Author Birthday: Angela Thirkell

Happy birthday to Angela Thirkell!

Born January 30, 1890 in London, England, Angela was the author of over 30 books during her lifetime (1890-1961). She began writing simply because she was in need of money. What began as articles and short stories in London papers led to stories for children and eventually to novels for adults.

What is interesting to note is that most of Angela's novels are set in the fictional county of Barsetshire, which was actually created by 19th century English author Anthony Trollope in his Chronicles of Barsetshire series. Also interesting for avid readers of English literature, is the fact that it was also quite common for the characters within Angela's books to quote from the works of Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Anthony Trollope, Elizabeth Gaskell, and the like.

From the first time I picked up my first Angela Thirkell novel I was charmed. They are delightful reads. To learn more about my thoughts on the two books I read in 2010 check out my reviews here: Wild Strawberries and The Headmistress. I am hoping in the next couple of months to begin reading High Rising, the first in Angela's Barsetshire series, so check back for my review mid-spring.

To learn more about Angela Thirkell be sure to check out the European Angela Thirkell Society and the American Angela Thirkell Society.

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Related Links:

UK: Angela Thirkell Society
Americas: Angela Thirkell Society
Listing of Angela Thirkell's Books
Wikipedia: Angela Thirkell

Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton

283 pages
Published 1948
Charles Scribner's Sons
New York, NY

"Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that is the inheritor of our fear. Let him not love the earth too deeply. Let him not laugh too gladly when the water runs through his fingers, nor stand too silent when the setting sun makes red the veld with fire. Let him not be too moved when the birds of his land are singing, nor give too much of his heart to a mountain or valley. For fear will rob him of all if he gives too much." (Chpt 12, pg 80)

I knew little to nothing of Alan Paton's Cry, The Beloved Country before picking up a copy to read for my book club, but I looked forward to reading it with great anticipation as I wanted to know why it had been an immediate best-seller upon publication in 1948 and why it continued to sell some 70 years later.

Set in South Africa in the late 1940s, Cry, The Beloved Country tells the heart wrenching story of a Zulu pastor, Stephen Kumalo and the people of his country. As the story begins Stephen and his wife sacrifice their life savings so that Stephen may go in search of his lost son, Absalom, who they fear is in great trouble. The backdrop for his journey is a land of beauty and rich history, but also one filled with injustice, racism, poverty, and fear. As Stephen hunts for his son he encounters many different people, some whom he is able to help and a great deal more who are able to help him. This story may seem tragic at first, but if the reader stops to ponder the heart of book as a whole it becomes quite clear that it is more than that. It is a story of redemption, of hope and courage, and of God's love for ALL of his people.

From the first page I was drawn in. Paton's storytelling is simple and his chapters brief, yet his descriptions are vivid. It was if I were watching each scene pass before my eyes rather than words. The characters and places are real to life and the plot is tragically moving yet redemptive and thus beautiful. I was likewise fascinated by the social commentary aspect of the book. Much like Charles Dickens and Anthony Trollope did in their day, Alan Paton took a fictional story and wove within it serious issues of the day (i.e. racism, greed, poverty, illiteracy, etc.). It is said that Paton's personal motto was "South Africa must be saved one person at a time." I think perhaps Cry, The Beloved Country was his attempt to share his heart's calling with mankind worldwide one reader at a time.

"It is my own belief that the only power which can resist the power of fear is the power of love. It's a weak thing and a tender thing; men despise and deride it. But I look for the day when in South Africa we should realize that they only lasting and worthwhile solution of our grave and profound problems lies not in the use of power, but in that understanding and compassion without which human life is an intolerable bondage, condemning us all to an existence of violence, misery, and fear." (Alan Paton, Intro. ixi)

In retrospect Cry, The Beloved Country is a book I truly enjoyed reading and highly recommend to other readers. It is a classic that is applicable to any person, any country, and at any time. There is always a lesson to be learned if the reader's heart is open.

Feeling thus I was not surprised to learn that Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton is on the list of 1,000 books you must read before you die. While there are a smattering of books on that list that I really believe aren't worth any reader's time to read, this is not one of those. Cry, The Beloved Country is not only a worthwhile read, it is a true piece of literature.

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For those who would like to learn more about Alan Paton or his book be sure to check out the links I've provided below.

* The Alan Paton Centre & Struggle Archives
* Cry, The Beloved Country (Audio Book)
* Simon & Schuster: Cry, The Beloved Country
* Wikipedia: Cry, The Beloved Country
* Wikipedia: Alan Paton
* Cry, The Beloved Country Timeline
* SparkNotes: Cry, The Beloved Country
* Alan Paton's Cry, The Beloved Country: A Tale of Two Media by Dr. Glenn Statile (Word Doc)

What's On My Nightstand: January

Today being Tuesday and the fourth one of the month that means it is time for the monthly What's On Your Nightstand? posting at 5 Minutes for Books. It's been a while, but I wanted to participate this month.

I've started to read again. (I have finished two books since the start of the year!) It feels good to pick up a book and immerse myself in the world contained within. Reading, there's nothing quite like it... In seconds I can journey to time in space that I can not reach, to lands I've never been, and experience all sorts of adventures and meet all kinds of people that I otherwise would never give thought to. And then when it's time to return to my own real-life adventures I just set the book aside knowing I won't miss anything. I don't have to DVR it. I don't have to rely on someone else to tell me what has happened. It'll be there waiting for me just where I left off with whatever bookmark I've used and will be ready whenever I have a few spare moments to read. Yes, reading is bliss.

Currently on my nightstand:

~ A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
~ Death Comes As The End by Agatha Christie
~ The Belfry by May Sinclair

Goals for January:
Finish picking up the pieces and prepare for February. Read if I have time.

Goals for February?
Start to blog again. Read at least one book.

What about you? What is on your nightstand this month? What are your reading goals? Leave me a comment and let me know, or head over to 5 Minutes for Books and link up your own Nightstand post.

Happy reading!

2010: A Year In Review

"The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry."
~ Robert Burns

As is evident from my silence for the last month plus the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011 did not go exactly as I had hoped. It's still a little early to say whether life will permit me to return to a regular schedule of posting in this blogging world, but for now I will take what I can get.

Before we get any further into the year I thought I would return to the tradition of the last two years (2008, 2009) and recap the last year by listing some fun statistics and highlight what I believe were the best and worst reads of the year. (** Note: All books that I have reviewed are hyperlinked to my review and you can view them by clicking on the title and author. ** )

TOTAL BOOKS READ IN 2010: 53 (listed here, just over half what I read in 2009)

TOTAL PAGES READ IN 2010: 18,120 pages. (Though on average I read longer books in 2010 than I did in 2009. Ex: Average page count in '10: 341.89 compared with 2009, which had an average page count of 268.29)

LONGEST READ IN 2010: The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope at 802 pages.

SHORTEST READ IN 2010 (excluding children's books): The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald at 180 pages.

BEST BOOK DISCOVERY in 2010: Mrs. Tim of the Regiment by D. E. Stevenson. While it wouldn't win any book awards, this was a very witty and entertaining read. And it led me to read the rest of the series (four books total), which I likewise enjoyed... No... I didn't just enjoy. I grew to love the characters within. Delightful series, all worthy of a read.

WORST BOOK DISCOVERY in 2010: I do not think there was one book I read last year that I "hated," though there were a few I didn't really care for. Perhaps the Girls Night Out short stories collection. Some of the short stories were good, some fair, and some just lousy. All-in-all I was not impressed and I gave the book back to the library. In the end I consider this an improvement from 2009.

FAVORITE CLASSIC READ IN 2010: The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope

BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IN 2010: Hosting the second annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge right after participating twice in the Agatha Christie Blog Tour.

BIGGEST FAILURE TO COMPLETE IN 2010: My blog. I ended 2010 without the time to finish reviewing my reads. I left 7 books un-reviewed. Still in debate as to whether it's too late for me to post something.

TOP 5 BOOKS IN 2010 THAT SURPRISED ME (in order as read):
1. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
2. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
3. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
4. Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Pattillo
5. The Classic Hundred Poems: All Time Favorites Edited by William Harmon

GREATEST READING ACCOMPLISHMENT IN 2010: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky wins this category not simply because of it's length (702 pages), but also for it's genre: Russian Literature, and it's era: 19th century. This was a hefty read, but well worth the effort. In second place, The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope for it's length at 802 pages. Another worthy read.

TOP 5 BOOKS I WISH I HAD READ AND PLAN TO READ IN 2011:
1. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (this is a carry over from 2009 and 2010)
2. A Study in Scarlet by Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle
3. The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad
4. Something by Dorothy Sayres.
5. John James Audubon: The Making of an American by Richard Rhodes

TOP FIVE FAVORITE READS IN 2010:
1. Lavender And Old Lace by Myrtle Reed
2. The Blue Sapphire by D. E. Stevenson
3. So Long Insecurity, You've Been a Bad Friend to Us by Beth Moore
4. An Autobiography by Agatha Christie
5. Gentlemen From England by Maud & Delos Lovelace

TOP FIVE LEAST FAVORITE BOOKS IN 2010 (in order as read):
1. Girls Night Out edited by Carole Matthews - didn't finish.
2. The Master's Violin by Myrtle Reed
3. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler
4. The Importance of Being Married by Gemma Townley
5. Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo

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In closing I turn my attention to the new year. I am excited about 2011. I think it has a lot of potential. For me as a reader, 2009 was an astounding year. I read 101 books and reviewed every single one, quite a personal achievement. On the other hand, 2010 was a difficult year. I only read 53 books, but I did so to quench my insatiable thirst for reading all the while juggling my increasingly busy life. But this year, 2011 -- I hope to achieve balance. Yes, I want to keep reading and I'd like to keep reviewing, but foremost I need to find a healthy balance between my relationships, my career, and my hobbies. I may only read a half dozen books or I may find time to read 100. I may only review my favorites or I may review them all. Whatever happens I am sure the journey will be fun. So here's to 2011. I hope you'll stick around and see where it takes us.