades of Grey the characters are more dynamic and generally more believable; except for the fact that the female character still tries to "fix" the incredibly troubled male character, just like the Fifty Shade trilogy and the Twilight quartet.
August 9, 2012
Master and Commander
Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian
I finished reading this classic nautical novel a while ago and simply haven't gotten around to writing up a review for it. As the first novel in a long series the reader is introduced to Captain Jack Aubrey and Doctor Stephen Maturin as well as the extensive inner-workings of a Royal British Navy ship during the Napoleonic War and some amazing ship to ship combat. Having never read nautical fiction I enjoyed the fairly long explanations of what things on a working ship do, although it certainly can get confusing with all the jargon. I enjoyed learning about some of the technical aspects of sailing and would recommend the novel to anyone interested in nautical history.
I finished reading this classic nautical novel a while ago and simply haven't gotten around to writing up a review for it. As the first novel in a long series the reader is introduced to Captain Jack Aubrey and Doctor Stephen Maturin as well as the extensive inner-workings of a Royal British Navy ship during the Napoleonic War and some amazing ship to ship combat. Having never read nautical fiction I enjoyed the fairly long explanations of what things on a working ship do, although it certainly can get confusing with all the jargon. I enjoyed learning about some of the technical aspects of sailing and would recommend the novel to anyone interested in nautical history.
July 11, 2012
Catching Fire and brief movie review
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
After rereading Hunger Games and confirming my initial impression that Katniss was an emotionally stunted character who I wasn't able to connect with or her motives. The second book has Katniss as a much more developed character, with deeper emotions and is appropriately confused by her feelings for Gale and Peeta. Catching Fire also has a much more going on plot wise, although it loses none of the rapid and gripping pace from the first book. Despite the improvements in Katniss' behavior she still isn't my favorite character and I still have a hard time connecting with her and what drives her.
Anyone who reads the first book knows that her sister Prim is her priority but little else. In the second book her priorities change to keeping Peeta, Gale and his family, and her family alive as well as surviving her second round in the Hunger Games Arena. Katniss' emotional state changes little from romantic indifference towards Peeta and Gale to hesitantly and cautiously in love with Gale and Peeta.
So far the series is worth reading because it is so different from other Young Adult novels but isn't my favorite. Speaking of Young Adult novels I think the books should have been published as Science Fiction/Fantasy instead of YA since it is so blood thirsty, gruesome, and has some adult themes and social commentary which younger readers won't necessarily grasp (but that's my personal opinion).
Side Note:
I finally watched the movie for Hunger Games and by it's self it's a good movie and I like that the author was one of the screenwriters, that we saw the events from more points of view, and you could connect better with Katniss, but the book has a lot of plot details I wanted added (the muttations' eyes, how Katniss got the Mockingjay pin, and Katniss spilling to Peeta that the romance of the Games was an act, to name a few).
After rereading Hunger Games and confirming my initial impression that Katniss was an emotionally stunted character who I wasn't able to connect with or her motives. The second book has Katniss as a much more developed character, with deeper emotions and is appropriately confused by her feelings for Gale and Peeta. Catching Fire also has a much more going on plot wise, although it loses none of the rapid and gripping pace from the first book. Despite the improvements in Katniss' behavior she still isn't my favorite character and I still have a hard time connecting with her and what drives her.
Anyone who reads the first book knows that her sister Prim is her priority but little else. In the second book her priorities change to keeping Peeta, Gale and his family, and her family alive as well as surviving her second round in the Hunger Games Arena. Katniss' emotional state changes little from romantic indifference towards Peeta and Gale to hesitantly and cautiously in love with Gale and Peeta.
So far the series is worth reading because it is so different from other Young Adult novels but isn't my favorite. Speaking of Young Adult novels I think the books should have been published as Science Fiction/Fantasy instead of YA since it is so blood thirsty, gruesome, and has some adult themes and social commentary which younger readers won't necessarily grasp (but that's my personal opinion).
Side Note:
I finally watched the movie for Hunger Games and by it's self it's a good movie and I like that the author was one of the screenwriters, that we saw the events from more points of view, and you could connect better with Katniss, but the book has a lot of plot details I wanted added (the muttations' eyes, how Katniss got the Mockingjay pin, and Katniss spilling to Peeta that the romance of the Games was an act, to name a few).
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