"Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

My opinion of Charles Dickens has officially been changed! A good friend of mine recommended Great Expectations, but I did not think I would really like it. I read part of Oliver Twist in high school and barely made it through Hard Times in college, so for the last few years I've been anti-Dickens. My friend was right, though. Great Expectations definitely exceeded my expectations!

I tried really hard to predict how the novel would end. Overall, I'm pleased to say that it took me by surprise. It's a coming-of-age story with a bit of a twist. And after reading so many novels that have an unrealistically happy ending, Dickens gives us something more true to life. His characters have to face the consequences of their choices, whether good or bad. My favorite characters are Joe and Herbert (I always have to pick a couple of favorites) and now I finally know what people are talking about when they allude to Miss Havisham. If you're up for a bit of a heavy read, I think this one is well worth a try! I think I'm going to read Nicholas Nickleby next!

"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!

"Emma" by Jane Austen

It's only been a month since I finished my last book on "The List" but mostly because I picked up three at once. It's been a long time since I first intended to read Emma by Jane Austen and I'm glad I finally did. Have you ever seen the movie? It is my favorite of all the Austen movie adaptations I have ever seen.

I'll have to agree with my mom and sisters about the book, though. While it is wonderful, as all Austen novels are, it does drag on and on and on. Don't all Austen novels do that, too, though? As much as I love her as an author, my sister pointed out that during her time, authors were often paid by the word, which explains why so many English novels from that period are extremely wordy and drawn out. More time is spent on dialogue than anything else - lovely, charming, delightful dialogue, yes - which makes it difficult to keep your eyes open at times.

Regardless of the drawn-out-ness of this book, I would still recommend it. And then I will even more quickly recommend that you go watch the movie. Gwenyth Paltrow makes such a perfect Emma and all the most boring parts are left out, leaving just the sheer joy and pleasure of the novel behind.

No matter how many books I read, there will always be a soft spot in my heart for Victorian Novels. There is something so refreshing about the language and expressions of the characters in true English literature. I will always love it!

"Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley

I remember reading "Frankenstein" in high school and being so bored that I couldn't finish. But reading it again for a college class was a much better experience! I LOVED it! The book is so well-written and the actual story is so much better than the Hollywood version that we automatically think of when we hear about Frankenstein's monster.

Mary Shelley was the daughter of two famous English writers, Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin. She married Percy Shelley, another famous writer, and wrote "Frankenstein" as part of a ghost story contest with Percy and some other big writers of the time. It's amazing to me that THIS is what she came up with. The story is beautiful and tragic and horrifying all at once.

Definitely read it if you haven't already. And I'll leave it up to you to decide who the real monster is: Victor Frankenstein or his creature.