Book 4 - 'A Tale of Two Cities' (rank=63)

I'm being very slack with this book, but I'm not really enjoying it and I'm tempted to give up. I won't though, I'm halfway through now, so I may as well finish. Nothing really seems to happen in it, I don't like any of the characters, I don't know much about the period in history (i think it's just before the French revolution), and the book doesn't really bring it alive for me. I don't think I'm going to become a Dickens fan...

Book 4 - 'A Tale of Two Cities' (rank=63)

I've got into this a bit more now and things are starting to happen, but I still find the language a bit of a barrier. A few times I've had to reread sentences 2 or 3 times to get what he's talking about as they are long and strangely (to me) written. The story is starting to get more interesting now though and I like the characters. I'm not sure I'd choose to read a lot of Dickens, but he's not as much of a chore as I was expecting! On the other had, I found a new trilogy that I'm loving - Trudi Canavan, 'The Magician's Guild' etc. Have read two and am waiting for the 3rd to come back into the library so I can pounce on it. In the meantime, Dickens will keep me amply occupied!

Book 4 - 'A Tale of Two Cities' (rank = 63)

I've been reading this in fits and starts over my lunchtimes and have to admit to finding it a little hard going at the moment. I think I need to give it a bit of a blast in order to get into the style of writing. Dickens puts in a lot of omniscient narrator stuff which sits strangely for a modern reader I think, and the fact that it was originally in serial form (I imagine) probably doesn't help. I'm not very far through yet, but I have no idea really what it's about, or what is going to happen! The thing I think I find hardest about books of this period is that they often don't refer to people by name, or refer to them by several different names and it gets very confusing.

I'll give it a proper go over the weekend and see how I go.

Book 3 - 'A Prayer for Owen Meany' (rank = 28) - Finished

Apologies for the lapse between posts, those who read my personal blog will know that I have been recovering from a broken back. My inability to get to the library for a while, along with a desire to read light (as in literal weight) and light (as in content) novels, shelved my project for a while. However, I am back and am planning a foray to the library this afternoon, list in hand.

While in hospital I did read another from the list however - the fantastic 'A Prayer for Owen Meany' by John Irving. I had tried to read another of his, A Widow for a Year, without much success, so wasn't holding out much hope for this. However I was proved drastically wrong and I loved this book completely.

It follows the stories of 2 boys in their passage to becoming young men, and adults. The narrator is the best friend of the eponymous Owen, a tiny, high voiced anomaly with little regard for the normal ideas of society, or the normal behaviour of his peer group. To be honest, it is now a few weeks since I read it and some of the details are a little hazy. I will say though, it kept me compelled and entertained for a good half of the week I spent on my back in a hospital bed, unable to move whilst I waited for my surgery. Any book that can do that is worth reading, and I shall definitely read it again in the future, and try more of Irving's as well.

Try it. You'll like it. :o)

Book 2 - 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' (rank = 19) FINISHED

I finished this on the weekend and it is a testament to the quality of the book that even though I only had 3 pages to go approaching my tube stop, I put it away rather than rush through the final bit. If you really want to know, I finished it on the loo when I got home!

I found the last few chapters quite interesting as they whizz through time; suddenly bringing us from Pelagia's youth to her becoming a grandmother, albeit with quite a few significant events in between. I felt that the horrific events listed, including the German occupation, the earthquake, the deaths of various people close to Pelagia, were dealt with in such a way that although they were vivid, they were not emotive. Although I don't often cry at movies (Million Dollar Baby being an exception), I often tear up at books, but this one seemed to be more distant and detached. I don't think it detracted from the power of the novel, but I thought it was an interesting way to tackle the whole thing.

I very much enjoyed reading it, and will definitely look for more by the same author. I have 'A Prayer for Owen Meany' and '100 Years of Solitude' to choose from next - I'll see what kind of mood I'm in this evening!

Book 2 - 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' (rank = 19)

I am over halfway and still enjoying most of the book, although I get a little weary of some of the war bits, and Mandras' interactions with the ELAS or whatever they are called. I mainly enjoy the interactions between Pelagia and Captain Corelli, and I still like the priest who has come into his own and strides around the island in sole-less sandels, preaching torrents of Greek to incomprehending but delighted Italians, and incomprehending and irritable Germans. Psipsina, the rescued pine marten is also a delightful character!

I promise to finish it soon - it is amazing how my reading time has lessened now that I don't have a couple of hours on the tube each day!

Book 2 - 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' (rank = 19)

I was a little wary of this book as the movie was so disappointing, but I shouldn't have let that put me off as it is very rare that movie lives up to the promise of the book. (I thought 'The English Patient' was an exception, but I know some will disagree).

I'm about a quarter of the way in I think and still haven't met the eponymous character, but instead have been charmed (and occasionally disgusted) by a host of characters related to the story from different angles, including Metaxes, and Mussolini himself in a very funny stream-of-consciousness monologue. I love the way de Bernieres uses such a variety of styles and viewpoints, from letters, internal monologues and first person perspective, to more traditional 3rd person, omniscient narrator. The characters are vivid and interesting and even though they present some very different perspectives, they are all sympathetic in their own way. My personal favourites at the moment are Lemoni, a small and mischievous 6 year old girl, and the drunken, obese priest.

I am looking forward to meeting Corelli, as I hope to expel the vision of Nicholas Cage permanently from the role! Especially that appalling accent!

Book1 - 'Jane Eyre' (rank = 10) - finished!

It took me a little longer than anticipated, due to unplanned forays through other novels, but I reached the end of Miss Eyre (or, should I say, Mrs Rochester). It was much as I predicted, although I couldn't have forseen the somewhat melodramatic loss of an eye and sight in the other. And a hand as well? Or am I making that up. Anyway, it turned out happily for all concerned, with the possible exception of St John, who didn't seem like he ever wanted to be happy. I'm not sure what the author intended us to think of him, but I thought he was the most miserable so-and-so ever, and didn't feel in the slightest bit sorry for him at all. I was hoping the 'heathens' in India would make him into a nice chicken tikka and save the rest of us from his prosaic proselytising (nice bit of alliteration).

I did enjoy it, although I still much prefer 'Pride and Prejudice' and even 'Emma'. I'm glad I read it though, and it was no hardship to do so. I read an article in the Telegraph over the weekend, by Nick Hornby, which basically advised people not to struggle through books they aren't enjoying. There is a bit of snobbery about what people read, and Hornby thinks it is far better to read something you enjoy and read more, than to push yourself through a novel you don't connect with and put yourself off reading in the future. I have to agree, although I shall be going against his advice on occasion with this list I think.

Ah well, onto the next book, which I am partway into (got a good few hours in on the train back and forth from Devon), which is...(see above)