I'm about half-way through Wuthering Heights. In the midst of moving and arranging my new place and taking on a full-time job, I haven't had as much time to read as I'd like, but I'm picking up pace again.
Wuthering Heights has a great story so far, but one of the characters, Joseph, is written with an accent so terribly thick that it is difficult to understand, and his passages are quite long, since he's a pompous, long-winded religious fanatic. I can't bear to skip over his parts, even though they're often explained later, so even when I've got time to read, some parts have been a struggle to get through.
I found a great resource today, though:
http://www.wuthering-heights.co.uk/josephspeech.htm
This site takes all of the major passages wherein Joseph speaks and follows them with an easy-to-read translation. I'll probably still try to figure out the strong Yorkshire accent, but I'm glad to have this to reference, and I wanted to pass it on to anybody else that might want to read this book. It really is wonderful so far!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
15 Books
This is a Facebook note that's been making the rounds for a while. I decided to post it here, but along with the titles, I wanted to tell you why I chose these books. :-)
Rules: Don't take too long to think about it. List 15 books you've read that will always stick with you. They should be the first 15 you can recall in no more than 15 minutes.
Here's my list, in no particular order...
1. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
This is simply one of the most powerful stories of love I've ever read. I'll never forget it, and would recommend it to absolutely anyone.
2. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
This man's story is wonderful. He's just a man...an Irish immigrant who came to America with nothing. He tells his story with candor and wit, and I love that when I read this book (and the two that followed) I can hear an old man speaking with a lovely Irish lilt, just telling me stories.
3. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Just...wow.
4. Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
This book is summer and childhood and wonder, all wrapped up in the wonderful style of Ray Bradbury. It will forever be my go-to book when I want something to relax with.
5. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
I must have read this a thousand times when I was little, as evidenced by the condition of its cover. It is actually taped on...and I think this is my second copy! It is also the first novel that I specifically remember reading.
6. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
This is just such a magical tale! I love the fantasy creatures and the descriptiveness of the writing. I love the dreams that come after reading it. I love everything about it!
7. Dragonsdawn by Anne McCaffrey
My very first foray into the sci-fi/fantasy genre. Dragons have always fascinated me - I used to make my dad draw me a dragon at night before I'd go to sleep! I've got at least 15 books from this series, but this one is the first, and it got me completely hooked on the world of Pern and her dragons and riders and threats and way of life. I just love it.
8. The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen
Beautiful, beautiful story. The copy I have has absolutely gorgeous illustrations, too, by Charles Santore. I've loved the story since I was little, and was thrilled when I received it as a gift.
9. Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss
Starting in third grade, I was in my school district's gifted & talented program, known as E.A.G.L.E. Don't ask me what the acronym was for...I've completely forgotten! However, I have NOT forgotten that every year, through the completion of the program in ninth grade, my teachers would read this to the class on the first day of school. It is a wonderful illustration of the promise and potential of youth, put in the way that only Dr. Seuss could put it.
10. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
I love the way this story grows with the reader. It can be read at a fairly young age and appreciated, and then read again, twenty years later, and have a completely different meaning. The symbolism runs very deeply and it is wonderful to read and re-read, unfolding its layers.
Rules: Don't take too long to think about it. List 15 books you've read that will always stick with you. They should be the first 15 you can recall in no more than 15 minutes.
Here's my list, in no particular order...
1. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
This is simply one of the most powerful stories of love I've ever read. I'll never forget it, and would recommend it to absolutely anyone.
2. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
This man's story is wonderful. He's just a man...an Irish immigrant who came to America with nothing. He tells his story with candor and wit, and I love that when I read this book (and the two that followed) I can hear an old man speaking with a lovely Irish lilt, just telling me stories.
3. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Just...wow.
4. Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
This book is summer and childhood and wonder, all wrapped up in the wonderful style of Ray Bradbury. It will forever be my go-to book when I want something to relax with.
5. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
I must have read this a thousand times when I was little, as evidenced by the condition of its cover. It is actually taped on...and I think this is my second copy! It is also the first novel that I specifically remember reading.
6. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
This is just such a magical tale! I love the fantasy creatures and the descriptiveness of the writing. I love the dreams that come after reading it. I love everything about it!
7. Dragonsdawn by Anne McCaffrey
My very first foray into the sci-fi/fantasy genre. Dragons have always fascinated me - I used to make my dad draw me a dragon at night before I'd go to sleep! I've got at least 15 books from this series, but this one is the first, and it got me completely hooked on the world of Pern and her dragons and riders and threats and way of life. I just love it.
8. The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen
Beautiful, beautiful story. The copy I have has absolutely gorgeous illustrations, too, by Charles Santore. I've loved the story since I was little, and was thrilled when I received it as a gift.
9. Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss
Starting in third grade, I was in my school district's gifted & talented program, known as E.A.G.L.E. Don't ask me what the acronym was for...I've completely forgotten! However, I have NOT forgotten that every year, through the completion of the program in ninth grade, my teachers would read this to the class on the first day of school. It is a wonderful illustration of the promise and potential of youth, put in the way that only Dr. Seuss could put it.
10. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
I love the way this story grows with the reader. It can be read at a fairly young age and appreciated, and then read again, twenty years later, and have a completely different meaning. The symbolism runs very deeply and it is wonderful to read and re-read, unfolding its layers.
11. Dracula by Bram Stoker
This was my first Gothic horror read. It completely freaked me out for weeks! The linguistic style is off-putting to a lot of people...it's an older style of writing and takes a bit of work to get into...but once you're in, it's kind of consuming. I was thrilled to find, in the reading of this classic, that Dracula wasn't quite the monster that Hollywood has made him. He was terrible, yes, but he knew it and simply could do nothing about his nature, but seemed, at the end of his 'life', to be relieved that he'd be able to do no more harm. I liked the aspect of redemption there, and think it's sad that most people will never realize that Bram Stoker wrote it into this story. Reading this opened my eyes to the fun of Gothic horror...it's actually one of my favorite genres!
12. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
Classic! I love Austen's wit and writing style. This was the first one of her novels I read, and I've read three others since. If I can ever find copies of the other two, I'll read them also, and I'm sure I'll love them! Her world is such a wonderful escape from the hubbub of the present-day. It is a quiet life, where one's entertainment comes from watching the neighbors and from the thrill of falling in love. I always end up wishing I'd lived back then!
13. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
When Harry Potter first came on the scene, I rolled my eyes. I thought it was just another mediocre story that a bunch of squealing kids were going nuts over, and I hoped that the insanity would wear off. I went with a friend to see the second film, and immediately went out and bought the first four books (all that were out at that time) and wound up forsaking college course work in favor of reading them. I've been a fan ever since...I waited on pins and needles for the mailman to show up with my copy of the last book on the day it was released, and read it all that night! I love the magic and wonder of Rowling's fantasy world.
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry
This is another book that can be read at a very young age and loved, and then picked up again, much later, and loved just as much. Lots of symbolism and depth. I've read it several times and never cease to be amazed.
15. P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
This was my first chick-lit read. I saw the movie first, before realizing that it was a book. Upon finding out about the novel, I bought it, read it, and fell in love with it. It made me literally laugh and cry right along with the characters, and that's unusual for me. After finishing this one, I bought the rest of the books by Ahern, and have loved them just as much!
This was my first Gothic horror read. It completely freaked me out for weeks! The linguistic style is off-putting to a lot of people...it's an older style of writing and takes a bit of work to get into...but once you're in, it's kind of consuming. I was thrilled to find, in the reading of this classic, that Dracula wasn't quite the monster that Hollywood has made him. He was terrible, yes, but he knew it and simply could do nothing about his nature, but seemed, at the end of his 'life', to be relieved that he'd be able to do no more harm. I liked the aspect of redemption there, and think it's sad that most people will never realize that Bram Stoker wrote it into this story. Reading this opened my eyes to the fun of Gothic horror...it's actually one of my favorite genres!
12. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
Classic! I love Austen's wit and writing style. This was the first one of her novels I read, and I've read three others since. If I can ever find copies of the other two, I'll read them also, and I'm sure I'll love them! Her world is such a wonderful escape from the hubbub of the present-day. It is a quiet life, where one's entertainment comes from watching the neighbors and from the thrill of falling in love. I always end up wishing I'd lived back then!
13. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
When Harry Potter first came on the scene, I rolled my eyes. I thought it was just another mediocre story that a bunch of squealing kids were going nuts over, and I hoped that the insanity would wear off. I went with a friend to see the second film, and immediately went out and bought the first four books (all that were out at that time) and wound up forsaking college course work in favor of reading them. I've been a fan ever since...I waited on pins and needles for the mailman to show up with my copy of the last book on the day it was released, and read it all that night! I love the magic and wonder of Rowling's fantasy world.
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry
This is another book that can be read at a very young age and loved, and then picked up again, much later, and loved just as much. Lots of symbolism and depth. I've read it several times and never cease to be amazed.
15. P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
This was my first chick-lit read. I saw the movie first, before realizing that it was a book. Upon finding out about the novel, I bought it, read it, and fell in love with it. It made me literally laugh and cry right along with the characters, and that's unusual for me. After finishing this one, I bought the rest of the books by Ahern, and have loved them just as much!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Praying
I'm sure it is fairly obvious by now that Frank McCourt is among my very favorite authors. Please say a prayer for him and his family...I just saw this article that says he is in the hospital with meningitis, and is not expected to live. He is 78 years old. Pray for his health and comfort, and the same for his family.
He's such a very talented man. I wish I'd gotten to meet him (and still hope to...maybe he'll pull through this!)
He's such a very talented man. I wish I'd gotten to meet him (and still hope to...maybe he'll pull through this!)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
I decided, since the Disney bio is taking me so long, to pick up another book at the same time. I've always been a one-at-a-time reader, but I'm going to try this. Maybe when I don't feel like reading the biography, I'll feel like reading the novel instead. The novel of choice is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. It is a classic and I've felt ashamed for a long time that I've not yet picked it up. I've had it on my shelf for ages, but just never got around to it. I'm going to right that wrong now :-)
I'd like to add a bit of an aside here. I've long been annoyed with the practice of people replacing curse words with the first letter (ex. "effing"). If you're going to say it, just say it. Preferably, though, don't say it at all. I'm guilty of cursing, too, but I don't like to, and while I don't take personal offense, I'd rather not hear it, either. However, I'm more bothered by people making lame attempts to mask the words than I am by the words themselves. All this sprung from something in the Editor's note in this book:
"The practice of hinting by single letters those expletives with which profane and violent people are wont to garnish their discourse, strikes me as a proceeding which, however well meant, is weak and futile. I cannot tell what good it does - what feeling it spares - what horror it conceals." Currer Bell (a.k.a. Charlotte Brontë)
I'd like to add a bit of an aside here. I've long been annoyed with the practice of people replacing curse words with the first letter (ex. "effing"). If you're going to say it, just say it. Preferably, though, don't say it at all. I'm guilty of cursing, too, but I don't like to, and while I don't take personal offense, I'd rather not hear it, either. However, I'm more bothered by people making lame attempts to mask the words than I am by the words themselves. All this sprung from something in the Editor's note in this book:
"The practice of hinting by single letters those expletives with which profane and violent people are wont to garnish their discourse, strikes me as a proceeding which, however well meant, is weak and futile. I cannot tell what good it does - what feeling it spares - what horror it conceals." Currer Bell (a.k.a. Charlotte Brontë)
Harry Potter
I'm *still* reading the biography of Walt Disney. It's slow-going, simply because that isn't typically my genre of choice. Still interesting, though! I just wanted to post a little clip from an article I read today. It actually refers to the movie series rather than the books, but I think it sums up quite nicely what I like so much about the books.
"This is the true wonder of the Potter series: How it expresses not simply the fantasy that in our time of need we might have magical miraculous powers but, rather, the real hope that in our time of need we might have the miracle of true friendship."
This theme definitely speaks to me, now more than ever. After everything I've been through in the last ten months, I've learned just how important true friendship is. I am SO blessed.
"This is the true wonder of the Potter series: How it expresses not simply the fantasy that in our time of need we might have magical miraculous powers but, rather, the real hope that in our time of need we might have the miracle of true friendship."
This theme definitely speaks to me, now more than ever. After everything I've been through in the last ten months, I've learned just how important true friendship is. I am SO blessed.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Short Stories
I'm still reading Neal Gabler's biography of Walt Disney, but it is long, and I don't want to wait until I'm done with it before posting here again.
I LOVE Alfred Hitchcock, as most of my friends know. I have something like twenty of his films and three seasons of one of his television shows, Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Many of those episodes were written by Ray Bradbury, who is a favorite author of mine. I inherited my love of Bradbury from my dad, and I've essentially absconded with his (autographed!) copy of The Stories of Ray Bradbury, compiled by Alfred A. Knopf.
I took it out last night after trying to watch an episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour called "The Jar", written by Ray Bradbury. My parents and I were trying to watch online and for some reason, it wasn't streaming correctly, and we only got a few minutes into it before we gave up...but Bradbury and Hitchcock stories just can't be left unfinished that way. When I got home, I checked to see if "The Jar" was included in this book, and lo and behold, it was! I read it and my spine was completely tingly afterward. I'd recommend it if you want to give yourself a bit of a chill ;-)
Since I was reading in bed, intending to sleep, I followed it with a long-time favorite: "The Picasso Summer". This one is short and sweet and leaves you feeling peaceful, but more than a little jealous. What a treasure it would be to witness something so special as George Smith did! I'll not say what he saw...you'll just have to read it yourself!
I LOVE Alfred Hitchcock, as most of my friends know. I have something like twenty of his films and three seasons of one of his television shows, Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Many of those episodes were written by Ray Bradbury, who is a favorite author of mine. I inherited my love of Bradbury from my dad, and I've essentially absconded with his (autographed!) copy of The Stories of Ray Bradbury, compiled by Alfred A. Knopf.
I took it out last night after trying to watch an episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour called "The Jar", written by Ray Bradbury. My parents and I were trying to watch online and for some reason, it wasn't streaming correctly, and we only got a few minutes into it before we gave up...but Bradbury and Hitchcock stories just can't be left unfinished that way. When I got home, I checked to see if "The Jar" was included in this book, and lo and behold, it was! I read it and my spine was completely tingly afterward. I'd recommend it if you want to give yourself a bit of a chill ;-)
Since I was reading in bed, intending to sleep, I followed it with a long-time favorite: "The Picasso Summer". This one is short and sweet and leaves you feeling peaceful, but more than a little jealous. What a treasure it would be to witness something so special as George Smith did! I'll not say what he saw...you'll just have to read it yourself!
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