It took me years to find a copy being sold here, and I was so happy when I was finally able to finish it. Jean Rhys wrote Wide Sargasso Sea as a bacIt took me years to find a copy being sold here, and I was so happy when I was finally able to finish it. Jean Rhys wrote Wide Sargasso Sea as a back story to the mad woman in the attic in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. Set miles away from foggy England, in the hot, wild West Indies at a time when white people are slowly loosing their hold on the locals, the story follows Antoinette, then a young girl. With her father dead, and a mulato mother whom the servants think insane, Antoinette tries to cope with the locals who despise her and her family of "white cockroaches". The story is narrated through Antoinette's point of view at first, following their unstable existence in their old rambling mansion, to her entrance in school. After which, the narrator shifts to Rochester, who is forced to marry the wild and mysterious Antoinette to please his family. Rhys' worlds have a maddening, rhythmic quality about them. Everything seems so fresh and lush that I could almost smell the damp earth and hear voodoo chants as I read it. It's definitely one of the lesser known classics that should be read. A movie-version of the book was also made. I haven't seen it, though. ...more
A collection of scandinavian folklore. I enjoyed "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" best amongst its long list of stories. As a fairy tale collectionA collection of scandinavian folklore. I enjoyed "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" best amongst its long list of stories. As a fairy tale collection, there's definitely a magical feel to it. A nice alternative to Grimms or Andersen...more
As much as I admire Nabokov's writing style (not to mention will to actually write a book as maddening as this), I simply could not finish Lolita . AAs much as I admire Nabokov's writing style (not to mention will to actually write a book as maddening as this), I simply could not finish Lolita . Actually, the book was far from bad. It was well written and I found myself quickly drawn in into Humbert's tormented world. Which is why I couldn't finish it. I was soon starting to become as mad as Humbert, hating him and yet loving him at the same time. Nabokov reels you into Humbert's madness, perhaps to make him sympathetic, perhaps to give us a glimpse of his strange mind. Whatever his reasons may be, one thing was clear: I had to stop. And so, relutantly, I did. ...more
The play follows the domestic and almost boring life of three sisters. And though the plotline seems simple enough, trust a genuis like Chekov to weavThe play follows the domestic and almost boring life of three sisters. And though the plotline seems simple enough, trust a genuis like Chekov to weave more into it. Like most of his plays, it realistically captures the subtle tragedies of domestic existence. My favorite Chekov play, so far. ...more
I have a thing for stories about rising from adversity. I guess that comes from my Mum who always told me stories about her youth, growing up in far fI have a thing for stories about rising from adversity. I guess that comes from my Mum who always told me stories about her youth, growing up in far flung Mindanao without even the notion of what it felt like to have electricity, to later become a successful doctor in Manila. It's inspiring; it makes one grateful for what one has now, but more importantly, it shows the wealth of simple things in life.
Living in this computer age, we often tend to equate money and things with a good life. Reading "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" reminds me of the simple joys in life: spending time with my family, playing with my brother, having fun with my dad and those little moments with Mum. Nearing the end of the novel, Francie and her brother, who are about to move to a better apartment with their mother and new step-dad, wonder if their new baby sister would still have the fun they used to have now that they are moving to a more upscale neighborhood. Strangely enough, my brother and I did have a similar conversation years ago when we wondered if the children today will have the same fun with had as kids, now that they're always glued to the computer. Back then, we only had our wildest imagination to content with. And boy, did we have fun
The book also reminds me of Angela's Ashes. Both involve Irish families. Both are about overcoming poverty. Both are about growing up and not letting oneself be destroyed by the challenges one face, but being molded by it. As they say "What doesn't destroy me, makes me stronger", or Frankie McCourt writes it best "A happy childhood is hardly worth your while..."...more
When I first saw this book, I remember thinking, "isn't that the guy in the PLDT commercials?"
Certainly, this is one of the most quoted books in the When I first saw this book, I remember thinking, "isn't that the guy in the PLDT commercials?"
Certainly, this is one of the most quoted books in the world, and rightly so. The pages are littered with sayings, teachings and insight given to us by the most unlikely of characters: a Prince, a rose, a fox and a snake. Who hasn't heard of "What is essential is invisible to the eye"? And yet, when I first read "The Little Prince", I barely noticed that line. Oddly enough, the thing that struck me the most after my first reading was the desert. Saint-expery paints the desert as wide, expansive, ethereal in its beauty and yet, silently dangerous. And it is here that he meets the little prince who changes his life.
I've read somewhere that man finds himself in the desert. For an aviator like Saint-exupery, I can imagine that he would have had some sort of love-hate affair with this landscape. Empty, silent, surreal and lonely. Here you find oneself. Here, you die. And that loneliness runs heavy in the book. Even after he meets the little prince, both the aviator and the little prince are fated to go on their own journeys by themselves. Life is a solo flight through the desert, and though friends may help us on the way, we all have our individual journeys to make to find ourselves. ...more
Anybody attempting to read Henry James should be warned about his love of details. I was originally introduced to his work by reading hisAhh, James...
Anybody attempting to read Henry James should be warned about his love of details. I was originally introduced to his work by reading his novellas and that was hard enough. I won't lie, it took me around 3 years, give or take, to finish this.
At the end of it, I think blundering through his thick prose was worth it. Reaching the end pays off. As I've mentioned in several other reviews, I love tragic stories, and thanks to James' rich details, he succeeded in creating a thoroughly fleshed out character, a real portrait. Isabel Archer is beautiful, naive and all too human. And it's that humanity in her character that makes her mistakes and her tragedy even more poignant....more
A follow up to Daphne du Maurier's classic, Rebecca. Mrs. de Winters, however, falls short of everything. It just isn't compelling enough to read otheA follow up to Daphne du Maurier's classic, Rebecca. Mrs. de Winters, however, falls short of everything. It just isn't compelling enough to read other than to find out what happens to the de Winters after Rebecca . I can't even remember much of the plot. Plus the characters seem dry and tired, as if all that they want to do is rest and be forgotten. ...more
My love for history initially drew me to this book. Although, I doubt if everything in the story did happen in real life, it does afford a detailed loMy love for history initially drew me to this book. Although, I doubt if everything in the story did happen in real life, it does afford a detailed look into life and political climate of Britain and Wales during those years. History aside, there is the more intimate story of John and his daughter, Joanna, which although close and strong at the beginning ultimately becomes strained and turbulent once Joanna marries one of her father's enemies. It's John and Joanna's relationship as father and daughter, both so alike and yet so different, that really appealed to me. It seemed authentic enough, as if this may well have been just another father-daughter tale. But against the historical backdrop, Penman has magically turned these petty family squabbles and loyalties into a matter of historical importance. ...more
A smorgasborg of ghost encounters presented in a hard-nose journalistic way. It contains most of the famous hauntings such as Borley Rectory, Glamis CA smorgasborg of ghost encounters presented in a hard-nose journalistic way. It contains most of the famous hauntings such as Borley Rectory, Glamis Castles ghosts, some well documented, others a bit dubious. Rather than simply scaring the reader, the stories have been researched to provide as much of the back story as possible. It's not as extensive as More Great Ghost Stories , but it is still an enjoyable read for those lightning-storm nights. ...more
My bible of ghost stories. More Great Ghost Stories contains about 50 documented classic tales on encounters with ghosts. A good book to read when yMy bible of ghost stories. More Great Ghost Stories contains about 50 documented classic tales on encounters with ghosts. A good book to read when you just want to scare yourself, or ponder about ghosts. ...more
Noramlly, I shy away from romantic novels. I made an exception with Aimez vous Brahms , which follows an older woman who has finally left her cheatingNoramlly, I shy away from romantic novels. I made an exception with Aimez vous Brahms , which follows an older woman who has finally left her cheating lover. She then takes up another lover, a younger man, who defies convention by loving her. Despite the romantic overtones, it really is more a study of an aging woman who tries to change her life, but sadly fails in the end. (I'm afraid they aren't selling any more copies of this book, though. I found mine by chance at Booksale and I haven't seen another copy since.) Like most of the books I've read, this too has been made into a movie starring Ingrid Bergman and Anthony Perkins (of Psycho fame) as the young lover. I haven't found a copy of that either. ...more
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