Lord of the Flies - William Golding

Lord of the Flies

And now another one of those books I simply cannot believe it took me two and a half decades to read. 

As I work my way through Modern Library's 100 Best Novels lists, I am continually surprised by my inexperience with some of the books. Certainly, there are plenty of obscure titles, which I look forward to discovering without any preconceive notions. It's the untouched celebrities that catch me off guard. 

Those come prepackaged with expectations and spoiled plot twists. I attempt to approach them without these burdens, seeing them with the innocence of ignorance. I rarely succeed. These books have achieved their rank on Modern Library's ladder for a reason: they have permeated culture and, among the educated, one is expected to have a functioning knowledge of them.

So how did I make it through a full liberal arts education without picking up Lord of the Flies and some of its compatriots? 

I grabbed the audio book edition of this classic to share with Kevin and I am so grateful I did. The edition we listened to was narrated by none other than William Golding himself. He added his own thoughts on the work as both a prologue and epilogue. I always find it fascinating to hear what an author says about their books. Golding was no exception.

The Good Soldier - Ford Madox Ford

The Good Soldier

This week is going to be all about the 100 Best Novels challenge. I am warning you right up front. 

I have not reviewed a book from the list in nearly two months. I have been caught up in book tours and other things. 

Honesty, I have been at a bit of a stand still with some of this project. The long, dreary winter has left me longing for light, cheery stories. Most of those classics...well, they just are not that. 

I know, I know. A little crazy coming from me, lover of sad, tragic endings.

Ford Madox Ford has two novels on the prestigious list, The Good Soldier being the first. The book has nothing to do with military men, as the title might suggest. Rather, it tells the tale of two marriages.

The narrator, John Dowell, shares the story as though you were sitting fireside with him. Pieces are aligned only as well human memory would allow them to be. As the story progresses, you see Dowell's understanding of the events come to fruition as well.

February 2014 Chapter

Welcome to the Read.Write.Repeat. monthly wrap-up.  Every month, I give a quick overview of what books I read, the progress made on the 100 Best Novels goal, a few book-related links, and general blog news.  

February News

I'll be honest. It's been a slow month for my bookshelf.

I blame the Olympics 100%. I'm a mega fan and my life for those two weeks mid-month pretty much revolved around the television. It's so abnormal for us to watch that much TV and I've never been so sick of commercials, but you just can't replace the emotions the Olympics bring.

However, I told Kevin at about day 10...."I miss books." I really did. I missed books like crazy. I was only reading a few pages a day before bed and that was not nearly enough to satiate my literary needs. Thanks to long, cold month of January and to the wonderful Jamie for providing enough content to make it through February posts.

As we move into spring, you can expect my reading pace to pick up again. Grad school is reaching full speed, but one of next courses had two books on my On Reserve list required as textbooks. What luck! I can't wait to share those with you.

If you missed Movie Mondays this month, it was all about the chick flicks. First off, I covered the old school chick flick, The Age of Innocence. Let's just say that Martin Scorsese has nothing on Edith Wharton. Then, I jumped to the modern chick flick and covered Austenland. I was completely charmed by Keri Russell and crew in this romantic comedy served with a dose of snark.

Legend - Marie Lu

Legend

And so we come to another book that has spent a long time On Reserve. 

Marie Lu's Legend has floated around Hunger Games comparison lists since its release in 2011. The setting is future West Coast, although, little clues throughout the novel suggest that major flooding may have resulted in a changed coastline. The main characters are June and Day, 15 year old prodigies whose intelligence has led them down very different paths.

June has soared through her education and becomes the youngest member of the Republic's military force. Day, on the other hand, has been led to believe he is a failure and narrowly escaped the death that comes to the unwanted. He lives as a fugitive, fighting against the Republic in small ways reminiscent of Robin Hood.

Interestingly, Lu has said she came up with the concept for the book from Les Misérables. She wanted to play with the idea of the hunter and the hunted in a more modern setting. Knowing that adds an interesting dynamic to the story.

Movie Monday: Austenland

Austenland

Before I get started this morning, I want to congratulate Jenna Evans on winning a copy of Under the Wide and Starry Sky by Nancy Horan! 

On the second and fourth Monday of every month, I feature Movie Monday. I recognize that few people have the time or desire to read the amount I do, especially when it comes to the 100 Best Novels list. Luckily, Hollywood loves adapting a classic and I love a good movie almost as much as a good book.

So, last week I told you all about my Austenland experience. The book was pure chick lit - a little saccharine for my taste, but not bad. I never would have picked it up to begin with were it not for the movie.

I really wanted to see the movie.

The movie, starring the delightful Keri Russell as Jane, carries quite a bit more snark and sarcasm, exactly the quality for which the book left me wanting. My heart may be softening, but I just cannot swallow a sugary sweet happily ever after without something to offset the fantasy.

The movie, unlike its inspiration, hit just the right balance for me.

Guest Post - Vampire Academy

Vampire Academy

This year I am thrilled to be partnering with my dear friend Jamie for her Before the Silver Screen project. She is reading the books this year's blockbusters are based on before they hit theaters. Check out her blog to real all the reviews!

If you have been a regular reader lately, you know how awesome Jamie's posts have been. So far, she's covered Labor Day and The Monuments Men. Both great posts!

Today, we're taking a sharp left turn as far as genre goes. 

I'll be honest - I had not even heard of Vampire Academy before this post - the book or the movie. I'm not sure if that means I'm out of touch or just out of my comfort zone. Either way, take a look at what Jamie had to say:

Under the Wide and Starry Sky - Nancy Horan

Under the Wide and Starry Sky

This post has a giveaway at the bottom! Don't miss your chance to win a free copy of Under the Wide and Starry Sky by Nancy Horan!

Is anyone else out there just so completely ready for spring? I am so sick of snow and feeling cold. I barely remember what it's like to be genuinely warm. I would kill for tank top weather.

Last week, This American Life did a great episode focused around beach stories. The motivation behind this idea was that all of us stuck in the Midwest are sick of cold and needed to be reminded of summer days. I loved it.

In a similar way, Nancy Horan's Under the Wide and Starry Sky had a similar effect for me. At least, the chapters about the Stevenson family living in the South Pacific did.

Horan's novel is historical fiction based on the real lives of Robert Louis Stevenson and his wife, Fanny. The book covers the time period from just before they met to Robert's death.

Horan obviously did a great deal of research for this work. Her narrative is very detailed and, without doing my own research, I never would know which details were fact and which were fiction. She even pulled old diary entries and letters to include.