Evelina

Evelina, or The History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World, 1779

by Frances (Fanny) Burney
512 pages
originally published in 1778

I don't usually like to quote plot summaries but these few sentences from Amazon.com describe the book perfectly:

Fanny Burney's first novel Evelina was the chick-lit novel of 1778 - all about a young girl's adventures in London, and one of the best of its kind ever written.... [the novel] is a vivid, satirical, and seductive account of the pleasures and dangers of fashionable life in late eighteenth-century London. As she describes her heroine's entry into society, womanhood and, inevitably, love, Burney exposes the vulnerability of female innocence in an image-conscious and often cruel world where social snobbery and sexual aggression are played out in the public arenas of pleasure - gardens, theatre visits, and balls. But Evelina's innocence also makes her a shrewd commentator on the excesses and absurdities of manners and social ambitions.... Evelina, comic and shrewd, is at once a guide to fashionable London, a satirical attack on the new consumerism, an investigation of women's position in the late eighteenth century, and a love story.

That is the PERFECT description of this book. I chose to read it for the 1% Well Read Challenge based solely on the title, which I thought sounded interesting. Boy was this a good choice!

I got such a kick out of reading Evelina's adventures. She is so innocent of the world and gets into situations that she doesn't know could be damaging to her. Plus the formality of this bygone era is quite entertaining to read about (not that I'd want to live in that era by any means!).

I'm guessing that this is a fairly unknown book because 1) I'd never heard of it before, and 2) I've never seen it reviewed on a blog before. Maybe I'm wrong here, but I'd say this is an over-looked classic.

Since I knew nothing about this story ahead of time, I was continually surprised by the plot development. When is the last time you read a book that you knew absolutely nothing about? For me it has been quite a while - lately I'm reading books that have been repeatedly reviewed or that I've had on my wish list for various reasons. I had forgotten the excitement of not have a CLUE about what is coming next. Hooray for the simply pleasures of an unknown story!

The language is a bit old fashioned but once I got used to it I rather enjoyed it. If you like PRIDE AND PREJUDICE or other books in that vein, you should give EVELINA a try. The dialogue isn't as clever as in Austen's work but the tone is the same ... I think you'll enjoy it.

Thoughts on Star Trek?

*** This is free of spoilers, so don't worry! ***

Hubby, Kiddo and I went to see Star Trek for Mother's Day. I'm not going to review the movie, but I am going to say that I absolutely LOVED it. I'd love to talk to some of you about the main plot device, the thing that has some Trekkies up in arms, the same thing that I LOVED LOVED LOVED about the movie ... so let's do that in the comments please! Tell me what you thought of the movie, what you thought of that all-important plot device, what you think of the potential for future movies/tv shows/etc. Let's chat!

(And can I add right here that I am totally in love with Spock now?! Which is odd, because I would NOT have said that prior to seeing the movie.)

UPDATE: I just had to add this clip from Saturday Night Live ... it is TOO funny!

The Willoughbys

The Willoughbys
by Lois Lowry
audio book: 2.9 hours

While sitting at work on a VERY, VERY slow day, I realized I was out of audio books to listen to. A quick search of my library's online site led to realize two things.

1. Most of the books on my TBR list in are not available in audio format.
2. There are lots of interesting books that are NOT on my TBR list.
   

This particular book was one of the few available immediately (most others had a wait list) so I checked it out. And I'm so glad I did!

This is the hilarious story of four old fashioned children living an old fashioned life. Their parents are horrid and want to get rid of the children. The children also want to get rid of their parents, since all good old fashioned children are orphans anyway. And so their adventure begins.

I quite enjoyed listening to this while at work. It is light and fun and very clever. I especially loved listening to the glossary in which are found creative definitions of such words as ignominious, odious, nefarious, surreptitious, and unkempt.

I've been wanting to read THE WILLOUGHBYS to Kiddo for a while now. So many bloggers have raved about both Lois Lowry and this book in particular, and I figured it would be a good one to do a read-aloud with. But after listening to it, I've decided not to do that. Kiddo just won't get why it is so funny - he's not really understanding irony just yet. Maybe in another year or so ...

If you are in the mood for something fun and different, this book is the perfect thing for you. I'm only sad that I missed out on the "ignominious illustrations" - but I can always browse through it at the library to see what I missed.

Friday Finds, 05/08/09

Welcome to this week's Friday Finds! Only five four books to share with you this time around (thanks to avisannschild for correcting me on that). Have you heard of these? Read any of them? Share your thoughts!

1. A Study in Scarlet, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - This Baker Street Challenge post reminded me that I've never read the very first Sherlock Holmes story. Must fix that asap.
   
   
   
   
2. The Selected Works of T.S. Spivit, by Reif Larsen - Medieval Bookworm says "This book is phenomenal. T.S. is a stunning character. He is clearly a genius but clearly a child at the same time; he makes amazing conclusions but then his child-logic can’t always keep up with his scientific mind. I found this fascinating. I’m no genius, but I truly felt that with T.S. I was having a peek into the mind of someone like Stephen Hawking, although much more understandable."
   
   
   
   
3. The Discoverers, by Daniel Boorstin - This book is a review of many of the major discoveries throughout history. According to RebeccaReads, it is best read in small bites. Sounds like something to add to my "reference library" shelf.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout - I've been hearing about this book for months without being particularly interested in reading it. However, it unexpectedly won the Pulitzer this year. That normally wouldn't mean anything to me, but this review at ReadStreet got me thinking that the writing may just be comparable to that in INTERPRETER OF MALADIES ... and THAT would really be something.

That's all for me for now. Hop over to MizB's for more Friday Finds, and have a great weekend!

The Island at the Center of the World

The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Colony That Shaped America

By Russell Shorto
audio book: 15 hours

*** What It Is ***

From my library's website:

Before there were 13 colonies, there was New Netherland. Founded by the Dutch, this tiny community on the edge of the wilderness supported a staggering array of peoples. Surrounded by intolerant Puritans, the colony took its cue from Amsterdam, Europe's most liberal city. Inevitably the Dutch and English clashed--and a new nation was born.

*** My Thoughts ***

The original Dutch colony at Manhattan has been overlooked by English-speaking historians for many years. The Dutch influences on this small part of the world made a huge impact on the development of modern America, a fact I was unaware of until now. As they say, "the winners write the history books" and that has certainly been the case here.

About a year ago I saw this audio book at the library and checked it out for my mom to listen to. She is not a reader but loves non-fiction audio books. Since she grew up in Brooklyn, New York, I figured this would be a good one for her to try out. I was right; she raved about this book for weeks! Since then she has insisted that I check it out for myself.

I mentioned yesterday that I'm a big fan of GOOD non-fiction, and this book would fit into that category. I really enjoyed listening to it during my ride to and from work.

New Yorkers and those who live nearby will recognize many of the people in the book from modern day city street and town names. I'd recommend this to anyone interested in colonial history, influences on American society, or New York.

You can learn more at the book's website - it includes an excerpt, cast of characters, examples of Dutch influences, and much more. And you can listen to an excerpt from the audio book here.

*** Your Thoughts? ***

Have you ever read a book that opened your eyes to a new part of history previously unknown to you? Tell me about it! Are you familiar with the history of Dutch Manhattan? Does this book sound interesting to you?

The Lost Men

The Lost Men: The Harrowing Saga of Shackleton's Ross Sea Party
by Kelly Tyler-Lewis
384 pages

This is a true story, an adventure story, a story of survival in the harshest environment on earth, and it is a fascinating read. I HIGHLY recommend it.

*** What It Is ***

If you are not familiar with Ernest Shackleton's extraordinary Antarctic expedition (1914-1917) then you are missing out on an amazing piece of history. In short, Shackleton's mission to cross the Antarctic continent failed before it even began, when his ship, The Endurance, was crushed in the ice. Following the destruction of the ship, the crew spent months living on the ice. Only through Shackleton's heroism - and an 800 mile journey in an open boat - were the crew saved ... every last man. (Read more about it here.)

However, the other ship in the expedition, The Aurora, was not so lucky. Their mission was to lay supply depots along the latter portion of the cross-continental trail for Shackleton to pick up.

Yet all went tragically wrong when the Aurora broke free of her moorings in a gale and stranded ten men ashore in Antarctica, woefully ill-equipped to perform their task. Left with little more than the clothing on their backs and scavenged equipment, the men vowed to carry on in the face of impossible odds. Meanwhile, the crew of the disabled Aurora, cast adrift at the mercy of the elements, battled for survival in the pack ice. With no hope of rescue from civilization, the lost men struggled to save themselves and carry out their mission. (from the book's website)

Does that sound amazing or what?!

*** My Thoughts ***

I've always been partial to non-fiction and this book is a prime example of why that is. It is absolutely fascinating and I didn't want to put it down. This stuff REALLY HAPPENED - these are REAL PEOPLE - and their experiences are simply amazing.

The author did an excellent job with the story. The pace never dragged, and I never felt like I was reading a textbook.

The author helpfully provided a list of all the crew aboard each of the ships at the start of the book. There are lots of men, and their introduction into the story was a bit confusing for me simply because it was hard to remember who was who. What I should have done is copied that list and made a few notes next to each name as they were introduced - I think that would have solved the problem nicely.

Here are some random things I'd like to remember from this book:

• It was Shackleton's personality and ability that was the driving force behind the survival of the men of The Endurance. The Ross Sea Party didn't have a leader of that caliber, hence their experiences on the ice were very different.
• The spirit of adventure and exploration was common to this era and it came across clearly in the words and actions of the men.
  
• Their mission to lay supply depots on the last portion of Shackleton's planned route across Antarctica ended up being completely pointless; Shackleton never even BEGAN the journey. I don't know whether to pity the Ross Sea Party for this or to think of it as their saving grace, giving them a purpose to help them continue on. (Check out a map of the expedition here.)
  
• The expedition set out at the start of The Great War. The men expected it to be over by the time they returned. What they found however was a world completely changed, unrecognizable to them. Many of them joined the military as soon as they recovered from their polar ordeal ... and some lost their lives in the war.
  

This book has been on my TBR list since July 2007 when I read about it in the DearReader.com email. I am SO GLAD that I finally got around to reading it.

*** Other Interesting Links ***

• The main website, includes links to photos
  
  
• Photos from other Antarctic expeditions through the years - the ones from the Ross Sea Party have not been uploaded there yet
  

• The author talks about the book

• YouTube videos of Shackleton's expedition - includes excerpts from the men's journals and some of their photographs and videos - none from the Ross Sea Party has been posted yet
  
  

*** Your Thoughts? ***

Have you read this book? Are you familiar with Shackleton's experiences? I listened to THE ENDURANCE on audio a while back and highly recommend that one as well. Please share your thoughts on any polar-related topic that interests you. Personally I'm fascinated by people who travel to the poles ... but I'd never DREAM of going there myself. What about you?

April '09 Summary

Well, I didn't do as well as I hoped this month but I still did pretty good!


Books 3 - (1,052 pages)

• Locked Rooms (402 pages) - for my Month of Joyful Reading
  
  
• The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (340 pages) - for my book club
  
  
• Receive Me Falling (266 pages) - from the author
  
  
• Plus I quit a book after 44 pages (Fiction) and started another which I'm enjoying immensely (The Lost Men).
  
  

Audio Books - (19.3 hours)

All the audio books were "just because" books that I've had on my TBR list.

• The Time Machine (3.8 hours) - found out this also counts for the 1% Well Read Challenge
  
  
• The Secret of Lost Things (11.5 hours) - not really a big fan
  
  
• The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (4 hours) - not bad
  

Mom & Son Book Club - 0 books

• We haven't been reading but we HAVE been working on Kiddo's reading skills.
  

Other Stats

• I gave up on Lies My Teacher Told Me (it wasn't what I expected and I couldn't get into it), Fiction (not the right time for me), and Away (not a big fan).
  
• My TBR list gained 13 books and Kiddo's gained 2.
  
• Favorite books: I did really enjoy Receive Me Falling but I wouldn't call it a favorite. Unfortunately, the rest of the books this month were just so-so.
  
• One author guest post by Erika Robuck.
  

How was YOUR month?

Non-Fiction Five Challenge

I thought I was finished signing up for challenges, but this one is sort of a no-brainer. The challenge is to read 5 non-fiction books between May and September, and books for other challenges are allowed to count. Seriously, this is an EASY challenge - I LOVE non-fiction!

Here's what I'm going to read:

• The Lost Men (actually finished already, but it IS a May book so it will count)
• The Island at the Center of the World (audio, finished already, but also a May book)
  
• The Secret Doorway (started already)
• Mistress of the Vatican
• The History of Celibacy
• The Greatest Generation Speaks
  

All those books were already on my reading list for the next few months anyway, so now I just have double the incentive to read them.

There's still time to sign up for the challenge. If you're interested, click here for the details. And you can post your May reviews here.

If you are participating, please let me know in the comments. And post your reading list there - I'd love to see what you all find interesting!

And The Winner Is ...

Thank you to everyone who entered the contest to win a copy of RECEIVE ME FALLING. Author Erika Robuck sent me the following email announcing the winner:

It was a very difficult decision, but Regina’s stuck out to me because of how well thought out it was, and how she used another example to illustrate her point. I really wish I could give books to everyone who answered.

- Erika

Congratulations Regina! I'll be in touch via email to get your mailing address.

And thank you to everyone who submitted a response to Erika's questions - I enjoyed reading all your answers.

Upcoming Bookworm Carnivals

Do you know about Bookworms Carnivals? Carnivals are an excellent way to find lots of books on a given topic. I encourage you to find carnivals you are interested in - you can submit reviews or simply check out the end results. Here are the topics of several upcoming events:

Edition 29 hosted by: Steve at Jewish Literary Review
Deadline for submission: May 8, 2009
Theme: Holocaust Literature
To submit a post, email: steve at jewishliteraryreview dot com

Edition 30 hosted by: Michelle at In the Louvre
Deadline for submission: May 22, 2009
Theme: Books About Books
To submit a post, email: admin at inthelouvre dot org

Edition 31 hosted by: Rachel at Bitten by Books
Deadline for submission: June 12, 2009
Theme: Paranormal Fiction
To submit a post, email: racoo.smith at gmail dot com

For more details, check out the Bookworms Carnival blog.