Book #19: The Glass Menagerie

While it may be a play, we read The Glass Menagerie in my English class and I felt like counting it. It was in book form. Therefore... I... um, counted it. We're now watching the film version of it, which I have a feeling I would dislike were it not for the fact that Katharine Hepburn plays Amanda. I love Katharine Hepburn.

I'm not sure how I feel about The Glass Menagerie. I didn't actively dislike it, but I didn't like it much either.

"Go on, I trust you with him! There now--you're holding him gently! Hold him over the light, he loves the light! You see how the light shines through him?" (83)

Book #18: The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday

Before I do anything else, let me say that Alexander McCall Smith is awesome. From this series to the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series to the 44 Scotland Street Series to anything else he's written, I love it all. Read something of his! Please! Also, though somewhat of a non-sequitur, my mom and I have been watching the HBO series based on the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series recently, and it is lovely.

Moving on. The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday is the fifth installment in the Isabel Dalhousie Mystery series, which I have to say has definitely grown on me since its inception. Isabel is an intelligent woman, and her insights are just that: insightful. And while this is proclaimed a mystery series, and there are indeed mysteries of sorts, Isabel cannot really be called a detective in the usual sense of the word. Isabel is an inquisitive, intelligent philosopher; she is merely unable not to look the other way when something out of the ordinary happens, and finds herself untangling problems.

She has also found true happiness, which is quite nice, considering so many things can be written around misery. Isabel is refreshing, the story interesting, and the descriptions of Edinburgh enough to make you want to live there yourself. Overall a great read, and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Book #17: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Vanessa, my awesomemajesticfantastical friend and sister at heart, wrote of this book in her blog. She is also reading one hundred books this year, and the fact that I can do this with such a dear friend makes the project so much more fun.

I loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Books written in letters are generally awesome anyway (Daddy-Long Legs still remains dear to me), and the time period is so right and the characters so fun and... I really wish I was a letter writer now. I am pretty dreadful at email, even, but I wish I could write such gorgeous and interesting letters. They paint such a wonderful portrait of the time, of the people, and of the Society itself.

Also, I gave it to my mom to read. She's enjoying it so far. :)

Book #16: Wintergirls

Wintergirls. Wow. This is such a beautiful novel. Which sounds wrong considering the subject, and even the novel itself, but I found it to be beautiful. I became Lia as she spoke.

The way her words flow, the way she thinks, the pain and trials she suffers... it is all so horrible but beautiful in the almost lyrical way it is told. The whole story feels so real and true, and sad. I am enraptured by it.

I am shiny and pink inside, clean. Empty is good. Empty is strong. (7)

she called me thirty-three times. (31)

The blanket has finally heated up and I bury myself under it. My mouse tummy whimpers because she forced almost a thousand calories into me. (162)

Adrenaline kicks in when you're starving. That's what nobody understands. Except for being hungry and cold, most of the time I feel like I can do anything. (189)

Book #15: How to Ditch Your Fairy

I can't recall how long How to Ditch Your Fairy sat waiting for me to read it, but I'd venture... a year, maybe? A long time, anyway, but after the heft that was East of Eden, this was a good choice. It may not have changed my life, but it was definitely a fun book.

For one, I love the background of the story. I like the minor changes in language and slang, and I like the idea of New Avalon. And the fairies! It's a neat concept.

All in all, though, I think it could have been a little better. I didn't really understand what was so great about the love interest--he seemed one-dimensional to me somehow. What the heck did Stupid-Name's mother do at the end to fix things? Embarassingly, I can't remember any of the characters' names.

Which isn't to say that I didn't enjoy this book. I did, and I would recommend it to the imaginary friends that book review forms at school always refer to. The few qualms I have don't take away from the fact that this is a fun book. It just wasn't... breathtaking, I suppose. But not all books can be, or even should be, in my opinion. It was a light read, and better than many books out there. It was entertaining.

Book #14: East of Eden

I'm getting behind on posting these, but I assure you I'm still reading!

I purchased a used copy of East of Eden several months ago. At the time I had been looking for The Great Gatsby, which I blogged about here previously, to no prevail; I ended up having to purchase a new copy, which irked me, but I'm dithering now.

I had read one Steinbeck novel before this one, Of Mice and Men, but I can't say it enamored me with his work. This changed things. While I'm sure many allegorical elements went directly over my head, I enjoyed the story (and the allegory that didn't drift off into the clouds) immensely. Steinbeck's descriptions are are beautiful, for one. And the storyline! Dear me.

It may not have left me breathless, but I nevertheless loved it. Also, I want Lee for a grandfather or something. My favorite character.

Be sure to check out the YouTube video that put it into my head to read this, because it's excellent.

"I don't know, damn you. You've disturbed my pretty little universe. You've taken a contentious game and made an answer of it. Let me alone--let me think!" (311)

Book #13: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

I've waited altogether too long to write this, but here goes. My school library recently added a bunch of new books and have had them on display. This was one of them, and as a friend of mine had recommended it to me, I picked it up (though with admittted glee, as I love shiny new books).

At first I thought the reviews on the back must be overdoing it, with phrases to the tune of "hauntingly sad but beautiful" everywhere, but upon reading the book I have found them to be accurate. It is a beautifully written book, set in a cruel time for women. Foot binding, arranged marriages, death, obeying one's mother in law, nu shu... so many things I had never thought over fully or learned.

While it may be a story difficult to come to terms with, it is nonetheless beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time, as the reviews allude. The details have grown a little fuzzy in the relatively short time since I read this, but I truly was kept on the edge of my seat and found fascinating this portrayal of a time period I know nearly nothing of.

I'll tell you one thing: I'm kind of disgusted at the movie Mulan now. I know Disney is known for it, but sheesh! Way to turn a truly horrible time in history into a wholly impossible adventure. Mulan would have had her feet bound, possibly died from it, spent her life in the women's chamber and been married off to an abusive man and his insulting mother. Then she might have died of childbirth, but even if she didn't her worth would only be somewhat solidified if she bore sons. I could go on, but I suppose I've had enough of a tangent for now.

I guess you could say this book definitely affected me.