2013 in Review

Well, I almost made it through the entire list for 2013! The only ones I missed? 

The 5000 Year Leap

The Count of Monte Cristo

The Divine Comedy

Jesus the Christ

The Killer Angels

The Majesty of God's Law

Orson Hyde

19 out of 26 isn't  too bad! Especially considering that I've been pregnant for half the year and working harder than ever before. I added in a few extras (or a bunch of extras) and started reading four of the unfinished books, too. Those will be my first to finish in 2014 and hopefully I can get to the other three, as well. I think my only failure is that I still haven't read my grandma's book, Orson Hyde! It needs to be on my nightstand in 2014! Maybe then I'll finally quit slacking. 

My favorites for the year? Dracula is definitely at the top. Along with The Book Thief and Mere Christianity. 

My least favorites? A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. Period. How surprising that a Twain novel was my worst read for the year, but I guess reading, like life, is as full of surprises as anything else.

Here's to another great year of reading!

2014, here we come!

"East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

I am not a John Steinbeck fan. I have read several of his books and have always thought they were overrated. My sister, however, recommended East of Eden for my 2013 reading list. She assured me that she was pleasantly surprised by how different this novel is from Steinbeck's other works and thought I would feel the same way.

She was right. As always. East of Eden surprised me. Its characters are better than I expected and the storyline kept me interested, with the exception of a few inevitably boring parts, from start to finish. Lee is a new favorite character and my opinion of Steinbeck as an author has been flipped on its head. Does this make me want to go out and read or re-read the rest of his novels? No. But I am glad I read this one.

May I share my favorite passage from the novel? The end of Chapter 34, one of the rhetorical sections of the novel, reads:

"We have only one story. All novels, all poetry, are built on the never-ending contest in ourselves of good and evil. And it occurs to me that evil must constantly respawn, while good, while virtue, is immortal. Vice has always a fresh young face, while virtue is venerable as nothing else in the world is."

How very true. And the novel addresses this very idea on so many levels. Lee is all virtue. Kate is all vice. But even within two completely opposite characters, Steinbeck reveals some vice in one and some virtue in the other. He does it well. And I'm not disappointed in my last 2013 book. I didn't finish the list, but I got pretty close! Thanks to my sweet husband, who bought me a Nook for Christmas, I just might have an easier time getting through the rest of the list and hopefully making it through my new (YAY!) list for 2014! Making books more readily accessible is a beautiful thing. Thanks, hubby!

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

Re-reading Little Women was a wonderful experience for me. The movie has always been one of my favorites and I read the book when I was no older than 12, but after all these years it was fun to go back and read it again.

My confession: I still prefer the movie and always will. But combined with the book, there is so much more depth to the characters that I can't help but love both. And hope that if I have little girls someday, they'll love both versions of the story as much as I do.

For years, my own mother has referred to me as "her Jo" when Little Women comes up in conversation. Jo is one of my literary heroines and I really do want to be just like her. The novel is simple, beautiful, and charming in so many ways, but dear Jo is always a little rough around the edges. I think that's what I love about her. She isn't perfect, but she's so real and so many of the things she feels are very similar to my own feelings. Absolute devotion to family, a craving for books, and a deep desire to write something meaningful. She is lovely, isn't she?

The thing I loved the most about reading the novel again was how much it made me laugh. Especially when Laurie is involved. I listened to most of it on CD in my car and laughed out loud at so many different spots. And now that I'm done, I guarantee that I'll be watching the movie again within the week. If you haven't read the book or seen the movie, I recommend both. And after you're done, I'd like to know what you think of the ending. Are you forever torn, like I am, about Jo's fate? Or do you think it's just right?

"A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" by Mark Twain

If you're a great Mark Twain fan, like I am, but looking for one book of his that is worth skipping . . . this is it.

It's strange to admit how bored I was reading this book. I absolutely love Mark Twain and am always amazed by his genius on the page, but I guess no author can have every piece be great. And now I know that Twain is no exception. Halfway through I debated putting it down and never going back, but decided I'd finish even if the only way to do that was by listening to the audio version while I was doing other things.

It took a few days but without the audio version I don't know if I ever would have made it through. I do have to say, though, that my sweet husband was listening to something else on his headphones close by and surprised me by saying, "How's the book?" I told him how boring it was and he said, "The writing is beautiful, though." Did I marry the perfect man for me or what?!

And he's right. The writing is beautiful and Twain does not disappoint in that regard. And the whole concept of the story is admittedly genius, as well. Regardless, it will not be added to any of my "To Re-Read" lists. My copy will go lovingly back on the shelf and maybe someday I'll have a kid with a sense of adventure who won't mind the Connecticut Yankee's ramblings quite as much as I did.

"The Great Divorce" by C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis never fails. This was a quick and easy ready and I really enjoyed it. For some reason I was expecting something a little more like The Divine Comedy but was pleasantly surprised at how beautiful, profound, and inspiring The Great Divorce was.

This very short book is presented as one man's dream of Heaven and Hell and the great chasm between the two. Most of the book is observations of others and how they make their choice concerning where they will spend the eternities. I loved how honest and full-of-truth everything was . . . but also how fanciful and imaginative. My favorite thing is Lewis's emphasis on choice.

We have all been given the opportunity to live this life and to choose how we will live it. But I truly believe that this book captures another profound reality - we will all have the opportunity to choose how we live in the next life, as well.

Apparently C.S. Lewis wrote over 30 books? I want to read them all. Try this one if you need something super light and easy. It didn't take me more than a couple of hours and they were hours very well spent!

"Mansfield Park" by Jane Austen

What can I say about the heroine of Mansfield Park, Fanny Price, to truly do her justice? It's rumored that Fanny was Jane Austen's personal favorite and I have to agree. However, I will admit that I was disappointed in this novel.

How can I love the heroine and not love the novel? Here's the confession: Like Emma, I will not deny that the movie version of Mansfield is much more enjoyable than the book version. I really, really, really love the movie. And especially love Fanny Price, played by the amazing Francis O'Connor, in the movie. I listened to the book on CD and was pretty bored the entire time, mostly because I expected more action and adventure. The movie takes all the core elements of the novel and magnifies them into something much more dramatic and, at times, even scandalous! Fanny is witty, outspoken, and extremely moralistic. (Is moralistic a word or did I just make that up?) In the novel she is much more timid, but I love her regardless.

The thing I love most about this novel is the way it portrays the "grass is always greener on the other side" mentality that has been present in human nature from the beginning of time. I love that Fanny gets a taste of many different aspects of human life, human relationships, and human existence in general. Most of all, I love that she consistently chooses the better part. She is a true heroine and even if the book is dreadfully slow, she is worth the effort.

If you haven't seen the movie yet, I recommend that you read the book first. And then I'd be curious to hear if you're upset by the changes in the movie. It's a personal favorite and I will not be swayed, but I enjoy hearing differing opinions. Are you willing to take the challenge? I'll wait patiently for a thorough discussion afterwards!

"Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis

This is a book that everyone should read. Everyone. I have always appreciated C.S. Lewis, but this book made me realize why he is quoted again and again in religious talks. He took Christianity and said, "Here. Let's look at this in the most basic way possible. This is what Christianity is and always will be."

There are countless passages in this book that made me realize the simple, yet profound power of Christianity. Having been a Christian my entire life and having loved my Savior Jesus Christ for as long as I can remember, this book still surprised me. Not because what C.S. Lewis says is new, but because he presents it in a way I have never thought about it before.

One of my favorite lines in the entire book in the chapter on Pride. In a discussion about why God tries to make us humble, Lewis says, "He is trying to make you humble in order to make this moment possible: trying to take off a lot of silly, ugly, fancy-dress in which we have all got ourselves up and are strutting about like the little idiots we are" (pg 127-8). He's so right, isn't he? We do strut about like little idiots, thinking that we are better than so-and-so for such-and-such a reason. But that is not what Christ wants for us. He wants us to love others and love ourselves so that we can, truly and fully, come to love Him.

I love this book. I love Christianity. And I want to share it!

"Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy

Can you believe it? I finally, FINALLY finished Anna Karenina! It only took two years (or maybe three), but I finally finished. What an accomplishment! Besides having to put this one on hold for books and assigned readings, I struggled to stay awake through a lot of it. Tolstoy's writing is truly beautiful and I love the short chapters, but like most novels written during this time period, there is just so much talking and feeling and thinking and looking at the sky. Although my only real complaint about Anna is . . . well . . . Anna.  I have to wonder why Tolstoy wrote a heroine who he must have known his readers would have a hard time respecting. She is beautiful and outwardly attractive in every way, but that is about it. By about page 600, I finally thought, "Ugh! I don't like her!" I do appreciate, however, the way Tolstoy painted a picture of two different lives. One of poor choices and sadness, another of restraint and deep satisfaction. Anna may not be a wonderful heroine, but there are other characters who do enough to redeem the novel as a whole. Kitty and Levin and Nickolay. They all have something unique and beautiful to offer. Even though it was hard to get through, I think Anna was worth reading. I'm proud to have read a Tolstoy novel at last, but don't think I'll be picking up War and Peace any time soon.  I've already started making a list for next year, so I think I better get through the 15 I have left for this year pretty quick!

"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

This book was on my list for the year even before I heard the new movie was coming out. I think it was an assigned novel in one of my classes in middle school or high school, but I could not remember a single detail, so I don’t think I actually read it. Regardless, I’ve heard good things about Gatsby from many people and I’m happy to report that they weren’t all wrong. The book wasn’t at all what I expected, but I found that I truly enjoyed it. If for no other reason, Nick Carraway made it worth reading. His honest-to-a-fault attitude toward life and relationships reminds me a bit of myself. He doesn’t understand society’s apparent need to be false, but instead chooses to be honest with himself and with others. I love that. The story has its own unique tragic turns, but I can appreciate why so many people love it. The story is meant to entertain, but I’d like to think that Fitzgerald also wanted to make his readers think—to make them think of what they would do if they were in Gatsby’s shoes, or Daisy’s, or Carraway’s. And to think of how our own lives are so often filled with similar choices and tragedies, but we get to choose our own response. I've heard both good and bad things about the new movie, so I haven't decided if I'll see it or not. Anyone have an opinion one way or the other? I'm happy to hear it if you do!

Re-Reads Worth Re-Reading

I already have posts about Melissa Moore’s Shattered Silence and Kelly Corrigan’s The Middle Place, both memoirs, but I read both of them again this week and couldn't resist posting about them again, as well. See my previous posts.

I love these two women. Melissa's story makes me appreciate the good, safe life I've lived, and Kelly makes me appreciate everything. Seriously. I'm grateful that I decided to read them both again, now that I'm a little bit older, married, done with school, thinking about starting a family, etc. I was amazed by how different my perspective was on both stories, but especially Kelly's. There's one story in particular that really touched me. It's about the struggle Kelly had as a young girl with friends, popularity (or the lack thereof), peer rejection, and all of those things most of us had to deal with at a young age. The conversation she had with her mother later in life about that experience - I won't repeat it, you'll have to read it yourself! - brought me to tears. The sweet love shared between mother and daughter is beautiful beyond words. 

Both of these books are fantastic and I will probably read them both again at some point. I gave my copy of The Middle Place away to a dear friend when she was facing her own battle with breast cancer a few years ago, so I'm currently without a copy. It may be one of my next book purchases. Please read it. You will love it.

Melissa will forever be one of my heroes. Did you know that the last time I posted about her book, her husband commented on it?! That was pretty amazing for me. To know that not only had I been touched by this book and by Melissa's strength and faith, but that she was able to read what I had to say about it and about her. She's amazing and I will stand by my previous comment: I will hug her when I meet her someday, even if it's in the next life. I hope to someday have as much faith as she does.

I love books about strong women. They inspire me to be a better daughter, sister, wife, and someday, I hope to be as good a mother as these two women. Thank you, Kelly and Melissa, for being the kind of women that I want to emulate. You are inspiring!