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.