Well at least I updated this one more recently than my knitting blog.
I AM SO SLOW. Is basically all.
I finished In Cold Blood. Creepy, but good. I would read more Capote.
Book 7: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
I'm only on book seven? This is so sad. I like Oscar Wilde, I've read something by him before. What was it? Oh yeah, The Importance of Being Earnest. Good, humorous stuff. I am really saying nothing too deep here am I. I am sorry, I am distracted by various frustrating things.
But side note, Walt Whitman was gay? My american lit teacher never told me that. I was just reading about Oscar Wilde and his gayness and then it went on to talk about Walt Whitman. Crazy. I guess you don't really think about people in history being gay when they don't come out and say it since I'm so used to it being open nowadays. But anyway.
I got some more books on cd to listen to when I'm going to my Grandma's house this weekend. The Turn of the Screw and The Scarlet Letter and more. We shall see. I am a terrible person for not reading more. And I've got to start The Brothers Karamazov.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Sigh
I know, I know. It's been a long time. But I don't think a single person reads this so it doesn't matter that much. If you are reading, comment, I don't care who you are.
Book 5: Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
This took me forever, sadly. Listening to it that is, reading it did not take long at all. But I guess I had graduation and everything. And my laptop is here which takes up my time at night. Eh heh. But I had gotten about halfway through it listening to it, and I took it with me to North Carolina and finished the other half during the two hour plane ride.
I liked it, I think. It reminded me of my boyfriend. He liked it. There were too many characters to keep straight. But the voices on the cd were fun. I liked Major Major Major Major. And the chaplain. And circular reasoning is always fun.
Book 6: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
I saw the movie Capote a while back and so I had to read In Cold Blood. Maybe not the best book to read before bed. But it definitely solidifies that I will never ever be living in the middle of nowhere. That is exactly why it creeps me out. People sneaking up in the middle of the night and shooting me and there's no one to hear the gunshots. But it really is like a nonfiction novel. I like it. I'm listening to this one as well, while knitting and such. This will probably be one of the last audio ones, seeing as how I don't think any of the other books on my list exist on cd at any of the libraries nearby.
I also brought Middlemarch with me on my trip to North Carolina but only got about ten pages into it. I wasn't in the mood for it at the time. Or now either, I don't know. It's been sitting in my purse for a while. We'll see.
So yeah. Now I won't feel guilty about not updating. But it's so pathetic that I'm only on my sixth book of the summer. It's practically July! Sigh.
Book 5: Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
This took me forever, sadly. Listening to it that is, reading it did not take long at all. But I guess I had graduation and everything. And my laptop is here which takes up my time at night. Eh heh. But I had gotten about halfway through it listening to it, and I took it with me to North Carolina and finished the other half during the two hour plane ride.
I liked it, I think. It reminded me of my boyfriend. He liked it. There were too many characters to keep straight. But the voices on the cd were fun. I liked Major Major Major Major. And the chaplain. And circular reasoning is always fun.
Book 6: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
I saw the movie Capote a while back and so I had to read In Cold Blood. Maybe not the best book to read before bed. But it definitely solidifies that I will never ever be living in the middle of nowhere. That is exactly why it creeps me out. People sneaking up in the middle of the night and shooting me and there's no one to hear the gunshots. But it really is like a nonfiction novel. I like it. I'm listening to this one as well, while knitting and such. This will probably be one of the last audio ones, seeing as how I don't think any of the other books on my list exist on cd at any of the libraries nearby.
I also brought Middlemarch with me on my trip to North Carolina but only got about ten pages into it. I wasn't in the mood for it at the time. Or now either, I don't know. It's been sitting in my purse for a while. We'll see.
So yeah. Now I won't feel guilty about not updating. But it's so pathetic that I'm only on my sixth book of the summer. It's practically July! Sigh.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Man.
I've been so busy. I apologize. Graduation and everything. But I did get a lot of listening/reading done while knitting my sweater thing.
Book 3: My Antonia by Willa Cather
A very nice book. Kind of depressing, but beautiful. I actually watched the movie version and it really did it no justice. Jim was kind of cute though. Ha. Out of all the books I've read so far, it was probably my second favorite. Tess is first. Tess is much more dramatic and gothic and romantic and I like that. My Antonia is very American. The setting is described wonderfully and Jim's insight is interesting.
Book 4: On the Road by Jack Kerouac
I did not like this book very much, I will admit. Part of it might've been the narrator's voice on the cd book, but still. I suppose the Beat Movement just does not particularly appeal to me. And I was just so tired of hearing about Dean Moriarty. Sal seemed to idolize him, but I was just like, shutup. And I think the idea of traveling that much just made uncomfortable. Maybe a little roadtrip, but nothing longer than that. I guess I just couldn't relate to the characters in anyway. I have no desire to do drugs or listen to jazz or hitchhike. I'm not dissatisfied with my life. Perhaps I'm boring. Or else I just do not care of the west. I wonder if this book was set in Europe or the East if I would've liked it better.
I do think the stream of conciousness wrting works better when you're listening to it. But I loved this quote by Truman Capote about the fact that Kerouac wrote the whole thing in three weeks on one sheet of paper or whatever, "That's not writing at all - it's typing".
So this book is at the bottom of the list. I'm sure it was very influential for others, just not me.
Book 5: Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
I'm only a couple chapters into this book. Listening to it again. It's crazy. I had an idea of what it was about, but not its tone before I started. I could definitely see why my boyfriend liked it. And the chapter on Major Major Major Major cracked me up. I just like saying that actually. More on this one later.
Book 3: My Antonia by Willa Cather
A very nice book. Kind of depressing, but beautiful. I actually watched the movie version and it really did it no justice. Jim was kind of cute though. Ha. Out of all the books I've read so far, it was probably my second favorite. Tess is first. Tess is much more dramatic and gothic and romantic and I like that. My Antonia is very American. The setting is described wonderfully and Jim's insight is interesting.
Book 4: On the Road by Jack Kerouac
I did not like this book very much, I will admit. Part of it might've been the narrator's voice on the cd book, but still. I suppose the Beat Movement just does not particularly appeal to me. And I was just so tired of hearing about Dean Moriarty. Sal seemed to idolize him, but I was just like, shutup. And I think the idea of traveling that much just made uncomfortable. Maybe a little roadtrip, but nothing longer than that. I guess I just couldn't relate to the characters in anyway. I have no desire to do drugs or listen to jazz or hitchhike. I'm not dissatisfied with my life. Perhaps I'm boring. Or else I just do not care of the west. I wonder if this book was set in Europe or the East if I would've liked it better.
I do think the stream of conciousness wrting works better when you're listening to it. But I loved this quote by Truman Capote about the fact that Kerouac wrote the whole thing in three weeks on one sheet of paper or whatever, "That's not writing at all - it's typing".
So this book is at the bottom of the list. I'm sure it was very influential for others, just not me.
Book 5: Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
I'm only a couple chapters into this book. Listening to it again. It's crazy. I had an idea of what it was about, but not its tone before I started. I could definitely see why my boyfriend liked it. And the chapter on Major Major Major Major cracked me up. I just like saying that actually. More on this one later.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Second book: DONE
Things are moving a little faster now. This listening and knitting thing is working out well. I finished my second book the other day and now I'm onto the third. And it's only Day 16. Aha.
Book 2: The Stranger by Albert Camus.
First off, it's Al-bear Camoo. Not Albert Camus. At least pronouncation wise. He's French. But so I was listening to it, and there are four disks, but then suddenly the book ended. And that threw me off. I need time to prepare for an ending though you know. But then it was okay because the fourth disk was an explanation of the book and existentialism and I really needed that. Life sucks yes, but don't kill yourself. I think existentialism is really just for slackers. Dori and Beckah and I talked about it at work. But yeah, interesting book.
Book 3 is My Antonia by Willa Cather. So far so good. I've read some other Willa Cather and she isn't bad. But I swear there are two different narrators. The guy's voice changes like every couple tracks. But yeah, that's all.
Book 2: The Stranger by Albert Camus.
First off, it's Al-bear Camoo. Not Albert Camus. At least pronouncation wise. He's French. But so I was listening to it, and there are four disks, but then suddenly the book ended. And that threw me off. I need time to prepare for an ending though you know. But then it was okay because the fourth disk was an explanation of the book and existentialism and I really needed that. Life sucks yes, but don't kill yourself. I think existentialism is really just for slackers. Dori and Beckah and I talked about it at work. But yeah, interesting book.
Book 3 is My Antonia by Willa Cather. So far so good. I've read some other Willa Cather and she isn't bad. But I swear there are two different narrators. The guy's voice changes like every couple tracks. But yeah, that's all.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
First book: DONE
Well, twelve days into it, I've finished Tess of the D'urbervilles. So yeah.
Book 1: Tess of the D'urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
I liked this book. It is my type of book. It is British and written in the nineteenth century and it is Victorian and overly dramatic. I like it when books are about emotions and relationships and not other things. This book can be put in the same catagory as Rebecca and Wuthering Heights. I like those.
And poor Tess you just feel so bad for her. And both of the guys are crap, but you switch between them, trying to decide which is the lesser of two evils.
And the ending was surprising, but not. Once it happened you could understand it.
And I don' thave much more to say right now because I want to go knit and listen to my next book which is...
Book 2: The Stranger by Albert Camus.
Oh yes and so I've decided while I've got this giant knitting project that I will listen to some of the books on cd even though I'm a faster reader.
I'm about a fourth of the way into this one. It reads like a diary, and an almost boring one at that. Maybe not boring, but his day to day life can be mundane, although he notices things in a different way. But I think I'm just about to get to the juicy stuff because I looked at the book itself in the library and the chapter I'm on talks about guns. Duhn duhn duhn. Also I wouldn't mind reading this in French, I think it would be fun.
Okay that is all for now.
Book 1: Tess of the D'urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
I liked this book. It is my type of book. It is British and written in the nineteenth century and it is Victorian and overly dramatic. I like it when books are about emotions and relationships and not other things. This book can be put in the same catagory as Rebecca and Wuthering Heights. I like those.
And poor Tess you just feel so bad for her. And both of the guys are crap, but you switch between them, trying to decide which is the lesser of two evils.
And the ending was surprising, but not. Once it happened you could understand it.
And I don' thave much more to say right now because I want to go knit and listen to my next book which is...
Book 2: The Stranger by Albert Camus.
Oh yes and so I've decided while I've got this giant knitting project that I will listen to some of the books on cd even though I'm a faster reader.
I'm about a fourth of the way into this one. It reads like a diary, and an almost boring one at that. Maybe not boring, but his day to day life can be mundane, although he notices things in a different way. But I think I'm just about to get to the juicy stuff because I looked at the book itself in the library and the chapter I'm on talks about guns. Duhn duhn duhn. Also I wouldn't mind reading this in French, I think it would be fun.
Okay that is all for now.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Day 5. Sigh.
Well, it's the end of day five. And it's not going so well. My first book was Tess of the D'urbervilles. It's a great book, but I should be two-thirds the way through my second book, not one hundred pages into the first. I think it will be better once school is all done. But still.
Tess is racy. But only in a way that 19th century literature can be. I am enjoying it though. More later. I should go read now.
Tess is racy. But only in a way that 19th century literature can be. I am enjoying it though. More later. I should go read now.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Today is the day!
So I had planned to start reading today. However, it is now very close to my bedtime and I really don't think I'll get much done. I think it may be a few days before I get into full swing. I've got to finish school and then it'll be okay that I sleep so late.
I still haven't even picked a first book. I collected all the books that I have in my room and put them in one place. There's about a dozen. I think there's more in the rest of the house though.
Also, a slight change has been made to the list. Instead of reading Crime and Punishment by some Russian guy whose last name I can't remember or spell, I am going to read the Brothers Karasmov because I will be reading that one for my honors seminar this fall at Dominican.
So yeah, I'm going to get off here and go read.
I still haven't even picked a first book. I collected all the books that I have in my room and put them in one place. There's about a dozen. I think there's more in the rest of the house though.
Also, a slight change has been made to the list. Instead of reading Crime and Punishment by some Russian guy whose last name I can't remember or spell, I am going to read the Brothers Karasmov because I will be reading that one for my honors seminar this fall at Dominican.
So yeah, I'm going to get off here and go read.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
THE LIST
This blog is going to document my Summer Reading List 2006. I've made up a list of forty books, classics, that I haven't read and that I feel I should before I start college in the fall. I'm not confident I can finish all forty, I'd be happy with twenty-five, but we'll see. I have a fairly empty summer so I should have a lot of time on my hands.
Bascially, I went through pages and pages of other people's top however many and made my selection from those. Obviously, I only chose books I haven't read. If you see something that is really important missing, let me know, but I probably read it already.
I plan to start in May sometime, at the end of school. If I start at the beginning of May, I'll have a good four months before college. That's ten books a month. Two and a half books a week. A book almost every three days. So I don't know. If you'll notice, all these books are heavy. Like blue whale heavy.
Okay I just looked up blue whale to make sure that was the right whale reference and those things are freaking huge. Baby ones gain 200 pounds every 24 hours. That's intense.
Anyway. Here's the list.
Bascially, I went through pages and pages of other people's top however many and made my selection from those. Obviously, I only chose books I haven't read. If you see something that is really important missing, let me know, but I probably read it already.
I plan to start in May sometime, at the end of school. If I start at the beginning of May, I'll have a good four months before college. That's ten books a month. Two and a half books a week. A book almost every three days. So I don't know. If you'll notice, all these books are heavy. Like blue whale heavy.
Okay I just looked up blue whale to make sure that was the right whale reference and those things are freaking huge. Baby ones gain 200 pounds every 24 hours. That's intense.
Anyway. Here's the list.
Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid's Tale
Austen, Jane. Mansfield Park
Austen, Jane. Northanger Abbey
Burgess, Anthony. A Clockwork Orange
Camus, Albert. The Stranger
Capote, Truman. In Cold Blood
Cather, Willa. My Antonia
Chopin, Kate. The Awakening
Dostoyevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment
Eliot, George. Middlemarch
Faulkner, William. The Sound and the Fury
Flaubert, Gustav. Madame Bovary
Hardy, Thomas. Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter
Heller, Joseph. Catch-22
Hemingway, Ernest. A Farewell to Arms
Hugo, Victor. Les Miserbles
James, Henry. The Portrait of a Lady
Joyce, James. The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Joyce, James. Ulysses
Kafka, Franz. The Trial
Kerouac, Jack. On the Road
Melville, Herman. Moby Dick
Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman
Mitchell, Margaret. Gone with the Wind
More, Sir Thomas. Utopia
Nabokov, Vladimir. Lolita
Orwell, George. 1984
Orwell, George. Animal Farm
Plath, Sylvia. The Bell Jar
Proust, Marcel. Swann's Way
Rand, Ayn. The Fountainhead
Sinclair, Upton. The Jungle
Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath
Thackeray, William Makepeace. Vanity Fair
Tolstoy, Leo. War and Peace
Vonnegut, Kurt. Slaughterhouse Five
Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Grey
Williams, Tennessee. The Glass Menagerie
Woolf, Virginia. Mrs. Dalloway
RULES:
1) Do not read more than two books at a time. You may only start a new book if you have finished a book.
2) If reading gets too heavy, reader may select a lighter book that is not from the list as long as the book is less than 300 pages and was written in the last decade.
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