Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë

I should actually be reviewing Hard Times by Charles Dickens in this entry, since I read it first, but I just finished Agnes Grey and it's fresh in my mind.

This was the only one of the Brontës' books I hadn't yet read. Not knowing what to expect between the brilliance of some of the Brontës' novels and the dullness of others, I just started reading with an open mind, or rather listening as it was an audio book. Although it lacks the mystery and atmosphere of Jane Eyre and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, it's still a really good read, especially if you're interested in reading about the lives of governesses in the 19th century. Having read Governess: The Lives and Times of the Real Jane Eyres by Ruth Bandon last year, Agnes Grey was doubly interesting. The story is a history of Agnes Grey, the daughter of a minister who loses everything speculating on a shipment of goods which sinks. Subsequently, the family is forced to look for other means of earning their living and Agnes' only possibility to to go for a governess. Agnes is an infinitely practical and realistic person. She knows life will not be easy, but sees no point in sitting at home hoping for a miracle, so she goes off to work.

Her positions, although carefully researched and considered, are nothing short of nightmares and emphasize the often helpless lots of governesses at the time. Many lacked both the support of the parents and the power to enforce their authority over their charges. Basically, the tried to walk a thin line between retaining their positions and their sanity. Agnes is forced to suppress all of her feelings and pride in order to remain employed. Her charges are arrogant, unruly and have no respect for anyone, including their own parents. The children even go so far as to intentionally make her life difficult for her; treating her more as a figure for sport than as a person of any importance in their lives. They thought nothing of humiliating and abusing her for their own entertainment.

Despite all of the hardships, Anne Brontë didn't allow the book to become the same sort of dour, dreary book that Villette and The Professor are. Agnes remains a positive person throughout all. She would have made a good role model for any young girl of the day as she trusted to hard work and perseverance to help her to improve her situation. Her realism forced her to firmly separate her day dreams from reality and focus on what was necessary for her and her family, yet she still had those dreams which endear her to the reader. You know she's holding out the same hope we all do in times of trouble that everything will be all right in the end. I liked Agnes and I liked the book. This will get a 5 star rating in my list.

Fool by Christopher Moore

Fool is a book I ran across in one of the audio book forums I peruse. I decided to try it because people were raving about Moore and it sounded like my kind of humour. The story is basically Shakespear's King Lear in very, very modern language. I had been forewarned that it was quite vulgar, but I wasn't quite prepared for the extent of the language. Some of it I felt was fine, but especially at the beginning of the book it felt a bit forced, as if Moore was actually making an effort to insert as much foul language into the book as humanly possible. While I'll concede that some of it was appropriate and lent a certain tone to some of the characters, a lot of it was just unnecessary and really just detracted from the humour of the rest of the book. It felt a bit like having to dig through profanity to find the humour.

Having said that, it the humour was there and if you don't care to read Shakespearean English, it's an enjoyable, if not entirely accurate, option. If you like sarcasm, innuendo, and puns, it's a fun read. However, I think I'll stick to Pratchett in the future. He's just so much better even though he doesn't try half as hard. I've given this one two stars in my ratings and I probably won't be reading any more of Moore's books.

The Twelve Houses Series by Sharon Shinn

The Series:

Mystic and Rider
The Thirteenth House
Dark Moon Defender
Reader and Raelynx
Fortune and Fate


The land of Gillengaria is a fictional land is ruled by a king, but is divided into 12 Noble Houses, who effectively rule their lands like States. Gillengaria is facing instability in its lands. A few of the Houses, one in particular, crave more power than they already have and begin to cause unrest and plot a coup, citing the king’s lack of suitable heir and his support of the much despised Mystics, or people who possess magic as a reason. Additionally, the lesser nobles of the Thirteenth House, those indirectly related to the twelve houses, are also becoming unsatisfied with their lot and desire more land and more power and begin their own insurrection. Finally, Coralinde Gisseltess, sister to one of the unsatisfied Nobles, incites unrest by condemning the Mystics as abominations and establishing a convent for those dedicated to the eradication of mystics.

The king, realizing the danger his country is in, sends out two riders and three mystics to gather information. The group picks up a fourth mystic on the way, who becomes a great asset. Throughout the series, the group travels the country spying and reporting back to the king and helping him to set up his strategies and defense. Each book concentrates on a different one of the six characters and their particular story. Magic, intrigue, war and romance are the main themes; all of which are balanced well enough to give the stories a fairly well rounded feel, i.e. they don’t become top heavy with one subject or the other.

Although the series is effectively over after the fourth book, there is a fifth which is something of a post-qual. While you get glimpses into the lives of the previous characters, the main story revolves around one of the minor characters in the first four books. I was afraid the book might lose out with the loss of characters I really liked, but it was possibly the best written of all of them. The only criticism I have is that it’s a little heavy on romance for my taste. Still, that didn’t detract from the story and I still really enjoyed the book.

If you like fantasy and magic, you should enjoy this series. The characters are so likable that you care about what happens to them. The plots are also fairly intriguing with twists and turns, some foreseeable, some not. The series is a pleasant read and good for times when you want Comfort Reading, i.e. something fun and easy to read. I went through the series fairly rapidly and will probably read them again down the line.

Because it was amusing

I ran into the dialectizer today and just had to see what it would do to my book reviews. I give you David Copperfield in:

Cockney

First off, right, I just 'ave ter mention that I listened ter David Copperfield ravver than read it, init? I 'ave the version narrated by Martin Jarvis (published by BBC WW) and 'is narration were nuffink short of brilliant. He right made the characters come ter life and coloured in the bloody story. It were like seein' a black and wite film in colour for the first time. I'm workin' me way frough all of Dickens books and am right glad I got this particular audio version. I'll certainly be 'ave a lookin' forward ter hearin' more of Jarvis. 'e made even the slower bits entertainin', alffough I fink I could 'ave done wivout copping ter know Guvnor Micorber quite as well as I did fough 'is narration (tongue in cheek). Sometimes Dickens does go just a bit over the top wiv 'is characters sometimes.

Even fough this is one of the most well known of Dickens works, right, it’s not one I would recommend ter some bloke as their first Dickens novel, init?It’s quoted in Wikipedia as bein' the bloody most autobiographical of Dickens’ works, right, wich I suspect is largely due ter it’s first geezer narration. David Copperfield 'imself tells yer about 'is life from the time 'e were a wee lad at The Rookery. The first 'alf of the book can be a bit slow in events at times, right, so if yer don’t care for Dickens or 'aven’t read any of 'is works yet, I could spot that it might be a bit tedious. The second 'alf more than makes up for this fough. I right found meself enjoyin' it once Copperfield reached an age where 'e were able ter control 'is own life somewot.

This butcher's hook, or peraps the fact that I listened ter it ravver than read it, made me realize that one fin' yer must 'ave ter enjoy Dickens’ works is a good imagination. Yer can’t just read about wot the characters are doin', yer 'ave ter picture their actions ter make it interestin', right? Once yer start ter do that, yer can begin ter appreciate 'is use of descriptive 'am sandwich ravver than just findin' it tediously long and circumspect. I suspect that’s always wot I’ve ravver liked about Dickens, but just 'adn’t realized it so concretely. The bloomin' scene where 'e mentions the bloomin' cell window bein' six or seven deep in men’s 'eads as the jostle for a better position takes on much more of a comic atmosphere wen yer picture it 'appenin' instead of just readin' about it.

If yer like Dickens, yer’ll luv this one, if yer don’t, yer may want ter try the audio butcher's hook (wich I can recommend eever way). I luvd it and will certainly read it again sometime.

Redneck

Fust off, ah jest hafta menshun thet ah lissened t'Abner Copperfield rather than read it. ah have th' vahshun narrated by Martin Jarvis (published by BBC WW) an' his narrashun was nothin' sho't of brilliant. He pow'ful made th' chareeckers come t'life an' coloured in th' sto'y. It was like seein' a black an' white film in colour fo' th' fust time. ah's wawkin' mah way through all of Dickens books an' is pow'ful glad ah got this hyar particular audio vahshun. I'll sartinly be lookin' fo'ward t'hearin' mo'e of Jarvis. He made even th' slower bits intertainin', although ah reckon ah c'd haf done wifout gittin' t'knows Mr. Micawber quite as fine as ah did though his narrashun (tongue in cheek). Sometimes Dickens does hoof it jest a bit on over th' top wif his chareeckers sometimes.

Even though this hyar is one of the dawgoned-est fine known of Dickens wawks, it’s not one ah w'd recommend t'someone as their fust Dickens novel, ah reckon. It’s quoted in Wikipedia as bein' the dawgoned-est autybiographical of Dickens’ wawks, which ah suspeck is largely due t'it’s fust varmint narrashun. Abner Copperfield hisse'f tells yo' about his life fum th' time he was a li'l lad at Th' Rookery. Th' fust ha'f of th' book kin be a bit slow in events at times, so eff'n yo' don’t care fo' Dickens o' haven’t read enny of his wawks yet, ah c'd see thet it might be a bit tedious. Th' second ha'f mo'e than makes up fo' this hyar though. ah pow'ful foun' mahse'f injoyin' it once Copperfield retched an age whar he was able t'control his own life somewhut.

This hyar book, o' perhaps th' fack thet ah lissened t'it rather than read it, made me reckanize thet one thin' yo' muss hafta injoy Dickens’ wawks is a fine imaginashun. Yo' kin’t jest read about whut th' chareeckers is doin', yo' hafta pitcher their ackshuns t'make it interestin'. Once yo' start t'do thet, yo' kin begin t'appreesheeate his use of dexcrippive language rather than jest findin' it tediously long an' circumspeck. ah suspeck thet’s allus whut I’ve rather liked about Dickens, but jest hadn’t reckanized it so corncretely. Th' scene whar he menshuns th' cell window bein' six o' seven deep in men’s haids as th' jostle fo' a better posishun takes on much mo'e of a comic atmosphar when yo' pitcher it happenin' instead of jest readin' about it.

Eff'n yo' like Dickens, yo'’ll love this hyar one, eff'n yo' don’t, yo' may be hankerin' t'try th' audio book (which ah can recommend eifer way). ah loved it an' will sartinly read it agin sometime.
Posted by TheBlackHoun'dog

Elmer Fudd
Fiwst off, I just have to mention that I wistened to David Coppewfiewd wathew than wead it. I have the vewsion nawwated by Mawtin Jawvis (pubwished by BBC WW) and his nawwation was nothing showt of bwiwwiant. He weawwy made the chawactews come to wife and cowouwed in the stowy. It was wike seeing a bwack and white fiwm in cowouw fow the fiwst time. I'm wowking my way thwough aww of Dickens books and am weawwy gwad I got this pawticuwaw audio vewsion, uh-hah-hah-hah. I'ww cewtainwy be wooking fowwawd to heawing mowe of Jawvis. Oh, dat scwewy wabbit! He made even the swowew bits entewtaining, awthough I think I couwd have done without getting to know Mw. Micawbew qwite as weww as I did though his nawwation (tongue in cheek). Sometimes Dickens does go just a bit ovew the top wif his chawactews sometimes. Oh, dat scwewy wabbit!

Even though this is one of the most weww known of Dickens wowks, it’s not one I wouwd wecommend to someone as theiw fiwst Dickens novew. It’s qwoted in Wikipedia as being the most autobiogwaphicaw of Dickens’ wowks, which I suspect is wawgewy due to it’s fiwst pewson nawwation, uh-hah-hah-hah. David Coppewfiewd himsewf tewws you about his wife fwom the time he was a wittwe wad at De Wookewy. De fiwst hawf of the book can be a bit swow in events at times, so if you don’t cawe fow Dickens ow haven’t wead any of his wowks yet, I couwd see that it might be a bit tedious. Oh, dat scwewy wabbit! De second hawf mowe than makes up fow this though. I weawwy found mysewf enjoying it once Coppewfiewd weached an age whewe he was abwe to contwow his own wife somewhat.

Dis book, ow pewhaps the fact that I wistened to it wathew than wead it, made me weawize that one thing you must have to enjoy Dickens’ wowks is a good imagination, uh-hah-hah-hah. You can’t just wead about what the chawactews awe doing, you have to pictuwe theiw actions to make it intewesting. Once you stawt to do that, you can begin to appweciate his use of descwiptive wanguage wathew than just finding it tediouswy wong and ciwcumspect. I suspect that’s awways what I’ve wathew wiked about Dickens, but just hadn’t weawized it so concwetewy. De scene whewe he mentions the ceww window being six ow seven deep in men’s heads as the jostwe fow a bettew position takes on much mowe of a comic atmosphewe when you pictuwe it happening instead of just weading about it.

If you wike Dickens, you’ww wove this one, if you don’t, you may want to twy the audio book (which I can wecommend eithew way). I woved it and wiww cewtainwy wead it again sometime.
Posted by DeBwackSheep


I'm easily amused, can you tell?

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

First off, I just have to mention that I listened to David Copperfield rather than read it. I have the version narrated by Martin Jarvis (published by BBC WW) and his narration was nothing short of brilliant. He really made the characters come to life and coloured in the story. It was like seeing a black and white film in colour for the first time. I'm working my way through all of Dickens books and am really glad I got this particular audio version. I'll certainly be looking forward to hearing more of Jarvis. He made even the slower bits entertaining, although I think I could have done without getting to know Mr. Micawber quite as well as I did though his narration (tongue in cheek). Sometimes Dickens does go just a bit over the top with his characters sometimes.

Even though this is one of the most well known of Dickens works, it’s not one I would recommend to someone as their first Dickens novel. It’s quoted in Wikipedia as being the most autobiographical of Dickens’ works, which I suspect is largely due to it’s first person narration. David Copperfield himself tells you about his life from the time he was a little lad at The Rookery. The first half of the book can be a bit slow in events at times, so if you don’t care for Dickens or haven’t read any of his works yet, I could see that it might be a bit tedious. The second half more than makes up for this though. I really found myself enjoying it once Copperfield reached an age where he was able to control his own life somewhat.

This book, or perhaps the fact that I listened to it rather than read it, made me realize that one thing you must have to enjoy Dickens’ works is a good imagination. You can’t just read about what the characters are doing, you have to picture their actions to make it interesting. Once you start to do that, you can begin to appreciate his use of descriptive language rather than just finding it tediously long and circumspect. I suspect that’s always what I’ve rather liked about Dickens, but just hadn’t realized it so concretely. The scene where he mentions the cell window being six or seven deep in men’s heads as the jostle for a better position takes on much more of a comic atmosphere when you picture it happening instead of just reading about it.

If you like Dickens, you’ll love this one, if you don’t, you may want to try the audio book (which I can recommend either way). I loved it and will certainly read it again sometime.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

I think I may have read this for last year’s challenge as well, and didn't really intend to read it again for this one, but it’s such a good book. The Secret Garden is one of my earliest memories of reading a book alone and is one of the reasons I fell in love with reading. It’s romantic without being overly soppy, positive and just a really good story.

Mary, a spoiled, neglected English child, living in India, loses her parents to typhoid and is returned to England to live with an uncle who neither knows nor really wants her. For the first time in her life, Mary is confronted with people who do not believe that life centres on her and she is forced to learn much about herself and the way in which she views the world. As the story continues, the reader watches her grow into a charming little girl with the extraordinary power to heal not only herself, but her cousin Colin as well, by simply realizing that sharing your pleasures with others is the key to happiness yourself. She shares her secret garden and in doing so increases her own pleasure in it. It’s a lovely, uplifting, story and is always a pleasant read. If only that summer could be stretched into childhood for everyone, we’d all be better off for it.

5 out of 5 for this one, whether you’re 5 or 50 or even 100.

Saturday by Ian McEwan

Saturday is my “New Classic” book for this round of The Classics Challenge 2009. I chose it after having read Atonement on the recommendation of friends, which was not as good as I had expected it to be, but made me curious to know about Ian McEwan’s other works.

McEwan wrote this book from a rather different perspective than usual and, it has to be said, proved his ability to write well by pulling it off. Saturday is a microspective view of one day of the life of Henry Perowne, a neurosurgeon on his day off. The narrator keeps a running description of every thought, action and reaction Henry has during that day, beginning with his waking in the night to discover a plane on fire in the sky to, well, that would be giving it away, wouldn’t it? The potential to bore the reader to death with such a blow by blow narrative is enormous, yet there is a compelling aspect to the prose that keeps the flow going so well, that there is little temptation to put the book down.

Henry is a successful man, with a successful wife, two wonderful and successful children. The picture is very nearly too perfect, yet remains believable (another tribute to McEwan’s writing ability) because the reader is allowed to see that he is neither superficial, nor ungrateful for what he has. With full knowledge of his advantages in life, Henry is looking forward to his Saturday of relaxation and release from the stresses of work, as we all do. Although he knows there might be minor difficulties ahead with the reunion of his daughter and her grandfather at dinner, he anticipates no serious trouble, and thus begins his day.

How many times does anyone begin such a day, only to have it turn into a disaster? Every death, accident or incident is prefaced by someone getting out of bed to start his day, and thus it is so for Henry as well, only this time the reader experiences the start to the day and the shock of events as they unfold. Henry’s morning is marred when he is involved in a minor car accident in the city while he tries to avoid the anti-war demonstrations taking place in London that day. This accident and the actions of the other car’s occupants shape the rest of Henry’s day, forcing him to contemplate moral issues ranging from his duties as a physician to the validity of war in Iraq. He tries to conquer his inner turmoil while not letting it affect the rest of his day and his interactions with friends and family.

The constant attempt to contain the seepage of his irritation with himself, his reactions and his refusal to address the situation for fear of further ruining his own day drain Henry and create the opposite effect. He becomes so involved with himself and his thoughts that he fails to see the bigger picture and the potential dangers. McEwan uses both the close examination of Henry’s thoughts and his temporary, but obvious, inability to see outside of himself as platforms for his themes. Showing Henry to be a flawed man prevents the book from becoming a ethical handbook for the different moral questions McEwan introduces. Since Henry is not perfect, his judgements may be just as flawed as himself, ergo his opinions are to be questioned and not viewed as law.

I’m finding it rather difficult to describe this book. It’s all rather intricately woven together, with many questions left unanswered because they cannot necessarily be answered, yet still must be considered and debated for society to progress and not regress. In the wrong hands, both subject matter and style could have been diabolical, but McEwan makes it work and makes it work well, leaving the reader with much to think about. Although some people may find it tedious in places, I’m still going to give this one 5 out of 5 because of the skill with which the work was executed.

Island Realm by Kevin J Anderson and Rebecca Moesta

This is another one of the books I bought in the series starter sale at Audible. It’s a little on the young side for me, but it was a decent, quick read all the same. I need to qualify that statement somewhat though. Had I been 10-15 years old, I would have loved the book and gone on to read the whole series. A lot of imagination went into the creation of the characters and worlds, which I think would be appreciated by younger audiences. It’s even suited to younger children who are a bit more advanced in their reading since there’s no serious violence, death or romance. I’m going to give this one 4 out of 5 even though I probably won’t personally read the rest of the series.