The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope

802 pages
Published in serial form 1874-1875
Reprinted Barnes & Noble Classics, 2005
New York, NY

I can't help but find it a little ironic that a few weeks after I first discovered Angela Thirkell and her Barsetshire novels my book club settled upon reading an Anthony Trollope novel. For those who don't know/remember, Anthony Trollope wrote a series of six books set in the fictional county of Barsetshire, which some 80 years later Angela Thirkell used as inspiration for 29 of her own novels set in that same fictional county. (While Trollope's novels were about the people of Barsetshire in the mid 19th century, Thirkell's were her own creation of the people of Barsetshire in the early and mid 20th century.)

The book selected by my book club was not one of Trollope's Chronicles of Barsetshire, but one of Trollope's longer stories, The Way We Live Now, which although not popular upon first publication has in recent years come to be considered Trollope's best work.

The Plot:
"Ruthless greed, relentless self-promotion, corporate swindles and scandals on a grand scale -- indeed it sounds like 'the way we live now.' Though Anthony Trollope's title actually refers to 1870s England, his scathing satire of a money-mad culture cuts close to the contemporary bone. At its center stands Augustus Melmotte, a crooked financier whose enormous schemes ensnare an array of avaricious aristocrats, politicians and 'important people.' Among them are Lady Carbury, who earns the family bread by churning out fatuous potboilers, and her spendthrift, ne''er-do-well son, Felix, who sets his sights on Melmotte's dangerously beautiful daughter, Marie. meanwhile Felix's sister, Hetta, falls for Melmotte's partner, Paul, who's encumbered wiht an American fiancee, herself a widow who may have shot her husband. As the frauds expand and the romantic entanglements grow ever more complex, Trollope revels in the antics of his characters while pillorying the corruption of their morally bankrupt society." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts:
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. The story plot is thick (so much happens within the story over the course of six months) and the characters richly colorful and quirky.

Some readers might liken Trollope to Dickens, but I think in some ways Trollope is actually better than Dickens. The Way We Live Now is a long book, almost as long as Dickens' Bleak House or Little Dorrit, yet not once did I feel the story lagged or that Trollope was rambling as I admit I have felt from time to time with Dickens. Another aspect that I liked about Trollope's writing is that his characters seemed a little less stereotypical. On the downside I can't say that I loved any of the characters in The Way We Live Now. I liked some of the characters and I completely despised some of the others within The Way We Live Now, but none tugged at my heartstrings as in books like Bleak House.

One similarity between Dickens and Trollope is the ending. Both Dickens and Trollope ended their novels with a "happy ending" -- although in the case of The Way We Live Now that doesn't mean every character lives happily-ever-after or has all their problems solved, but it does mean that the reader finishes the book satisfied.

The Way We Live Now is a satire, which means Trollope was writing tongue-in-cheek as he criticized and commented on various aspects of life in England during the latter decades of the 19th century. His writing is filled with interesting and thought provoking snapshots and at the same time is witty and entertaining. Although a long read (with 100 chapters) The Way We Live Now is not a difficult read. I particularly enjoyed the vivid imagery that Trollope's words painted and jotted down many passages in my Book of Books.

Some might be discouraged by the length of The Way We Live Now, as I mentioned it runs to 100 chapters and depending on the publication can average around 800 pages. It took me 25 days to finish, but it was definitely a worthwhile read and one I highly recommend to any reader. I bounced back and forth between reading the actual book and listening to the complete book read aloud with the free LibroVox iPhone application. Having finished and thoroughly enjoyed The Way We Live Now I am definitely planning to explore more of Trollope's works in the future. As for The Way We Live Now, this is one book I'd advise you to buy rather than borrow.

On a related note, PBS Masterpiece Theater produced a mini-series adaptation of The Way We Live Now in 2001 starring David Suchet (Hercule Poirot) and Matthew Macfadyen (Pride and Prejudice). I watched this series in 2007 at a time when, sadly, I'd never heard of Anthony Trollope. The movie is fairly true to the book. Some aspects of the story did not transfer to the screen, others did not transfer very well, which means you don't get the full depth of this story by watching the movie alone. But I do believe watching the adaptation does help a reader gain a better understanding of the story as a whole and also helps keep who's who amongst the characters clear within the reader's mind while they read.

I will add that the movie ending and the book ending are different, but only slightly so and both still end happily. The only objection I had to the movie was the addition of some bedroom-type scenes, though not obscene were enough to leave the viewer without doubt as to the intimacy of the character's relationships. Upon further reflection I believe this interpretation is typical of society's views within the 21st century, but not what Trollope intended in his book. It just doesn't work with the social views of the 19th century. Yes, affairs occurred, but not for characters of these types. Still I enjoyed the miniseries and recommend it to anyone who has read the book or requires some assistance in understanding the story before setting out to read the novel.

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Related Links:
* Anthony Trollope Society
* Anthony Trollope.Com
* Anthony Trollope USA
* PBS: Masterpiece Classics: The Way We Live Now
* E-book: The Way We Live Now (Project Gutenberg)
* Audio-Book: LibroVox: The Way We Live Now

Reading, a poem by Marchette Chute

Reading

A story is a special thing.

The ones that I have read.

They do not stay inside the books.

They stay inside my head.

~ Marchette Chute

June Agatha Christie Reading Challenge Carnival

I have posted a couple Agatha Christie mystery reviews of late and they are now linked up as part of the June edition of Kerrie Smith's Agatha Christie Reading Challenge Blog Carnival. Kerrie has been running this reading challenge/carnival for about a year and a half now and it continues to grow as more mystery fans link up their blogs each month.

If you are interested in participating you can sign up by visiting the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge Join Page. Or if you are interested in finding out what other readers are saying about books they've read (especially their latest Agatha Christie read) then head over to the June Carnival page and follow the links to each review.

Happy reading!

What's On My Nightstand: June 2010

I was shocked when I realized today was the day to post June's "What's On Your Nightstand" list. I can hardly believe it is the end of June even though I was just saying to a friend that the 4th of July is less than two weeks away. How quickly the spring has come and gone and we are now into summer!

I am happy to report I read three out of the four books on my May Nightstand list. Sadly, The House at Riverton still lies unread, though not from lack of interest, but simply because other reads had to come first... and also because I gave up on listening to it via audio book. I've added it once more to my Nightstand list, this time as the actual book and hope to finish it before I post in July what is on my nightstand to be read.

Here's a snapshot of what I am currently (or soon will be) reading:

* Cold Comfor Farm by Stella Gibbons
* The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
* The Classic Hundred Poems: All Time Favorites edited by William Harmon
* One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (a.k.a. The Patriotic Murders) by Agatha Christie

If, after reading these four books I have time (or should something else urgently strike my fancy) I may have other books to review in the coming weeks; we shall see. That is, after all, part of the fun of reading for leisure -- to read what you like when you like.

What about you? What are you reading this month? Head on over to 5MinutesforBooks and link up your own What's On Your Nightstand post or check out what everyone else is reading.

Happy reading!

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

275 pages
Published 1939 by G. P. Putnam's Sons
Reprinted 2001 by Penguin Putnam Inc.
St Martin's Paperbacks

And Then There Were None (also published as Ten Little Indians) is probably one of the most recognizable of Agatha Christie's mystery novels amongst readers. It has been called the best selling mystery novel of all times and is currently the 1oth best selling book of all times with 100 million copies (and counting) sold worldwide. It has been adapted into movies and plays and converted into video games. It is even said to have inspired the 2009 TV show Harper's Island.

And yet, I actually dreaded the moment when I would read this book. It is, in my opinion, the scariest and thus perhaps the best of all Agatha Christie's crime and mystery novels. But then, maybe I am prejudiced.

My first encounter with And Then There Were None was when I was a child of ten or eleven and I watched the 1945 film adaptation starring Barry Fitzgerald and Judith Anderson (to name just two of the many famliar faces you'll see). It was not a horror story. It was a B&W murder mystery film with a happier ending than the novel it was based on and yet I remember it being very scary. So scary that I had nightmares any time I watched it, which normally would mean I wouldn't watch the movie.... Yet I had this bizarre love-hate relationship with the story. I loved aspects of the movie and would watch it periodically over the years, but every time I did (even if I watched it in the middle of the day) the very next time I went to sleep I would be bothered with bad dreams.

So you can imagine why I had butterflies when I picked up a copy of this book from the library. Would reading it give me nightmares? I already knew the ending and that it would be worse than the 1945 movie so maybe reading the story wouldn't impact me in the same way watching the movie had? One thing was for certain, I needed to read And Then There Were None if I were to truly complete my personal Agatha Christie challenge (read all of her mystery novels by order of publication). And so, I was determined to slay this dragon once and for all.

The Plot:
"Ten people, each with something to hide and something to fear, are invited to a lonely mansion on Indian Island by a host who, surprisingly, fails to appear. On the island they are cut off from everything but each other and the inescapable shadows of their own past lives. One by one, the guests share the darkest secrets of their wicked pasts. And one by one, they start to die..." (Summary courtesy of AgathaChristie.com)

My Thoughts:
To answer your question, yes, I did have a very bad dream the night after I started reading the book. Mercifully it only took me 24 hours to finish this quick read so I only suffered loss of sleep for that one night. Looking back I still believe And Then There Were None is the deadliest, darkest, most intense read of Agatha Christie's mysteries. It is a thriller. It is a puzzling mystery. It is a very intruiging study of human psyche and the depraved and decieved mind (and heart). And it is also a commentary of sorts society's views on crime and punishment. And Then There Were None is excellently well written, the characters are colorful and the plot is well crafted. I'd like to think the mystery would have puzzled me to the end had I not already known the answer.

I asked a friend who had watched Harper's Island if he'd be interested in reading And Then There Were None. I wanted to know what it would be like for someone to read the book with fresh eyes. Would they be able to solve the mystery before the end? My friend had his suspicions, but in the end he admitted that he was left guessing until the last few pages when the mystery is revealed to the reader. Yet again proof that this is Agatha Christie at her best.

So it should follow that this is my favorite Christie novel of all times, right? Not so. Even though it has all the elements that make for a thrilling read and puzzling mystery I didn't like it because of it's lack of happy ending. There is no Hercule Poirot or Jane Marple to save the day. This was the best mystery I've read in a long time and worthy to be on any mystery lover's reading list. But at the same time I have no desire to read it again. Once was enough. I have slayed this dragon and I plan to let it lie.

Up next: Sad Cypress.

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Other Agatha Christie Reviews:
*Novels published from 1920-1923 see note below.

The Man in the Brown Suit (1924)
The Secret of Chimneys (1925)
The Big Four (1927)
The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928)
The Seven Dials Mystery (1929)
The Murder at the Vicarage (1930)
The Sittaford Mystery (1931)
Peril at End House (1932)
Lord Edgware Dies (1933)
Murder on the Orient Express (1934)
Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (1934)
Three Act Tragedy (1935)
Death in the Clouds (1935)
The A.B.C. Murders (1936)
Murder in Mesopotamia (1936)
Cards on the Table (1936)
Dumb Witness (1937)
Death on the Nile (1937)
Appointment With Death (1938)
Hercule Poirot's Christmas (1938)
Murder Is Easy (1939)
And Then There Were None (1939)

Absent In the Spring by Mary Westmacott (a.k.a. Agatha Christie) (1944)

* Christie's novels written from 1920 (The Mysterious Affair at Styles) through 1923 (Murder on the Links) I read before I began this blog hence no reviews currently

The Headmistress by Angela Thirkell

346 pages
Published in 1944,
Reprinted by Moyer Bell August 1995

I chose to read The Headmistress as my next read by Angela Thirkell simply for the fact it is widely considered by readers as Thirkell's best novel. At the time I assumed it didn't matter the order in which one read Thirkell's Barsetshire novels. I thought after reading Wild Strawberries (4th in the Barsetshire series) that even though each Barsetshire book is connected the story threads between each novel isn't connected enough to matter the order in which they are read... And to a degree that is true; most of Thirkell's novels are hardly "sequels" and yet they are woven together with references to people, places, and events that make reading them in order much more enjoyable. I realize now that it was a bit of a mistake for me to read The Headmistress ahead of the other 11 books preceding it in the series. As I read I often found myself on the outside of an inside joke or memory, which took away some of the richeness of the story. And yet, this did not stop me from enjoying this charming read.

The Plot:
"The Beltons of Harefield Park, in financial straits endemic to the times, have leased the ancestral home to the Hosier’s Girls School whose headmistress, Miss Sparling, a cut above the "nouveau riche" students, is welcomed into village society. Sam Adams, a wealthy, self-made industrialist, and his lumpish daughter Heather are introduced and we glimpse 'the thin entering wedge' into the solid front of the old gentry. Mixo-Lydians backed by Dr. Perry's wife, and Slavo-Lydians, clients of the mildly obnoxious Mrs. Hunter, barely avoid violent confrontation; it is Mr. Adams who gives short shrift to their belligerent solicitations. And we meet again the bemused Mrs. Updike whose self-battering, as she careens through life, gives new meaning to 'accident-prone.' Miss Sparling reaches an "understanding"... {spoiler removed}...and strong willed Elsa Belton is corralled by [a man] {again spoiler removed} who declines to be jilted. The poignant relationship between Mrs. Belton and her charming but prickly younger son, Charles, on embarkation leave, cuts through the lightheartedness and brings the war home." (Summary Courtsey of The Angela Thirkell Society)

My thoughts:
I found The Headmistress not nearly as exciting and entertaining as Wild Strawberries. The characters weren't quite as lovable and the conversations not quite as humorous. But perhaps this is because I was missing so much by skipping the earlier books? I'm not sure. Even so, I did enjoy the day-to-day happenings within the story. It was interesting to read of life in a small English village during World War II. How different are the lives of the Beltons and Miss Sparling when compared side by side with my own. Not only does an ocean and 70 years separate us, but the more obvious fact of real life vs. fiction. Still, I really enjoyed Angela Thirkell's story telling and I look forward to reading more about the Beltons, who appear in at least six more novels within the Barsetshire series. But first, I plan to go back and start the series over properly with her first novel, High Rising.

For those interested in sampling Angela Thirkell's books without finding themselves knee deep into the series I'd suggest starting with Wild Strawberries or perhaps, as I am, the first novel, High Rising. Then once you are a little more familiar with the characters and their history pick up a copy of The Headmistress.

Angela Thirkell is a wonderfully entertaining writer and I am so glad to have the opportunity and access to her novels.

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Related Reviews:
Wild Strawberries (1934)

Quote of the Week

"I learned from the age of two or three that any room in our house, at any time of day, was there to read in, or to be read to. It had been startling and disappointing to me to find out that story books had been written by people, that books were not natural wonders coming up from themselves like grass." ~ Eudora Welty (1909-2001)*
* Welty was an American author who wrote short stories about life in the South.

Tuesday Teasers: Spoken From the Heart

"That afternoon [September 12, 2001], White House staffers lined up in the Indian Treaty Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to give blood. Already, overseas, American embassies were choked with flowers. By week's end millions of people had paused for moments of silence; over 100,000 came to stand in remembrance in Ottawa, on Canada's Parliament Hill. Truck drivers stopped and blew their horns in unison all over Poland. In Berlin, 200,000 Germans marched in support of the United States. Israel, Ireland, South Korea, and many other countries held national days of mourning. In Great Britain, at Buckingham Palace, the queen's band played our national anthem during its changing of the guard, while in Paris, the newspaper Le Monde headlined WE ARE AMERICANS."

(Spoken From the Heart by Laura Bush, Pt. 5, pg. 207)

Note: Update to Murder Is Easy Review

Having watched the PBS Masterpiece Mystery adaptation of Murder Is Easy I had to go back and update my recent review. If you are interested you can read my update, which I posted at the end of my Murder Is Easy review.

Monday Children's Picks of the Week

Today was story time and it was also definitely time to refresh our reading options with some new picks. Interestingly enough this week's picks included some old favorites, a couple I've mentioned before and another I thought I had, but haven't.

Itty Bitty by CeCe Bell and Jump! by Scott M. Fischer were two I've mentioned. My daughter loved these two books and upon seeing them today she insisted and begged that we bring them home to read again. I actually really enjoyed Itty Bitty and had hoped there might be more stories about this little tiny dog, but there isn't. At least not yet! CeCe Bell, if you're out there and you see this -- please write more Itty Bitty stories!

Another repeat, though not to this blog is Little Ballet Star by Adele Geras. Lately my daughter's favorite reads have been anything ballet related. She's even told us her name is "Tilla" a variation on the name Tilly, which is the little girl's name in Little Ballet Star. Other favorite ballet reads have been the Ella Bella Ballerina books (Ella Bella Ballerina and Cinderella and Ella Bella Ballerina and The Sleeping Beauty by James Mayhew). To be honest, even though I enjoyed that series I was glad to move on to something a little less wordy-heavy like Little Ballet Star. Reading aloud a wordy-heavy book isn't so bad... until you have to read it every day for a week or two. I'm currently looking for other ballet books that will free me from repetitive readings of Little Ballet Star. It's a cute book, but almost time for something different.

I'm sure I will have found something by next week. Oh and for the curious out there, this ballet phase is not necessarily permanent, though I don't suppose I'd mind if it was. My daughter's interests are quite wide. In addition to the ballet books she's expressed a desire to read about trucks -- semis, construction trucks, farm trucks, etc. Currently we have two truck books borrowed from the library. This follows the Fancy Nancy phase (we've now read all the available Fancy Nancy books multiple times) and also the Poppleton phase.

Which reminds me, I don't believe I've mentioned Poppleton before which is a shame as the books are great! A series of eight "I-Can-Read" books the Poppleton books by Cynthia Rylant are stories about a pig named Poppleton and the adventures he has with his friends. The stories are short, fun, and the pictures very cute. If you haven't read the Poppleton books be sure to check them out.

Murder Is Easy by Agatha Christie

277 pages
Published 1938/1939 by G. P. Putnam's Sons
Reprinted 2001 by St Martins Paperback

I'm particularly excited about reviewing this book as I just discovered it will be re-airing tonight on PBS' Masterpiece as part of their Summer Mystery series. Before I delve into the book review I do want to address what I like and dislike about this film adaptation.

First, I can't stand it when screenwriters find it necessary to change up one of Agatha Christie's stories. Almost always the change makes the story more politically correct (a nun is the murderer because she's frustrated in her love for another woman, yadda yadda) or to "freshen up the plot" by changing who the murderer or victim is and why they were killed. Personally I just think this is totally unnecessary. It's almost as if they think they can make the story better, which in my opinion they can't and don't. Other times they add or subtract characters, again either to freshen up the plot or to attract a particular group of Christie fans. In this case the screenwriters changed up the plot and characters to convert this story into a Miss Marple mystery. In the book the mystery is actually narrated and solved by a retired police officer, Luke Fitzwilliam, with a guest appearance by Supernatant Battle of The Scotland Yard. Normally this change would annoy me, but the casting is generally good, the costumes and sets are outstanding, and I really enjoy Julia McKenzie in the role of Miss Marple. Of all the actresses to play Miss Marple over the years, I like McKenzie the best. That said, I am planning to watch this adaptation as I've not yet seen it in its entirety.

The Plot for the Novel:
"It was just Luke Fitzwilliam's luck to be stuck next to a dotty old woman like Miss Fullerton on the London-bound train-although he found himself quite entertained with her tall tales about a series of perfect murders in the quaint village of Wychwood. But when he reads the next day of the freak accident that killed her, too, Fitzwilliam's amusement turns to grave concern. A visit to the isolated village confirms his worst fears. For Wychwood seems to divided by an eccentric lot of locals: those who are in on a dark and dangerous secret-and those who don't live long enough to share it." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts:
I generally have a good memory when it comes to books I have read. If I've read a mystery once I can usually remember the who and the why even years later. But this was not the case with Murder Is Easy. So although it was very familiar it was almost as if I was reading it for the first time. I could remember various characters and events within the story, but for the life of me I could NOT remember the who and why of the mystery. In the end I was unable to solve this one on my own, which leads me to consider Murder Is Easy as one of Agatha Christie's more clever mystery plots. To add to its cleverness the story was also fast moving, a page turner from beginning to end. Thankfully, for someone like me who likes to solve the mental puzzle that is a mystery, the romance within the story was easy enough. Although it doesn't come together until nearly the end there were enough hints I could pat myself on the back for figuring that part out on my own.

Overall I have to say Murder Is Easy is probably a top 15, maybe top 10 of Agatha Christie's mystery novels. Considering she penned over 60 mystery novels I think that says a lot. I highly recommend reading this mystery if you're looking for a good exciting read, but can't say yet whether it will ruin everything if you watch the PBS adaptation first. Stay tuned.

Up next, my review of And Then There Were None (a.ka. Ten Little Indians).

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Other Agatha Christie Reviews:
*Novels published from 1920-1923 see note below.

The Man in the Brown Suit (1924)
The Secret of Chimneys (1925)
The Big Four (1927)
The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928)
The Seven Dials Mystery (1929)
The Murder at the Vicarage (1930)
The Sittaford Mystery (1931)
Peril at End House (1932)
Lord Edgware Dies (1933)
Murder on the Orient Express (1934)
Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (1934)
Three Act Tragedy (1935)
Death in the Clouds (1935)
The A.B.C. Murders (1936)
Murder in Mesopotamia (1936)
Cards on the Table (1936)
Dumb Witness (1937)
Death on the Nile (1937)
Appointment With Death (1938)
Hercule Poirot's Christmas (1938)
Murder Is Easy (1939)

Absent In the Spring by Mary Westmacott (a.k.a. Agatha Christie) (1944)

* Christie's novels written from 1920 (The Mysterious Affair at Styles) through 1923 (Murder on the Links) I read before I began this blog hence no reviews currently exist.

*******UPDATE*******

So I watched the 2008 adaptation of Murder is Easy. Again, I loved Julia McKenzie in the role of Miss Marple. In fact the casting as a whole was fun, lots of familiar faces. The costumes and the sets were likewise excellent, but otherwise I was really quite disappointed with the film. For starters the characters were nearly completely changed. Luke Fitzwilliam's role is very marginal and Inspector Battle doesn't even make an appearance. The murders are nearly all wrong and the motive is completely changed. Even the little secrets that the characters hide throughout the book were altered so much that I hardly recognized this Murder is Easy for the same story as the original Agatha Christie novel I just reviewed. Aside from some very nasty business that is added to the story the ending was a major let down with the romance falling flat and the cliff-hanger being more of a plateau. Too bad, in my opinion, because I think the original was excellent in its own right and would have adapted to the screen quite well.

******END OF UPDATE*******

The Ultimate Library and Real National Treasure

I love to visit a library, especially the ones that have interesting architecture to the building. One of the most amazing libraries I have ever visited has to be the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Not only is it a sight-seeing stop for tourists, but it is a beautiful building for those inspired by art and architecture. Although it is not a circulating library, it is still a bibliophile's paradise with one of the largest collections of books in the entire country. Their collection of books is currently cataloged at 21,814,555. Cardholders may not be able to check out books, but they can view them while visiting the library. Once I had such a privilege and was able to view in person a letter signed by George Washington. Amazing.

But what a lot of people do not realize is that the Library of Congress is also a museum of sorts. The entire collection boasts of 111,046,531 different items (including books, manuscripts, photographs, music, film, artwork, maps, etc.). Each day employees of the Library of Congress research and study these various pieces so more can be learned for future generations, including how best to preserve them for years to come.

Last night while flipping channels we came upon an episode of the History Channel's Modern Marvels that focused on The Library of Congress titled "The Real National Treasure." I caught only the last 45 minutes of the hour long episode, but what I saw was extremely interesting. I wish I had known about this episode before so I could have caught the whole hour and also posted notice of it here, but at least it can still be viewed after the fact! Isn't technology great?

For those who missed it, check the History Channel as sometimes episodes re-air throughout the month or it may even appear online. (I see they've posted episodes up through the end of May, so it may be a week or two before this particular episode appears.) Of course you can always purchase or request your library purchase the episode through History.com's store.

For more information about Modern Marvels': The Real National Treasure check out the Library of Congress press release. Other links of interest include:

* Modern Marvels: The Real National Treasure (episodes are a couple weeks behind).
* History.com: This Week's Hidden Treasure
* The Library of Congress

* LOC's Book Collection: Library of Congress Online Catalogue
* LOC's Digital Collection: World Digital Library

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

200 pages
Published 2006, First Edition
Candlewick Press
Cambridge Massachusetts

I'm trying to remember when I first discovered The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. I think it must have been shortly after the book was published in 2006 and I think I saw it on a shelf at B&N. At any rate I remember the cover art distinctly as it interested me and the plot summary printed inside was very intriguing... And yet, for some reason I tucked the book away as a "I'll check this out another time." And then I promptly forgot all about it.

I was reminded of it when I picked up The Tale of Despereaux last year, but once again I filed it away to read at a later date.

And then... As "chance" would have it one day during story time I looked up at the bookshelf above where my daughter and I were sitting cross-legged on the floor and there it was: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. I remembered how much I had enjoyed The Tale of Despereaux, so I had high hopes for Edward Tulane when I got it home and began reading. I was not disappointed.

The Plot:
"Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who treated him with the utmost care and adored him completely. And then, one day, he was lost." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts:
I just loved this book. Perhaps I'm a softy when it comes to anything rabbits. As a child I had several pet rabbits, a rabbit puppet and some stuffed animal rabbits. But I had nothing like Edward Tulane.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is such a touchingly beautiful tale of love, friendship, sacrifice, and humility. Kate DiCamillo has received numerous awards for her children's novels and from what I've read I believe they are well deserved. DiCamillo is a gifted storyteller. As with The Tale of Despereaux I found Edward Tulane a creative and unique story. It was fun to read and had beautifully corresponding illustrations. It taught morals without being preachy or passe. It was charming and cute and yet also addressed some darker aspects of life in a delicate manner that made the book an appropriate read-aloud even for young children. I find that there's something about DiCamillo's storytelling that make the stories seem to have come from the early part of the last century -- and yet, they don't feel old or out of date. There's something almost magical about this book. It's certainly not Watership Down, but then it's not exactly The Velveteen Rabbit either. It's a fantsy with charm and it's a delightful read.

One thing is for certain, this book is going on my "Wish List" and I am adding it to the ever growing list of books I want to read aloud to my daughter. If you have not given this or any of DiCamillo's books a chance I'd highly recommend you begin with The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Of course it might also be fun to read The Tale of Despereaux, especially considering there's an animated adaptation available to watch after reading the story, but that... is for another review, which can be read here.

DiCamillo has three other children's novels I have yet to read, but having enjoyed these two so immensely I am adding the others to my TBR list and hope to get to read them within the next year.

Mrs. Miniver by Jan Struther

288 pages
Published in the US in 1940, reprinted 1942
by Grosset & Dunlap Publishers New York

I've been giving World War II a lot of thought this week. Sunday marked the 65 anniversary of D-Day and the ally invasion of Normandy. At the same time I was reading Mrs Tim Carries On by D. E. Stevenson, a war-time diary type novel about the wife of an officer in a Scottish Regiment (review forthcoming). This reminded me that I had yet to post my review of another British-war-time story, Mrs. Miniver by Jan Struther.

Years ago I watched the film adaptation of Mrs. Miniver starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon. I remember liking the story (who doesn't enjoy a Greer garson film?), albeit finding it rather bitter-sweet. So when I stumbled upon the book in a box of used books at a random charity sale I had to buy and read the book. What a surprise to find the book is nearly nothing like the movie!

The book, first published in the UK in 1939 has nothing to do with World War II, in fact the war doesn't even become a reality until the very last chapter of the book! Meanwhile the movie, released in 1942 was very much a "Pro-British" war morale booster. Together the two are nothing alike, but separate they are each their own interesting tale.

Mrs. Miniver, the novel, first published in the UK in 1939 addresses the the day-to-day happenings of a British woman during the late 1930s and pre-war England. It is interesting to note that in actuality, Mrs. Miniver is based on Jan Struther's own life -- Jan Struther is Mrs. Miniver. Although there is a shadow of danger looming just out of reach of the reader, the story is so good at address the "every day domesticities, the comings and goings of family life and finds them good. Mrs. Miniver at tea, Mrs. Miniver trying to discover what the windshield wiper is really saying, Mrs. Miniver and her three unpredictable children and her altogether predictable husband, Mrs. Miniver and the woman who said she could only accept 'Really Nice Children' as evacuees -- the writing and the characters are disarmingly simple and recognizable, and yet, by the author's gift of intense observation, the ordinary becomes the extraordinary, and suddenly important." (Quotes courtesy of the publisher)

As I mentioned, the movie adaptation is nothing like the novel. In the movie most of the Miniver family has the same name, but otherwise there is little to connect the two versions of the story. Mrs. Miniver has two children (instead of the three in the book) and they are separated by several years, with the oldest attending university. Because of this age difference the movie version also adds in a sweetheart and a tragic German plane attack scene that always made me cry. There's also no bashful Mr. Ballard and no Miniver Rose. As I mentioned above, it's a drastic difference that the movie is about life during World War II in England and in the novel the war doesn't begin until the last chapter of the book. Still, the "keep on fighting the fight to put a stop to the spread of evil" message that Hollywood pressed through this film adaptation is a good message and the movie is a worthwhile viewing, but it is missing some of the charm and wit that I found within the pages of the novel.

And the novel is indeed charming. It's a quick read and a little reminiscent of Mrs. Tim Christie by D. E. Stevenson (reviewed 3/2010). I enjoyed Struther's writing style. She had a gentle wit and her descriptions and dialogue kept the story plot moving.

Although the movie was good (it won Best Picture in 1942) I have decided I like the book a little better. Oh, and as a word of warning. There was a film sequel, but it is a very sad story and in my opinion not worth the time once you've read this book. For those looking for a gentle read from an era long past be sure to check out Mrs. Miniver by Jan Struther.

Girls Night Out Edited by Carole Matthews, Sarah Mylnowski, Chris Manby

390 pages

Published by Red Dress Ink in 2004, reprinted '06

I actually picked up this book from the library at the beginning of the year. I read it over a weekend, well most of it. I never actually read every page. There were some stories I chose to skim, others I skipped altogether, and still others that I enjoyed very much. Because my final thoughts about the book were very mixed I hesitated to post a review. In the end I've decided to go ahead and share what I liked and what I didn't.

Girl's Night Out is the sequel to Girl's Night In and is a collection of short stories by world famous "chick-lit" authors.

As might be expected with a collection of stories written by a variety of authors there are some winners and some losers in the bunch. Losers like the one tale of a woman who wants her wedding at a hotel so bad she tries to sabotage another bride's marriage-to-come by making her think her groom is cheating on her... only to have the plan back fire when her own fiance shows up and thinks she herself is cheating. Or the one where the wife of one year decides she's bored with her marriage and tries to reignite an old flame and then decide she really is happiest with her husband. She rushes home to him... only to learn he's discovered her secret and wants a divorce. Yeah. Blah. There was another worse than these two, but I skipped it altogether.

Then there's a few funny ones like the one where the girl has a bad breakup with her boyfriend so she makes a wish that live will give her a fairy tale romance. It's only after a few months and few dates that she realizes she might have gotten the wish she's Snow White and she's been dating the Seven Dwarfs.

And then there are few winners. There's the one where a young woman with a terrible scar discovers the importance of inner beauty and friendship; or the one with the young widow who finally heals and discovers the possibility of loving again; or the one where the girl with a mediocre existence one day up and quits her job, ends her so-so relationship with a boyfriend, and starts afresh. These changes all lead to many beautiful and wonderful possibilities, including the potential of finding true love.

It's been a long time since I read a book containing short stories, I think Ernest Hemingway in 2007 was the last time, or maybe it was O. Henry in 2008. I had forgotten how much I enjoy short stories. Their brief, to the point, and if you don't like one you can easily move on to the next. And to add to that this particular collection is light, fluffy, and for the most part funny and sweet (with the occasional lesson in life or love tossed in for good measure) -- while not nearly as well written as one of Hemingway's short stories, they are at least happier... most of the time. I can't say I agree with most of the character's worldviews and some of the stories do contain some questionable situations and language, but for the most part they are on par with the likes of a Sophie Kinsella novel. (Kinsella is one of the authors included in the Girls Night In short story collection.)

All in all, I enjoyed the light fluff reading over a snowy weekend (remember I read this in early 2010) after a very intensely stressful week. I was glad to be able to skip the stories I didn't like leaving me with a more favorable opinion of the collection than might otherwise have been. Although these books aren't new (published in 2004) I can say that this and it's predecessor might be the book of choice to read next by fans of Sophie Kinsella, Meg Cabot, or Candace Bushnell, especially if they are looking for something different and fun.