OMG!!! I can’t believe this. This is no less than an achievement. To read Ducks, Newburyport is a journey, an experience in itself. Nothing like I eveOMG!!! I can’t believe this. This is no less than an achievement. To read Ducks, Newburyport is a journey, an experience in itself. Nothing like I ever read before. Very tough to get through at times yet the pages flew by on some days. There is no plot, there is no character development. It’s stream of consciousness. I can’t say I loved it. I can’t say I hated it. However, I can say I went in with too many expectations, I did expect the ending to atleast wrap up what this 1000 page was trying to cover. It didn’t, the last line was also a monologue. I think this book wasn’t for me or may be I wasn’t ready for Ducks, Newburyport YET....more
"A human being in this aged nation of ours is a very wonderful whole, the slow creation of long interchanging influences; and charm is a r
5/5 stars
"A human being in this aged nation of ours is a very wonderful whole, the slow creation of long interchanging influences; and charm is a result of two wholes, the one loving and the one loved."
Before I decided to pick up Middlemarch, I watched this video on YouTube from Benjamin's channel about how to read Middlemarch where he says the best way to savor the book was to read it slowly, probably a chapter a day. The edition I was reading had 87 chapters, which means, following the process, it would take me almost 3 months to read this beauty. In the video, he also beautifully explains how well it fits in the category of a perfect bedtime book. I wholeheartedly recommend you watch that video because my experience of reading Middlemarch couldn't have been better if I read the book quickly to wrap it up by the end of the year 2023(that was the last book I was reading).
Let me tell you, the book is a gem. They'll tell you this is a long read, so intimidating, complex cast of characters, it will take ages to finish this, and you'll not be able to follow the writing style, but, if you read this slowly taking time with it, you'll know what I'm talking about. I'm a slow reader and I love reading big books, so I got quickly into the book not knowing any insight about the story, reading a chapter a day, slowly after Book 3, it became difficult for me to stop reading Middlemarch. George Eliot had done her job! Instead of reading it in 3 months, I finished it in less than 1.5 months.
I cannot begin to tell you how engaging the story is. With every turning chapter, you get to know more about Middlemarch and the people living in it. It was like watching a TV Drama. It made me laugh, and cry and rekindled my belief that humanity's abilities are worth all the pain and suffering that comes along with them.
I believe, Middlemarch can proudly be placed alongside all other towering achievements of literature. It was my favorite read of 2023. All glowing 5 stars to this classic.
With this, completing 11 of 339 from The Rory Gilmore Reading List.
2/5 stars
"No one who can read, ever looks at a book, even unopened on a shelf, l
With this, completing 11 of 339 from The Rory Gilmore Reading List.
2/5 stars
"No one who can read, ever looks at a book, even unopened on a shelf, like one who cannot."
This is the only book among the eleven books I've read that disappointed me the most. The first few chapters came with a bang, especially the first chapter and set my hopes really high not to mention the fact that I must be in for something good because I was reading a book by Dickens. Wasn't I? It really didn't feel like. Alright, I've to give it to Dickens for the first few chapters, but rest of book was trash. Let's just say I'm glad I'm done with the book so that I can now tick it off my tbr list and move on to the next one.
I've read only three books by him including Our Mutual Friend. I loved reading A Christmas Carol as well as Great Expectations and you know about Our Mutual Friend. Although, I'm not giving up on Dickens. Actually, I've plans of reading all of his works. I know, some will be good, some will be bad but you have to read Dickens, don't you think? After all, he has given so much to the field of literature. Also, are you even a reader if you haven't read a book by Dickens?
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I opened the book to this beautiful illustrated first page of my copy of Our Mutual Friend, the last complete novels by Charles Dickens. Reading the first chapter, I knew I was in for another five star read. But, everything ended up going in the opposite direction.
"In these times of ours, though concerning the exact year there is no need to be precise, a boat of dirty and disreputable appearance, with two figures in it, floated on the Thames, between Southwark Bridge which is of iron, and London Bridge which is of stone, as an autumn evening was closing in."
Had you opened a book to these opening lines, would you not feel : Wow! I'm going to have a great time with the book? The first chapter was one of the best opening chapters I've read so far. It was simply PERFECT.
A man and his daughter rowing a boat and discussing about something that was making me feel uncomfortable. I was like, I want to know them. I want to know what happened to them. Why that happened to them and how is that going to change things for them. The next few chapters were introduction to new characters that made me feel it will be interesting untangling the knots. As the chapters kept moving, I realized it was going into depth of these new side characters which, frankly speaking, I wasn't paying much head into. I wanted to know about Lizzie. I wanted to learn more about her. Alas, that didn't happen. Then, I made peace with it expecting at least a satisfying ending. But, No. Why Charles Dickens?
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It wasn't only the huge number of unnecessary side characters that destroyed the story for me, it was also the numerous irrelevant subplots that made my reading experience pathetic. Those were my two main problems reading the novel. Overall, the experience was confusing, difficult to follow and majorly boring. I could have held with the bad experience had the ending been worth the pain. The ending was so disappointing. The way the story ended, from my point of view, it was impossible to feel satisfied, especially after reading 820 pages. The only reason I read Our Mutual Friend is because of Dickens and I will still continue to read his other novels.
I might also count Our Mutual Friend among my worst reads of 2022. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to the day when I can say - 'This is why I read Dickens'. Till then, happy reading y'all.
Review Posted: 01 September 2022.
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With this, completing 10 of 339 from The Rory Gilmore Reading List.
4.5/5 stars
Yet another book from the rory gilmore reading list that I enjoyed readiWith this, completing 10 of 339 from The Rory Gilmore Reading List.
4.5/5 stars
Yet another book from the rory gilmore reading list that I enjoyed reading. The show didn't disappoint me, neither did its reading list. I'd a fantastic time reading Vanity Fair.
"Are not there little chapters in everybody's life, that seem to be nothing, and yet affect all the rest of the history?"
Would you be convinced to read Vanity Fair if I told you that this is a novel without heroes. No? Okay. Would you be convinced enough to read it if I told you that Vanity Fair was an inspiration for Tolstoy's War and Peace? Yes? Thought so.
At first, I was intimidated by the size of the book, but once I started reading the first chapter, there was not stopping it. I just could not put the book down. Thackeray created a classic that stood the test of time and that can still keep us on our toes. Throughout the novel I felt like I was reading a drama series. And I mean that in the best possible way.
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Becky Sharp is one who is a master in manipulation. You might hate her but you can't pretend that you don't admire her cleverness and practical attitude. Amelia, on the other hand is the purest soul you can find on Earth. If I've to describe both, Becky is the brain whereas, Amelia is the heart.
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I'd read Gone with the Wind just before Vanity Fair and I somehow found analogy between two of the characters of Vanity Fair to that of Gone with the Wind. Becky's character was somewhat similar to Scarlett O'Hara's and Amelia's character was similar to that of Melanie's. Having said that I want to state this too that Scarlett O'Hara was cleverer. Scarlett was written by a woman after all.
"A woman may possess the wisdom and chastity of Minerva, and we give no heed to her, if she has a plain face. What folly will not a pair of bright eyes make pardonable? What dullness may not red lips are sweet accents render pleasant? And so, with their usual sense of justice, ladies argue that because a woman is handsome, therefore she is a fool. O ladies, ladies! there are some of you who are neither handsome nor wise."
Vanity Fair has brilliance and we can't deny it. I'm glad I read it and experienced Thackeray's satire. His writing style was so on point. It was infuriating. It revealed awful truths about the world we live in. Thackeray didn't care if his readers were having a great time with the novel. He wanted to make a statement. He wanted to disturb us from our comfortable seats and boy do I love him for that.
I would like to end my review with a question that I'm leaving for you. Should we be like Rebecca, smart, intelligent and practical who knows how to extract the best out of a situation and transform according to the situation's demand? Or should we continue to live by our qualities and virtues and never change just to gain worldly belongings?
Review Posted: 19 August 2022.
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With this, completing 8 of 339 from The Rory Gilmore Reading List.
5/5 stars
"Hardships make or break people."
Scarlett O'Hara doesn't hold herself lWith this, completing 8 of 339 from The Rory Gilmore Reading List.
5/5 stars
"Hardships make or break people."
Scarlett O'Hara doesn't hold herself like every other girl. Full of spirit and courage, she can climb onto trees like other boys. She doesn't find interest in girly conversations. Scarlett is unlike other girls. She loves herself. Yes, we all should. The stubborn Scarlett O'Hara. When she wants something, she gets it anyhow. She is soft in one instance and bold in the other. I want to applaud you for certain things you did. For most parts, she is stupid, selfish, and spoiled.
It takes guts to write the main character like that. I can see why this is a classic. The book is a monster.
Before I go further with my thoughts, I want to address the fact that the unjust treatment of black, the description of racism, and other Civil War-era activities made me really sad. There were times when I felt why is this happening and how long is this going to happen. Reading about it meant feeling about it.
"Most of the misery of the world has been caused by wars."
Honestly speaking, Gone with the Wind stands to be the most tragic, disturbing, engrossing, and epic piece of literature I've ever read.
The book was 800 pages long, and I was expecting something good to happen in the story. At least somewhere in the story. To my disappointment, the way the story turned in the last part was upsetting. I read the last 50 pages with my jaws wide open, unable to believe that it was going to be THAT tragically sad. It never got happy. There wasn't any redemption.
I finished reading Gone with the Wind last week. It took me a few days to absorb the story. To gather my shattered thoughts to sit back and write about it. No matter how unlikeable the main character was, I'm still thinking about her days after I've finished reading Gone with the Wind. This book deserves the highest rating for creating that strong effect on the reader. Besides, who doesn't like an emotional roller coaster ride?
War destroys not only a region but an entire civilization for thousands of people. Gone with the Wind. And you can see Margaret Mitchell mourning for the lost era on every page. I think I'll pause for a while every time I hear about Gone with the Wind.
I think everyone should read this book at least once in their lifetime to understand the loss that envelops the lives of people affected by war. If you haven't read this Pulitzer Prize winner, go read it, because it could very well be one of the best books you've ever read.
Review Posted: 13 July 2022.
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