#63: Darcy's Temptation

Jeffers, Regina: Darcy's Temptation. Berkeley: Ulysses Press, 2009. Print. 515 pages.

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SETTING: Majority at the Darcy's country estate, Pemberley, in the county of Derbyshire, but also in London, Bath, and other areas.  
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SUMMARY: Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy have been in a blissfully happy state since marrying three months ago.  They are expecting their first child and have settled comfortably into Pemberley as husband and wife.  Their lives could not be more perfect, especially after their rocky courtship, but an evening outing turns everything upside down, breaking their happy home apart, seemingly beyond repair.

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'Great loves never die, my Katherine.'  He stroked the back of her head.  'Your sister and Mr. Darcy have a great love.'  He lifted her chin to look deeply in Kitty's eyes.  'Some day we will write the story of our own great love.'" - Chapter 9, page 170.

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This is the second book I checked out from the library, obviously picked because I love the novel it was inspired by: Pride and Prejudice :)  I usually make a fair attempt at not giving spoilers for the books I write about, but this one cannot be helped, mostly because I want to mention specific parts of the plot line that I liked and disliked.  So... SPOILER ALERT!  I won't give away the ending, just a few minor plot details. 
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Things I liked about this book:

1. Pride and Prejudice inspired!  Any such books, even if written poorly, are fun for me to read.  The story line for this novel was entertaining, but a little overdone.  It was written in Jane Austen's style, and I enjoyed that.  However, there is a lot of mention of Elizabeth and Darcy's desire for each other, and that is very much not in the style of Austen.  And I purposely write "desire for each other" because, funny enough, the author never explicitly mentions sex.  She definitely alludes to it using 19th-century British literature language, and this made these scenes even more entertaining to read because of the knowledge that it would be incredibly improper to write about this topic if this story were actually written in the 19th-century, even if it was in the appropriate language style.
2. Elizabeth and Darcy's love.  Still just as precious even when written by a different author, and this author did a great job preserving their love in her sequel.
3. The storyline.  It wasn't the best, but it was good enough that I was hooked after about 100 pages and couldn't put the book down for the last 400.  I was desperate to know how the story ended and whether or not everything ended up okay, especially between Elizabeth and Darcy.
4. Elizabeth shoots Mr. Wickham!  Such a hateful and selfish man.  I was glad Elizabeth kicked him and Lydia out of Pemberley.
5. Kitty as a supporting character.  The other Bennet sisters do not take on much of a role in the story, but I'm glad that out of all of them, it was Kitty who had a part.  Kitty and Jane are tied for my second favorite Bennet sister, and that Kitty has a happy ending was nice to read.  I also liked that the author chose to make her character more in line with Elizabeth's than with Lydia's, and showed the reader the step-by-step change in her personality.
6. Elizabeth's and Darcy's characters.  The author maintained the same traits they are known and loved for, but expanded on them in a way I really enjoyed.

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Things I didn't like about this book:

1. The predictability of the story line.  I don't mean the specifics; moreso when the ups and downs were going to occur.  It was really obvious when something bad was going to happen, and then when and how that would resolve.
2. The beginning was boring.  I almost put this book down because the first 50 or so pages were so blah.  But since it is a sequel to Pride and Prejudice, I kept going.  I'm glad I did because I ended up getting really into the story, mostly because I needed to know how it ended.
3. Elizabeth and Darcy name their twins Ella and Lucas.  There was an explanation for this, but I didn't think the names fit very well.
4. Ms. Donnelly's character.  She's a hypochondriac and a stupid woman.  She's central to the drama in the book, but her character was poorly written.  I thought that part, being the climax of the novel, should have had a stronger character at its center.

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Overall it was a stupid storyline, but I enjoyed it.  This book isn't going to become a classic, but it was a fun read and I am glad I found it at the library.  I enjoyed it more than Death Comes to Pemberley, which I read earlier this year, because I was more hooked to this story line.  If this story went in a different direction than it did, things would have been very tragic.  There was more to lose in this book than there was in Death Comes to Pemberley, which is why I enjoyed reading it more.
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Recommend?  Yes, but definitely read the classic if you haven't yet.

Pride and Prejudice (2005 film)

I'm finally back in California after more than 6 months, and I've spent the last three weeks... studying!  It was really boring.  But!  I'm done with the exam I was preparing for, and am now on to a different type of reading: that of reading for pleasure.  Apart from spending time with loved ones, I am SO EXCITED to read for fun these next few weeks before I start school again!  While studying, I managed to re-watch the Pride and Prejudice movie twice.  Yes, you read that correctly, twice in three weeks.  Why?  Because I was so tired of studying but needed to keep going, and figured studying with a little background noise was better than not studying at all.  Now that my exam is over, I thought it would be fun to write a post about my thoughts regarding the film.

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Before I provide you with the list, I'll let it be known that the book is still Queen.  However, this is my favorite movie and the one I've re-watched the most times.  I LOVE IT.  But, as is usually the trend, the book is superior to the film.
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Things I like about the movie:

1. The acting.  All of the actors do a great job bringing Austen's characters to life.  I know the majority of P&P fans prefer the BBC miniseries, but I actually like the movie more.  However, I am aware that there are a few biases towards this favoritism; for example, the shorter length of the movie makes it easier to re-watch, and thus fall a little more in love with with each viewing.  I also really didn't like the actress who played Jane Bennet in the miniseries and thought the portrayal of Lydia was a little too annoying.  I actually hated her in the miniseries, and, in my opinion from reading the book, the reader isn't meant to hate Lydia, but rather be annoyed by her foolishness.  The Jane Bennet in the film is much better, as well as the portrayals of Kitty and Lydia.  Elizabeth and Darcy are true to form, as are Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Charlotte, Mr. Collins, Mr. Wickham, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh.  Mr. Bingley is a little stupider than the impression I had formed from the book, but he redeems himself at the end when he finally decides to man up.  
2. What the screenwriters chose to cut out from the book to make the film shorter.  It was done very well.  As someone who has the book memorized, I think the parts they cut out were just details that didn't take away from the overall story.  There have been other book-to-film adaptations that have left me disappointed with how much was cut out, but not this one.  Again, the BBC miniseries is a much more thorough depiction of the story, as miniseries generally are, but I still like the film better.  One character I did miss from the books who wasn't in the film was Mr. Hurst.  His disgusting and stupid nature is a great contrast to Mr. Darcy.  
3. The scenery.  Absolutely wonderful throughout the entire movie.
4. The opening scene.  I love it!  It's so calm and simple: Elizabeth walking back to her home while reading a book.  That scene sums up her personality really well before all the chaos starts.
5. The Bennet family's meals.  I loved how every time they showed them eating, it was just a pile of food on the table, and them enjoying their time together.  I don't know how to explain what it is that I liked about those scenes, mostly because I can't really point to why either, but their meals together were some of my favorite scenes.
6. The scene where Elizabeth is spinning on a tire and it shows the seasons changing.  It's beautiful!

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There are a lot of little details that I love in the movie too.  For example, in the scene where Elizabeth is in the sitting room with Mr. Darcy at a desk writing letters, Mr. Bingley sitting on a sofa across from her, and Ms. Bingley pacing the room trying to flirt with Mr. Darcy, I love the part where Elizabeth snaps her book shut after Mr. Darcy looks in her direction and comments on how his idea of an accomplished woman includes extensive reading.  I can go on and on about little details like that from the movie, but I won't...
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Recommend?  YES!  I love this movie and you should watch it if you already haven't!

#54: Mansfield Park

Austen, Jane: Mansfield Park. New York: Barnes and Nobles Inc., 2007. Print. Pages 407-656.

(I read the novel out of my Barnes and Nobles compilation edition of all seven of Austen's major works.)

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SETTING: Mansfield Park, a country estate in England.

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SUMMARY: Sir Thomas Bertram of Mansfield Park decides to take in Fanny Price, his wife's poor niece, as an act of favor to the Price family, who are never able to make ends meet.  The story chronicles Fanny's life growing up in Mansfield Park and how her development is affected by the fact that she is always meant to feel in second place to the Bertram children, especially by her other maternal aunt, Aunt Norris.

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "But there certainly are not so many men of large fortune in the world as there are pretty women to deserve them." - Chapter 1, page 409.

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I finally have a lot of free time and, as I am often prone to do when I'm feeling stressed or burned out (currently burned out and ready for the school year to be over!), I looked to a Jane Austen novel to provide me with the relaxation and distraction I desired.  I've only ever read Mansfield Park once before, but I have watched the 1999 film multiple times and the 2007 TV adaptation one time.  I actually re-watched the 1999 version again last week, and I enjoy re-watching it so much that I decided to read the novel for a second time.  
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Things I liked about this book:

1. The writing.  As you've already come to realize, I LOVE Austen's writing style.
2. Fanny's happily ever after.  Regardless of what I write about Fanny (see point #1 below), I'm glad she's happy at the end.  She suffers quite a bit of emotional abuse at the hands of Aunt Norris, and deserves something good to happen.
3. Tom Bertram.  He's the "bad boy" of the family because he loves all things sinful, but he's my favorite of the four Bertram siblings, followed distantly in second place by Julia.  He's the most genuine character and speaks his mind 100% of the time, and its something I grew to really appreciate once I realized how fickle the other characters are.

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Things/characters I didn't like about/in this book: 

1. Fanny's character is so weak.  I understand she's supposed to be young and naive, and that's the appeal of her character in the book, but it became annoying very quickly.  She absolutely has no backbone and no opinion on anything, and is shocked when she's treated well.  I understand this is to emphasize her mistreatment by her Aunt Norris while growing up at Mansfield, but come on!  It's a little much.  She's starts off immature, and the amazing transformation that she has in the book doesn't really change her character all that much.  Her personality and traits are quite opposite to the strong female protagonists seen in P&P and Emma.  Her character is lacking in many areas, in my opinion.
2. Mrs. Norris.  A terrible, spiteful woman.  My dislike for her only increased as the book progressed.  She's manipulative and cunning to a disturbing capacity.  She's the perfect example of a person who talks too much while actually saying very little.
3. Henry and Mary Crawford.  An awful pair of siblings and I wish they had an awful ending too.
4. Edmund Bertram.  He's such a... boy.  The stereotypical, becomes an idiot for a pretty face, boy.
5. Maria Bertram.  She deserves what she gets in the end.  She thought she could have her cake and eat it too.  Silly girl. 

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After writing this list, I've realized there isn't a whole lot I like about this book.  I've decided it probably lands last on my Austen list.  I've read about how the main theme of this book is morality, and I appreciate the effort and get the points Austen is trying to make, etc..  But the core purpose of a fiction novel, in my opinion, is to entertain, either through the fun of the story line or through appreciation of the point the novel is making.  For me, this story did not do a great job of achieving either point.

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Recommend?  Yes, because it's very well written!  But if you haven't read her other novels already, especially P&P, go to those first.

#53: Longbourn

Baker, Jo: Longbourn. New York: Random House LLC, 2013. Print. 332 pages.

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SETTING: 19th-century England, primarily in the Eastern county of Hertfordshire.

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SUMMARY: The servants of the Bennet household are faint shadows in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.  But in Longbourn, the servants are at the forefront as protagonists of a story that details the ongoings of their day-to-day lives while the Bennet girls are busy with marriage and men.

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "She would have been content with so little.  She would have been content with just his company." - Volume 3, chapter 16, page 298.

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I recently finished another set of exams and decided to give myself a little break the first weekend of my new rotation.  I set about to find a new novel to read and had THE hardest time.  I spent well over an hour at the bookstore!  A part of it is that I don't like buying books and so I wanted to make sure this purchase was worth the money.  I was desperate to find a good read, but finally ended up settling for this book.  I say settled because it was exactly that.  I needed a book, and since this is a P&P inspired book, I figured even if the story line and writing were terrible, I'd still enjoy it to some extent.
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Things I liked about this book:

1. The story line.  I really liked it!  It had a beginning, a middle, and an end that were all very satisfying.  Even though this book is based off of another, the author's story is her own and she gets all the credit for creating it.  She didn't just take an already written story and extend it.  She took the novel and used it as background for her own, completely unique, story.
2. The writing.  This author writes very well and it was a pleasure to read this book.
3. The flawless incorporation of the original Pride and Prejudice as the back story of this novel.  It was done very tastefully.
4. Sarah, the protagonist of the novel.  She's a strong, independent character, and although I found her to be a little annoying in the beginning, I really loved her by the end.
5. The details.  The author includes a lot of detail in describing the life of the servants in order to make it a very obvious contrast to the lives of the Bennet family.  I LOVE P&P, but I can't deny that the main issue in the story is pretty ridiculous when life as a whole is taken into consideration.  The lives and worries of the servants provide a much better window into 19th-century England since that is probably what the majority were experiencing.  If the reader is looking for a better representation of that time period, then this book is undoubtedly a better source compared to P&P.
6. Mr. Bennet's character.  Mr. Bennet is my least favorite Bennet.  He is lazy, uninterested, and selfish, and this book does a great job of really bringing those traits out.  It's true that this point is biased; someone who loves Mr. Bennet's character would argue that this portrayal is an injustice.  In my opinion, his character in this book better fits my idea of him versus the original.
7. Wickham is still a grade-A ass.

Things I didn't like about this book: 

1. Occasionally referring to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet as "Mr. and Mrs. B."  It was annoying and seemed lazy.  None of the other characters had their names abbreviated.

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I finished reading this book in a little less than a day.  I really enjoyed it, but I think I sped through it so quickly because I was just hungry to read.  I hadn't read anything good for a few weeks, and as soon as I decided I liked this story, I couldn't stop.  This book is a mixture of suspense, good writing, and cozy, a combination I haven't found in a long time.  I enjoyed this P&P inspired book much more than Death Comes to Pemberley, which I wrote about a few posts back, or Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which I read a few years ago and thought was absolutely terrible (the author basically took P&P and randomly added some zombie scenes.  It was one of the worst books I've ever read.).  I know there are many more P&P inspired books out there, and I will probably give them a try sometime soon.  I think I'm in an Austen/Austen-esque mood at the moment...

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Recommend?  Yes!

Death Comes to Pemberley (2013 miniseries)

A small snowstorm hit DC on Tuesday and turned our three-day President's Day weekend into a four day weekend!  Since I had the extra time, I decided to watch the Death Comes to Pemberley miniseries on Netflix!  I figured I'd share a list about the miniseries because it seemed like a nice follow-up, considering I read the book so recently.  (The link to the book's post, if you're interested: http://artemisiaeupraxia.blogspot.com/2015/01/50-death-comes-to-pemberley.html).
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I'll start off by saying that I liked the miniseries BETTER than the book.  Yes, you read that correctly.  It's very rare that I like the movie or TV series better, but that was just the case this time around.  I enjoyed reading the book, but, as I wrote in my post about it, it wasn't written all that well, and the main reason I enjoyed it so much is because it was like having something long dead become suddenly resurrected. 
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Why I liked the miniseries:

1. More fun to watch this storyline than reading it.
2. The actors did a great job portraying the characters.  They really embodied the essence of each character, especially Elizabeth and Darcy.
3. The exploration of the turmoil that hits Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship.  The miniseries really delves into the relationship troubles Elizabeth and Darcy experience while all the drama is happening at Pemberley, a topic the book just barely addresses.
4. The way they portrayed Lydia's and Wickham's characters.  They made Lydia slightly more likeable, and Wickham even more dispicable.  I loved it!  I wouldn't say it was a change from Austen's portrayal of the characters; rather, it was a development of their personalities, considering this story takes place a few years after the end of P&P.
5. The flashbacks.  These clips were meant to give the backstory from P&P, and were tastefully done.  I didn't have that feeling of them dragging on and on, which is what I experienced with the book.
6. The ending.  It was the same ending as the book, and even though I disliked it in the book, I thought it fit perfectly as the ending for the miniseries.  I think it's because I had an even greater dislike for Wickham, and Lydia's unending ability to be annoying was infinitely more palpable while seeing it played out by an actor versus reading it in the book.  I was glad to see how their part ended in the story.
7. The soundtrack, the scenery, and the costumes.  All beautiful!  

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There were multiple, small differences between the book and the miniseries, but, in my opinion, the changes made to the miniseries improved the story.  I really enjoyed watching it, and will probably re-watch it again at some point in life.
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Recommend?  Yes!

#51: Persuasion

Austen, Jane: Persuasion. New York: Barnes and Nobles Inc., 2007. Print. Pages 1041-1174.

(I read the novel out of a Barnes and Nobles compilation edition of all seven of Austen's major works, given to me by one of my dearest friends.)

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SETTING: 19th century England, mostly in the towns of Bath and Lyme Regis, but also Kellynch and Uppercross Halls (those two homes/estates are located somewhere in the English countryside, but I wasn't able to figure out exactly where).

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SUMMARY: Anne Elliot, an intelligent woman whose intellectual worth is in no way appreciated by her idiotic father and sisters, leads a mundane life.  Apart from constantly being unappreciated in her own home, she has been harboring a secret pain for the last eight years after losing her love, Frederick Wentworth.  As chance would have it, she is to once again meet Mr. Wentworth, and the emotional rollercoaster that results, for both parties, is one that brings the reader joy and heartache, all at the same time. 

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'...Here and there, human nature may be great in times of trial; but generally speaking, it is its weaknesses and not its strength that appears in a sick chamber; it is selfishness and impatience rather than generosity and fortitude, that one hears of.  There is so little real friendship in the world! and unfortunately' (speaking low and tremulously) 'there are so many who forget to think seriously till it is almost too late.'" - Chapter 17, page 1122.
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After finishing my last novel, Death Comes to Pemberley, I had this deep desire to read Persuasion.  As I wrote in my last blog entry, Death Comes to Pemberley wasn't written as well as I'd hoped, and it left me wanting to envelope myself in the writing style of Jane Austen.  You'd think I'd revisit Pride and Prejudice, but for some inexplicable reason, it was Persuasion that was the chosen Austen novel.  I've read it only once before, but all I remembered was the ending and that I liked it.  As usual, I forgot the details of the story and why I liked it.  But now my likes and dislikes will forever be eternalized in this blog!

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Things I liked about this book:

1. Anne's attitude towards the breakup that occurred with Wentworth when she was a teenager.  Although she is still very sad about it, she is not resentful towards her godmother, Lady Russell, who persuaded her to break up the relationship, or herself for following through with the advice.  She understands that the premises upon which the decision was made were sound and that, had she been the one advising a young woman in the same situation, would probably have voiced similar reasoning.
2. The Musgroves.  Kind people who treat Anne the way she deserves.  
3. The way Jane Austen presents the emotional journey Anne and Mr. Wentworth experience after becoming reacquainted.  It's beautifully written, with the right amount of highs and lows.  More importantly, the reader is able to fully appreciate these emotions because we all have experienced them at one point or another in our lives, whether with a past or a current love.  The emotions that Austen touches on in this novel, indeed in all of her novels, are ones that are a part of the human experience and something that all her readers can relate to.
4. Anne's character.  Such a beautiful person.
5. Mr. Wentworth's character.  The definition of a gentleman and the only character worthy of Anne, in my opinion.
6. The ending.  Without a doubt, I was fully satisfied with how the story ended. 

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Characters I disliked:

1. Mary Musgrove, Anne's youngest sister.  Gah, such an idiot!  I would not have the patience to deal with a personality like that.
2. Sir Walter Elliot, the idiotic patriarch.
3. Elizabeth Elliot, the idiotic oldest sister.
4. Mr. William Elliot, the idiot cousin who is to inherit Kellynch Hall.  

As you can see, apart from Anne, I disliked the entire Elliot family.  They were all selfish idiots.  I could have come up with a better descriptor than "idiot" but I disliked them so much that I decided it wasn't worth the effort.

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I love this book!  Not more than P&P, of course, but it has definitely occupied the #2 spot.  I've had plans to stop by the used bookstore in Dupont Circle since coming back to DC from winter break, but considering it's been four weeks already and I've been getting progressively busier, I'm not sure when that trip will happen.  So, being realistic about when I'll get another book to read, I've decided to reread another Austen book in the meantime.  Sounds like a good use of time to me! 

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Recommend?  Yes!

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A side note: I decided to make a separate "Jane Austen" label :P

#50: Death Comes to Pemberley

James, P.D.: Death Comes to Pemberley. New York: Random House Inc., 2011. Print. 291 pages.

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SETTING: October 1803 to June 1804, primarily at Pemberley, the Darcys' home in Derbyshire, and also in London proper.

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SUMMARY: The night before the Darcys' annual October ball, Lydia Wickham, who is never an invited guest at the Darcys' home, pays them a surprise visit.  Distressed and hysterical, Lydia informs the company assembled at Pemberley, which includes Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth, Jane, Mr. Bingley, Georgiana, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and the young lawyer Henry Alveston, that her husband, George Wickham, has been murdered!  Thus begins the race to solve a mystery that isn't as it seems...  

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "Since guilt is more commonly felt by the innocent than by the culpable, the atmosphere was less of expectation than of anxiety." - Book 3, Chapter 6, page 132.

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In my last post I wrote about my intention of finding a really great book, something that would serve as both leisure reading and a brain exercise.  That didn't really go as planned.  While browsing for a book, thinking I'd go for a classic, I came across this novel, a sequel to my favorite novel of all time: Pride and Prejudice.  You can imagine my excitement!  It's like something resurfacing from the dead, similar to the excitement I experienced when I heard that The Hobbit was being made into a film.  What you thought would never come back, suddenly does.  And yes, I bought this book.  A very rare occurrence!

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Things I liked about this book:

1. It's a continuation of Pride and Prejudice!  When I first saw the book, I immediately knew that even if it sucked, I would still enjoy it for the sole reason that it uses the characters from my favorite novel (unless, of course, the author completely butchered it).  This book has been out for nearly four years, so I'm sure you're asking, '"if you're such a fan, how did you not know about this book before?"  A very good question.  I love P&P, as well as Austen's other novels, but not so much that I'm a part of the huge Jane Austen community that's out there.  Being a part of a group like that, although I think it must be a lot of fun, isn't really my style.  So apart from having read P&P a bunch of times, I haven't done much else with it.
2. It's written in the style of Jane Austen.  There's a word for this: "pastiche."  Learned something new!
3. The characters maintain their personalities.  This point made the book very enjoyable for me.  To see these characters brought back to life in such a smooth way was great.
4. The new characters created by the author.  They fit in with the P&P bunch very well.
5. Harry Alveston.  He's a great character with great character.
6. Elizabeth and Darcy's love.  So romantic!

Thing I didn't like about this book:

1. The plot.  It had a lot of potential, but, overall, I found it pretty boring.  True, the plot of P&P isn't anything crazy, but that story has a theme to it, and that is what I fell in love with.  This book, from my understanding, started out as a fanfiction piece by the author, and was then published as a novel.  I'm sure many fanfictions are complex, but this wasn't one of them.  I barely had to think while reading this novel.
2. The repetition from P&P.  The author uses a lot of novel time to regurgitate the main events from P&P.  It's unnecessary, in my opinion.  If someone was reading this book without having read P&P first, then yes, it is helpful, but even then it is still superfluous.
3. George Wickham.  This isn't an issue with the book, but I still don't like him.  I like him even less now than I did prior to reading this book, which is something I didn't think was possible.
4. The future of the Wickhams.  The author gave too easy a solution.  This point is vague, I know, but if I say more it'll ruin the ending.

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This book wasn't that great, but I certainly did enjoy it, solely because it's based off of P&P.  The author did a great job of staying true to the characters created by Austen, and added in her own characters very flawlessly.  I read a lot of reviews about this book and they were all glowing.  If these reviews were fueled by the excitement the readers felt at this being an attempt at continuing a beloved classic novel, then I understand where they were coming from.  Objectively speaking, though, this novel was very basic and in no way complex.  Another book that barely requires the reader to use their brain.  

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Recommend?  Yes.  Even though it wasn't anything great, I enjoyed reading it.  If you like P&P, this book will, at the very least, entertain you.

*I labeled it as "19th-century british lit" so this book will come up with my reviews of P&P.  It's obviously not 19th-century literature :P

#36: Pride and Prejudice (take two)

Austen, Jane: Pride and Prejudice. New York: Barnes and Nobles Inc., 2007. Print. Pages 199-405.

(I read the novel out of a Barnes and Nobles compilation edition of all seven of Austen's major works.)

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Yes, I reread Pride and Prejudice.  For the tenth time now?  I've lost count at this point, but I've made it a habit to reread it every year or so, and the last time I had the pleasure was April 2012, so it was a most welcome endeavor.  Every time I reread this novel I find something else that I like about it, so I'll skip the usual format and just write about what was new this time around or not included in the previous post.  If you'd like to read my post from April 2012, here you go: http://artemisiaeupraxia.blogspot.com/2012/04/2-pride-and-prejudice.html.

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'... Women fancy admiration means more than it does.'

'And men take care that they should.'" - Volume 2, Chapter 1, page 284.  

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New things I liked about this book:

1. It's hilarious!  I didn't realize until this time around just how funny this book is.  There are so many witty lines and they're all absolutely hilarious!  I read most of the book sitting at the bar at Busboys and Poets, and every other page I was silently cracking up.  Pretty sure people thought I was a little bit crazy, especially because this Barnes and Nobles compilation I was reading out of looks like a copy of the Bible.  (Evidence: I briefly left to use the restroom and I placed the book on the bar counter top, closed and cover up, and when I got back the bartender looked at me and started laughing because she thought I was reading the Bible and couldn't figure out why I kept silently giggling and smiling.)
2. Elizabeth.  I love her character.  She's so kickass for a 19th century British woman.
3. It, yet again, reminded me of just how lucky I am to be living my life at this time.  I've noticed that I gravitate to this book whenever I'm frustrated with life and I start having those "I should just get an MRS. degree and marry rich" thoughts.  After reading the book, I'm back to wanting nothing but self-sufficiency and my independence.  Incredibly stupid that reading this novel is what gets my thoughts back on track?  No doubt about it.  But it works, so I'm okay with it.  

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I suppose I'm slowly accepting that being this obsessed with a single book is weird.  We'll categorize reading this novel as one of my guilty pleasures, because it surely can't be a healthy habit...

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Recommend?  Yes x100000000000.

#29: Frankenstein

Shelley, Mary: Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. New York: Random House, 1999. Print. 303 pages.
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SETTING: At sea heading to the North Pole; Geneva, Switzerland; and the University of Ingolstadt in Germany.
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SUMMARY: The scientist Victor Frankenstein relates how he created and gave life to a "hideous monster" and the subsequent misfortunes he suffers at the hands of his creation.
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FAVORITE QUOTE: "Alas! why does man boast of sensibilities superior to those apparent in the brute; it only renders them more necessary beings.  If our impulses were confined to hunger, thirst, and desire, we might be nearly free; but now we are moved by every wind that blows, and a chance word or scene that that word may convey to us." - Chapter 10, page 124.
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A friend recommended I read this book after I had finished reading Dracula last summer.  I couldn't get a hold of a copy at a library or a used book store, and I wasn't pressed to ready it right away, so I decided to wait until I came back home for the summer.  I was very enthusiastic to read it because I really enjoyed Dracula and looked forward to reading a book written in the same style.

Two points before going into my lists of likes and dislikes:

1. A novel written as a series of documents (e.g. letters, journal entries, etc.) is called an "epistolary novel."  I didn't know there was a term for this writing style until yesterday.
2. "Frankenstein" is the creator of the creature.  The creature itself is unnamed and is mistakenly called "Frankenstein" in modern culture.  

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Things I liked about this book:

1. I went through a variety of emotions while reading the novel, from (1) boredom to (2) sympathizing with the creature and disliking Frankenstein to (3) sympathizing with Frankenstein and disliking the creature, and, (4) back to boredom.
2. It's an epistolary novel, which has become one of my favorite methods of relating a story.
3. The fact that an act committed during his youth haunts Frankenstein throughout his adult life.  It's an occurrence that mirrors many people's lives- a regrettable act, minor or major, from one's youth, when one is naive and has not had enough experiences to really assess what he/she believes is right versus wrong, manages to either stay with that person throughout his/her life or creeps up during adulthood.
4. Frankenstein's creature is given a chance to tell his side of the story.

Things I didn't like about this book:

1. I was really bored at the beginning and end of the novel.  I started reading this book three weeks ago and in between started another two books because I was that bored.  It did pick up in the middle, and if I wasn't so stubborn when it comes to finishing books I would have put it down after reading the first 50 pages.  I'm glad I finished it, because it felt like an accomplishment of sorts, but it is boooooring for the first quarter and the last 1/5 or so.
2. Frankenstein's dialogue.  Half of the story is how he mourns creating the "monster" and, yes, I get it, it's a big mistake and he regrets it, but he starts to whine after a while and it's very annoying!

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This list is pretty lame, I know, but I wasn't all that impressed with this novel.  I wasn't even impressed enough to come up with a longer list of dislikes, and I don't mean that as I'm being lazy, but moreso that the majority of this book was so dull that there isn't much else to say about it.  I realize it's a classic and it has some great themes, but apart from it being an epistolary, I didn't find it exciting.  It's a sad story told in a whining voice.  The end.
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Recommend?  Yes, because it's a classic.  Wasn't horrible, but wasn't that exciting either.

#18: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Stevenson, Robert Louis: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. New York: AMS Press, 1974. Print. 108 pages.
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SETTING: 19th century London, England.
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SUMMARY: Confusion arises as the prominent and popular physician, Dr. Henry Jekyll, suddenly becomes reclusive and paranoid, leading his colleagues to surmise that something diabolical is amiss.  The prime culprit suspected of causing this character change is Mr. Edward Hyde, Dr. Jekyll's strange and mysterious beneficiary to all his assets upon his death. 
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FAVORITE QUOTE: "Rather, as there was something abnormal and misbegotten in the very essence of the creature that now faced me - something seizing, surprising, and revolting - this fresh disparity seemed but to fit in with and to reinforce it; so that to my interest in the man's nature and character, there was added a curiosity as to his origin, his life, his fortune and status in the world." - page 422-23.
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The League of Extraordinary Men is one of my favorite movies, primarily because it brings a group of my favorite literary figures together to tell an incredibly entertaining story (Dorian Gray from The Picture of Dorian Gray, Captain Nemo from Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Mina Harker from Dracula, and Tom Sawyer from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer).  Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde is another one of the main characters in this movie, so I was really excited when I saw this book was included in the three part Robert Louis Stevenson compilation I picked up at the undergraduate library on campus.  I already knew the main story line, but I was interested to see how RLS presents it.  After reading The Dynamiter, I went in with high hopes.  Were my expectations met?  READ ON!
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Things I liked about this book:

1. IT'S AN AWESOME STORY.  Awesome, awesome, awesome.  Awesome.
2. The motivation behind Dr. Jekyll's decision to create Mr. Hyde.  Possibility this next part will ruin the story for those who haven't read it, so don't continue reading this paragraph if you're willing to give this story a read!  OK, here we go: Dr. Jekyll is a very nice, well-mannered, all around good guy.  After spending his entire life living as a straight edge, he decides he is tired of the do-good lifestyle and wants to bring out his evil side.  However, he's determined to do so in a manner that will preserve the community's polished impression of him.  In comes crazy experiments to create an elixir that literally bring out the evil, an entirely separate character he names "Edward Hyde."  Although at first glance this seems like a totally mental idea, upon further reflection I realized that I can somewhat understand what drove Dr. Jekyll to become Mr. Hyde.  We all have moments where we decide to not act on a certain notion or desire because our outward persona and the impression people have of us won't match the action.  It sometimes takes a great deal of courage to let go of those inhibitions and  just act without having to consider how the action will be perceived by the greater community.  Dr. Jekyll's method of dealing with this is obviously based off of an extreme thought and goes horribly wrong, and his desire to bring out a totally evil side is crazy, but I get the core motivation that leads him to transform into Mr. Hyde. 
3. Organized really well.  Again, RLS is fantastic at presenting his stories in a methodological manner.  
4. Hyde is a completely separate person.  Jekyll can't influence Hyde's actions, and vice versa.  This total separation of character is what causes both Jekyll's and Hyde's ultimate demise.  
5. Jekyll's account of how he could feel Hyde slowly taking over.

Thing I didn't like about this book:

1. An explanation wasn't given behind why/how Jekyll picked the name "Edward Hyde" for his alternative personality.  I would have had fun reading about that.

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I enjoyed this story very much!  As you can see, there aren't many things I didn't like about this book. It's concise and to the point, without unnecessary embellishments that don't add to the overall story.  I've also come away with what I consider to be an important point: don't change your personality based off of what others think or expect, otherwise there's a huge possibility you'll go super crazy later in life, doing irrational things to soothe your regrets regarding everything you didn't do.  I can't assess if this is what RLS hoped the reader would take away after reading this story, but I think it's a good and useful point.  

On a different point, I'm ready for a different genre now, so I won't be reading the third story in the compilation.  I'm definitely glad I gave Robert Louis Stevenson's other works a try.  I'm impressed with his writing style, and will definitely give his other pieces a read when I'm again in the 19th century British literature mood, which will likely be very soon.
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Recommend?  YES!

#17: The Dynamiter

Stevenson, Robert Louis: The Dynamiter. New York: AMS Press, 1974. Print. 334 pages.
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SETTING: 19th century London, England.
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SUMMARY: Three young men, bored and broke, decide to take on the next adventure that crosses each of their paths.
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FAVORITE QUOTE: "He was younger than the others; and in a somewhat meaningless and altogether English way, he was a handsome lad." - Page 23
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As predicted, school is eating up my life.  After averaging a book a week when I was living in Los Angeles and commuting to school, this change to barely making a book a month is sad!  Of course, there's no where else I'd rather be blah blah blah, but I do miss reading often.  This book was a random pick from the undergraduate library on campus (Finally took a trip there!).  It's actually part of a three piece collection of works by Robert Louis Stevenson (RLS), so if my current literature mood stays intact, the next two reviews will be pieces by RLS as well.  Since it was my first visit to the undergrad library, I was trying to orient myself and figure out which aisles had my type of books.  I was actually hoping to find Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, but they didn't have it :(  RLS was right next door, and I remembered liking Treasure Island so I figured I'd give another one of his books a try.  
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Things I liked about this book:

1. It's super well organized.  This book is basically a collection of short stories that are intertwined.  It relates the three adventures experienced by the three male protagonists, and does so in a way that I've never seen before.  Each friend has an independent adventure, but all three adventures are connected and in a sequential order.  The second adventure ties in very neatly with the first, and the third with the first two.  RLS definitely mapped this one out well, and I'm definitely not adequately expressing how impressed I was by the organization.  Let me make another attempt: I was THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS impressed.
2. RLS collaborated with his wife to write this book!
3. The ending- the third friend marries the woman who conned the first two.  
4. Clara Luxmore, the female con artist.  She's evil and all, but that woman definitely has some skills in the art of lying and knowing exactly how to play to people's egos, especially men.

Thing I didn't like about this book:

1. Kind of slow at times.  I found my mind wandering and had to reread a few pages.

Thing I found amusing about this book:

1. RLS makes the three male protagonists really stupid and naive.  I couldn't help but feel sorry for them at times, while other moments left me shaking my head in a slow, pendular motion.

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This book was a fun read, but apart from how amazed I was by the way it was organized, it wasn't anything extraordinary.  I wasn't particularly hooked to any parts, nor were there any great cliffhangers that made me keep reading.  I'd often stop reading the book in the middle of a paragraph, and had no trouble picking up where I had left off.  But RLS is an excellent writer, so it was worth the time to read this book.
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Recommend?  Yes!  Only because I feel like you should read books by RLS.  He was good at what he did.  Also, he spent his last few years of life in Samoa, and actually put much effort into adopting Samoan culture, which speaks volumes about his personality (Yes, I sometimes pick books based on the fact that I think the author is/was awesome).

#16: Sense and Sensibility

Austen, Jane: Sense and Sensibility. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 2003. E-book. 380 pages (actual text: 340 pages). 
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SETTING: 19th century England, primarily in the southwestern county of Devonshire.
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SUMMARY: Per law in 19th century England, property and assets were inherited by the next male heir.  As such, after Mr. Dashwood's death, his home is inherited by his son from his first marriage, and his second wife and three daughters are forced to leave their comfortable home in Norfolk county for a cottage in Devonshire, many miles away.  The two elder Dashwood sisters are transformed in character as they are made to fend for themselves in this patriarchal society, while at the same time having to face the joys, sorrows, and, above all, heartbreaking disappointments that come with love.
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FAVORITE QUOTE: "Marianne was silent; it was impossible for her to say what she did not feel, however trivial the occasion; and upon Elinor, therefore, the whole task of telling lies, when politeness required it, always fell." - Part 1, Chapter 21, page 140.
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I've always been able to adapt to new situations quickly; at the same time, I hate change.  This move from the West to the East Coast has been the biggest environmental change I have had to encounter thus far in my life, and, although I'm loving it so far, it's nice to have a piece of home within reach when I have those "I MISS CALIFORNIA!!!" moments.  So, to get that sense of comfort and familiarity, I decided to re-read my third favorite Jane Austen novel (Pride and Prejudice is obviously #1, followed by Persuasion) because well read and well-loved books are a part of what makes my home.  I also haven't had time to explore the local library or the undergraduate library on campus, so paying a visit to my favorite novels may be happening until I do make the time to scout out my new literary-fix providers.  
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Things I like about this book:

1. Elinor Dashwood.  Her strong personality combines with the perfect amount of class and etiquette to create this power woman who knows what she wants.  She's able to control her emotions in horrible situations, and is the most rational and level-headed character in this book.  She deserves more than Edward Ferrars, but if a dope like him is really going to make her happy, I guess I shouldn't judge?  If I were to write a sequel to Sense and Sensibility, it would have Elinor leaving Edward for someone far more intelligent and rational, someone on her own level of awesomeness, because Edward plain ol' sucks.  See point 2 under "Things I don't like about this book" please.
2. 19TH CENTURY BRITISH LITERATURE.  My favorite!
3. The entire story line.  The beginning is as strong as the middle, which is as strong as the end.
4. It's an "and they lived happily ever after" story!  As I was discussing with my roommate earlier today, real life has provided more disappointments in the romance and love department, but fiction!  Fiction can always be relied upon to end well.  Because it's not real life.  :]

Things I don't like about this book:

1. Marianne Dashwood.  "Selfish," "irrational," and "immature" pretty much sum up her character.  I'm also grossed out by the fact that she marries someone approximately 20 years older than her.
2. Edward Ferrars.  Another selfish character who needs to man up.  Straight and simple.
3. Lucy Steele.  She is annoying.
4. How forgiving Elinor Dashwood is of Edward Ferrar's cheating love.  Perhaps I should see it as a virtue that she is so forgiving, but I don't understand how anger doesn't overshadow and beat down the need to forgive him.

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I love 19th century British romances because the heroines' lives are the complete opposite of my own life.  It's an escape from reality for me, and in a strange way, these books make me re-realize that I love life and the opportunities I have.  3 centuries ago (and even 100 years ago), women would not be able to do what I'm doing in life.  In no way do I want to assume the lifestyle women had in the 19th century, but it's fun to read about it and feed the horribly skewed perception I have of that time.   
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Recommend?  Yes!!!  Read this book, and we will be the best of friends.  Read P&P and we'll be super friends for life.

#2: Pride and Prejudice

Austen, Jane: Pride and Prejudice. New York: Bantam, 2003. Print. 344 pages.

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SETTING: 19th-century England, primarily in the Eastern county of Hertfordshire.
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SUMMARY: With five daughters and no heir to the Bennet family estate, Mrs. Bennet is preoccupied with marrying her daughters to wealthy suitors, thus providing assurance that the family will be cared for after Mr. Bennet's death.  Elizabeth Bennet, the second eldest daughter, is different from her sisters; whereas her sisters are either shy or just plain silly, she is clever, energetic, and speaks her mind.  The novel chronicles Elizabeth's dealings with her family, neighbors, and acquaintances regarding marriage, education, propriety, and, above all, how pride and prejudices can influence a person's judgement of another's character.
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FAVORITE QUOTE: "Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously.  A person may be proud without being vain.  Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us." - Chapter 5, page 15.
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Similar to comfort foods, P&P has become my comfort book.  I re-read it about every six months, usually when life throws a curve or I find that I need a quick break from reality.  Each re-read brings a better understanding of the novel and its characters, and I enjoy it every single time.  It's a strong, well-written story that is far from my life, and thus provides a perfect avenue for daydreaming and satisfying my curiosity of what life would have been like had I been born about 150 years earlier (at times, I'm convinced I was born in the wrong century).  After finishing the novel, I'll usually thank everything and everyone that can be thanked that I live in this century, mainly because I won't ever have to rely on marriage to provide me with financial stability.  It seems incredibly stressful to be doomed in life if you aren't able to marry well!
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Things I like about this book:

1. Great character development.  The reader has a clear understanding of each character, and what his/her role is in the story.
2. 19th century!  England!  Romance!  Drama!  Strong-willed, clever, outspoken, female protagonist!
3. The prejudice portion of the novel (although the pride part is pretty awesome too).  We're all guilty of forming a sketch of an individual based off of an unflattering first impression or hearsay, and then using that character sketch to create all sorts of false notions of that person.  It's great to see the consequences and emotions that result from doing so, especially Elizabeth's experience with Darcy.
4. Evolution of Elizabeth and Darcy's romance.
5. Inclusion of Charlotte's story, which is more likely representative of 19th century British marriages.

Things I don't like about this book:

1. How Elizabeth has to feel shame for her family's behavior around Darcy and feels obligated to make up for it, while Darcy doesn't feel the need to go to such extremes for his family member's rude behavior (Lady Catherine).  It's probably what the reality would have been like, considering the Bennet family's lower rank, but that doesn't mean I liked it!  We all have kooky family members, but we don't love them any less for their eccentricities (I'm trying to be polite... some really are borderline crazy).

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I love this book, so obviously very few points of dislike.  I'll probably go back to it again around October, but don't worry, I won't write a review after every re-read.

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Recommend?  YES!  Duh.