The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

Finished The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. I'd heard of this book before I read it, but I thought it was about World War II when in fact it was about Vietnam. It is labeled as a work of fiction which is drawn from O'Brien's service during Vietnam.

Next up is Main Street by Sinclair Lewis.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Finished Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. I can't say I really liked this book. Matter of fact it took me about a month to get through it which is way longer than the length of the book would necessitate. I can draw comparisons between the decent and honorable Colonel Brandon and myself. For instance, here is a description of Colonel Brandon that would also pertain to me:

"Brandon is just the kind of man," said Willoughby one day, when they were talking of him together, "whom everybody speaks well of, and nobody cares about, whom all are delighted to see,and nobody remembers to talk to."

Next up is The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien.

Oops!

Well I lost my copy of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency before I could finish so I'm moving on to the next book which is Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.

It was so weird. It reminded me how crazy memory is. Last Monday when I left work I was going to drive to a concert in Atlanta. So I stepped into the bathroom to change out of my work clothes and into something more appropriate to the situation. The next day I go to my truck to get the book and when I couldn't find it I assumed that I left it in my locker at work. Being off the next two days I didn't think much of it but then on Thursday morning while I was getting ready for work, I went to my truck to get my lunch kit to prepare my lunch. And it all came flowing back to me. When I popped into the bathroom I sat my lunch kit and book down beside the bench in the layaway area and when I came out of the bathroom I was in such a rush that I did not pick them back up. Funny how thinking of the book didn't trigger my memory.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Just finished The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. I gotta say I was really turned off by the negativity of the main character Holden Caulfield. Thats ironic because on one or two occasions in my life I've actually been accused of being a wee bit morose myself. Caulfield hates everything. The clerk at Barnes and Noble went I bought the book (shocking I actually bought a book at a brick and mortar bookstore) told me that Caulfield was definitely a pre-Hippie. I could tell that from reading. Everybody was a phony in Caulfield's eyes. It was kinda annoying how when referring to a person he seemed to always use the term "old" before the name. Old Pheobe. Old Sally. Old Jane. etc. etc. etc.

Next up is Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams (no relation, that I know of).

Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Just finished Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs. This is another classic character that I found out I know very little about. We all think of Tarzan as the Johnny Weissmuller. The "Me Tarzan, you Jane." I found it kinda ridiculous that Tarzan who was I think around 18 having been raised by apes came upon his parents' cabin. He quickly taught himself how to read. Then within a few months he is taught how to speak French. Then he routinely learns to speak English. I don't think that its that easy to pick that up at that age.

Next up is Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. I'm excited about this. I can only imagine this book is about a baseball team that is struggling with a talented yet troubled catcher. Its been kind of a slow go the past few months but now school is out and I'm expecting to knock out a few in rapid succession.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

Just finished Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. It's been a long time since I've watched the movie, (other than the recent version) so I didn't recognize much from the stories. Through the Looking Glass seemed like random words.

Next up is Tarzan of the Apes by William Burroughs.

The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett

In The Thin Man, Dashiell Hammett introduces Nick and Nora Charles, a hard drinking retired private detective and his wife. The book was later made into an Oscar-nominated movie starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. Interesting enough, this story takes place during the year of Prohibition, however the characters are practically constantly drinking. Hammett also created the iconic detective, Sam Spade.

Dashiell Hammett lived a rather interesting life.

He was a detective in the Pinkerton Detective Agency.
He served in World War I where he contracted tuberculosis which plagued him the rest of his life.
He joined the American Communist Party.
He spoke out against American involvement in World War II.
He pulled strings in order to serve in World War II and was stationed in the Aleutian Islands where he became stricken with emphysema.
He testified before Congress as part of Senator Joseph McCarthy's "witchhunt." He refused to cooperate and ended up getting blacklisted.

Next up is a doubleheader of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. There may be some delay in these stories as I'll be rather busy with assigned school reading for the next eight weeks.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Preconceived notions and status are at the heart of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Throughout the story there are numerous examples of where characters let either what they have heard about or the social standing of the characters bias their opinions of that character. Take for example the protaganist, Elizabeth Bennet, her opinion of Mr. Darcy is initially painted by the fact that when they met he wasn't practically falling all over her. Meanwhile she and most everyone else is enamored by the dubious George Wickham. These preconceived notions are hard to shake as the story goes on and Darcy's goodness shines through and Wickham is exposed as the n'r-do-well that he is, many of he opinions do not change. For his part, Darcy initially believes that he the Bennets are beneath himself and his friend. So pride and prejudice. See what she did there.

I won't pretend that this is amongst my favorites. That'd be a lie. However, I did like the story much more than I believed I would. Even when I sat in the crowded breakroom I eventually had no qualms about answering people's inquires as to what I was reading by saying "Pride and Prejudice." See what I did there.

Next up is The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

I was quite surprised by Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. First of all the description tells you that the story revolves around three students who went to an exclusive boarding school in England. The story turned out to be much more. During the first section of the story the characters are young but you get the distinct feeling that there is more to this school than meets the eye.

Now a few years back I saw an interview with the cast and Ishiguro for the movie based on the book. Ishiguro was born in Japan but grew up in England and get this he speaks with a British accent! I was not expecting that.

Next up is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Yay!

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Just finished The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, the classic story of the battle of good and evil within man. I'm sure most folks are familiar with the story. I mean it's been adapted hundreds, if not, thousands of times. Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde being played by such as: Spencer Tracey, John Barrymore, Jack Palance, Basil Rathbone, Michael Caine, and Kirk Douglas in movies and television dating since 1908 according to the Internet Movie Database. Of course it wasn't properly done until 2001 when it we were presented with.............


.....that's right David Hasselhoff in Jekyll and Hyde: The Musical.

Next up is Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Concrete by Thomas Bernhard

Just finished Concrete by Thomas Bernhard. This was the story of an Austrian musicologist who is trying to write a study of the work of Mendelssohn Bartholdy. He had spent ten years trying to write the study and all he had to show for it was a pile of notes. Due to a healthy inheritance he has ample opportunity to write the study however he continuously finds reasons that he cannot begin, i.e. his sister's presence, his full stomach, his house, his illness, etc. It was actually a pretty interesting story and at about 150 pages, a quick read.

The one thing that took some getting use to was the fact the story was written in one continuous paragraph. Hard to find a stopping point when there's no breaks. Good thing I had my trusty Last Line bookmark.

The bookmark slides right onto the page so that you don't lose your place. I sometimes have to stop in the middle of a chapter or section and it great to be able to pick the book back up and not have to read over the page to find where I left off.

Next up is The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

Just finished Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. I can't tell how many times people asked me what I was reading and I wanted ever so much to say Maddening Crowd instead of the proper Madding Crowd. This was the first of Hardy's novels which took place in the fictional Wessex which is based on the Dorchester area. The story is full of biblical references including the names of the two main characters, Gabriel Oak and Bathsheba Everdene.

The story revolves around a young woman who is romantically pursued by three men, Gabriel Oak, William Boldwood, and Francis Troy. Oak accepts his rejection with dignity and decides that through whatever he wants to be a friend to Bathsheba. Boldwood however seems to become obsessed with Bathsheba and this eventually destroys his character. Meanwhile Bathsheba chooses Troy who of the three is far less either Oak or Boldwood. A woman choosing rogue over two honorable, decent fellows? Good thing this story is fiction. I mean that kind of stuff doesn't really happen, does it?

For a good chunk of the story I could sympathize with Boldwood. I mean I've had the "woman of my dreams" choose an inconsequential oaf with no substance whatsoever over me. But here's the thing he couldn't move on. He eventually allowed his character to be pulled down to a point unbecoming of the honor and integrity with which he had lived.

Next up is Concrete by Thomas Bernhard.

Just finished with Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. The title of the book is a term for a petty thief. The title also alludes to the eroticism in the book. In the story, Sue Trinder, a fingersmith under the matronly Mrs. Sucksby. Sue poses as a maid for Maud Lilly in order to help a man named Gentleman steal Lilly's inheritance. Of course things don't go as planned.

The first blurb on the back states:

"Superb storytelling. Fingersmith is gripping; so suspenseful and twisting is the plot that for the last 250 pages, I read at breakneck speed."

-USA Today

I find that funny because the last 100 pages seemed to take me forever.

Next up shall be Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. In addition I will try to find the urge to keep calling it Far From the Maddening Crowd.

Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte

Just finished Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte. This story begs the question, did every Victorian era young woman work as a governess? The title character of the story is a young lady who after the financial ruin of her family decides to become a governess to help raise money. She quickly finds out a very important teaching lesson, parents believe that their children are "little angels" and you're the problem. She goes through a couple of sets of students and in each situation the children are a challenge to say the least. Agnes relies on her religious beliefs to pull her through the obstacles.

There was a line in this story that I really enjoyed. As Agnes describes her parents she tells that her mother chose to marry her father and it caused her to be cut-off. The line that was:

"An elegant house, and spacious grounds were not to be despised, but she would rather live in a cottage with Richard Grey, than in a palace with any other man in the world."

Not too many women like that around today. The more realistic is the the sheer joy that Rosalie Murray feels about breaking the hearts of her admirers.

The story is believed to be at least somewhat autobiographical as Anne served as a governess for five years.

Next up is Fingersmith by Sarah Waters.

Cranford by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

Last night I finished Cranford by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. This is the story of a fictional English town named Cranford and the ladies who reside there. This ladies are obsessed with gentility and station. At one point the Alpha Female of the town takes a trip to Cheltenham and the ladies don't decide that they will not decide how they feel about an occurrence until she returns. These ladies adventures played out quite comically. Cranford was initially published in serial format in a magazine edited by Gaskell's friend Charles Dickens.

This was the first book that I've read on my Nook that was not a dedicated e-book. I don't know if thats the proper term or not. What I mean to say is that it was converted from a hard copy book to a digital file. This caused the structure of the book to be off. Meaning for example at times it would seem like a new paragraph was starting in mid sentence. I suppose this is where initially the page changed. Also, from time to time in the middle of the page the word "Cranford" or a number would appear. I don't know if this occurred during digitalizing or if it was the edition but quite a few words had bizarre letters in them. After a while I began to barely notice it and was able to figure out what the words were suppose to be.

Next up will be Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte.....wait a minute I gotta do a Bronte check.....yep Anne Bronte.

Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence

Just finished Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence. It revolves around a couple from of English nobles in the 1920s. Constance (Lady Chatterley) and Clifford (Lord Chatterley). Clifford is wounded in World War I and is left impotent. Lady Chatterley has a fling but finally settles on the gamekeeper, Oliver Mellors, as her lover. Clifford actually encourages Lady Chatterley to find a find a lover in order to produce a child, however the person would have to be of a respectable position and a lowly gamekeeper simply would not qualify. So the story boils down to the conflict of class and society in Britain.

This is the second book by Lawrence that I've read following Sons and Lovers. It must be said that while Sons and Lovers touched on intimate situations and was quite controversial at the time of its release, Lady Chatterley's Lover did not just imply the sexual acts. He describes them in vivid detail. It was enough to make me blush.

All and all I did not care for this story. Maybe I'm too old school. Lady Chatterley and Mellors were both married and carrying on an illicit affair. I don't know what the marriage vows of Britain in the early 20th century were but from the handful of weddings I've been to I remember "....in sickness and in health...." Meanwhile Clifford isn't much better with his obsession with class and society.

Okay for my next book, I decided to try to take a departure from English literature and noticing how my library of e-books is dominated by books by Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy, Robert Lewis Stevenson, Lewis Carroll, etc., I decided to choose from the full list of 1001 and the winner is.....Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell. So I guess I'll be staying with the Brits anyway.

On a side note, I was flipping through the channels yesterday and I noticed Julie and Julia. If you don't know it's about a woman who has a blog where she is trying to fix all of the recipes in one of Julia Child's cookbooks. It got me thinking Keith's 1001 Books Quest should be a movie. A guy whose hopes and dreams have been dashed on the rocks of inequity finds solace and a purpose in reading list of 1001 classic novels. It sounds great. Plus if I've learned anything in my life it's that a little Keith Adams makes everything better.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Just finished Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. In reading this I found that the pop culture versions of Frankenstein vary a great deal from Shelley's story. When I think of Frankenstein's monster I think of a mindless beast while in the story the monster shows great eloquence. Also the monster has much more agility than a human whereas we more often see him slowly plodding along. Also, in the book there is no mention of Dr. Frankenstein's assistant, Igor.

Lets see. What's next? Time to go to the trusty Random.org. It appears the next choice will be Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence.

Coming Up For Air by George Orwell

Finished Coming Up for Air by George Orwell. This book was not what I'd expected taken into account the two books of Orwell that I'm familiar with, Animal Farm and 1984. This book focused on a middle-aged, middle-class man who lives in the suburbs. I guess you could say that George Bowling is going through a mid-life crisis. He senses that World War II is about to begin and it gives him pause because he was wounded in World War I. He wants to get away from life to not have to worry about the impending war, his nagging wife, etc., etc, so he decides to take a trip to his childhood home after being gone 20 years. Does he find out that you can't go home again or (I hate that I'm stealing this tagline from the atrocious movie "Sweet Home Alabama") Sometimes what you're looking for is right where you left it?

Next is Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. I think I shall devote at least the next several selections to my library of e-books. I think I have about forty that I got free from Barnes & Noble.

50!!!!!!!!!

Just finished Vanity Fair by Thomas Makepeace Thackeray. I enjoyed this book more than I expected I would. I especially enjoyed the style of narration as the narrator presented the story as if he was describing a stage play. The story is a work of satire on the English nobility. It revolves around two women, the simple Amelia and the (kindest word I can use) parasitic Rebecca. Both women marriages cause there husbands to be renounced from their families. Most of the characters in this story are not honorable, however there is Major William Dobbin who is the very model of honor and loyalty. A few of my favorite passages from the story:

"He (George Osborne) was seen lighting his cigar with one (Amelia's love letter), to the horror of Captain Dobbin, who, it is my belief, would have given a bank-note for the document."

"It is those who injure women who get the most kindness from them--they are born timid and tyrants, and maltreat those who are humblest before them"

Isn't that the truth.

Dobbin is woefully mistreated by Amelia while Amelia is captivated by the reprobate George Osborne. By any meaningful criteria Osborne should not be able to even stand in the presence of Dobbin and yet Amelia so easily and completely disregards Dobbin. That is as true today as ever. How many times have we all seen women even women who could not be described as simple choose hollow style over substance?

Next on the docket is Coming Up For Air by George Orwell.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Just finished Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. The book tells two story of the fall of an Ibo "strong man" named Okonkwo. The first is an "ancient" story which tells of Okonkwo's fall from his prestigious position within his clan while the second tells about how the influence of European missionaries plays upon Okonkwo's clan. It was really interesting this is my first experience with African fiction.

Next up is Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray.

Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence

Finished Sons and Lovers by DH Lawrence. Its a semi-autobiographical story about a young man who is torn between his love for his mother and two young women. One of these women is already married. The book was highly controversial when published in 1913 due to its "graphic description of sexual relations," which by today's standards would be quite tame. More interesting to me than the story was that the real DH Lawrence ran away with the wife of one of his professors, Frieda von Richthofen. She was also the sister of Manfred von Richthofen, aka the Red Baron. During World War I, DH and Frieda were accused of being German spies.

Next up is Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.

L' Abbe C by Georges Bataille

L' Abbe C by Georges Bataille involved a set of twin, Charles and Robert. Robert is a devout priest, while Charles is decidedly not. The story is through a series of first-person accounts by Charles with an unnamed editor filling in the gaps. The most narrative part of the story (don't know if that's the right way to put it or not) is Charles's attempt to help his mistress, Eponine, to seduce Robert. The blurb on the back of the book states that this exposes "the psychological intricacies of sex, faith and death in a provincial French town." It is stated by Charles that his story is not finished and that he cannot bring himself to finish the story. It absolutely felt, at least to this reader, that this book was unfinished. I realize its not a classic narrative but it just didn't feel like I got a complete story. Evidently that was what Bataille was going for. For instance the circumstances around Robert's death do not get explained. We are told that he is arrested by the Gestapo and I believe it hints that he is involved with the Resistance.

Next up will be Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence which will be read on the Nook.

The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf

Just finished The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf. It was the story of a sheltered young woman, Rachel Vinrace, who takes a trip to South America. On this voyage she meets an eclectic group of fellow travelers. The bulk of the narrative revolves around the various characters discussing such issues as religion, class, gender, etc.

Although I wasn't exactly captivated by this story there was one character that I can somewhat relate to. That is St. John Hirst, a young academic who has a problem relating to people.

The next book from the list will be L' Abbe C by Georges Bataille. This was suppose to be the previous book but it did not arrive in time plus I wanted to try out my Nook anyway.

Programming Update!

As reported in last night's entry, I was planning on the next book on the quest to be L' Abbe C by Georges Bataille. However it has not arrived yet. This is actually good because now I can use by new Barnes & Noble Nook Wi-fi. So the new next book shall be The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf.

The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot

Just finished The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot who actually turned out to be a woman named Mary Ann Evans. I knew there was at least one famous female author who had a male pen-name. The book told the story of the Tullivers of Dorlcote Mill. The story mainly revolves around the actions of young Maggie Tulliver and her older brother Tom. While visiting Tom at school, Maggie is introduced to Philip Wakem, the "deformed" son of their father's enemy. Maggie has a soft spot for Philip, however the elder Tulliver ends up losing his land and mill to the elder Wakem. Maggie is forced by Tom to cut off all communication with Philip. After Mr. Tulliver's death, Tom rises to a station where he is able to regain their land and the mill. Meanwhile, Maggie and their cousin's suitor, Stephen Guest, fall in love. Maggie is torn between her feelings for Guest and her obligations toward her cousin, Philip, and Tom.

While this is most certainly not the favorite book that I've read on this quest, it was rather enjoyable. Even though the story takes place in England, it seems like it could just as easily been set in Southeastern United States. The aunts were especially entertaining. I almost expected to read the words "Bless her heart" or "God love her." Here are a couple of passages that I especially liked:

"The days of chivalry are not gone, notwithstanding Burke's grand dirge over them: they live still in that far-off worship paid by many a youth and man to the woman of whom he never dreams that he shall touch so much as her little finger or the hem of her robe."

Isn't that the truth? (And yes I initially type "ain't.")

And this one which was part of the farewell letter from Philip to Maggie. When I read this it took me back to a few years ago when for the first time in my life I helplessly and hopelessly fell in love with somebody. In the interceding years I have tried on several occasions to put my feelings into words and I could never quite express what I meant.

"....that no anguish I have had to bear on your account has been too heavy a price to pay for the new life into which I entered in loving you.....I never expected happiness; and in knowing you, in loving you, I have had and still have, what reconciles me to life. You have been to my affections what light, what colour is to my eyes--what music is to the inward ear; you have raised a dim unrest into a vivid consciousness....I am strong enough to obey any word which shall tell me taht I can serve you by word or deed."

Okay so next up shall be L' Abbe C by Georges Bataille which I'm awaiting. If it doesn't come in the mail tomorrow, I will chose one of my e-books to read on my new Nook.

A Conundrum

Alright, in choosing a new book for this much bally-hooed Keith's Book Quest, I have found a book on my list entitled Pluck the Bud and Destroy the Offspring by Kenzaburo Oe. Now I cannot find any mention of this book, however I believe it may be a case of mistranslation as there is a book entitled Memeushiri Kouchi, or Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids. I'm working with the idea that this is the alluded to book. I'm posting this to give an opportunity to be corrected thus not tainting this quest. I'd hate to be on my deathbed and someone tell me I'm one book short.

A Tale of a Tub

Just finished Jonathan Swift's A Tale of a Tub which was a work of satire. I hate to admit it, but I found this treatise very confusing. If it was not for the endnotes I would have had utterly no idea what was going on. That's really the issue with satire. It almost always has to be topical. If someone in 2276 watches an episode of The Daily Show or The Colbert Report they not get the satire because they'll have a different frame of reference. I did feel much better when I research and found that Tub is considered Swift's most difficult piece of satire. It is basically an allegory about different sects of Christianity, but he also takes breaks in his narrative to make digressions which lampoon various other issues such as literature, politics, theology, and medicine. The allegory tells the story of three brothers, Peter (St. Peter who represents the Catholics), Jack (John Calvin who represents the dissenting Protestants such as Baptists, Presbyterians, etc.), and Martin (Martin Luther who represents the Church of England). Their father (God) gives them each a fine coat (religious practice) and a will (The Bible) which had explicit instructions to guide them.

Next on the list is A Mill on the Floss by George Eliot. However, it has not came in from Amazon yet so I shall continue reading this collection of Jonathan Swift's prose. They are all rather short and I can finish them quickly...

Digression Upon My Last Sentence

That's what she said!

Continuation of the Blog Post About A Tale of a Tub by Jonathan Swift

They also have interesting titles:

A Full and True Account of the Battel Fought Last Friday, Between the Antient and the Modern Books in St. James' Library.

When I Come to be Old.

A Meditation upon a Broomstick

A Discourse Concerning the Mechanical Operation of the Spirit

A Tritical Essay upon the Faculties of the Mind.

An Argument to Prove That the Abolishing of Christianity in England, May as Things Now Stand, Be Attended with Some Inconveniences, and Perhaps Not Produce Those Many Good Effects Proposed Thereby.

The Examiner No. 14 (Thursday, November 9, 1710)

A Letter to the Whole People of Ireland, by M.B Drapier, Author of the Letter to the Shopkeepers, and etc.

Directions to Servants Rules That Concern All Servants in General

A Character, Panegyric, and Description of the Legion Club.