Next book up: The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner. I had no idea before I started to read the book one night having retired early to bed to read what it was about. After a couple of pages I am like "what the what?" I was having a hard time following the story so I started rubbing my eyes - as if that would clear my mind. No way. Still didn't quite get it but I kept reading hoping it would change up or something. The next morning I tried again and got to a second day I mean chapter. The chapters are made up of dates the first being April 7, 1928. The first chapter was told from a mentally retarded individual and jumped around in years. The second chapter was narrated by a guy who you could tell was going to commit suicide. It was easier to follow but that didn't necessarily make me feel better because you knew this chapter was not going to turn out well. These two individuals are from the same sad family. Do not read this book if you are the least bit depressed. Finally I googled this book and got a little insight into what was going on. Apparently Faulkner was one of the guys experimenting with writing in something called "steam of consciousness" or whatever. That is why the story jumped around so much. I wasn't reading a story I was listening to someone "think." Since I didn't have to read this for English class and write a report or pass a test on this book I quit reading it around page 91.
This book was hard to follow and depressing. And I really did not like any of the characters. I just didn't have any interest or empathy for them. And I am a southerner. I thought that Faulkner must of been doing drugs when he wrote this, and after I looked up some information about him I don't think I was too far off. Seems like he had a drinking problem and it also seems like he does not have a high opinion of women. At least in this book.
Enough of this. Recommendation: do not read if you are looking for something interesting or uplifting or makes sense.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Friday, January 17, 2014
A New Year and A New Post
2014. A new year. A new post. Looks like I average about one every two years. Oh well.
I have been reading books since I could read. I love to read and that love began when I learned how to. I would come home from school and read to my younger brothers and sisters. My mother often took us to the library when we were young and I continued that practice all my life. There is something magical for me to be able to go to a place that has tons of books and know I can check out any one of them for free! I do buy books on occasion but mostly enjoy the freedom of free at the local public library. I told a friend the other day when were discussing books how in high school I would quickly eat my sandwich and Little Debbie snack and go to the library for lunch and sit and read. I realized I was a nerd even then when I revealed that information.
I am an indiscriminate reader. I read fiction and non-fiction. I read biographies and look at coffee table books with beautiful pictures. I read recipe books and magazines. I read reviews about new books coming out. Since I had been having a hard time finding books to read that weren't murder mysteries or full of sex mislabled as romance, or were just plain lame plot lines and characters I decided I should go back and read the "classics" I missed during my education or I just can't remember reading. I went on line and looked at several lists that contained books that I should read "before I die." Wow, kinda dramatic. I decided I would read some of the books recommended, and looks like I am staying with American authors of the so called classics.
First up was The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. I did not remember reading this book but unfortunately I did remember seeing the movie by the same name with Andy Rooney playing Tom Sawyer. I hated that I couldn't see Tom but Andy Rooney who was miscast if you ask my opinion.
I did enjoy the book. I had a time of it getting the dialect down at first but since it was consistent throughout the story I was able to get use to it. And it made sense to write the story that way. It occurred to me that the novel read like a episodic television series. I kinda of hate I thought of it that way. Too much telly for me. I liked Tom and could see a little maturity in him by the end of the book which portrayed maybe one year in Tom's life. The title tells it all because Tom and his bosom friends have more adventures in the span of this book than most of us in the span of a life time.
Tom and his pals had an extensive imagination that was fueled by what they read or heard. They could play Robin Hood, or become pirates for hours in their free time away from school and chores. They even held court for a dead cat with a judge and everything. They could entertain themselves. And they had enough life abilities to be able to fend for themselves on an island alone for several days. They caught and cooked fish and various "stolen" meats, played in the river, and survived a terrific storm to live and tell all about at their funeral in town after being given up for drowned by their loved one! Do I think my boys at that age could do that? No. I believe Samuel Clemens grew up exactly like he wrote about in Tom Sawyer. I can't help but compare Tom's life to my childhood and even to that of my children. It wasn't like Tom's childhood was all good and nothing bad - it wasn't idealized but it seemed real and true to me. Evidently Tom and his siblings were orphaned and had the good fortune to have an aunt to take them in and love and care for them. Contrast that to Huckleberry who was motherless and whose own father was a drunk and had to fend for himself at the same age as Tom. Tom comes across as one who likes his life and the adventures that happened to him. Even Huck Finn likes his life with the hardships that happened to him. There is an optimistic quality that comes out in this book and just makes you smile while you are adventuring with Tom and friends. Though horrible things happen to Tom and Huck and Joe (witnessing a murder, being assumed drowned to name a few) this book is rather upbeat. That sentence made me laugh but it is true. I wanted to know what happened to Tom as an adult. Did he settle down with Becky and stay in town, did he go down the river as a riverboat pilot, or did death catch up to the young hero having already escaped it a few times (being lost in a cave with his love Becky, being watched by Injun Joe because he witnessed a murder)? We get to know more about Huckleberry because Mark Twain wrote another classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. You can bet that is on my list to read.
While I was reading this book I often wondered if it is really suitable for young people. Even while writing the book Samuel Clemens wondered who was his audience - young people or adults. Eventually he thought that it would be for young people but hopefully that wouldn't put off adults reading the book. At what age do you want them to read about murder in an up close and personal way? Would the way it is written in the accent of the people at that time put them off because it is a little hard to follow? The book I read gave definitions to some of the words and phrases used that aren't in use now. How much of an issue of the usage of the "n" word should be made? To think that people during that time period didn't talk that way would be romanticizing the past but completely banning an otherwise engaging book because of the period language being used doesn't seem appropriate either. I do not know if my grown sons read this book when they were school age (I don't remember them having to read it for a class) or as an adult but I think I will find out and ask them what they think.
Recommendation: Definitely one book to read. And if you are fortunate one book to discuss with others.
I have been reading books since I could read. I love to read and that love began when I learned how to. I would come home from school and read to my younger brothers and sisters. My mother often took us to the library when we were young and I continued that practice all my life. There is something magical for me to be able to go to a place that has tons of books and know I can check out any one of them for free! I do buy books on occasion but mostly enjoy the freedom of free at the local public library. I told a friend the other day when were discussing books how in high school I would quickly eat my sandwich and Little Debbie snack and go to the library for lunch and sit and read. I realized I was a nerd even then when I revealed that information.
I am an indiscriminate reader. I read fiction and non-fiction. I read biographies and look at coffee table books with beautiful pictures. I read recipe books and magazines. I read reviews about new books coming out. Since I had been having a hard time finding books to read that weren't murder mysteries or full of sex mislabled as romance, or were just plain lame plot lines and characters I decided I should go back and read the "classics" I missed during my education or I just can't remember reading. I went on line and looked at several lists that contained books that I should read "before I die." Wow, kinda dramatic. I decided I would read some of the books recommended, and looks like I am staying with American authors of the so called classics.
First up was The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. I did not remember reading this book but unfortunately I did remember seeing the movie by the same name with Andy Rooney playing Tom Sawyer. I hated that I couldn't see Tom but Andy Rooney who was miscast if you ask my opinion.I did enjoy the book. I had a time of it getting the dialect down at first but since it was consistent throughout the story I was able to get use to it. And it made sense to write the story that way. It occurred to me that the novel read like a episodic television series. I kinda of hate I thought of it that way. Too much telly for me. I liked Tom and could see a little maturity in him by the end of the book which portrayed maybe one year in Tom's life. The title tells it all because Tom and his bosom friends have more adventures in the span of this book than most of us in the span of a life time.
Tom and his pals had an extensive imagination that was fueled by what they read or heard. They could play Robin Hood, or become pirates for hours in their free time away from school and chores. They even held court for a dead cat with a judge and everything. They could entertain themselves. And they had enough life abilities to be able to fend for themselves on an island alone for several days. They caught and cooked fish and various "stolen" meats, played in the river, and survived a terrific storm to live and tell all about at their funeral in town after being given up for drowned by their loved one! Do I think my boys at that age could do that? No. I believe Samuel Clemens grew up exactly like he wrote about in Tom Sawyer. I can't help but compare Tom's life to my childhood and even to that of my children. It wasn't like Tom's childhood was all good and nothing bad - it wasn't idealized but it seemed real and true to me. Evidently Tom and his siblings were orphaned and had the good fortune to have an aunt to take them in and love and care for them. Contrast that to Huckleberry who was motherless and whose own father was a drunk and had to fend for himself at the same age as Tom. Tom comes across as one who likes his life and the adventures that happened to him. Even Huck Finn likes his life with the hardships that happened to him. There is an optimistic quality that comes out in this book and just makes you smile while you are adventuring with Tom and friends. Though horrible things happen to Tom and Huck and Joe (witnessing a murder, being assumed drowned to name a few) this book is rather upbeat. That sentence made me laugh but it is true. I wanted to know what happened to Tom as an adult. Did he settle down with Becky and stay in town, did he go down the river as a riverboat pilot, or did death catch up to the young hero having already escaped it a few times (being lost in a cave with his love Becky, being watched by Injun Joe because he witnessed a murder)? We get to know more about Huckleberry because Mark Twain wrote another classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. You can bet that is on my list to read.
While I was reading this book I often wondered if it is really suitable for young people. Even while writing the book Samuel Clemens wondered who was his audience - young people or adults. Eventually he thought that it would be for young people but hopefully that wouldn't put off adults reading the book. At what age do you want them to read about murder in an up close and personal way? Would the way it is written in the accent of the people at that time put them off because it is a little hard to follow? The book I read gave definitions to some of the words and phrases used that aren't in use now. How much of an issue of the usage of the "n" word should be made? To think that people during that time period didn't talk that way would be romanticizing the past but completely banning an otherwise engaging book because of the period language being used doesn't seem appropriate either. I do not know if my grown sons read this book when they were school age (I don't remember them having to read it for a class) or as an adult but I think I will find out and ask them what they think.
Recommendation: Definitely one book to read. And if you are fortunate one book to discuss with others.
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