I finished Jane Eyre. And I think my appetite for Brit lit has been quenched for a while. The introduction quotes a review from a June, 1855 publication of Sharpe’s London Magazine saying, “Imagine a novel with a little swarthy governess for a heroine, and a middle-aged ruffian for hero.” That just about sums it up. I thought ‘swarthy’ meant something along the lines of saucy, surly, or smart-alecky. Turns out it means having a dark complexion. But from my reading, Jane was a pasty lass. Hmm.
Anyway, it’s a nice little book, if you can stand having to turn to the back for the occasional definition. I still think if you’re after a wild story and graceful writing, you’d do better with Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, et al.
I also finished the Lance Armstrong book. This was his first book, the one in which he describes his beginnings with competitive cycling, his fight with cancer, and the marriage to his x-wife. It’s an inspirational story to say the least. That guy is not human. He did nonhuman things. If you’re looking for a quick read and a touching story, this is it.
Up next, I plan to slog through the rest of the Stephen Hawking book and then head to Half Price to see what I can’t find. I’ve heard this book and this book are good. Any other recommendations?
Comments (5)
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steve, what's SO funny is i tried reading don quixote and had to stop. the reason? it had too many words. my friend annie said, "man, if HEATHER thought it had too many words, i'll never make it through." she thinks i'm garrulous or something.
Posted by heatherfeather | February 10, 2007 8:16 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:16
URL: http://stevehouchin.blogspot.com
I've enjoyed reading Don Quixote in my day; it's not the easiest read, but it's good. As far as classics go, I'd avoid anything by James Fenimore Cooper. I've tried to read the Last of the Mohicans and the Deerslayer. They both were painfully difficult to read. For contemporary stuff, you can't go wrong with a hard-boiled Elmore Leonard book, which doesn't require any heavy thinking, and David L. Robbins paints excellent pictures of World War 2 fiction. My wife is a big fan of Tom Robbins, which I never got into, but others seem to really enjoy. Perhaps that will help?
Posted by Steve | February 10, 2007 8:16 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:16
URL: http://
it turns out i hate reading anything in translation. except for crime and punishment, but other than that it's more worth my while to learn the language and read the original. and who has time for that? anyhow, as far as metafictionindie lit goes, dive into some david foster wallace - the sort of guy you either love or hate. i always recomment infinite jest, but if you don't have the time for that, try the girl with curious hair - a great collection of short stories, albeit with a crap novella at the end. or if you want a novel, try his broom of the system. other stuff that makes me happy is tristan egolf's lord of the barnyard, and sherman alexie's lone ranger and tonto fistfight in heaven, and ken kesey's sometimes a great notion.
Posted by heatherfeather | February 10, 2007 8:16 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:16
URL: http://
cool, i like books that piss me off, those are the best. i wasn't aware not signing up for McSweewhatever Quarterly makes one a pussy. i've never heard of it. i guess that's why i depend on you to direct me to all the hip indy media sources, Mr. Hip Indy Media Man.
Posted by p-man | February 10, 2007 8:16 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:16
URL: http://
the friedman book is likely to piss you off. freakonomics is great. don't be a pussy, just subscribe to the mcsweeney's quarterly. it's full of indy lit and a lot easier than trying to figure out what indy lit is. plus, the most recent book came with a dvd that included an episode of the turkish version of "the jefferson's". you can't argue with that.
Posted by skorloff | February 10, 2007 8:16 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:16