The Secret Garden

So here is my confession. I was supposed to read this in my British Literature class in college but (oh the shame) I never did. I tried to read it when I was younger but abandoned it for more exciting pursuits. I found this particular attempt to be really relaxing actually. The meaning of the story is laid out for you and there really is not guess work, you can lay back and enjoy a good story.


With this author, you don't have to think about the deeper meaning or what she is trying to say, she just lays it on out there for you. Children should be children and all things can be cured with nature, especially if there is a robin thrown in. Isn't it nice to know that all you need to do to heal a child that is sick is to take them outside and let them garden? I will have to rewrite my lesson plans. 'but sir, I read a book that told me that you can cure both a child's mind and any bodily issues by letting them play outside! That is why we haven't read anything in two months!"

All cynicism aside, there is a good point being made here. So many children do not play outside. They have their video games and they have their tv's. Not to sound like a complaining older person, but I played outside all the time when I was growing up. I may not have had my own garden but I was outside a lot. That is something that many kids cannot or choose not to do. Sad.



My perfect pairing for this story is up a tree on a warm spring day. However, if you have to enjoy it in bed before you crash out for the day on a cool fall evening, that is ok too.

 

This is a lovely story that can get a little preachy but is enjoyable none-the-less. There isn't much to say about it without giving it all away. I had some fond memories of my childhood while reading because of how often she talks about the benefit of being outside. I rode bikes, wore sheets that I pretended were long flowing dresses and got into all manner of mischief. I have scars on my knees and elbows from when I fell, and I know how to climb a tree. And I survived. Oh look at that, now I am getting a little preachy.



The message that this book leaves you is a resounding, GO OUTSIDE!!!

Next, Alice's Adventure in Wonderland

The Help

Are you a Hilly or a Skeeter?

This book needs to be in the BBC Top 100 books, so get on it BBC. Truth is that I know that I am behind the times. This book has already been turned into a movie (a large honor placed on a book now days!) I had been told to read this book by many people but I was in the middle of my list and could not be disturbed. Well it was worth the break and I am really glad that I did it.

So back to the original question, are you a Hilly or a Skeeter? I hope that I would have been just like Skeeter but the truth is, would I have that much guts? I am nowhere near the level of Aibileen or Minny, I definatly would not have been able to do what they did. I struggle to be comfortable with the people around me. They put their story out at one of the most dangerous time for a maid to do so.

Nature vs Nurture. Is Skeeter who she is because of Constentine? Skeeter was raised by her and she grew up to become someone who could give up what she thought she wanted in order to serve the greater good. I have hope for Mae Mobley, becuase of Aibileen she could have respect for all people, not just the ones that have the same skin color as her. She loved Aibileen, and her mother didn't show her any attention. That may have made a bigger difference in Mae Mobley's life then any novel could have done. That love and that bond will hopefully last for a very long time.

I am not going to tell a lot about what happens in the story becuase I honestly want you to go out and read it if you have not already.

My perfect pairing for this book is in a classroom while you should be grading but cannot put the book down. To be honest that is where I read a good amount of this book. Confession complete.

The purpose of the book that was written by Minny, Aibileen, and Skeeter was to show that deep down we are all the same. There isn't a lot that separates us and people. It doesn't matter about the color of your skin or where you come from. Deep down, we are all the same. That is a message that can go beyond the story written in this novel, or even the message this novel gives it's reader. Deep down we all have our own joys, our own pain and our own happiness.

So the choice is ours, be a Hilly? A woman who is so afraid of others that she feels she must control everything? Who won't open her eyes to the wonderful things happening around her? Or will you be Skeeter, Aibileen or Minny? Will you stand up and fight for what is right, even if it means losing sometimes? Will I? It is a choice that we all make every day.

Next up is Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Return to Reading

      Whew, it has been a crazy month. Taking on Anna and starting school again. I had honestly forgotten how much work it is to start school and how much time it takes and how engrossed I can become in my students. Last year didn't really feel like my first year of teaching. Sure I had some bumps in the road but this year seems a whole lot bumpier. I can't seem to get my feet underneath me. So I kept trying, I kept staying late and getting things done but no matter what, my list kept growing and growing. It has been getting to the point where all I do it go to school, then come home and do nothing. I am also taking classes so any spare time I have now is spent on that. It was pretty bleak!

      However, I have now come to the realization that I need to do what I like too. I was telling my brother that he needed to take time for himself and then the very next day, I went to school at 7 and left a little after 6. Take your own advice Mrs. P. So I am. Back to blogging and more importantly, back to biking and reading!

      Well on to Anna, I had read it a long time ago but I had forgotten a lot about what happened. It was really interesting to go back and read it again. I read it while I was in college and single, now I am in Graduate school and married. It is amazing how much a story can change based on the mindset of the person who is reading it. I liked it when I had first read it and now I still like it, just for different reasons.

      First of all, there is a theme, what happens when passion dies and you actually have to face living and being with each other. In some cases, a friendship will form and you will still compliment each other. In other cases, passion simply dies and you are left hating and resenting each other. Vroskey and Anna are carried away by their passion for each other, but in the end are left progressivly hating each other day by day, until one cannot stand it anymore. Pretty bleak outlook on life and love, but hey, there it is!

      As I was doing my normal search for pictures I saw that Keira Knightenly is going to play Anna in a new film adaptation. The same person that directed Attonement is going to direct this one. Jude Law looks like he may play Vronsky. Um, ok, I guess no one else has read the book. Anna is older than Vronsky, by not a little. Can Keira look old enough and can Jude look young enough? (oh who am I kidding, I love him) I always thought that Angelina Jolie would be a good Anna, but I got outvoted, darn!

      I love this novel. I like it even more now. So many other romantic novels focus on the chase and the winning of the girl or guy. This novel has this as well, in the story between Kitty and Levin. But it also tells an important part. The fighting and the changing that a person must do after they get married and give themselves to each other. As a newlywed, I really liked that. I can relate to it, the movies hardly ever tell you that after you get the guy, there is still a lot of work to do!

      I was going to read Pillars of the Earth now, since I have read Anna and can cross it off my list. I could not get into it. I kept drifting off and thinking about something else then I would realize that I had no idea what was happening. So then I would have to go back and re-read. I decided to go rogue and read something not on the list! (gasp, sigh!)

      On to The Help!

Dune

Ok, before I divulge into this novel I must say that I knew the story before reading it. I have seen most, if not all of the movies that have been made out of this novel. And to be honest, I actually liked them. I was really excited to read this novel because of that. It is not often that I see a movie before I read it's book and I was interested in seeing how they changed the events. The most recent one that was actually made into a TV series was pretty close. Some of the characters do not look like the book describes them but what movie is perfect? 

As I was looking for pictures to post on the blog Google Images kept pooping up with one of Robert Pattinson or Edward. I clicked because I was curious as to what he has to do with Dune. The answer is a little startling, rumor has it that Dune will again be released in 2014 and guess who is going to play Paul. A vampire (yeah, yeah, I know he is not really a vampire but be honest with yourself, when you hear his name, what do you think of? That is what I thought.) All of this is pure rumor of course. 

Why in the world would they remake it again? The answer is that the movie is still relevant. The political and social satire is still relevant and truthful today. The oil is the spice, whomever can destroy it, truly controls it. Sad and scary but true. In the novel there is only one planet that is terrible enough to support spice production, which in turn fuels all space travel (hint) and is more expensive and valuable than other resources available. Very important people rely on the spice as a way of life and will kill in order to control it. Since, "he that controls the spice, controls the universe." It is still amazing to me how authors can recognize the truth and place it into a novel to prove their point. I am not going to get into a debate about oil and gas and our culture but I am asking that you take a step back and see how the author does it. Identifies his or her belief and creates this world where he can make his beliefs paramount. Just look how it is done, and give it the respect it deserves even if you do not agree with it.

Religion is a very important part of this story. Are leaders made, bred or is it all one long and complicated lie? In the novel there it is a blend of it all. There have been people spreading rumors and making the planet of Arrakis ready for Paul and his mother. Both of them knew about the legend and allowed themselves to fit the profile. But along with that, both of them perform some amazing feats. So one has to wonder, are they really what they say they are? Or are they big fat liars? As for me, I am convinced, just because a way has been prepared for you does not mean that they are liars, maybe I am naive, wouldn't be the first time.

The character development is a big part of this story. The author goes so far as to describe the voices of each individual character. The idea is to pick your favorite and here are a few of mine. 

Well of course there is Paul. Who despite being a whiny child in the beginning and a little bit of a jerk as he grows up, still needs the respect and the cheers of the reader. Paul is only 15 at the beginning of the book and about 18 when it ends. That is very young to be taking on the desires, wishes and not to mention the future of an entire population. He becomes their leader, in more than just a Duke as his father was, he blends the line between religion and politics and becomes something more. He has a lot of power and he is a good and fair leader, depending on what side you are on. 

 

Chani. Chani is my personal favorite. She is the daughter of a leader, Liet. She is smart, and poised. She takes on the challengers of Paul and kicks some major butt. She stands by, for and with her man no matter what. She even allows him to marry the Princess so that he can be on the throne, knowing that he doesn't love the princess and by all rights, she is his wife. This brings up an interesting point. Is that strength? Or is it folly? I don't think that I could share my husband but then again, I don't share well. She was raised in a culture where strong and important men had many wives.I think it is important what the Lady Jessica says to her, that even though she must bear the name of concubine, history will call her wife. She knows her duty both as partner and member of the tribe and she stands and fights for what she wants.  She is at Paul's side through the uprising and stands next to him when he goes through his most dangerous trials. Isn't that what you do for your mate? Give them support no matter how bleak the outcome appears? Chani will kick your butt if you mess with her people and most importantly her "beloved." You go girl. 

The rest of the characters are so in depth that they become real people. The father, the mother, and their mortal enemy, Baron Harkonnen. I think Science Fiction  is a difficult genre to excel in. Your reader had to believe that the world that is being created is real. The author adds a sense of comfort when they make their characters so real that there is one thing that you can trust and almost take for granted. There are so many other things for the mind to wrap around, the setting and what is possible. When the characters are so real, it eliminates a potential problem. So there you go, if you are thinking about writing a Science Fiction  novel, make your characters real. 

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see it's path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." 

I like this. I think it is important to find a way to face and defeat your fear. As I say this, there is a spider walking across the wall and my husband gets up to kill it because I can't. So I guess that it has it's limitations. 

What else it there to say.. I read this book during a heatwave here in town which seemed fitting. I always felt a little guilty when I took a big swig of my water and the characters talk about how precious water is. So you want to read this book when it is really hot and you have a lot of water. 

My blog on Dune ends on

I couldn't resist. 

Now back to Anna Karenina

Summer Resolutions

Everyone makes New Year's Resolutions but it takes a unique person to create a Summer Resolution. As a new teacher, a new wife and new responsibilities, I have realized that there are more things to do during the day then there are hours to do them. By the end of the year, my schoolwork was done, my classroom clean, the work for my masters class was finished but my house and car were in a sad state of being. 

So I am making some new resolutions for what is left of this summer and this school year. These are things that I can improve on and I am putting them on here for the pressure that it will put on me to keep up with them. 

1. I will be more careful with my grocery shopping. 

2. I will clean my house once a week, no exceptions. 

3. I will wash and wax and keep the inside of my car clean and vacuumed. (yeah Mom, I know)

Ok, there it is. I will try... I want to say that my house isn't gross, it is just in need of a little more consistency. It gets clean now just not every week. I want it to be clean every week. 

Now back to Dune, good book by the way... 

In a creepy whispering voice, "The spice controls the universe."

Thoughts on Anna

I have read this book before and I really liked it. I enjoy reading things over again because I miss things the first time. I have tried that with this novel and couldn't do it. It is so long! Once again I am going to have to stop reading once I have begun. The reason for this is that Dune came in from the library. I have been looking forward to reading it and when I went to go check it out, they were all gone. This morning I received the e-mail giving me the news that it was ready. Since they were only going to hold it for a short time I had to abandon Anna for the time being and pick it up later. But not before I have a few things to say. 

First I think that when reading a novel written in another language you find a good translation. That can make all the difference. True, a lot of the Russian writers like Tolstoy are a little long-winded, just look at the size of their novels. The understanding of the novel and a lot of the enjoyment can come from the translation and how the book flows in English. The version that I have of Anna Karenina was featured on Opera's Book Club and I really like it. Pevear and Volokhhonsky are the names of the translators. Since I have a copy of Crime and Punishment but can't seem to get through it, I was overjoyed to find that they also have done a translation of that work. What I find really helpful is the list of characters at the beginning that list their family and all their nicknames. So many characters have nicknames that are common in Russia but don't mean a lot to a modern American reader. The list helps. So a Top Reader Top Tip, if you are going to read a foreign novel, it is all about translation, translation, translation.

So there, I will now put down Anna Karenina, hop on my scooter and get Dune. There is a pause in the action but it will resume shortly. 

The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy

It is amazing what time can do. I read this book when I was in high school and I will admit that I didn't really get it but I read it because I said that I was going to. Surprise, I did not like it at all. I finished it by a sheer act of will and I was really glad when it was over. 

The only reason I decided to read it again was that it hitched a ride in my bag on my trip to Colorado and I finished my other book sooner than I had thought and I needed something to read. Pretty interesting that the book hitched a ride and the book is about hitchhikers. I took it as a good sign and opened the book again. 

This book is a lot funnier with age. I am still not going to be praising this book to the skies but I did find myself laughing at some of the events. For example, the destruction of the house vs the destruction of the planet. Now, don't misunderstand me and think "this chick thinks that the destruction of the planet is funny! Bitch!!" I just saw the parallelism in the two events. Arthur did not know that his house was going to be demolished and the gentlemen that were there to tear it down couldn't understand how he didn't know! The orders were located in the city hall, in the basement!! Duh!! The same thing happens when the Vogons are there to demolish Earth, the orders were there on another planet, there to be viewed by anyone. I feel that way a lot with governmental things, the information is there but no one will help you out if you are having trouble finding it. "Oh, you didn't see it? Too bad, the information was there for you to see. Oh you didn't know where to look? Too bad, you should have known, Now, give me your house!" 

So, are human beings the most intelligent being on this planet? According to the novel, no. Human beings are not even the second most intelligent being on this planet. The second smartest are the dolphins, "so long and thanks for the fish!!" The most intelligent beings are the mice. The interesting thing about this is that so many experiments are made on mice, especially when it comes to behavior. Arthur even says that so many scientists have learned so much from studying the mice. What if the mice were actually using humans for experiments? Interesting thought. I like things like that, when an author takes a popular idea and turns it on its head. Something to think about... 

In the end, the book is entertaining but not my favorite. I read it in a car going across western Kansas, not the most exciting. This is definitely a book to enjoy with a beer underneath a night sky. Glad I gave it another chance. 

Next up is Tolstoy's Anna Karenina