Don Quixote

This book has definitely set some new records for me. I started reading Don Quixote in my enthusiasm for this new goal of reading through Rory's books.  That was April of 2015. Now we are in March of 2016 and I just finished it.

It had been a book that I was interested in, and had actually purchased from Barnes and Noble from a previous "I'm going to read classics" stage. But this book is intense. My copy has 891 pages, with little words.

Added to my trouble with this book is that unlike modern novels, for most of it there wasn't a huge draw to the story. It really had nothing hooking that made me desperate to read it, but was comprised of lots of little vignettes, sometimes funny, usually interesting, but not too connected to other parts.

For my own sanity, it wasn't the only book I was reading. I read a bunch of other books throughout the course of the year, but continued to force myself to keep putting some time into this super classic, determined to finish it.

As 2016 rolled around, and I still wasn't done, I decided to make a final push to get this book finished. I have never even come close to taking a year to read a book, even thousand page books, and I wasn't about to not finish this one in a year. So, I downloaded the audiobook, and started listening to it.

Not only did it really help it get read while I did dishes, folded laundry or drove somewhere (without the kids in the car, I don't think they could handle this book), but it helped me understand it better, and gave an amazing voice and depth to the characters which I hadn't picked up on my own. 

The funny thing is that once I finished, I decided it deserved four out of five stars. Sure, it isn't hooking, but there were a lot of great things about it.

The friendship of the two main characters is genuine, and is proven time and again through the rough trials they go through together. When Quixote isn't being crazy, he has really good advice and wisdom, which I literally wrote down to remember later- it was that good.

My favorite is, "Always remember who you are, and endeavor to know yourself... pride yourself on performing worthy actions."

Even though he does ridiculous dumb things, when people started to give him flak for it, he immediately can go into "wisdom mode" and talk about how his illusions only lead him to try to travel the world searching for good to do, and how that isn't a bad thing.

There were scenes that had me cracking up laughing, which is really impressive considering that it is a book hundreds of years old, not the modern humor at all.

As hard as it was to get through, as long as it took me to get through, it is hard for me to say that everyone should read this book. But at the same time, I can say that I am glad that I read it. It might not be as high as a "go read this book" but it definitely wasn't a dislike either.

For the record, I do think it is worth noting that listening to the Yale (go Rory) lectures on itunes U really helped me understand the backstory more, and caught things that I missed just reading through.

Detours, Rabbit Trails, and Walking off the Path

I'm still determined to at some point, not a set date, but a general goal, get through all of the books that Rory was seen reading on the show. But after much wavering, I have decided to allow myself detours.

My original purpose was to open my eyes to new authors and the classics that I hadn't read yet, and get myself out of my little fantasy / past favorite authors rut. I was only reading things that I knew about already, so it was a good exercise for me to get out of my comfort zone and experience a whole new flavor of books.

It has been overall widely successful, and I now have a few authors who I enjoyed their books so much, it made me want to read more of them, but I kept denying myself, because they weren't on "the list." I added them to my to- read list, and decided I would read more of them far in the future, after my full list is complete. I reasoned with myself that I have so many books to get through to achieve my goal that reading books off the list is too much of a detriment to my goal.

I have changed my mind. Reading is for pleasure, my escape, my hobby. I set off on this journey to accomplish a weighty goal, but also to find new books, and more enjoyment in my reading than I was when I was randomly picking fantasy books and hoping for the best. Why wait years to read more of an author I enjoyed? I discovered a gem, an author whose writing filled my want for books that draw me in and envelope me completely in the story. She is a prolific author, and only two of her books made the list, so I have decided to take a detour.

Her name is Ann Patchett, and the first book of hers I read was Bel Canto (amazing book). Second I read Truth and Beauty, which I will write about later, and how it finished a trilogy of sorts with Autobiography of a Face, which was one of the first Gilmore book list books I read. Truth and Beauty, among other things, talks about her journey to become a writer, and her first book, and it made me want to read it, and as the book continued, it solidified my desire to break off my path, and take a Patchett detour.

With that decision, it opened the flood gates to me deciding to also read more books by other authors that I enjoyed on this journey so far. So it appears that my August/September reading will be a detour, rabbit trail, off the path kind of months, and I am looking forward to it.

Lord of the Ring Series, the books

I have long held the opinion, shared with most of the world, to read the book first, see the movie second. Most of the time, I won't even watch a movie based off a book, unless I have read the book first.

But the Lord of the Rings series was an exception for me. It was a large trilogy, previously started and unfinished, and the movies were too popular to not join with friends and see as they were released.

I loved the movies, how they presented the world of the books, the nuances of characters and was very moved by just the stories presented on the screen. As much as I loved the movies, I loved the books more.

It did take something away, knowing what was coming, but to hear Tolkien's description of the emotions, and depth of the characters that movies just can't come close to bringing across was incredible. I actually cried, at numerous points throughout the books, they were that touching.

I was also pleasantly surprised when I came across the sections that didn't make the movies, and found extra delight in them.

Bottom line, even if you have already watched the movies, these books are worth the time invested in them. If you are short on time, just read the end of The Return of the King, there is a HUGE interesting story about the hobbits return home that is not even close to represented in the movie, and it is quite the interesting end of the book. Plus, you would then be able to read the touching scene where Sam and Frodo part company, and that is worth reading all by itself.

What I learned from it- the power of friendship, and the various ways that friendship is represented in the story. There are friends who fight for you, friends who make you laugh, and friends who stand by your side even through the darkest times, even when you try to push them away. This series is a good reminder that you will never make your goals in life without precious friends getting you through.

The Bell Jar

I rated this book a five, for its ability to keep my interest, and make me want to read it. At the same time, would I recommend it? I'm not sure.

It definitely gave great insight into what the mind of a depressed person looks like, and the prose of her just not wanting to continue living was very well written.

The book has a silver lining ending... but Silvia Plath doesn't, as it is well known that she does eventually end her life, and that makes you leave the book on a down note, because you know that the author eventually stays stuck inside her bell jar, and I pity her.

Catch 22 and Ella Minnow Pea

I didn't intend to juxtapose these two books when I chose to read them close together. But I'm glad I did.

On the surface level, both are silly, ridiculous books that are so far from reality they can be reviewed as pointless, dumb books. 

But at a deeper level, both are a commentary on government, albeit in different ways. 

It took towards the end of Catch 22 for me to enjoy it, the rest was too ludicrous for my taste (think Monty Python silly).

On the other hand, I very much enjoyed the quick read of Ella Minnow Pea and highly recommend it. A brilliant feature is the author's ability to write with increasingly less of the alphabet and still bring across an interesting story. 

Both, if looked at from the deeper level, leave you thinking about the problems inherent in government and bureaucracy and while knowing that things aren't quite as bad as these books portray, it makes you wonder if we aren't almost as bad. 

Bottom line as a review- read Ella Minnow Pea. If you choose to try to battle through Catch 22, make it to the end to get the book's many ongoing jokes/ story lines. 

The Joy Luck Club

My short goodreads review: "Sad at times, but felt very real and helped me understand two different cultures more. Kept my interest throughout."

This book is many things, and that is probably why it was/is so popular.

It has an element of historical fiction as you hear the stories of the mothers, but it also has somewhat historical fiction even with the daughters at this point.

It it about the complex relationships between parents and their children, which hits close to home for me as I can sympathize with both the daughters and the mothers as I am now a mother myself. You, as a mom, want so much for your kids, but you know that ultimately they have to make their own choices in life. At the same time, I have felt as a daughter the friction caused by a difference of opinion between my mom and myself.

It was mostly eye opening in the knowledge of what it feels like to grow up so mixed between the culture of your parent's country compared to the country that is your own county. I have no personal knowledge on that front, having never experienced that kind of a culture clash within the home, but I found it very interesting. 

Brick Lane

The biggest themes from this book are about fate and having the power to choose your own path.

It made me think a lot about marriages and relationships. The main character is forced into an arranged marriage, that like any marriage, has its ups and downs.

I wonder who my parents would pick for me, and if I would approve of their choice. On the other hand, another character in the story chose her own husband, against the wishes of her parents, and her story doesn't go as she intended either.

I think the author is trying to make a point of the contrast that neither is absolutely true. We don't have to surrender our lives to the will of fate or God and sit back passive and let life pass us by, but we also can't believe that we control everything. Whatever name you give to it, there are always going to be circumstances beyond your control that you then can make choices based on those uncontrollable actions.

Da Vinci Code

I have avoided reading this book for years, despite the wave of positive reviews and its status as a "must read" book for a good section of time. The biggest reason for the avoidance was the negative reviews that it got by Christians as being heretical and completely against what the Bible teaches, and leads people astray.

As it was on "the list" I was able to push past these misgivings, and just judge it on its own.

Honestly, I enjoyed it. It had a very drawing story, lots of symbolism and word play, and I didn't find the big mystery as heretical as I thought it would.

Without giving up the plot to anyone who hasn't read it, I think that the big mystery/secret of the secret society is not implausible, nor is it directly against anything that I have read in the Bible, and some of their arguments are solid in my opinion.

While I don't approve of the described society's rituals, it doesn't detract too deeply from the possibility of the mystery/secret.

My big takeaway- things are not always what they appear, so give items the time and consideration they deserve.