The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)

Title: The Grapes of Wrath
Author: John Steinbeck
Originally Published: 1939
My Edition Published: 2011
Publisher: Penguin Books
Pages: 536
Source: Book club
Genres: Classics
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The Grapes of Wrath follows the Joad family during the Great Depression as they are displaced from the land they work in Oklahoma and follow thousands of others as they head west to California with the promise of work and a better life. What they find there is anything but.

This is the first Steinbeck I have read and I think he is an incredible writer. The writing is so vivid and descriptive that you can't help but be transported into the lives of this family and the struggles that they go through. The story is quite simply one of the most harrowing I have read. Tom Joad is released from prison (there because he killed someone defending himself in a fight) and heads home to reunite with his family only to find his family have been kicked off the farm they work due to ecological disasters and the hunt for more and more profits from greedy bankers. There begins a journey across America with 11 other family members and an ex preacher in the back of a truck with all their worldly possessions. They join thousands of others heading west due to the promise of work, a lie used to drive down wages as more and more people demand work on the cotton and fruit fields. Anger, death, hunger, and violence await them at the end of their journey.

This book is not for the faint hearted but it is an incredible story and well worth the read. Steinbeck has been able to capture the human spirit of determination and will to survive when all else is lost, the need to battle and fight no matter what, and the bond that will hold a family together no matter what hardship is thrown at them. It is also a very realistic depiction of what life during the depression would have been like. Steinbeck also tries to overlay the families story with information about how the country ended up in the mess that it was in, and why the families were all on the move. This really helped put a lot of things in context across the story. Steinbeck wrote character speeches phonetically allowing you to pick up accents and colloquialism of various people throughout the story. Some chapters were also written in a stream of consciousness style which can be difficult but I think did enhance the overall story.

I want to talk about the ending but I better not give any spoilers away but I will just say that I found the abrupt ending very difficult to digest and it left me wanting more. I'm now really looking forward to reading some of Steinbeck's other novels as I think he's one of the greatest writers I've had the pleasure of reading. If you haven't picked up The Grapes of Wrath yet I urge you to do so.

"And the failure hangs over the State like a great sorrow. ...and in the eyes of the people there is the failure; and in the eyes of the hungry there is a growing wrath. In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage."

The Grapes of Wrath was read as part of my 100 book challenge of must read novels.

(22 read. 78 to go!).

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

I Capture The Castle (Dodie Smith)

Title: I Capture the Castle

Author: Dodie Smith

First Published: 1948

Pages: 352

Source: My own copy

Genre: Young Adult

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Someone really needs to explain this one to me. Wait, before I get ahead of myself let me quickly sum up the book. I Capture The Castle is the journal of Cassandra Mortmain and her life living in poverty in an old crumbling castle, with her very eccentric father who hasn't written a word since his last literary genius, her model stepmother and beautiful sister the book conveys six months of her teenage life. Although no date is given it seems to be set between the two world wars so maybe the 1930s?

Okay so now that part is done this is why an explanation is required from you all. This book is listed in my top 100 challenge which is mainly just a reproduction of the BBC top 100. I thought the book was ok but I'm not sure the justification for a top 100. I found it difficult to really engage with the main character. Also the journal style made all the observations one-sided which made it extremely difficult to feel anything for the other characters. I didn't really buy the love story side of things and the whole thing just seemed to sit at the surface level. This book has been around awhile so I'm sure many of you have read it and have your own opinion so I'd love to hear it.

It is not a bad book, on the contrary I did like it, I just wouldn't have put it in the top of my list. I just wish I could have given this to my 15 year old self. I think she would have really liked it.

Read It - If you're young or like YA

I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith

To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)

Title: To Kill a Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
Original Publication Date: 1960
My Version Published By: Arrow Books, 2006
Pages: 309
Source: Book club borrowed
Genre: Classics, Literary Fiction
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It's pretty incredible to think that this is one of the all time classic novels and yet I actually knew nothing about it. How is that possible? Well for starters it was never assigned at school which seems to be when most read it. But beyond that I think it's one of those things that you hear so often the name becomes so common place that you get lulled into a sense of familiarity, until one day you start a blog, decide to do a 100 book challenge and come to the startling realisation that not only have you never read the book, but you have no clue what's it's even about! Cue embarrassment and a good self-chastising by yours truly. So with all that being said I'm going to be giving a bit more of an in-depth review on this one. Usually I try to keep the suspense for the many who haven't read it but lets be honest, there are probably very few people who read this blog who haven't read it so why not throw a bit more discussion into this one. But don't worry if by some miracle there is someone else out there who is in the same boat as me then I won't be giving any major spoilers away.

To Kill a Mockingbird was a story of love and acceptance narrated by a young girl living in 1930s America. I loved Scout's approach to life. She didn't want to conform to societies expectation that she start behaving like a lady. Oh no, she wanted to play with the boys. She wasn't any different to them in her eyes. I loathe to call her a tom-boy because I think it was more than that. She wanted to be equal. She would stand up for herself and wouldn't let anyone tell her what to do. I really admired her as a character because of that.

I found it incredible to explore the relationship she had with her father, Atticus. He spoke to his children like adults, always being open and honest in all opportunities and yet he nurtured their child mind by allowing them to be and think and feel the way they needed to. He is an incredible role model as a parent and I think that is portrayed really well in the book.

The main premise of the book is the story of Tom Robinson, a black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman who Atticus is defending. It is all told from the perspective of Scout which of course lends a really unique story-telling approach. You get to see everything almost third hand as she tries to make sense of everything that is going on - from people saying mean things about her father for defending him, to the courtroom where it is all clear cut for the children and they can't possible fathom why he wouldn't be let off. This story is the centre of the book however there is so much more and you really need all these interchanging stories to provide the whole. This book is more than just a book about race relations but is a book about love, acceptance and friendship.

I think one of the most endearing parts of the book in terms of Scout's character is how she believes she can get out of going to school by swearing incessantly, thinking the adults would believe she had picked it up from school and would remove her. School didn't suit her as she had to conform to their requirements. She was told off because she could already read, having been taught by her father, and her teacher was furious saying she'd have to re-teach her the correct way. Um... what? It really went a long way to showing how Scout fought against things that didn't make sense. I can imagine that the author put a lot of herself into this character.

But certainly my favourite part of the whole book is the kids relationship with Boo Radley. Boo Radley is the mysterious man down the street who all the kids are scared of as he never leaves his parents house. Most of the neighborhood children are too scared to even walk past his house thinking he has become some kind of monster but Scout and her brother are too defiant for that and over time they become more and more daring. They were the best parts of the book I thought.

Overall it was a great book and I can see why so many people have it as one of their favourites. I also think it is a brilliant book to study in school thanks to so many of the underlying themes prevalent in the book, not to mention the unique narration. However, I'm not entirely sure why, but the book hasn't jumped to the top of my favourites list. Yes I enjoyed it and think it's a wonderful book, but for some reason I didn't fall in love with it. But needless to say this is still a must read and I'm incredibly thankful I was finally able to.

To Kill a Mocking-bird was read as part of my 100 book challenge of must read novels.

(18 read. 82 to go!).

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

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Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë)

Title: Jane Eyre
Author: Charlotte Brontë
Original Publication Date: 1847 
My Version Published By: Oxford University Press
Source: Own copy
Genre: Classics
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I think I can successfully sum up my feelings for Jane Eyre in three words. I LOVED it! Jane Eyre has quickly jumped to the top of my classics favourites list. I think a lot of that was due to the almost gothic elements scattered throughout the novel. It was unique compared to many of the other classics I have read.

For those that may not know the basic outline of the novel, Jane Eyre was published in 1847 under the pen name of Currer Bell and follows the life of Jane Eyre as she moves from her emotionally and physically abused childhood with her aunt and cousins, through her schooling days at the oppressive Lowood Institution and onto her time as governess of Thornfield Hall where she falls in love with her employer Edward Rochester.

For a classic I found it it reasonably fast paced and surprisingly suspenseful. There were parts of the book that even gave me the chills.

"Just then it seemed my chamber-door was touched; as if fingers had swept the panels in groping a way along the dark gallery outside. I said, "Who is there?" Nothing answered. I was chilled with fear. pg 147

"The head of my bed was near the door, and I thought at first the goblin-laughter stood at my bedside - or rather, crouched by my pillow" pg 147

I really enjoyed the section of the book on the relationship she had with Helen Burns at Lowood Institution, I was so touched by their friendship and definitely had a tear in my eye for this part of the book. I was fascinated to find out that many believe Burns to be based on Brontë's eldest sister, Maria.

I found a number of sections very prevalent to the social repression of the time and these are my two favourites.

"Women are supposed to be very clam generally: but women feel just as men fell; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex." pg 109.

"'Jane, be still; don't struggle so, like a wild, frantic bird that is rending its own plumage in its desperation.'
'I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will; which I now exert to leave you.' pg 253

And I also couldn't get enough of some of the interactions with Jane and Mr Rochester. It was nice to see their relationship develop and change overtime. These are a couple of my favourite quotes.

"'Now go, and send Sophie for Adele. Good night, my ------' He stopped, bit his lip, and abruptly left me." pg 181.

"'Jane, if aid is wanted, I'll seek it at your hands: I promise you that.'" pg 204

I thoroughly enjoyed the progression Jane made herself throughout the novel and really enjoyed this excerpt when she meets again with her distant family and tormentors; The Reeds.

"within the last few months feelings had been stirred in me so much more potent than any they could raise - pains and pleasures so much more acute and exquisite had been excited, than any it was in their power to inflict or bestow" pg 229

Ultimately I found Jane Eyre a fantastic read full of love, suspense, mystery and social politics. If you haven't had a chance to enjoy this classic I highly recommend it.

P.s. I finally found my published version for the photo at the top of the post. That's the cover of the version I'm reading.

Jane Eyre was read as part of my 100 book challenge of must read novels 
(16 read. 84 to go!).

Jane Eyre by  Charlotte Brontë

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They arrived!

A couple of weeks back I ordered a collection of books for my 100 book challenge. I have been eyeing up the Coralie Bickford-Smith illustrated penguin classics hardcover collection books for months so I finally decided to splurge and buy a few. From left to right you will find Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Middlemarch, and The Woman in White. I can't wait to read them all!

Next book in my 100 book challenge is...

...The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Listed at number 87 on my 100 book challenge I actually found this one on my bookshelf. What a lucky find.

And in honour of my new book selection for the 100 book challenge I am dedicating a meme to it. Thursday Theme is hosted by readingbetweenpages and this week the theme is Male Person. So here is my little dedication.





'Daniel, you mustn't tell anyone what you're about to see today,' my father warned. 'Not even your friend Tomás. No one.'
'Not even Mummy?'
My father sighed, hiding behind the sad smile that followed him like a shadow all through his life.
'Of course you can tell her,' he answered, heavyhearted. 'We keep no secrets from her. You can tell her everything.'
Shortly after the Civil War, an outbreak of cholera had taken my mother away. We buried her in Montjuic on my fourth birthday. The only thing I can recall is that it rained all day and all night, and that when I asked my father whether heaven was crying, he couldn't bring himself to reply.
Excerpt from The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafón

100 Book Challenge - Past Reads

In my last post I mentioned that for my 100 book challenge I have already read a selection of the books (14 in total). The following is the collection of books that I have already read along with a small review on each.

Anne of Green Gables, LM Montgomery

I didn't leave many childrens' books in my list but I did leave Anne of Green Gables as it is such a classic and one of my all time favourite childrens' books. Interesting fact however is that I actually only read this book for the first time last year. Now I have no idea why I never read this as a young girl but when my friend found out she was stunned, as this is her absolute favourite from childhood. So I thankfully borrowed her copy and I absolutely loved it. Anne is such a like-able character; vivacious, mischievous and full of adventure. If you have never read this book (whether young or old) then do!


Harry Potter Collection, JK Rowling

Another in the young audience genre that I left on my list simply because Harry Potter is great at any age. Everyone has their own favourite too which is why I simply put the entire collection on my list rather than just one book. Prisoner of Azkaban is my personal favourite as I loved the backstory of Harry's father and his group of friends and what they got up to. It was a really suspenseful read. My least favourites were actually the last two books as I found them too dense with large periods where little happens. But you really just need to read them all and decide for yourself.

Life of Pi, Yann Martel

Few books have the power to really stick with me for weeks, months or years afterwards. Why? Simply because there are so many great books out there that I'm usually reading another one soon enough. But Life of Pi was a distinct exception. I found myself mulling over this book for months after I had read it. I found myself on the Internet into the wee hours of the morning in the weeks after reading it trying to find meanings and others interpretations. I hardly ever do that! And now even years after reading the book I am still spell-bound by it. Life of Pi is easily one of my top 5 books of all time. If this wonderful book has somehow passed you by then find it now! Buy it, borrow it, swap it. However you do it, get your hands on this awesome little book!

Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov

Oh Lolita, you disturbing little book you. I really wanted to enjoy this book but I simply couldn't. It felt far too voyeuristic to peak into the mind of this man who had an unhealthy relationship with a 12 year old girl. It certainly is worth the read if only for the great subject matter it makes in discussions with others who have read it. But read with a strong will.






Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden

This is a wonderful book and perfect for others like me who love to delve into other cultures and countries. How Arthur Golden was able to so effortlessly tap into the mind of  Japanese women is beyond me. A truly remarkable book.







Perfume, Patrick Suskind

I only read Perfume very recently and although overly descriptive and difficult to get into the culmination of the story is too intriguing to ignore. See my full review.








Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

I read Pride and Prejudice quite a few years ago and of course it is a classic and most people who want to read it, have read it. I will be perfectly honest with you all and say that I do struggle with the writing styles of authors like Jane Austen, it can be difficult to wrap your head around the older prose. However do persevere as the end result is worth it.





Rebecca, Daphne de Maurier

Another book I didn't encounter until recent years, Rebecca is one of my all time favourites and a must read for everybody. First published in 1938 it is surprisingly easy to read and instantly relateable. The main character meets a wealthy Englishman and after marrying she goes to live at his estate, Manderley. Things start to turn hostile as she becomes haunted (in many senses of the word) by the previous Mrs. de Winter, an elegant and highly respected woman whose death is shrouded in mystery. Extraordinarily you never learn the name of the main character, just one of the many intriguing details to this rather dark and psychological tale. Don't let this cover from Amazon fool you. This is not a romance chick-lit book. It is a deep and chilling book that will no doubt keep you spellbound.

Romeo & Juliet, William Shakespeare

I'm sure almost everybody has studied a Shakespeare classic at some point in school however have any of you actually read an entire play from start to finish? I read Romeo & Juliet quite a few years back. To be perfectly honest if I hadn't studied many aspects of it and had reference books around to help translate the language I would have really struggled. I'm sorry but I just don't intrinsically understand Shakespeare. I wish I did, but there you go, brutal honesty. But in saying that, I'm glad I did read the entire thing, but I still don't know how I will fare with the other Shakespeare play in my 100 book list - Hamlet.

The Clan of The Cave Bear, Jean M Auel

One of the few historical fiction novel collections to appear on this list, it obviously has a big following. And I am one of them! I love historical fiction and the fact that this story is set around 35,000 years ago makes this series truly unique. Pair that with an outstanding writing style and you're in for a great read. I will admit this isn't everyones cup of tea and there are many who might think this should not be in a top 100 book list but as I am an historical fiction fiend I am quite happy to include this in my challenge list. Oh and by the way I have not read the latest installment (The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book Five)) - terrible I know - but don't worry I will get there (and will blog about it too). Unfortunately the reviews don't look promising. But I will reserve judgement till I have read it.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Mark Haddon

A very unique book narrated by an autistic boy who discovers his neighbours dog impaled on a garden fork. After first being accused of the crime he begins to attempt to solve the mystery himself. A completely unique approach to story telling with fantastic details, such as all the chapter numbers are prime numbers. Well worth it as a quick weekend read if you want something a bit different.



 

The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold

After all it's hype it is hard to imagine anyone who hasn't read The Lovely Bones. I liked it. But it simply didn't jump into my favourites list. Not sure why, maybe it was over-hyped for me. Sadly this can happen. But it is a great book and well worth the read.







The Pillars of The Earth, Ken Follett

Another one I only read recently and another book in the historical novel genre.  Really enjoyed it. Definitely one of my favourite historical novels. Well written, extraordinary characters that really stay with you. Some will struggle with the amount of cathedral construction detail but I didn't mind it. Found it quite fascinating. He obviously did an incredible amount of research for this. Yes that is the book to the left. It must have been made into a movie or tv series. I haven't seen it. I really hate when they use movie/tv posters for the book cover. If I wanted the movie I would have gone to the video store. Sorry bit of a side note there :)


The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger

Yet another book which may have sadly been over-hyped for me. I liked it yes. But I didn't love it. I wonder how many gasps I just got? My book club had the same reaction. Everyone LOVED it except me. Ah well.... who knows. And I have to say I am quite a romantic at heart but I think there were a couple of things in here that just didn't work for me which frustratingly I can't mention here as it would be a bit of a spoiler so I'm just going to say unfortunately the practical side of my brain won over the romantic side of my brain for this one. But considering the thousands of people who loved it, definitely read it if you haven't yet and make up your own mind.




14 in total read. 86 to go!