It's been over a month since I set myself some reading goals and assigned myself a few books to read. I showed up at the library to check out some of these books and realized that I had forgotten to bring my nicely-printed-out list with me. So I had to go by memory, which is always a problem for me. I can remember book titles and authors, but I can have a hard time matching the two correctly. It just so happens that two I remembered were the two "A"s: Atlas Shrugged and Anna Karenina, both humongous tomes by Russian authors. I also remembered that there were a few Bronte books in there, so I grabbed them, too.
So far, I have finished Shirley by Charlotte Bronte and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. I tried to start The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte directly after finishing Atlas Shrugged, and I just couldn't get into it. The tone was too vastly different and my mind just couldn't make that leap. It's funny, I never would have thought the order in which I read the books was at all significant. In fact, I wanted to mix it up as much as possible. But my brain couldn't cope with gentle Bronte after intense Rand. So I started the Tolstoy instead. Stick with the Russians! I'm about halfway through.
A guy at the pool, who is one of Grace's little friend's Dad, spotted Anna Karenina on the table: "who is reading Tolstoy?" Well, as the available choices were myself, Grace or Joe, I was rather surprised at that question! Or maybe that is how smalltalk works? (I never really got smalltalk, to be honest). For a split-second I thought about answering "Grace is reading it, but she prefers it in the native Russian", but I was nice and fessed up.
Anyhoo we got into a conversation about my reading list. He thought it was a good idea and he is going to do one too. I'm not sure if he is going to blog about it or not, tho. My smalltalk doesn't stretch that far (or is that leaving smalltalk behind and entering into Meaningful Conversation? hmmm...)
So yeah, I loved Atlas Shrugged. My friend Wynda gave me a hard time about that, because apparently it is not cool to be a Randian these days. So I 'splained that loving the writing and the story and having respect from where the author was coming from at that time, does not a Randian make. I didn't agree with the so-called "philosphy" of the book, -although I did like that a book which was finished in 1956 (1124 pages! I shudder to think how long it took to write with 1950's technology!) had a smart, strong-willed powerful female executive who flew airplanes and shagged who she liked, where she liked.
Shirley by Charlotte Bronte was OK. I finished it but didn't love it.
I am reading Anna Karenina now. You know, I am finally getting that book. I had wondered what the fuss was all about. I have seen several of the movies and the mini-series, but none of them really do the book any justice at all. There really was a lot lost in the translation to screen.
..and speaking of translation to the screen: We went to see the new Harry Potter movie last week. Joe, who has read all the books, impressed me by NOT constantly pointing out the differences between the book and the movie. Although he is now back to calling me "Mum" instead of "Mom". I think it is funny.
You can't go wrong with the Russians! The intensity and passion with which the 19th century Russian authors wrote is unparalleled. I'm not a fan of Ayn Rand, and Atlas Shrugged is my least favorite of her works, but We the Living is well worth the read.
As for the Bronte siblings, I prefer Emily above them all and will argue until my dying day that Wuthering Heights is the best novel written in the English language. I didn't really care for Shirly much, either; however, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is very good once you put it in its proper perspective. The novel is Anne's way of relating the misery of their brother Branwell's alcoholism and the toll it took on their lives.
If you'd like to add some really great Victorian novels to your list, may I suggest Middlemarch by George Eliot, anything by Anthony Trollope, Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy (Tess of the D'Urbervilles is good as well). I should probably stop before you end up regretting tossing up a post about literature knowing that a lit prof would read it, LOL! :)
Oh, and Joe is much better behaved about HP than I am. My family won't watch one of the films with me until they have seen it without me the first time because I can't help but point out the missing parts and then enumerating why they are so important to the plot of the next book in the sequence. Yay for Joe!
Posted by: Carleen | July 19, 2009 at 09:15 PM
The order is totally important. Sometimes I can't even start a new book without a gap because I'm just so invested in the one I just finished. I hope you make it back to Wildfell Hall, though, because it's worth the read.
Posted by: Quirky Mom | July 20, 2009 at 11:47 PM
To continue the harangue I started on your birthday (sorry 'bout that) . . . I also enjoy stories about independent women, and have no personal problem with Ayn Rand.
But so many people in power these days seem to have rationalized their immorality with the Randian cry for self interest at the expense of social good, that she seems like an advocate for corruption to me.
Carleen and I are about to enter a Bronte death match. I would argue that Charlotte is the greatest literary Bronte ever and that Jane Eyre is the best written novel in ANY language . . . HA!
I've re-read Jane Eyre every few years since childhood and always discover something new as I mature into the story. . . heaven!
Posted by: Wynda | July 22, 2009 at 03:22 PM
Carleen,
LOL I am always happy to receive your input. Thanks for the suggestions. They are always welcome.
I agree with you about Emily Bronte (Sorry Wynda) and Wuthering Heights is my favouritist book. I have owned many copies of it over the years, and it is always the first replaced if I lose my books (like in an international move). My second favorite is anything by JRR Tolkien, particularly LOTR, because I love how he writes, love fantasy and I am firmly convinced that he was an Aspie. (I wonder the same thing about Emily Bronte too, come to think of it).
There are many great books not on my reading list. This is because I have read them already.
...and I have made a mental note not to watch the next two HP movies with you for the first time ;)
QM,
I will have to step over to Wildfell hall, but I fully intend to read it.
Wynda,
'twsn't a harangue, and I am always happy to talk to you , even if you are nagging me ;).
I do see your point about people using her books as an excuse for bad behaviour. It is funny because I see both sides: Before I became disabled, I was very much a high achiever. Then I suddenly ...wasn't. So yeah, the social need is much more important to me now (funny how that works!)
OSM
Posted by: One Sick Mother | July 23, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Anna Karenina is my all time favorite! I never saw the movie or mini-series that you wrote of and since I truly enjoyed the book so much, I'm not sure I should -- how could I not be disappointed? Anyway, Just wanted to write a quick post and tell you that you continue to inspire...I've got to make a list myself! Be blessed, Kim
Posted by: kiminfla | July 30, 2009 at 05:56 PM