The Sunday Salon: Other things just get in the way...

I'm going through a particually bad reading spell at the moment not managing to read anywhere near as much as usual because my life keeps getting in the way! This week it was exam marking week, 200 10 page booklets -I'm nearly finished but it has eaten up so much of my free time. I planned on finishing 3 books this week and moveing onto a fourth. I managed to finish two: The Echo Maker and Persian Brides, and I have about 40 pages left of The Shadow in the North.

Next week doesn't look like I'm going to get much reading done either as I'm out 3 evenings in a row and I still have 50 creative writing exams to mark.... only a week left at school and its the holidays so I'll have to catch up then.

This week I'm attempting:
Charlotte Simmons -Woolfe
A Walk in the Woods - Bryson

The Classics Challenge: Pre-Challenge Fun

Trish has posted these questions for us to answer before the challenge starts:

1. My favorite classic is Jane Eyre, no matter how many times I read it I am still gripped, I still get angry at Rochester and then weep at the end!

2. The classic I had the toughest time finishing is Nicholas Nickleby, having seen the film - which is very good- I expected the book to be the same but much of the story had been left out of the film (definately a good thing). A real shame as I usually enjoy Dickens.

3. I would recommend Tess of the d'Urbervilles to someone who doesn't read a lot of classics or who doesn't generally like classics because its gripping from the first page, and Tess is a character who you can really come to feel passionate about, the book makes you experience a whole range of emotions and has a great storyline.

4. To me, a classic book is a book that has managed to live way past its age and still carry a message or still is relevant to modern lives. They should take you to another world without making it hard work or making you feel out of place.

5. The type of relationship I have with classics is poor. In terms of my lack of reading of them since I finished my degree. There are many on my virtual tbr pile that I just keep putting aside, I'm hoping this challeng will prompt me towards them in real life, in particular Jude the Obscure, Bleak House (and I might attempt War and Peace but I'm not promising anything!).

My Thoughts: Persian Brides - Dorit Rabinyan

This novel explores the lives of two Jewish girls, one aged 11 the other 14. One girl is desperate to marry, she waits constantly for puberty to start so she can start married life, at the age of 11 she is taunted by the other members of the village for her skinny body and child status. The second girl is heavily pregnant, spending each day waiting for her philandering husband to return.

This novel is praised for its language and descriptions, the reviews say that the descriptions bring the village and characters to life but I didn't feel that they did. I'm not saying that I regret reading the book, I don't, but I wouldn't say that I was gripped or pulled into the story. I was interested in all the Iranian rituals and the beliefs surrounding marriage and puberty, and the idea of children so young being so desperate and ready to marry. It was a good look at a different culture.

If you have read this book feel free to comment or leave a link to your own review.

Booking Through Thursday: Redux

Following up last week’s question about reading writing/grammar guides, this week, we’re expanding the question….
Scenario: You’ve just bought some complicated gadget home . . . do you read the accompanying documentation? Or not?
Do you ever read manuals?
Only if something has gone wrong when I look for the tips on how to sort the problem out before I phone the help line.
How-to books?
Never, I don't think I've ever even owned one
Self-help guides?
Again no, never owned one.
Anything at all?
I'm terrible a reading the backs of cereal packet, adverts on trains, other peoples newspapers from across the seat on the tube ect

Book Worms Carnival - Fairy Tales ( Roald Dahl)

As a child I loved Roald Dahl, especially his Revolting Rhymes in which he took fairy tales and transformed them into something a little more exciting, daring and where the women were stronger! One of my favorites is his version of Little Red Riding Hood, I love that she takes charge and becomes the one in control.

As a teacher I use this idea of reversing or parodying fairy-tales in creative writing, it is always something that the kids love and they love reading this poem (especially the line about whipping a pistol out of her knickers). The kids then create stories of Little Red as a serial killer, gangster, a teen with an ASBO (Anti Social Behaviour Order)etc, never anything where she turns out to be good...

I've included a copy incase anyone hasn't read it before:

Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf .

As soon as Wolf began to feel
That he would like a decent meal,
He
went and knocked on Grandma's door.

When Grandma opened it, she saw

The sharp white teeth, the horrid grin,

And Wolfie said, ``May I come in?''

Poor Grandmamma was terrified,

``He's going to eat me up!'' she cried.
And she was absolutely
right.

He ate her up in one big bite.

But Grandmamma was small and tough,

And Wolfie wailed, ``That's not enough!

I haven't yet begun to feel

That I have had a decent meal!

''He ran around the kitchen yelping,

``I've got to have a second helping!

''Then added with a frightful leer,

``I'm therefore going to wait right here

Till Little Miss Red Riding Hood

Comes home from walking in the wood.

''He quickly put on Grandma's clothes,

(Of course he hadn't eaten those).

He dressed himself in coat and hat.

He put on shoes, and after that

He even brushed and curled his hair,

Then sat himself in Grandma's chair.

In came the little girl in red.

She stopped. She stared. And then she said,
``What great big ears you
have, Grandma.''

``All the better to hear you with,'' the Wolf replied.

``What great big eyes you have, Grandma.''said Little Red Riding
Hood.

``All the better to see you with,'' the Wolf replied.
He sat there
watching her and smiled.

He thought, I'm going to eat this child.

Compared with her old Grandmamma

She's going to taste like caviar.
Then Little Red Riding Hood said,

``But Grandma,what a lovely great big furry coat you have on.''
``That's wrong!'' cried Wolf. ``Have you forgot

To tell me what BIG TEETH I've got?

Ah well, no matter what you say,I'm going to eat you anyway.

''The small girl smiles. One eyelid flickers.

She whips a pistol from her knickers.

She aims it at the creature's head

And bang bang bang, she shoots him dead.

A few weeks later, in the wood,

I came across Miss Riding Hood.

But what a change! No cloak of red,

No silly hood upon her head.

She said, ``Hello, and do please note

My lovely furry wolfskin coat.''

Roald Dahl, Revolting Rhymes

My Thoughts: The Echo Maker - Richard Powers

In this novel a young man is involved in a car crash, this results in a form of brain damage which causes him to not be able to emotionally recognise his sister - he knows that the person in front of him looks, talks and acts like his sister but he can't believe it is really her. Then an over caring nurse gets involved and a neurosurgeon...

I had read about this book last year on different more American forums and blogspot and it seemed to get really good press. Maybe my expectations were to high, but I felt that it was just an average book. Far too long. It did have gorgeous descriptions of the migration of cranes and mythical stories but I felt the link to them was a bit weak. It seemed like something he wanted to write about and needed to find a book to wegde it in to.

If you have any comments or have reviewed this book yourself please feel free to add your review, comments or link.

Sunday Salon - my weeks reading

I've had such a poor week reading this week. I normally get through 2 or 3 books a week, this week I haven't even managed 1! I started The Echo Maker by Richard Powers 10 days ago?(!) and I still have another 100 pages to go. I think its been a mixture of the gorgeous weather Old Blighty is having at the mo and too much time spent on the net. Also I thought this book was going to be amazing and its kind of good but nothing to rave about. I'm going to try and finish it this evening and move on.

Next week I hope to read Persian Brides, The Shadow of the North by Phillip Pullman and get started on I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe. And also not sign up to any more challenges. Not sure how successful I'll be as I have 200 exam papers to mark!