I would have finished this book a lot sooner if it were not so enormous. 800 pages of hardcover goodness, which is, of course, very annoying to carry around to read while on transit.
I first read her books while in high school, and I am always surprised when I see a new book in the series come out. The books always end with some loose ends, but not in any big cliff hanger that would annoy me to wait the 5 years it takes her to write the next one. This one is good, better than "Dragonfly in Amber" which felt like a hodge podge of things she just felt like talking about. Like always, there is an abundance of historic details, and Jamie & Claire are as loving as always.
I think, subconsciously, I've taken Jamie and Claire as my ideal married couple. They love each other so much, you can't help but admire their strength and trust for each other in times of peril. They never doubt each other. I want to have that, I hope I have that, but only time will tell.
Young Ian is back in this one. He's recovering from his "divorce" in this book, and I find myself wanting good things to happen to him and it does! Ironic though that he finds love with a Quaker.
William, Jamie's bastard son, becomes more prominant in this book. I didn't really like reading about him because he's so boring. The book establishes him as a genuinely nice guy, who is unconsciously similar to his biological father. He plays Ian's rival for the fair maiden, but Ian wins (which is what I preferred anyways). The good stuff doesn't happen to him until the very end when he finds out his true parentage. The book ended before I got a chance to really like him.
There is a parallel storyline where you get to read about Brianna and Roger's life in the 1980s, and how they cope with modern life. They are able to read letters left to them by Jamie and Claire, so there remains a link between the past and present. In the middle of the book, a person from the past comes and gets stuck in the future. I hoped it was William, the son, but it was William - the man who tried to hang Roger in a previous book. And a friend in the modern world kidnaps Jem and Brianna to find the gold Jamie hid for them. Unknowing that the kidnapper remained in the modern world, Roger and William(the other)went back in time to find Jem.
I suppose Jem's kidnapping and Roger going back in time is a bit of a cliff hanger, but I was less involved in that storyline. I always feel more connected with Jamie and Claire's story. Claire married John Grey, Jamie's gay lover, when she thought Jamie died in a ship wreck - I was most displeased when I read that. The reader knew Jamie wasn't on the ship, so it felt extremely contrived to read that so near the end. Gabaldon did it on purpose to force Jamie and Claire to separate, because when Jamie comes back alive in the second to last chapter, he's forced to run into hiding with John Gray's help.
Now that I think about it, there's a lot of things the next book needs to cover. So she better have another one out soon. The story needs to reunite Jamie and Claire (of course), have William (the son) deal with his actual parentage, Ian and Rachel get married (a must), Fergus and his family survive the revolution (I was glad we got to hear about his family again in this book, and I imagine they will have a bigger role in the next one with all the conspiracies afoot), Roger and Brianna's family are reunited - in one time or another... Also, Jamie's sister, Jenny, is going to have a bigger role. She's come to America with Jamie after her husband died... I remember her being a lot of fun, so it should be interesting to see what she does in the new world.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, audiobook read by Stephen Fry
I read this book a long time ago, and didn't really get into it. Alot of my friends did and thought it was the wittiest thing in existence. This was the only book I read in the series.
I tried listening to the book this time because it was read by Stephen Fry. I started idolizing him recently because he is the host of QI (or Quite Interesting). QI is a quiz show where contestants (usually noted British comedians) vy for scores based on how interesting their answers are. Obvious and wrong answers cause shame to the contestants, and interesting if wrong answers are awarded. Right answers are rare and well noted. After watching QI, I started to follow Stephen Fry's work and was quite surprised that I liked him so much. I always knew of his existence, in movies that I've liked, but never really knew what else he did.
This version of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is great because you could hear the irony and absurdity of what the story is telling you. When I read the book, I was 13 or something, and alot of the humour went over my head because I wasn't sure what was real or fake. Stephen Fry has a great voice, and I really appreciate his reading because he also does all the voices.
Unfortunately, Stephen Fry only has an audiobook out for the first book in the series. I was able to find older versions of book read by Douglas Adams. I just started Restaurant at the End of the Universe as read by Douglas Adams, and it's not bad. His voices aren't quite as distinct as Stephen Fry's, but you are still able to hear the nuances of language he meant when he first wrote the book.
I tried listening to the book this time because it was read by Stephen Fry. I started idolizing him recently because he is the host of QI (or Quite Interesting). QI is a quiz show where contestants (usually noted British comedians) vy for scores based on how interesting their answers are. Obvious and wrong answers cause shame to the contestants, and interesting if wrong answers are awarded. Right answers are rare and well noted. After watching QI, I started to follow Stephen Fry's work and was quite surprised that I liked him so much. I always knew of his existence, in movies that I've liked, but never really knew what else he did.
This version of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is great because you could hear the irony and absurdity of what the story is telling you. When I read the book, I was 13 or something, and alot of the humour went over my head because I wasn't sure what was real or fake. Stephen Fry has a great voice, and I really appreciate his reading because he also does all the voices.
Unfortunately, Stephen Fry only has an audiobook out for the first book in the series. I was able to find older versions of book read by Douglas Adams. I just started Restaurant at the End of the Universe as read by Douglas Adams, and it's not bad. His voices aren't quite as distinct as Stephen Fry's, but you are still able to hear the nuances of language he meant when he first wrote the book.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Persuasion by Jane Austen
I recently discovered that all of the BBC adaptations of classic novels is available for free on Youtube. In the process of watching the various Austen, Dickens and Gaskell tv series, I discovered Persuasion by Jane Austen. I personally own an anthology of Austen's novels, and was never tempted to read Persuasion mostly because of the summary of the novel on my book jacket. It says:
Ignoring the terrible summary on the book jacket, Persuasion is probably the most romantic of Jane Austen's novels, in the modern sense. Anne and Fredrick meet again with all these preconceptions and baggage about each other. But through the experience they both gained through time, they are able to take a step back and observe each other objectively ( to a point) - they are able to see what merits the other has gained and maintained over time, and rediscover that the affection they had for each other remains the same.
Like all Austen novels, the side characters are invariably interestingly cast. Anne's family is completely ridiculous, vain and hypocritical. Which helps make Anne look all the more sympathetic, and helps you understand why Anne rejected Frederick in the first place. His companions are a bit more normal, a little more pathetic, but at least less silly. But his companions factor in less in the story, because his character is strong enough that you know he wouldn't necessarily listened to them if he felt he was doing the right thing.
After reading Persuasion, I think this novel will hold my affection for a long time. Although it's hard to say that in any just sense, because the movie and tv adaptation of the Austen stories hold such a strong place in my mind that I don't know if I could ever read the books in the same way. Without the tv versions, I don't think I would have read this novel. And without Colin Firth, I don't think I would have known Jane Austen at all. Maybe it is time I re-read all the Austen novels again - now that I better conceive the distinction between novel and movie, and educated enough to read the story on its own merits.
"In Persuasion, a tender, autumnal love story, Anne Eliot, one of Jane Austen's most appealing characters, makes a difficult but, she believes, prudent decision to spurn her sailor lover. She spends seven years regretting this, and when he returns he chooses another, only to have Anne vie for his affections anew."When I read that, I immediately thought "old people!" and "Jezebel!" - I mean seriously, who wants to read about middle aged (autumnal) people throwing themselves at each other (vie for his affections). If they hadn't put in "makes a difficult, but she believes, prudent decision", implying that only she believes the decision to have been prudent, I might not have been so biased against the story. But seriously, the short description of the novel is completely incorrect. I learned this after watching two of the BBC adaptations of the novel. For one, "autumnal" is just wrong. Anne Elliot is 27 in this novel, by no means near the end of her life, even in that era. And Anne doesn't technically "vie for his affections anew" - she does her best to be unintrusive because she knows that she rejected him first and has no right to his affections. Captain Wentworth himself discovers that having met with Anne again, she is the who remains first in his heart.
Ignoring the terrible summary on the book jacket, Persuasion is probably the most romantic of Jane Austen's novels, in the modern sense. Anne and Fredrick meet again with all these preconceptions and baggage about each other. But through the experience they both gained through time, they are able to take a step back and observe each other objectively ( to a point) - they are able to see what merits the other has gained and maintained over time, and rediscover that the affection they had for each other remains the same.
Like all Austen novels, the side characters are invariably interestingly cast. Anne's family is completely ridiculous, vain and hypocritical. Which helps make Anne look all the more sympathetic, and helps you understand why Anne rejected Frederick in the first place. His companions are a bit more normal, a little more pathetic, but at least less silly. But his companions factor in less in the story, because his character is strong enough that you know he wouldn't necessarily listened to them if he felt he was doing the right thing.
After reading Persuasion, I think this novel will hold my affection for a long time. Although it's hard to say that in any just sense, because the movie and tv adaptation of the Austen stories hold such a strong place in my mind that I don't know if I could ever read the books in the same way. Without the tv versions, I don't think I would have read this novel. And without Colin Firth, I don't think I would have known Jane Austen at all. Maybe it is time I re-read all the Austen novels again - now that I better conceive the distinction between novel and movie, and educated enough to read the story on its own merits.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
The Heir by Johanna Lindsey
Johanna Lindsey is candy.
Her books, among a few others', are what I read when I want something sweet, happy and satisfying when TV and life fail to give me a break from reruns. The books are relatively short and are easy to digest, generally better than TV. I like Lindsey because her romance novels always contain amusing characters, and there is usually a large cast surrounding the main couple, bickering and providing funny anecdotes. It's not all self-involved mush, you get aunts and uncles with sordid pasts, and siblings providing comic relief while the romantic couple get to be almost unbearable in their romantic angst.
"The Heir" is part of the Reid series apparently. I've only read the Malory series, which is quite long in its own right, and it was nice to discover a new series set in Victorian England. I suppose one reason I like Lindsey's books are that they are historical romances, so when the heroine waxes pathetically, I can indulge myself and not scoff because the character might actually do that "back in the day". If it were set in contemporary times, I'd feel obliged to throw the book because I can't quite imagine anyone doing that these days. This book is about Duncan MacTavish who is the unknowing heir to a large fortune in England. He grew up in the Scottish Highlands, so he is naturally grumpy with the prospect (I will have to go to Scotland one day to find out if this sentiment is true... like English vs. French in Canada). Apparently, his two grandfathers had an agreement that he would inherit his English grandfather's estate, and his first born would inherit his Scottish grandfather's. So he is unceremoniously sent to England to find a wife and have lots of babies. In England, the heroine of the story is Sabrina Lambert who is a poor noblewoman with a "scandalous" past. The scandal itself is rather contrived, but I suppose that is the intent, to show how ridiculous "scandal" can be. Unfortunately, if you take a look at any of the tabloids these days, that is still true. She's in London, hoping to find a husband at her spinster aunts' behest. The two old ladies are awesome, they fight alot and have no restraint when they want to say something. The two grandfathers are awesome too in much the same way. While in London, she is accompanied by her aunt's friend's daughter - Ophelia, the villain. A vain, self-centered, but beautiful girl. Her character is revealed pretty quickly, and you can't help but hate her. Near the end, she gets the best tongue lashing from one of her best friends. The rant isn't spiteful, it's just true and I couldn't help but feel incredibly satisfied to read it... I've been tempted more than once to do the same to some people but was forced to restrain myself. I look forward to the opportunity to express myself fully. Apparently the second book in the series is about Ophelia's reformation.... I might not read that one just because I enjoyed her comeupance so much. Rounding up the cast is Raphael Locke (Rafe), the kind hearted rake who becomes Duncan and Sabrina's friend.
At the beginning of the story, Ophelia is bethroved to Duncan, something arranged by his English grandfather at the request of his Scottish grandfather - "find him the bonniest lass in England". Everybody meets at Duncan's English estate, where his grandfather is holding a big party to pimp him out to find a wife. Duncan meets Sabrina first, they more or less fall in love at first sight but the reader is told that Sabrina only has a crush on him, and Duncan finds Sabrina amusing amongst all the aggravation he is currently suffering for his inheritance. Duncan meets Ophelia, he finds her beautiful but when she opens her mouth he is repulsed by the insults that come out and breaks the engagement. Her pride is scarred by this, and vows to fix it or prevent him from marrying anyone else. Meanwhile, there's a party going on, and new ladies coming and going, Rafe arrives to annoy Duncan and make friends with Sabrina. Duncan goes around meeting all the pretty girls, but he ends up spending most of his time with Sabrina because she's fun... everyone else is pretty but a only a little less shallow than Ophelia. Ophelia goes on to be incredibly repulsive and mean to Sabrina, while trying to recover her engagement with Duncan if not get herself engaged to Rafe because he has a shinier title than Duncan. Of course both Rafe and Duncan sees through the act, but that doesn't stop her. Conflict, conflict, conflict, love, love, love... it ends with a happy ending!
Her books, among a few others', are what I read when I want something sweet, happy and satisfying when TV and life fail to give me a break from reruns. The books are relatively short and are easy to digest, generally better than TV. I like Lindsey because her romance novels always contain amusing characters, and there is usually a large cast surrounding the main couple, bickering and providing funny anecdotes. It's not all self-involved mush, you get aunts and uncles with sordid pasts, and siblings providing comic relief while the romantic couple get to be almost unbearable in their romantic angst.
"The Heir" is part of the Reid series apparently. I've only read the Malory series, which is quite long in its own right, and it was nice to discover a new series set in Victorian England. I suppose one reason I like Lindsey's books are that they are historical romances, so when the heroine waxes pathetically, I can indulge myself and not scoff because the character might actually do that "back in the day". If it were set in contemporary times, I'd feel obliged to throw the book because I can't quite imagine anyone doing that these days. This book is about Duncan MacTavish who is the unknowing heir to a large fortune in England. He grew up in the Scottish Highlands, so he is naturally grumpy with the prospect (I will have to go to Scotland one day to find out if this sentiment is true... like English vs. French in Canada). Apparently, his two grandfathers had an agreement that he would inherit his English grandfather's estate, and his first born would inherit his Scottish grandfather's. So he is unceremoniously sent to England to find a wife and have lots of babies. In England, the heroine of the story is Sabrina Lambert who is a poor noblewoman with a "scandalous" past. The scandal itself is rather contrived, but I suppose that is the intent, to show how ridiculous "scandal" can be. Unfortunately, if you take a look at any of the tabloids these days, that is still true. She's in London, hoping to find a husband at her spinster aunts' behest. The two old ladies are awesome, they fight alot and have no restraint when they want to say something. The two grandfathers are awesome too in much the same way. While in London, she is accompanied by her aunt's friend's daughter - Ophelia, the villain. A vain, self-centered, but beautiful girl. Her character is revealed pretty quickly, and you can't help but hate her. Near the end, she gets the best tongue lashing from one of her best friends. The rant isn't spiteful, it's just true and I couldn't help but feel incredibly satisfied to read it... I've been tempted more than once to do the same to some people but was forced to restrain myself. I look forward to the opportunity to express myself fully. Apparently the second book in the series is about Ophelia's reformation.... I might not read that one just because I enjoyed her comeupance so much. Rounding up the cast is Raphael Locke (Rafe), the kind hearted rake who becomes Duncan and Sabrina's friend.
At the beginning of the story, Ophelia is bethroved to Duncan, something arranged by his English grandfather at the request of his Scottish grandfather - "find him the bonniest lass in England". Everybody meets at Duncan's English estate, where his grandfather is holding a big party to pimp him out to find a wife. Duncan meets Sabrina first, they more or less fall in love at first sight but the reader is told that Sabrina only has a crush on him, and Duncan finds Sabrina amusing amongst all the aggravation he is currently suffering for his inheritance. Duncan meets Ophelia, he finds her beautiful but when she opens her mouth he is repulsed by the insults that come out and breaks the engagement. Her pride is scarred by this, and vows to fix it or prevent him from marrying anyone else. Meanwhile, there's a party going on, and new ladies coming and going, Rafe arrives to annoy Duncan and make friends with Sabrina. Duncan goes around meeting all the pretty girls, but he ends up spending most of his time with Sabrina because she's fun... everyone else is pretty but a only a little less shallow than Ophelia. Ophelia goes on to be incredibly repulsive and mean to Sabrina, while trying to recover her engagement with Duncan if not get herself engaged to Rafe because he has a shinier title than Duncan. Of course both Rafe and Duncan sees through the act, but that doesn't stop her. Conflict, conflict, conflict, love, love, love... it ends with a happy ending!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone
Page 147 of 755
The passionate biographical novel of Michelangelo
I picked this book up at the big library book sale downtown about a month ago. I was attracted to it because it sounded familiar at the time, and I later found out that it had been made into a movie... d'uh. I haven't seen the movie, but remembered the title because it sounded sexy.
So far, the book has been better than I expected. It starts off a little slow, because it is still a historical text(book). But the author does a good job of imagining what Michelangelo might of thought and felt. In the intro, the author cites a number of historical authorities, and thanks professor for translating Michelangelo's personal letters.
I've been slow reading it because it is very slow... not alot of action as yet. Lots of passages about Michelangelo discovering the art of sculpture, and his near fanaticism of marble. It's been really interesting to read about life in Florence during his time though, living with the Medici and the conventions of the day. I'm sure I could make it sound more interesting, but I haven't finished the book yet, so I'll reserve that for later.
The passionate biographical novel of Michelangelo
I picked this book up at the big library book sale downtown about a month ago. I was attracted to it because it sounded familiar at the time, and I later found out that it had been made into a movie... d'uh. I haven't seen the movie, but remembered the title because it sounded sexy.
So far, the book has been better than I expected. It starts off a little slow, because it is still a historical text(book). But the author does a good job of imagining what Michelangelo might of thought and felt. In the intro, the author cites a number of historical authorities, and thanks professor for translating Michelangelo's personal letters.
I've been slow reading it because it is very slow... not alot of action as yet. Lots of passages about Michelangelo discovering the art of sculpture, and his near fanaticism of marble. It's been really interesting to read about life in Florence during his time though, living with the Medici and the conventions of the day. I'm sure I could make it sound more interesting, but I haven't finished the book yet, so I'll reserve that for later.
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