The Way Of All Flesh

The Way Of All Flesh written by a Samuel Butler, what to say? It took Samuel Butler 15 years to write this book and it reads that way. There is a difficult line between lack of excitement and detail. The book is detailed and well written but any reader can sense an enthusiasm when a writer writes. It helps the reader feel the story, become sucked in and involved. I found this particular story written by Samuel Butler to read more like a reference text and less like a story or 15 year labor of love. Both the introduction and post script make references to things that were added or omitted after Samuel had passed so that this book could be completed and published. To this I say, some things maybe better left unfinished. Sometimes a great idea, or beginning of a great story is better than a completed mediocre project. But this is one humble persons opinion.

The Sound and the Fury

I hav been trying for days, since I finished The Great Gatsby, to read The Sound and the Fury. To my avail I have not been successful. It has taken me the last couple days to force myself to read through the first chapter and I call a loss, the book, the writer, William Faulkner wins. I suppose depending on how you look at it the writer looses. The book is written in short choppy sentences, reminiscent I am sure of the time frame in which the book takes place. The short choppy sentences make it difficult enough to read but then it seams as the writer moves around from times and scenes that leave you thinking wasn't I reading about this pages ago or where did this thought process come from. I am a succinct reader. I don't mind reading books where each chapter is a particular characters take on events, because they tend to be succinct with what is occurring. But, with this particular book I was having a difficult time following all of the changes through the choppy writing. This book maybe a good fit for some and not for others. For me it is a loss, so, with that being said I will give it two at of five books. What I could follow wasn't entirely awful, I good story somewhere in there I am thinking.

Ulysses

In the midst of the crazy that I have resigned to accepting as my life lately I have been trying to read through Ulysses. I had to renew the book with the library and now I am on week four. I climb into bed with the plan to read through at least a chapter and I make it through two or three pages before I find the back of my eyelids. So far I am finding that although writing is old fashioned (do to the time the book is written) it is easy to follow. Thus far I have to say that I do enjoy the book greatly, well what I have read without looking through my eyelids.

The Great Gatsby

I am a little behind . . . I finished The Great Gatsby several days ago, but got busy with life so I am just now getting to my blog. What can you say about The Great Gatsby. Each time I read it I think it is a wonderful book. F. Scott Fitzgerald did a great job of bringing the time frame to life to include the wonderful images of the summertime parties, the care free life styles, jealousy of lovers, the feelings we try but never can forget, and the doors that get opened when we truly get to know people. People are the mystery that they create within themselves, that mystery and a long lost love bring about an amazing turn of events. Written in a way that takes the reader back to an intriguing time in history. I will always give The Great Gatsby five books out of five.

I did it

I made it to the library and they had all three of my books waiting in the hold bin for me, a much more effective way to check out books, and brought my new adventures home. The great Gatsby is up first. I am a little more than half way done with the book and having it read before when I was younger there are definite parts of the book I am remembering and others that seem like I am reading for the first time but I suppose that is usual. Kind of like when you watch a movie as an adult that you loved as a kid and see things you didn't catch the first time around. I have always thought it was a good thing to get another perspective on something, as we get older or tastes change, and what we may or may not have liked when we were younger, we may or may not like now. You never know. Go forth and read.

Slacking

Lately I have been slacking on my top 100, well 200 list. I am hoping to fit in a trip to the library tomorrow to check out some more books and get myself back on track. The only problem is that finding available books is amazingly difficult. I would have thought with such a list it would be easier to find books with our many libraries in the area. The libraries do feed off each other and share books but is is still becoming a little bit of a treasure hunt. Hopefully tomorrows hunt will prove to show fruitful.

Alright, my next three books have been put on hold Ulysses, The great Gatsby, and The Sound and the Fury. The great Gatsby has to be transferred from another library, sooo, I may get started on the others while I wait . . .

Death of Kings

okay, so, I admit it. I strayed from my top 100 list and read a book that grabbed my attention at the library. It may throw my time line off but that is okay, the important thing I think is finishing. The book a strayed with is titled Death of Kings by Bernard Cornwall. The book is considered fiction but is based on the loose and unspecific work of priests and scribers during the anglo saxon rule of an early England. The story focuses on the battles of the country after King Alfred's death and his son Edwards fight to remain king. The book is written in the fashion of the time. By which, I mean that there is harsh language, battles, warriors, lords, misuse of women (to today's standards), and the everyday plotting for the right to be named king. With all of these things intertwined in to the plot the book is written well and even when there is nothing happening per say the book still reads quickly. I am going to give it four books out of five. I feel that it is a good read but for those who do not have a stomach for discussion of war and all the things that come with it this may not be the best choice.

The Grapes of Wrath

I finished The Grapes of Wrath last night. Took me a little longer than I planned do the unexpected events of life, but that is okay, I finished. For those who have not read The Grapes of Wrath it is a story that takes place at a turning point of American history and a families resolve to stay together and find a better life. The book takes place when the crops stop growing, the dust bowl begins to take over the midwest, and the families that used to work the farms are forced out so progress can move through in the form of a tractor. The book is wonderfully written in the same style as Mice and Men. Although the dialect can be a little difficult to understand the book could be used as a great teaching tool for an important part of American History.

Of Mice and Men

I sat down today, well this afternoon after watching the intense Woman's U.S.A versus Japan gold medal soccer match and read of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. In comparison to most novels the 103 pages doesn't seem like much but once you begin reading you see so much more. Packed within those 103 pages is kindness, caring, comfort, fear, nastiness, ugliness, heartbreak, and promises unkept. The riding is beautifully done and some would say you could probably see the end coming I was so drawn in by each page I wasn't trying to figure it out before I got there. I can see why Of Mice and Men made both book lists and I would highly recommend it just for the experience of reading a book written by John Steinbeck. My next book will also be a Steinbeck Novel: The Grapes of Wrath. I am looking forward to more of the wonderful writing of Steinbeck, I may have to make my next goal, after this one, to read each of the books he has written. Although, I think several of them are on my list.

Lights Out

I wrote this on my other blog before I decided to add this one. I really liked the book and felt it was worth two blog mentions.

 My most recent book, a few books ago now, was Lights Out by David Crawford. Another book that caught my eye while at the library and glad that it did. The book is wonderfully written in a fashion that you can't help but wonder what happens next. From the first paragraph your attention is grasped and held right up until the very end, there is one chapter I could have done without but as I read through the book after I realized how important some of the conversation that occurred in that chapter was. The book discusses a topic that is at the heart of who we are, the possibilities of what we become in the face of adversity, and how hard it is to hang onto our ideals while changing them to fit our current situations. I have to admit that as I read i couldn't help but wonder, what would I do? For some readers who do not care for violence it maybe difficult at points but given the basis the book is written on it wouldn't be a book with out it. As a person who tends to put emphasis on the ending, I can say that I wasn't disappointed, in the slightest. I will be waiting with many others to to read David Crawford's next book Lost and Found.

Lovely Libraries

The long lost library. I am an avid Barnes and Noble lover, I admit it, but in the face of a down economy, and in general, it makes more financial sense to preview first. I found I would pick a book at Barnes and Noble based on the back cover or the flap. I would then bring the book home and get through the first few chapters and either do to the story or the way it was written, I couldn't bring myself to finish. A waste of money. The nice thing about the library is I can read first, or not read, and then decide if I would like to spend the money to make the book part of my permanent collection. As long as I remember to return the books to the library on time.

I have also decided that I am going to try and make it through a list of 200 books. The list is compiled of 100 best reads by a board from Random House and the other 100 books are best books determined by readers. Do to the availability of books I will not be able to go in order and I have decided to give myself one year. Some books I will be able to get through quicker than others do to various circumstances, but this is my goal. First book: Of Mice and Men.