The Awakening - Lynn's Take

After Sophies Choice took me 4+ months to read, The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, took me only a couple of days.  If I didn't know better, I would consider this an enjoyable trifle.  And make no mistake, it was an enjoyable read.

Set in fin de siecle Southern Louisiana, The Awakening chronicles the self-discovery of a young wife and mother.  Unwittingly ensconced in a proper and affectionate, but loveless, marriage, Edna Pontellier slowly discovers and follows her yearning to love and be loved, despite pressure to conform to societal ideals of  married life.   Utimately, even Edna's lover is more attuned to societal expectations than to his own desires, which proves to be Edna's undoing.

So, what makes this story important?  This is one of the first novels that treated sexual desire with frankness. In important ways, The Awakening set the stage for  novels like Sophie's Choice to follow.

Sophie's Choice - Lynn's Take

Let me tell you a story: In 1982, I was a Freshman in college.  Sometime in early October, a nice boy from one of my classes (a Sophomore!) asked me on a date - dinner and a movie.  There was nothing memorable about our dinner, but the movie we saw was Sophie's Choice (his selection).  I had no idea what the movie was about, and I doubt that he did, either.  By the end of the movie, I was sobbing so hard that snot was shooting out of my nose and I couldn't catch my breath.  The minute the movie ended, I hastily excused myself and ran back to my dorm, crying all the while.  There was no second date.

Fast forward 30 years.  Believe it or not, I decided to read Sophie's Choice because I thought it would be an "easy" read.  After all, I knew what it was about, and despite the sobbing and the snot, I was glad to have seen the movie.  And, in one sense the novel was an easy read.  William Styron's writing is unmistakably modern.  Sophie's Choice could have been written in 2012. With its explicit sexuality, its thorough secularism, and its dissassociative disapproval of the post-bellum South, modern readers will find little discomfort in the book's attitudes.

But in another, more fundamental, sense, Sophie's Choice was anything but an easy read.  In fact, it was the furthest thing from an easy read.  Emotionally, this was the most difficult book I have ever read.  And I mean that in a profoundly positive way.  Books come and books go; some are enjoyable, some are moving, some are exciting, some are thought-provoking. More than a few are duds.  But it is a rare book, a very rare book, that has the intellectual and emotional force to change your outlook on life.  And Sophie's Choice is that good. In my almost 50 years this is the only the second book of that caliber that I've had the good fortune to read.

Beyond the freshness and immediacy of Styron's writing, there are three things that most struck me as the essential messages of the novel:  

1.  Evil is not only banal, it is temporally bounded and geographically isolated. It comfortably coexists with the mundane.  Indeed, it hides in plain sight amongst the prosaic amusements, fashions, and happenings of the world.  

2.  The secret core of evil, as perpetrated by one man upon another, is its ability to encircle both the evil-doer's and the victim's lives and frame every choice as one between the lesser of two evils.

3.  Sophie's "choice" - the enormous, life-choking, horrific, unimaginable choice that Sophie was forced to make  by a Nazi guard - is surrounded by an enormous assembly of choices small and large to which  her fate could, ultimately, equally be attributed.  From stealing a ham, to failing to steal a radio; from continuing her employment with the chiropractor to returning to New York, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of choices that, differently decided, could have altered Sophie's destiny.

"The Grapes of Wrath" from Kelli

BAM!  With this book, I'm sitting pretty as the school year starts with 40 books read.  I've caught up to where I should be to reach 50 by the end of the year.  Only 2 books per month to coast into 2013.

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS:  Before I started reading Grapes of Wrath, I was dreading it.  Although Steinbeck is my favorite author (tied with Kurt Vonnegut), and I've read at least a third of everything he's published and loved each one, this story-line was spoiled for me in high school when our Steinbeck-loving English teacher had us watch the movie version of GOW rather than reading the lengthy epic in class.  THE JOADS ARE SO WHINEY IN THE MOVIE!  Who wants to watch that?!  Fearing that the book might be the same and would therefore sour my opinion of my beloved John, I've avoided the book like the plague for the past 8 years of my literature-loving life.

All I can say is "phew".  Although The Grapes of Wrath really can't hold a candle to "East of Eden" or "Of Mice and Men" (I don't care what anyone says, they're better books!), it was still enjoyable.  It started out well, dragged a bit in the middle (I mean, I know it's a long drive to California, but seriously), and then picked up again when I was about 2/3 of the way through.  There's so much wrapped up in the story, I'd rather not speculate on the plethora of themes, so I'll just suggest you read it for yourself and skip to my grade sheet.

GRADE SHEET:
Pacing: B-
Readability: B+
Protagonist's Likability: A (who is the real protagonist?  Tom?  Ma?  Rosashorn?)
Satisfying Ending: C+
Realistic Dialogue: A
Not Being Like the Shitty Movie: A

Things Fall Apart - Lynn's Take

Things Fall Apart was a quick, enjoyable read. But to tell you the truth, I think the only reason it is on the list is that it offers a non-European perspective.

Howards End - Lynn's Take

Howards End is the third E.M. Forster I've read during the challenge, and it's by far the most fully realized.  Written in 1910, the plot involves the intertwined lives of the conservative, upper-crust Wilcoxes, the progressive, upper-crust Schlegels, and the working-class Basts.

If I told you the arc of the story (which I won't, because you should read this book), it would sound contrived and precious and deus ex  machina.  But it's not.  As I read, every plot twist seemed like the most natural course of events. And the characters, even the ones that I ended up not liking all that much, were sympathetic.

In my opinion, this is by far the best written book of the three I've read.  It transcended commentary on English society to be a poignant observation of the human condition.

"War of the Worlds" from Kelli

This book should actually be called "Martians Conquer Earthlings, But Through Sheer Luck Bacteria Kills Them".  Where was the war?!  It was more like a chronicle of the human race being completely dominated and then recuperating after the Martians were unfortunate enough to die off - through no effort whatsoever on the part of humans.

I was hoping for an inspiring tale of the indomitable human spirit.  Instead I found a diary-like tale of a man (and sometimes from the perspective of his brother) who hides until it is safe to come out.  Can you say YAWN?  Despite being a short book, it was a long read.

GRADE SHEET:
Pacing: D
Readability: C
Protagonist's Likability: C
Satisfying Ending: D
Ability to Put to Sleep: B+
Later Adaptation to Tom Cruise: A

Children's Books - Kelli

Lately, if you find me at a bar, you'll find me reading a young adult novel.  I'm starting a book club at my new middle school and am geeking out on all the YA fiction I left behind at age 12.

The Westing Game: A (it's our first book for book club this year)
The Hunger Games and Catching Fire: A (every 10-14 year old has read these though, so this was just for my own enjoyment again)
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: A (second book club book of the year)
Half Magic: B (a little too young for 6th-8th graders)

Up next: And Then There Were None

I'm still struggling through Grapes of Wrath - it's enjoyable, but the pacing is a little slow.  I've also started War of the Worlds, which I think I'll get through more quickly.

A Separate Peace - Caitlin's Thoughts

So I also read this when I was feeling guilty about the challenge.  Took two days worth of metro rides.  I love short books.

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS: I had high expectations.  They weren't dashed.  Aside from the heavy hints of homosexuality, I found the main character EXTREMELY relatable.  Probably because he's a 17 year old boy who doesn't know what the hell is going on in the world and just studies hard instead.  Overall, the story was crafted very tightly.  Like no wasted space on annoying things I don't care about like irrelevant backstories; you just jump right in to the action and it's over as quick as it started.  Loves it!  I also think it was SUPER interesting to read about these kids basically isolated from the war but with it looming right there because they were totally going to get drafted in 1942 America.  I mean, I'm all for patriotism and serving for your country and stuff but hooray for those kids staying kids and then missing battle.  In some ways the book was about the horrors of war/battle/violent competition but (refreshingly) without the battle sequences/everyone dying you find in most books about boys in WWII.

MUSINGS: This is why I don't do reckless things like jump into shallow water or run on slippery paths or join infantry units on a whim.

SPOILER ALERTS: I won't spoil it but the foreshadowing is EPIC.

GRADESHEET:
Readability: A
Pace: A+++
Pacifism: A
Satisfying Ending: B
Main Character's Likeability: A+++
Advertisement for Boarding School: C-

Game of Thrones - A happy interlude

So the real reason I've been moving so slowly challenge-wise is that I've started reading the Song of Fire and Ice series.  And those books are epic.

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS: So I've seen Game of Thrones so I pretty much knew plotwise how this was going to shake down.  Getting through the first two books was actually somewhat annoying because I knew what was going to happen and just wanted to get there.  But still enjoyable reads.  Plus I figured out how to spell all of the characters' names.  Sort of.  Pretty typical epic fantasy type stuff with a little incest and political intrigue thrown in for kicks.  Well-written, creative, lots of interesting characters, a positive dwarf role model, heavy on the action, light on the self-reflection- what's not to love?  The good news is, there isn't a third season of GoT so now I WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AND WILL READ THE BOOKS SO FAST!!!!!!! The bad news is, this means I'm not about to tackle Grapes of Wrath anytime soon......

MUSINGS: How strong do you have to be to chop a dude's head off in one sword swipe?  Seriously?  Like how much would you need to be able to lift?

SPOILER ALERTS: If you are honorable, then you will die.

GRADESHEET:
Readability: A
Pace: A (BUT THESE BOOKS ARE LONG!)
Violence: A
Satisfying Ending: WHO KNOWS SO MANY MORE TO READ!
Narrator's Likeability: B?
Sweet Fake Religions: A

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" from Kelli

Funny at first.  Then meh.

GRADE SHEET:
Pacing: B+
Readability: B-
Protagonist's Likability: C
Satisfying Ending: D
Made up shenanigans: A

"Main Street" - Caitlin's Musings aka I Love You Sinclair Lewis

I'm slowing down reading-wise as I have been back to reading tons for my job.  This book took me forever to read but not because it was slow, boring, or challenging.

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS:  Why didn't I read any Sinclair Lewis sooner?  I'm pretty sure he's my soul mate.  But seriously.  For once, a book about someone who is unhappy with their life and after fighting unsuccessfully to change it for a long time, just leaves it.  And I really appreciated that Carol (big town girl moved to small town with her country-bumpkin doctor hubby post-marriage) had perspective.  Like her woes were not as bad as those of unwed mothers, poor immigrant farmers, or factory workers.  This is how rational people think and these type of characters don't make enough appearances in classic literature.  Add in the excellent political commentary and intelligent viewpoint on the Midwest and small-town America and this one of my new faves from the challenge.  Ending could have been a bit cheerier but you can't get everything you want.

SPOILER ALERTS:  The main character has a lot of perseverance so be prepared for a lot of the same.

MUSINGS:  So happy to see a male author writing about an independent suffragette type who still loves her baby lots.  That's right.  Feminists have feelings too.

GRADE SHEET:
Narrator's Likeability: A+++
Pacing: B
Readability: A
Pro-East Coast Mentality: A
Satisfying Ending: B
Rationality: A

"O, Pioneers" from Kelli

This book rocks.  Everything Caitlin said about it her post was true and then some.  Cather's writing is sharp and descriptive.  Her descriptions of Nebraska and human's attachment to the land is similar to how well Steinbeck describes his beloved Salinas Valley.  I think the connection to land and people is something that makes Cather and Steinbeck's writing stick out to me in a way that few authors do.  It makes you feel a certain sense of wholeness that few books are able to impart.  If Death Comes to the Archbishop is half as good as O, Pioneers was, it will also take it's place among my favorite books of all time.

GRADE SHEET:

Pacing: A

Readability: A+

Satisfying Ending: A (even though it pulls at the heartstrings)

Protagonist's Likability: A++

Descriptions of Wheat and Orchards: A

Overall:  A

"Things Fall Apart" from Kelli

I once mentioned to someone that this book was on the top 100 list, to which they replied "That makes sense, it's the quintessential African literature novel.  I read it in high school."  After reading it, I think this is a slightly sophomoric view of the novel.  Although the subject matter is clearly based in Achebe's experiences in his home country of Nigeria, the themes of loss, grief, and resistance to change are ones that speak across borders and, I think, define the book as much more than "quintessential African literature".

In the book, we follow the life of Okonkwo, a clan leader in a small town in Nigeria.  The novel works to explore Okonkwo's personal history, as well as the customs and traditions of his clan.  SPOILER ALERT: In the end, we see Okonkwo and his clan struggle to come to terms with imperialist missionaries that come to inhabit the town near the end of the novel.

After reading the book, I was interested to find out more about the author, Chinua Achebe.  I found that he is on another "Top 100" list published by The Guardian for his work of non-fiction: An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's "Heart of Darkness".  Once I'm through with our book challenge, I want to pick up that book because I also found Heart of Darkness to be incredibly racist (one of the many reasons I hated the book and am dreading having to read more by Conrad).  It seems, though, that Joseph Conrad deserves his place on our top 100 list for his sheer influence, though, as he sparked writing by Achebe, and was also mentioned in The World According to Garp as Garp's favorite author (what does this say about Garp and Irving?)

GRADE SHEET:

Pacing: A-

Protagonist's Likability: C (I love his wives, though)

Satisfying Ending: B

Ability to Spark Text-to-Text Connections: A

Quick Read Points: a million

"The Maltese Falcon" - Kelli's Take

I liked this book more for the lack of adverbs than anything else.  This is something Marie recently drew my attention to - that she despises adverbs because authors, in her view, should just choose stronger verbs and then they wouldn't need to modify them.  She mentioned this right before I dove into this book and I noticed that Dashiell Hammett uses remarkably few of them in the course of the novel.

I have to agree with my mom here.  I understand historically why this book would make the list, but, aside from the interesting lack of adverbs, the book doesn't stand out as anything spectacular.  Perhaps the novel was shocking for the day (I was shocked myself with the sex out of wedlock and stripping in the novel - it was the 1930s for Christ's sake!).  However, I think the rest of the novel's novelty (ha) was spoiled by our 21st century overexposure to this exact type of protagonist - the difficult-to-decipher, sexy-but-reserved detective whose personal sense of justice (right or wrong) guides everything he does.

SPOILERS: Everyone's crooked.  Everyone's a victim.

GRADE SHEET:
Pacing: B+
Protagonist's Likability: C (SUPER average)
Satisfying Ending: C (You kind of wish it was more dramatic)
1930s Sexist Masculinity: A+
Originality from the 21st Century Perspective: D

Up Next: The Grapes of Wrath

Where Angels Fear to Tread - Lynn's Take

Where Angels Fear to Tread is E.M. Forster's earliest work, and for that reason, I suppose, it's important.  E.M. Forster's writing is light and unobtrusive - he draws his characters and moves the story along without the (superfluous, to me) literary flourishes so common in writing from the early 20th century.  And already, in Where Angels Fear to Tread, Forster's caricature of upper-class English provincialism and snobbery is well drawn, as is the charming Italian setting.  The storytelling in this, his first novel, however, is clunky when compared to his later works.  This applies especially to the ending of the story, which is abrupt in the extreme and not foreshadowed enough, so that it seems tacked on.

I'll not tell any of the story, because although the ending is clunky, the story as a whole is quite satisfying and deserves to unfold as it is read.  Have fun, Kelli and Caitlyn!

"The Awakening" - Caitlin's Thoughts

When there's a fire in a metro station you get delayed a LOOOOOOONG time and finish a short book like this pretty quickly on your kindle.  Worth it!

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS:  So I didn't like the beginning.  I guess pre-"awakening" to half way through the awakening I was sort of just frustrated with all of the characters for being whiny upper class people.  I got over it though once Edna started to be like "Hey, I'm a woman who doesn't like being a mom and doesn't want to be my husband's toy."  Like Ibsen's "The Doll House" but set in New Orleans.  The book is full of early feminism which is very hopeful and happy but ultimately ends in tragedy (because hey, how else would  a book on this list end but in tragedy?)  Super progressive for the time I would imagine; now, just a friendly reminder of why I'm so glad to be born in the 1980s instead of the 1880s. Good, quick, sometimes startling read.

MUSINGS:  I see why feminists praise this book a lot but I'm not sure if it brings too much to the table besides the novelty of a female character who doesn't suck.

SPOILER ALERT:  I almost cried on the metro at the end.  And then I remembered crying is a sign of weakness and that I never cry.  But seriously, this is a sad ending so get ready for the abruptness of it.  Or don't.  Your choice.

GRADESHEET:
Pace: A
Readability: A
Creole Food Descriptions: C- (lots of room for improvement)
Satisfying Ending: B-
Narrator's Likeability: A (super detached/objective - LOVE IT)
Cheerfulness: D

"Age of Innocence" - Caitlin's Opinion

So the only problem with the Kindle is you have no way of telling how long a book actually is.  I'm hoping this one is long because it seemed to take me awhile to read it but I never lost interest at least!

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS:  I've read Wharton before (House of Mirth) and thought it was okay but this was much better.  Also, Wharton got the first Pulitzer given to a woman for this one so well done Edith!  Basically like an early twentieth century Jane Austen.  Critiquing upper class society to some degree without ever truly condemning it.  A love story I didn't hate.  The main character was as unbearable and condescending as you expect him to be but you really start to feel for him after awhile.  Almost like Babbit in a way actually.  Wow.  So many anti-disestablishment/can't escape the establishment books on this list.

MUSINGS: My favorite character was the eccentric fat grandma.  I can't wait until I get to be an eccentric fat grandma.

SPOILER ALERT:  It was written in the 1920s by a lady author who got a Pulitzer so this shouldn't come as a surprise to you but was a bit of a disappointment nonetheless- no sex!!!!

GRADESHEET:
Pace: A-
Readability: A
Fashion Description: B
Narrator's Likeability: A
Satisfying Ending: D- (but that actually makes this book a little better)
Feminism: Hard to say.  Sometimes a B+ sometimes a D

"War of the Worlds" - Caitlin's Take

The first of many books I hope to enjoy on my 40 minute metro ride.  Finished this in 2 round trips.

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS: The narrator is a douche-y, imperialist, sexist, British man.  Luckily, H.G. Wells was imaginative so even though I hated the main character, there was enough action to keep the book bearable.  Unluckily, I have seen the Tom Cruise version of the movie which has way sweeter action sequences than the book.  Still, props to Wells for predicting the future of military warfare (he basically invented drones, napalm, and lasers).  Plus, as annoyingly superior as the narrator is, he throws in a few great quotes about the danger of complacency and advocates a surprisingly pro-environmentalist viewpoint.  Quick, easy, only slightly obnoxious.

MUSINGS:  People who claim to only "dabble" in planetary physics because their true passion is philosophy shouldn't be allowed to speak.  Talk about condescending.

SPOILER ALERTS:  The narrator lives.  Alas.  

GRADESHEET: 

Pace: A-

Readability: B+

Narrator's Likeability: D-

Satisfying Ending: C (WTF HAPPENS BETWEEN THE NARRATOR'S BROTHER AND THE ONLY POSITIVE FEMALE CHARACTER?  DO THEY BONE OR WHAT?!!?!?)

Creative Description of Martians: A

Bravery of Characters: C

Kelli's View on "A Room with a View"

Apparently Caitlin loves E.M. Forster.  I don't know why.  Although I found this novel to be enjoyable in the end, many parts were trite.  I thought his portrayal of a female protagonist was lackluster.  I do, however, always love a happy ending (sorry for the spoiler) - even one that is as predictable as the one in this coming of age story.

GRADE SHEET:
Pacing: C+
Protagonist's Likability: B
Satisfying Ending: B+
Understanding the Feminine Perspective: D
Strange Allusions to Greek and Italian Art and History: A

"O, Pioneers" - Caitlin's Take

Read en route from ORDàABQ.  My Kindle is my new favorite travel accessory.

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS:  All I have to say to Willa Cather is DAYUM GIIIIIRL!  YOU CAN WRITE!  Besides taking place in Norwegian-populated Nebraska and being awesome, this was not at all like My Antonia.  More hopeful, more modern, and more romantic but not in a cheesy way.  Cather writes with an extremely understated elegance.  Every sentence is purposeful which means the book never drags but you want to read it slowly nonetheless in order to catch every word.  Awesome heroine + star crossed lovers + sensitivity without sappiness + heart-stopping climax= unbeatable combination.  I really can’t say enough how much I enjoyed this. 

MUSINGS:  Willa Cather must love Nebraska. 

SPOILER ALERTS:  This challenge has really made me come to terms with bittersweet endings.  This one is the bitterest and simultaneously sweetest yet. 

GRADESHEET:

Pace: A- (just a bit too fast in the beginning)

Readability: A+

Narrator’s Likeability: B+

Satisfying Ending: A+++

Forgiving of Human Faults: A

Hilarious Descriptions of the French: A

(For an update on totals: I'm at 34, Kelli is at 33, Lynn is at 49, and Marie is at 28)

"The Call of the Wild" - Caitlin's Thoughts

I’m on an adventure to New Mexico and thought I’d get a little reading done while in transit.  I spent a pleasant hour and a half during a layover in Chicago on this bad boy.

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS: Humans suck.  Straight up, we suck.  Animal abuse is not good.  Don’t do it.  Even if it'll make you money.  Animals are awesome.  And wild.  So don’t mess with them.  Kelli pretty much covered all the bases on this short but well-written and enjoyable read. 

MUSINGS: This made me want to adopt a new puppy asap.

SPOILER ALERTS:  Graphic violence is the name of the game.  Not for animal lovers under the age of 17.

GRADESHEET: I think Kelli nailed it in her post here. 

"The Old Man and the Sea" from Kelli

Although I've read more in May than I have since winter break, not much of it has been from the list.  I had to, of course, finish The Hunger Games trilogy, as well as the books I mentioned I needed to read for my new job!  Finally, I was able to pick up this short novella.

I'll admit it now:  I love Hemingway.  The first piece I read by him in high school is called The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber, which is about big game hunting (or at least, the plot is.  Is Hemingway's message ever really so simple though?)  You can find the full text here and it is well worth the read. http://www.tarleton.edu/Faculty/sword/Short%20Story/The%20Short%20Happy%20Life%20of%20Francis%20Macomber.pdf.  After reading this short story in high school, I decided to try reading The Old Man and the Sea and didn't get very far (despite it being so short).  Thus, as a sixteen year old does, I drew a hard and fast line and decided I hated Hemingway's writing.  

Seven years later, I'll finally come out of the closet as a Hemingway-lover.  I've read A Moveable Feast, In Our Time, The Sun Also Rises, and now The Old Man and the Sea and none of them have disappointed.  However, I will put The Old Man and the Sea at the bottom of that list.  Why is this the piece that won him the Pulitzer?  It's the same way I feel about Steinbeck.  Why is The Grapes of Wrath the most critically acclaimed.  Did no one read East of Eden?  It is clearly the masterpiece!  Regardless, this classic tale of will-power, courage, defeat, and love was enjoyable, I was able to finish it in a day, and especially nice to finish alongside the thunderstorm outside of my window.

GRADE SHEET:

Pacing: B

Protagonist's Likability: A-

Satisfying Ending: B+

Deserving of a Pulitzer: Nay

Accuracy of Fishing Vocabulary: A+

"Howard's End" - Caitlin's Thoughts

After disliking the last book so much, I was nervous I would hate all novels on the list.  I went for an author I knew I liked (E.M. Forster) and he didn't disappoint.

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS:  Forster may be the first male author (certainly in the early 20th century) to ever create female heroines I like.  And the main character, Margaret, from this book is my favorite of all Forster's heroines.  This was also his funniest novel.  And I don't mean "oh, I bet this was funny in 1910" but I actually laughed out loud (especially in the beginning) at several parts.  As usual, Forster's work is cleverly crafted with a well-driven plot, although the denouement is perhaps a bit short and slightly less satisfying than the rest of the book.  All in all, a delightful, quick, cheerful read that has restored my faith in books.

SPOILER ALERT:  There are some real shockers in here that I really can't in good conscience give away.

MUSINGS:  If I'm single at 30, I hope to be as happy about it as Margaret is.

GRADE SHEET:
Narrator's Likeability: A
Pace: B+
Readability: A
Satisfying Ending: B
Use of German Cousins: B-
Socio-economic Sensitivity: A

"A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" - Caitlin's Complaints

So I've clearly taken a hiatus from this reading challenge.  After spring break I had to buckle down and after finals all I could bring myself to read was Laura Ingalls Wilder (for the 197,874th time).  This book was not the right choice for restarting the challenge.

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS: I'd heard nightmare stories about Joyce's writing and guess what?  They're all true.  Yes, I get that he was modern and trying new stuff out and guess what?  I don't care.  Is there anything wrong with having a plot?  It doesn't even have to be told chronologically.  Just SOMETHING happening besides gaining self-awareness would be DELIGHTFUL.  There was a particularly awful section about religion that lasted about 60 pages in the 4th chapter which made me happy I don't think too hard about religion.  I probably missed a few of the clever classical allusions but I'm not going to beat myself up over it.  Some of the religious discussions later on between Stephen and less insane characters were more accessible.  The only bright spot of the somewhat strange narrative structure was when the main character thought about food.  Joyce totally nailed those passages (on mutton and carrots: "Stuff it into you, his belly counselled him").  Maybe I'm too shallow too appreciate great literature.  Or too hungry.  Plus, I get sick of all the woman-hating.

SPOILER ALERT:  Stephen grows up.  (Nothing happens so there's nothing to spoil.)

MUSINGS:  I have never been happier that I am not an artist and/or a young man.

GRADE SHEET:
Narrator's Likeability: ??? Who was the narrator?  I'm going to go with a D for style.
Pace: C
Readability: C
Satisfying Ending:
Explanation of Irish Politics: D-  (Seriously, how was there not more of this?  I'm sure it would be interesting.)
Schoolboy Antics: B+

BOOKS! from Kelli

In an effort to subdue the insistence of my roommate and best friend that I read "The Hunger Games", I went to see the movie with them a few weeks ago.  I liked the movie so much that I decided to read the first book, and I liked that so much that I finished the second in a few hours this weekend.  The writing is not exceptional, but it doesn't distract from the plot, which is fast paced and incredibly enjoyable.  And, despite being at a reading level appropriate for a pre-teen, it's not stupid like the cultural phenomenon "Twilight" is.


Secondly, my new school, DSST, sent me two books to read in preparation for summer school.  I could not be more delighted to have a school that encourages reading and professional development in this way.  Since I have to make those a priority to read before my move, I might not be making much progress on the top 100 list until then.

The Maltese Falcon - Lynn's Take

The Maltese Falcon is short - very short.  Which makes it all the more amazing that it launched a literary genre - detective novels - and is the basis for Film Noir.

I enjoyed the book, but it's a classic example of a pop culture phenomenon that is a victim of its own success:  The femme fatal - so done!  The hard man with a code of honor - been there!  The sarcastic, witty lines, "What makes you so hard to get along with, sweetheart," - too cliche!

This is by far the least "classic" seeming of the books on the list that I've read so far.  Undoubtedly, that's because it is the most modern.

"The Sun Also Rises" from Kelli

"The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to the place where he arose...The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits...All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again."

 - Ecclesiastes

This quote is printed a few pages before the start of the book and pretty much summarizes the sentiment of the novel.  Hemingway beautifully tells a story of the ebb and flow of love and friendship.  His writing is restrained and sharp.  The story is heart-wrenching and understated.  It was a delight to read and came at an appropriate time in life - when I am scared to death of big changes coming my way.  Definitely deserving of its spot on the top 100 list.

GRADE SHEET:

Pacing: A

Protagonist's Likability: B+

Satisfying Ending: A+

Writer's Restraint: A++

References to Bullfighting: A

Up Next: Brideshead Revisited

"The Call of the Wild" from Kelli

This was a quick and enjoyable read, especially if you're a dog lover.  The story chronicles the life of Buck, a hunting dog who is kidnapped and trained as a sled dog.  The novel follows Buck as he adjusts to the cruel life in the Yukon - what Jack London refers to as "the law of club and fang" and the passion he finds in the wilderness.

Annnnnd, that's pretty much it :) Quick read, quick post.

GRADE SHEET
Pacing: B+
Protagonist's Likability: A
Satisfying Ending: B-
Great for Animal Lovers: A+++
Mild Tear-Jerking: A-

Up Next: The Sun Also Rises

World Book Night - April 23, 2012

Hey Folks, tonight is World Book Night!  Huzzah!

Kelli, my mom, and I passed out free books (best sellers!) tonight along with thousands of other volunteers.  All together, we passed out 500,000 books across the USA, sharing the pleasure of reading across the land!

"The Hunger Games" from Kelli

Ok, so The Hunger Games is not on any top 100 novels list.  And for good reason.  I mean, it's a highly addictive/enjoyable young adult novel, but it's no masterpiece.

But here's my advice, fellow top 100 seekers, drop everything and read this book.  You'll finish it in mere hours, feel refreshed to get back to heavier works, and have a new appreciation for this delightful pop culture phenomenon.

The Bostonians - Lynn's Take

The Bostonians, by Henry James, is set in the postbellum period, on the East Coast - primarily Boston.  The story is about a love triangle between two cousins vying for the affections of the same woman.  That one of the cousins is female is novel for the time - the book was written in the late 19th century - and caused no small stir at the time.  The book is also a satire of the contemporaneous feminist movement, of which the author is apparently highly skeptical.

Basil Ransom is Olive Chancellor's cousin, a Confederate war veteran from Mississippi.  We are introduced to Olive and Basil on the first page as they meet each other for the first time.  Olive, who is active in the Boston feminist movement, has invited Basil to visit her merely out of a sense of duty; when he proves to be opposed to her prime passion in life - feminism - she takes an immediate dislike.  Her dislike is so intense, in fact, that she has a foreboding that he will ruin her life.

The same night that they meet each other, Basil and Olive both meet Verena, a feminist speaker who gives a rousing speech at Mrs. Birdseye's home.  Basil is taken with Verena's femininity, beauty, and charm; Olive is taken with Verena's passion for the feminist movement. Basil also meets Dr. Prance, who lives downstairs from Mrs. Birdseye and who is already known by Olive.  Dr. Prance, who is a lady doctor, will play a small but symbolically significant role in the unfolding story.

Shortly after the event at Mrs. Birdseye's home, Olive becomes Verena's patron and the two young women begin their cohabitation that lasts until the final scene of the book.  Also shortly after the event, Basil begins his seduction of Verena, which also proceeds until the final scene.

I won't tell you the ending of the story, for that would ruin your enjoyment.  However, I will make a few observations.  First of all, it is obvious that Henry James is ambivalent in the extreme about feminism.  He obviously detests the feminist "movement" of the time, but Dr. Prance symbolizes his acceptance of women's role and competence in public life.  Likewise, the author recognizes the good that may motivate feminists - symbolized by the ever-generous, elderly stateswomen of the feminist movement, Mrs. Birdseye.

Drawing back from the story itself to look at the writing, Henry James style is unique.  And uniquely wordy.  It takes him all of 1100 pages to get from point A to point B in the plot.  For Ernest Hemingway, this would have been a short story.  The wordiness detracts from plot development - the plot is simplistic - but it adds to the character development, which is quite rich, and also to the formation of the political ideas that are at the heart of the novel.

I think this is the longest post I've written so far.  I feel that's quite fitting for this novel . I surprised myself by enjoying The Bostonians quite a lot and a lengthy tribute gives the book its due.

"Brave New World" from Kelli

This book started off with a bang! I was loving it. All of the ironic references to "ancient" culture (of course, the culture that you are I are living in). It was so....topical, so....political. Aldous Huxley's descriptions were eloquent, but didn't run on forever. I was flying through this book.

And then, I hit about 70 pages from the end and ran into a wall. Suddenly, I was sick of the plot, and the climax that I thought was going to come at the beginning of the book, clearly was not where Huxley wanted us to go. I was disappointed and deinvested. And so the book sat by my bed, with me reading about 3-5 pages every night. Last night, I finally suffered through the end of the book.

What a let down!

GRADE SHEET:

Narrator's Likability: B (the narrator shifts between chapters)

Pacing: A at the beginning, D at the end

Satisfying Ending: FFFFFFFFF

Sense of Irony: A-

The Bostonians - Lynn Passes the 1/2 Way Mark

OK, I thought I was going to hate this book. It's long, it has no plot to speak of, and what's more, my fellow blogger, Caitlin, really despised another James selection on the list: Portrait of a Lady.

But I don't hate it. Surprisingly, despite all of its faults (the author's contempt for his characters, the run on sentences, the lack of progression), I do not hate it. I'm 630 pages into this 1111 page behemoth, and it's OK. The ideas James presents through his characters are... well... damned interesting.

That said, I also don't love it. But maybe the ending will save it. It's got 381 pages to get itself into the plus column. We'll see...

A Good Man is Hard to Find - Lynn's Take

He certainly is hard to find in this collection of short stories by Flannery O'Connor.  A more enjoyable collection of misanthropy I've never read.

There is not one iota - not one, single, teeny, tiny sliver - not a drop - of happiness or human kindness in any of these stories. A family on vacation shot dead; a small, neglected boy drowning; a mentally handicapped girl left at the side of the road: these are just a few of the endings this collection provides.  And the endings are inevitably precipitated by human venality, vanity, or narrow-mindedness.

But oh how the prose shines! Like all the best writing, reading this collection so entirely effortless it seems like each story is simply poured into your brain.  A good man might, indeed, be hard to find.  A good writer, it seems, is not, thanks to Flannery O'Connor.

"Their Eyes Were Watching God" from Kelli

General Impressions:

This book is, first and foremost, beautifully written. I think I had a greater appreciation of the book and dialect after living in the South for two years - the realism of the dialect was spot on. The other thing that surprised me was that Janie and Tea Cake could've been living in Memphis, TN in 2012 - the phrasing and pronunciation of words is still very much the same even almost 100 years later.

Plot/themes: The book follows the story of Janie's life (told through three important romantic relationships as she tells them to her "bosom friend" Pheoby. Janie's first two relationships do not satisfy her soul or appreciate her for who she is. When Janie meets Tea Cake after her second husband's death, he is 12 years her junior and it causes a scandal across the town when they run off together to be married. Although their relationship is short lived, it provides Janie with a sense of freedom and satisfaction that she did not have before. The thing I loved most about this book was Janie's resilience and strength of character. This must have been a very progressive book in the 1930s and even today shows the strength of Black women in a way very few books do.

Readability: A

Pacing: A

Satisfying ending: B

Overall Rating: B+

"The World According to Garp" according to Kelli

I literally just finished this 20 minutes ago and am still processing how I feel about it. From others descriptions of "Oh, I loved that book!", I was expecting something more uplifting. Instead what I found was a profound work about fear.

I think the best way to describe it is that the book was very filling, and finishing it has left me feeling a little empty, with a strange sense of mortality. I think it was a fitting novel to read at this particular moment in life.

It might be the best book I've read in the challenge thus far.

"Babbit" -Caitlin's View

So I got this book on Kindle for free and finished LOTR unexpectedly early during my Bahamian cruise and Kelli said it was enjoyable and pretty fast so I thought I'd give it a go!

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS: Kelli pretty much got the plot line covered. Babbit is just an average suburban-dwelling upper middle class Joe who can't escape his average suburban-dwelling upper middle class existence. As has often been the case during this challenge, I felt soooo frustrated by the main character's refusal to do anything about his own dissatisfaction. However, I felt much worse for Babbit than any other heroes because it seemed more like Babbit didn't even know how to escape even if he could. The book does an exceptional job of mocking the American Dream but like many anti-establishment novels, doesn't suggest a solution. Also, if Sinclair Lewis' satirical goal was critiquing obscenely repetitive, plot-less novels, he succeeded with flying stars.

SPOILER ALERT: There IS actually a happy ending. Sort of.

MUSINGS: Do authors intentionally make "adult life" exactly like high school or is it really like that?

GRADE SHEET:

Narrator's Likeability: A

Readability: B

Pace: A

Satisfying Ending: B (good but pretty rushed)

Ear for Language: A (props for giving white middle class follower-types their own dialect)

Timelessness: A-

Plot Structure: D

"Lord of the Rings" -Caitlin's Thoughts

So I read The Hobbit (just like every other nerdy 12 year old with no friends did) during a few lunch periods in middle school. I found that it dragged but was an interesting story so I thought I'd check out some more Tolkien. When I picked up The Fellowship of the Ring ten years ago, I put it down almost immediately; needless to say, I was nervous for this 1200+ page portion of the challenge.

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS: Jackpot. As a twelve year old, I hadn't developed my skill for skimming or seen the LOTR movies so I could not appreciate these books. As I have since discovered the glory of skipping all things in italics (for example, anything latin in my law books) and become a huge fan of the movies (especially the director's cut of The Two Towers), these books went a lot faster on attempt #2. The books do drag but if you skip all of the boring parts (poems, songs, and histories of made up places), the story is pretty exciting and insanely clever. I do think I enjoy the movies more than the books (WHICH IS SHOCKING AND UNHEARD OF AND A LITTLE SHAMEFUL, I KNOW!) because the movies take all of the exciting parts and lengthen them and cut out all of the boring parts. However, the Frodo/Sam parts are much less obnoxious in the books and you even like Frodo a little in them. As a whole, these books are great if you love fantasy worlds, elves, heroism, self-sacrifice, and bro-love. If you are looking for feminism, realism, or challenges to the social order, these are not the books for you.

SPOILER ALERT: The good guys win.

MUSINGS: Tolkien loved the gays. Maybe he didn't realize it but the number of male-male vaguely homosexual pairings in this book was higher than expected.

GRADE SHEET:

Narrator's Likeability: Somewhat condescending (like sorry I haven't read Bilbo's History of Middle Earth) but fine.

Readability: A
Pace: B+ if you skim, C- if you don't

Satisfying Ending: A+

Battle Scenes: C+ (the movies were way better)

Creativity: A+

A Question to My Peeps

Caitlin; Kelli -

What do you recommend I read next?  I am leaning toward The Maltese Falcon, but I don't want to end up with only long/boring/reprehensible (aka On the Road) books at the end of the journey.  Do you have any recommendations for the book I should read next?

"Babbitt" from Kelli

Mane, bruh. February has dragged my book reading rate wayyyyyyyyyy down. It's taken me a month to finish "Babbitt" by Sinclair Lewis. Partially because of school and starting a new part-time job, but also due in part to the lack of a swift plot-line in Babbitt.

Here's the general flow of the book:

• Man is mediocre and conformist
• Man is middle aged and discontent
• Man flirts with becoming outspoken and independent
• Man is beaten down by The Man
• Man returns to being mediocre and conformist

Enjoyable, but nothing extraordinary. Which is probably why it's #93 on the list.

Onward and upward. I hear "The World According to Garp" is sensational.

A Room with a View - Lynn's Take

There are many good literary reasons to like this book.  It's well written, it contains cutting social commentary, it references previous works of art and culture.  And I appreciate all that. Really, I do.  But here's why I like A Room with a View: It's a damned good love story.  A likable protagonist, An endearing love interest, a distasteful suiter, and a gaggle of interfering friends and neighbors... If it weren't so well written, it could be a Harlequin!

"Beloved" - Caitlin's POV

A woman saw me reading this on the metro and made a point of speaking to me about it. People NEVER talk to each other on the D.C. metro. Her comment which was so important to break the traditional between-stranger-silence? "That book is WEIRD!" How right she was...


GENERAL IMPRESSIONS: What the WHAT? This was by far the strangest book I've ever read. Putting aside the mystic beliefs/ghosts/reincarnated dead children, it was even bizarre to read. You could never tell what was a flashback and what wasn't. That isn't always an issue for me but when you add in that you couldn't tell what was real, what was a hallucination/vision, and what was a dream, it got pretty damn confusing. Added to that is the most bizarre plotline ever and some nontraditional discussions of slavery and voila! you have a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel! As a history major and generally socially conscious individual, I have read some of the "classics" on slavery. I'm not sure that Frederick Douglass would exactly approve of Morrison's portrayal of slavery. Obviously, it was horrible and she portrays the complete dehumanization of black women especially well but I also wonder if some of the stuff she describes about black men helps her cause. It's like she almost believes what white people were saying about black sexuality during the rape/lynching cycle in post-Reconstruction South.

SPOILER ALERT: Every surprise is heavily suggested ahead of time to so Toni Morrison will do all of the spoiling for you.

MUSINGS: I really do hate stream-of-consciousness writing and I am very thankful it only existed in one full chapter.

GRADE SHEET:
Narrator's Likeability: Depends on the Narrator, Ranging from B+ (Denver) to D (Beloved)
Readability: C
Pace: B
Satisfying Ending: B
Originality of Style: A
Creative Character Names: B+

Well, that Sucked - from Kelli

Heart of Darkness. Don't read it.

I'm concerned that who ever created this list was sadistic, because there is still more Joseph Conrad to be had. The man's thoughts are more scrambled than someone suffering from Wernicke's aphasia.

War of the Worlds - Lynn's Take

This was a quick, enjoyable read.  Mars invades and takes over man's place at the top of the food chain, due to better intelligence and better technology.  Humans' reaction to the disaster is mostly foolhardy or craven.  Martians are laid low by bacterial infection and humanity has a second chance.

"Room with a view" -Caitlin's Take

I guess reading law books all the time made me forget how much I love novels and how quickly I can read one!

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS: I've read two other Forster novels and this was pretty similar in style. Basically, some English folks go to "the Continent", some manners type stuff happens, some romance happens, and Forster tries to insert some deeper meaning into his work which is apparent but not especially thought-provoking. The book was quick, easy, sometimes funny, and very endearing. Much more optimistic and cheerful than pretty much anything else I've read for this challenge or, to be honest, anything I've ever read that is considered "literature." However, the most bizarre and maybe even interesting moment in the story (a man being killed and falling into the heroine's arms) is not given nearly enough treatment.

SPOILER ALERTS: Finally, a happy ending! Unusual for modern novels and Forster stories alike!

MUSINGS: If Mr. Beebe was a priest in every Catholic church in Iowa, Rick Santorum would never have made it on the ballot. Why can't modern Catholic priests be more like Victorian Catholic priests?

GRADESHEET:
Narrator's Likability: Average
Pace: A
Readability: B+
Satisfying Ending: A
Originality: C
Endearing Old British Men: A++

"The World According to Garp" - Caitlin's Take

My mom suggested I read Garp because she remembered enjoying it. She forget to mention that the book is 600+ pages long. Even so, two days later, I have finished it!

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS: I'm not sure why people are so fascinated by books about writers. Perhaps deep down most readers wish they were writers and want to know how to become one. Answer: become John Irving. The only other Irving novel I've read was A Prayer for Owen Meaney which is EXTREMELY different from this book (much more religious/moralistic and tame compared to the LUST!SEX!FEMINISM! of Garp) but they both exhibit what I think is Irving's greatest ability- he knows where his story is going but doesn't give away anything. PLUS he came up with the different stories within the book written by Garp and his mother AND the entire narrative was based off of made up biographies. WHO DOES THAT? GENIUS!!! Also, it's interesting to read a book which interacts with feminism so much written when 2nd wave feminism was on the up and up (I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say it's a feminist novel and I'm not sure what critics/other feminists/Irving would have to say on the subject). While sometimes I grew frustrated with all of the main characters' general flatness (even Garp was not as complex as I think he was supposed to be), the book was really a fun read.

SPOILER ALERTS: Too many deaths. But I think that's Irving's thing.

MUSINGS: It's interesting to read a book full of debauchery/cheating/sluts/sex/death/other bad stuff which has absolutely no reference to religion.

GRADE SHEET:
Narrator's Likability: A
Pace: A
Readability: A
Satisfying Ending: B+
Sense of Humor: B+
Supporting Actresses: A-

Mrs. Dalloway is a Shallow Bitch - Lynn

Mrs. Dalloway is about one day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway.  Published in 1925, this book is considered  ground breaking because all of the action occurs in a single day and because of Woolf's extensive use of interior monologue and stream of consciousness.  The book is also one of the first to address the subject of shell shock (PTSD, as we call it today).

All the groundbreaking is well and good, and I don't doubt that Mrs. Dalloway should be on the top 100 list, but that  doesn't mean that the book is enjoyable.  It's not.

Woolf's writing style is dense and non-sequitur, with run-on sentences frequently requiring rereading and re-rereading. Ugh.  And Clarissa Dalloway becomes less and less likeable as the story unfolds.  She typifies upper-crust England in the 1920's; her concerns surround appearance and propriety and her world is circumscribed by class-based conventions. Also, none of her friends are likable.  For that matter, neither are her enemies.  Her daughter is downright detestable.  And her husband is a loser.  It's hard to get into a book when there's no one to root for.  Or almost no one, anyway.

The most sympathetic character in the book is Septimus Smith, a WWI veteran who was exposed to horrific events during his honorable service and is now going mad.  On this day, Septimus has been taken to a specialist, Sir William Bradshaw, who determines that Septimus needs to be committed.  Unwilling to give up his independence, and haunted by the apparition of his dead comrade, Septimus jumps out of his window and kills himself.  Sir Bradshaw is called to the scene, which irritatingly (to him) makes him late to Mrs. Dalloway's party.

Upon his arrival to the party with his wife, Lady Bradshaw informs Mrs. Dalloway of the reason for her husband's lateness.  Mrs. Dalloway's first reaction is to be angry at him for ruining her party with a mention of death.  This is when I decided I downright disliked her.  Upon further reflection, Mrs. Dalloway decides that Septimus killed himself to preserve his 'treasure', his happiness.  This is when I decided I hated her.

Tender is the Night - It's not what you think! (Lynn)

When I told her that I was reading Tender is the Night, Kelli warned me that it was 'terrible'. She'd abandoned it because of it's 'old-fashioned' writing. At that point, I was about 20 pages in, and I told her that I thought it was great so far.  And I did end up liking it, but it sure wasn't the story I thought I was getting when I started reading it.

I enjoy Fitzgerald's writing; his descriptive passages are so evocative that they seem like pictures instead of words.  I could almost feel the oppressive stillness of the night in this description, "It was a limpid black night, hung as in a basket from a single dull star." I also like his au courant syntax.  Young people's feelings of rootlessness and restlessness in post WWI Europe are pefectly captured in his writing.

Tender is the Night opens in the summer of 1925 with Rosemary, a young American actress, arriving at a Mediterranean resort and meeting the Divers, Dick and Nicole.  Impressionable and unexperienced, Rosemary soon finds herself falling in love with the carefree, fun-loving, patrician Divers, especially Dick.  Over the next 129 pages, Fitzgerald develops a Rosemary into a very likable protagonist, and develops the relationship between Dick and her to the point of crisis - Dick is also in love with Rosemary, but will he betray Nicole?

On page 130, Fitzgerald throws us a huge curveball.  Suddenly we're in Zurich in the spring of 1917, and we're learning how Dick and Nicole met.  At this point, I presumed that this back story was needed to further build the dilemma that Dick was facing.  But I was wrong.  Turns out, this story isn't about Rosemary, it's about Dick and Nicole.  Rosemary was a device Fitzgerald used to introduce the appearance of the Divers before explaining the reality of the Divers.  And it turns out, Dick isn't such a nice guy.  And it turns out, Nicole is anything but carefree.

I had a really hard time readjusting my perspective when the story changed.  I had far too much invested in Rosemary to easily give up on her story.  And maybe that's why I came to so dislike Dick.  Although Dick appears to be a charming, loving guy, he turns out to be an ethically challenged parasite who is using Nicole for her money and as a cover for his lack of career advancement.  As time goes on, Dick is less and less able to maintain his charming facade. By the end of the novel, he has been shunned by his former circle of friends, as he so richly deserves.

Rosemary returns in a supporting role near the end of the book, and - perhaps because she's so closely associated with Dick, or perhaps because she's no longer an innocent - she  is far less likable.

The book has a big surprise, which I haven't revealed here.  It's that surprise (hint - it involves Nicole) that  ultimately redeems this book and makes it worth the read.

1/4 of the Way - from Kelli

Phew. Skating in barely before my winter break ended (literally, 30 minutes before my "school days" bedtime), I finished "In Cold Blood" - which is the best book I've read so far in this challenge. Perhaps because I'm a sucker for crime stories, but also because Truman Capote's ability to realistically recreate feelings, thoughts, and images is astounding. If you haven't read it - stop reading this post and go buy it.

"Catch-22" ended up being pretty great. The last 160 pages of the novel went much more quickly than the first 300. It just took some stamina and determination. I think the reason the book was so hard to read for me was because Joseph Heller's writing presents its own imaginative, wonderful logic. The irrationality of the book (a reflection, I believe, of Heller's view on war) made it difficult to read chapter by chapter. You really have to get into the mindframe of the book - a challenge when you're only reading 20 or 30 pages each time before you hit the sack. My recommendation for the book: pick a time when you have nothing to do all day and power through it. The book is a delightful challenge to the American status-quo and will leave you feeling satisfied.

This year, Caitlin, Marie and I (Caitlin and I currently at 25 books a piece, and Marie at 27) need to keep a pace of approximately 1 book for every 2 weeks to keep on track for a 2014 finish date. My mother, however, can take a more leisurely approach (especially considering she's been reading as fast as I have!). She needs only 56 more books to declare victory!

Summary scoring of 2011 books:

"Slaughterhouse Five": A+++ (this is the book, never blogged about, that actually roused my interest in partaking of the challenge)

"Lord of the Flies": B-

"Franny and Zooey": C

"In Our Time": B+

"Catch-22": B

"In Cold Blood": A++

"The Portrait of a Lady" - Caitlin's Thoughts

This is the most I have ever struggled with any book and if it weren't for the challenge, I would have put it down by page 35 (of 548).

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS: Blech, blech, and more blech. If Henry James' goal was to make you want to punch the heroine of the book only slightly less than you want to kill it's author, than he was immensely successful. I am frustrated in real life by people who are determined to be unhappy and the book puts them on a pedestal. The titular character, the lady- Isabel Archer, shows promise in her first introduction as she is intelligent, independent, and unabashedly American. But then James starts heaping on insanely boring and annoying descriptions of personality traits as the minimalistic plot requires them to give him something to write about. Every single thing I wanted to happen in this book didn't. Plus, when something was actually interesting, James spent an uncharacteristically short amount of time describing it (the loss of an infant child is mentioned in a fleeting half sentence while the way the main character turns the page of a book is granted a full chapter of description). Essentially, this was everything I don't like (too much description, unrelatable characters, non-existent plotlines, and self-imposed angst) all in one book. Besides the obvious outdatedness of the book (wasting away illnesses making people "invalids", lords/ladies, dutiful wives, children being raised at convents, shocking age differences in marriages, etc...) there was one modern concept which still exists in other books on the list which frustrate me (i.e. On the Road)- an obnoxious preoccupation by characters with their self-imposed unhappiness. Just makes me want to punch them all.

SPOILER ALERTS: The most action of the book occurs in the last 55 pages. You'll want to gouge your eyes out with the corner of your book until then.

MUSINGS: Why are my favorite characters consistently referred to as "simple"? Complex people can be happy too. Suck it, Henry James. Also, this book shouldn't even be on this list because it was written in the 19th century.

GRADE SHEET:
Narrator's Likability: F
Pace: D-
Readability: C
Satisfying Ending: B-
Impressively Long Paragraphs: A
Use of French: B+ (I understood most of it without translations! Which was good because my book didn't have any...)