North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

*Beware of spoilers. There are many.

I had every intention of following along with the read-along posting schedule, but this month got away from me. I did finish the book and am finally linking up my thoughts (albeit a bit late). As an aside, I'm glad that I'm not the only person that thought this was a Civil War book. I didn't realize that it wasn't until this summer and I've had a copy of the book (purchased myself) on my shelf for a year and a half. I am officially a moron.

My enjoyment of this book was similar to an inverted bell curve. I really loved the beginning and ending, but the middle bits were draggy. I don't do well with dialect and the strike held little interest for me. I don't want to do a proper review as I'm not really thinking coherently enough (crappy head cold), but I'll just ramble until I'm tired.

Many mentioned this in their check-ins, but what was up with Margaret? I can't think of a more annoying protagonist (at the beginning at least). The proposals scenes were shocking. She seems so annoyed that they fell in love with her. Most girls would be flattered Margaret, not pissed. It's okay to say no, just don't be a total wench about it.

I hated Edith from the very beginning, but she was much worse at the end. I can't believe they were trying to keep her away from other suitors so they could try to force her into marrying Henry. He seemed like a nice enough guy, but that really sucks for her. Anytime Edith spoke to Margaret at the end, I wanted to slap her. She was so patronizing.

I loved Mr. Thornton. He reminded me a little of Mr. Darcy (personality-wise, obviously not of the same class). I'm so glad of how it worked out, but I kind of wish, like everyone else, that the ending wasn't so abrupt. I read some posts where it mentioned that they never saw Margaret fall in love with him and that it seemed sudden, but I thought it happened back at Milton after he helped Higgins. She started to fall in love with him after "the lie" and just felt like there was nothing she could do about it because she couldn't explain it to him to protect her brother. Did anyone else see it that way, or am I crazy?

Lastly, how can I not mention the cat incident? I would like to ask Ms. Gaskell where she came up with that because it was RANDOM. I was listening to the audio for that bit and had to do a little rewind and replay because I could not believe my ears. Seriously strange.

Overall, I was glad I read it. It doesn't fall into the favorite category, but I'll give Gaskell another go at some point. Maybe next year.

Thoughts on the Audiobook

This was my first. I'm now initiated (somewhat) into the ranks of the audiobook listener). I read the first three-quarters of the book and happened to find the audio CDs in my library. (Which is a crazy coincidence considering my library has a grand total of 20 audiobooks. Not a joke.) I brought it home happily so that I could try it out by listening to what I had left. But it didn't happen how I would have liked. I opened the case to see a note saying that discs 11-14 are missing. Uhh...what? Why are they still circulating these? Would you keep a book missing a quarter of the pages or even one page? So crazy, right? I'm the only person on the planet that it worked for, but I still had to read another 80 or so pages to get to the point where I could listen to disc 15.

I loved it. I don't have much experience with narrators, but I do know that I loved Juliet Stevenson. I was amazed at how well she did the different regional accents. It wasn't as difficult to listen to as I had imagined it would. Now I am all fired up to listen to more. Little Strangers is up next. I already have the discs on hold. I can't wait!

Austen in August Giveaway

Updated: August 20, 2012 GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Congratulations to winner, Melissa of Avid Reader's Musings

Adam of Roof Beam Reader is hosting Austen in August. As Jane Austen is a favorite author, I couldn't possibly pass up participating. Check out the master post to find a list of links to reviews. I've read all of her completed novels, but I'm hoping to re-read at least Persuasion and possibly Northanger Abbey this month.

To spread the Austen love, I'm hosting an international giveaway today for participants of Austen in August. I will select one winner who may select one of the following books as their prize. I'll be giving away the Vintage Classics edition of the six completed novels (unless you have a strong preference to another edition),  and the last option is a paperback including her three unfinished works (one edition also includes Northanger Abbey).

It will be shipped via Book Depository so you may enter if they ship to your address. I reserve the right to ship from another bookseller depending on the location of the winner. To enter, please leave a comment including the items below. For this particular giveaway you must be a registered participant of Austen in August prior to August 1st to qualify.

1. Tell me your favorite Austen book.
2. Tell me the book you would select were you to win.
3. Your email address (to contact you should you win).

The giveaway begins today and will close midnight August 19. I'll randomly select a winner the following day and will notify the winner by email. The winner will have 72 hours to respond or I will select someone else. Happy reading!

Reading Plans for August

I'm a sucker for reading books with others. I just can't seem to stay away. This month there are two events in which I'll be participating. The first is hosted by Andi of Estella's Revenge and Heather of Capricious Reader, and is a North & South Read-a-long. So excited for this one. I bought a Vintage Classics copy of North and South over a year ago and I have yet to crack it open. This is perfect! Click here to join in.

The second even is Austen in August hosted by Adam of Roof Beam Reader. Go and check it out here. She's my favorite author and I've read all of her six major novels at least once (some several more). I'm hoping to read some of her other works as well as re-reading either Persuasion or Northanger Abbey (both if I can fit them in!). 

So those are my reading plans for August. I'm sure I sneak a few other titles in as well once my kids go back to school mid-month.

What are your reading plans for August?

Victorian Celebration Giveaway Winner

The winner of my giveaway is Claudia of Lit Hitchhiker!

Congratulations and I hope you enjoy Villette.

Thanks to everyone who entered and happy Victorian reading!

Victorian Celebration Giveaway

Allie is hosting the wonderful Victorian Celebration for June and July over at her blog, A Literary Odyssey. Many reviews have been posted, so check out the master post to find a list of links to reviews.

I'm hosting an international giveaway today for participants of the Victorian Celebration. I will select one winner who may select one of the following books as their prize. I'll be giving away the Vintage Classics edition (as I am in love with the covers). Here is the selection, based on Victorian books that I've read, enjoyed, and reviewed on my blog.

It will be shipped via Book Depository so you may enter if they ship to your address. I reserve the right to ship from another bookseller depending on the location of the winner. To enter, please leave a comment including the items below. Remember, you must be a participant of the Victorian Celebration to qualify.

1. Tell me your favorite Victorian book.
2. Tell me the book you would select were you to win.
3. Your email address (to contact you should you win).

The giveaway begins today and will close midnight July 9. I'll randomly select a winner the following day and will notify the winner by email. The winner will have 72 hours to respond or I will select someone else. Happy reading!

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

by Robert Louis Stevenson
published 1886
completed June 2012


Two reviews in a week! It's some sort of miracle. This is my first book (well, novella) completed for the Victorian Celebration. You can still join in the fun here. My goal was to try some new-to-me authors, and I have never read anything by Robert Louis Stevenson. I especially was excited to read this after recently visited Edinburgh, home of Stevenson. I'll write a little bit more about that at the end for those who plan to skip it.

So, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. We all seem to know the basics of this story. I can't even remember when I learned of it--probably as a child. It's such a popular reference that I doubt there are many that don't know. I'm one of those strange readers that prefers to know absolutely nothing about a book before picking it up to read. Knowing who Hyde is didn't ruin the book for me, but what I wouldn't give to have read it back in the 1800's when it wasn't common knowledge. It must have been so exciting to read and try to figure out who this evil man was and what his connection was to the upstanding Dr Jekyll.

It's a quick little read and leaves you with plenty to ponder. I don't want to start a discussion on the duality of our nature, but Jekyll is an interesting character. Most interesting in the fact that his friends thought they knew him, but they really didn't. I think we've all come across people like that in real life.

 

During my visit to Edinburgh, we took a guided tour bus (we were tired and too lazy to walk). We were able to see the home in which Robert Louis Stevenson grew up. It was pretty fun listening to the stories the guides would tell, one of which was that a man named Deacon Brodie was the inspiration for the story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Brodie was a respectable cabinet-maker by day, and by night a robber of his wealthy clients (after making wax impressions of their keys). Wow, classy guy. Sorry for the not-great quality of pictures. The bus was a'movin'.

Overall, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, is a quick read and was well-worth the time. After this experience, I'm looking forward to reading more by Robert Louis Stevenson--maybe a little Treasure Island.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Code Name Verity

by Elizabeth Wein

published 2012

completed June 2012

Do you like my little model? I was getting bored just using cover images, and I'm not creative enough to take a cool picture of just the book. My solution--use a cute kid (she is mine so I'm particularly biased). That should do the trick.

I'm not usually a new release reader. If I get around to them within a year of release, I'm pretty lucky. This book fell into my hands in an unusual way, for me at least. I had seen this review by Nymeth (go read it--it's excellent, as always), and added it to my ever-growing TBR list, assuming I'd get to it in a year or two. The next week I received an email from netgalley offering me the book as a "read now." I've never even requested a book from netgalley. I have a teeny tiny blog so despite the fact that I didn't find anything interesting the only time I looked, I never felt like I could justify requesting a book. But hey, if you're offering it to me, why not? So I downloaded it to my kindle and sort of felt guilty. Well, netgalley and the publisher win because I loved it so much that I bought a copy and will probably buy more copies to distribute to my family (so they don't steal mine). I don't feel guilty anymore.

I'm sure you're sick of my rambling up until this point so let me tell you now what I can about the book. Which isn't much. For very good reasons. This is a book that should not be spoiled. I know there is a debate over whether a book can actually be spoiled. Let me tell you now that in my opinion, this one can.

Code Name Verity centers around two young women serving their country during World War II. It opens with one of the girls being interrogated by the Gestapo after being captured in France. She's been allowed to write down her story.

My word of caution with this book is that it starts out slowly. It will pick up. Just push through. Once you hit about halfway through, you won't want to put it down. The first half was good, but I didn't quite get why everyone loved it. Once I hit the last fifty pages or so, it all made sense. Elizabeth Wein crafted this story so well, but it isn't apparent until it's all wrapped up.

I can't say enough about the two young women in the story. I appreciate it at my age, but I would have loved to have read this as a teenager. Friendship is the center of the story. It's so refreshing to find a YA novel about girls that deals with friendship rather than a romance. There is no romance at all. Just two incredibly strong and brave young women, who would make wonderful role models for young girls.

This book is one of only a handful that have made me cry. It takes a lot. To put it in context, The Fault in Our Stars didn't make me cry. I couldn't hold back with Code Name Verity. It was that affecting, but not in a manipulative way. For days afterward, just thinking about the book made my heart ache. I will never forget this book, and I will read it again before the year is through.

I'd hate to say this book is for everyone because no book is. I will say that I would encourage people to at least try it. I anticipate seeing this book on many year-end lists of favorite books.