Favorite Books

Currently Reading:

The Historian – Elizabeth Kostova

The protagonist dives into the history behind Vlad the Impaler–AKA Dracula–and discovers a relational link that may connect her with his bloodline (ha…BLOODline…). I’m a fan of vampire myth and am in need of an intellectual who can give me something worth reading. (Yes, that was a jab at Stephenie Meyer. Her vampire myth is intriguing…except for that whole sunlight glitter thing…but the romance is too schmaltzy. Besides, I’m not a fan of her writing style. And, at one point, I was hoping Jacob would kick Edward’s ass. There, I said it.)

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Fun Fact: Ben Barnes, aka Prince Caspian, is playing Dorian Gray in a new 2009 British version of the novel, also starring Colin Firth as ol’ Lord Henry and Rachel Hurd-Wood (aka WENDY from the more recent live-action Peter Pan film!) as Sybil Vane. Sweet Lord, I’m so excited. I have to see this film one way or another, even if it means hunting down a Region 1 DVD from some UK online seller (amazon? ebay?). I knew I loved Ben Barnes. I knew it. Try and convince me that he won’t be a superb Dorian. I dare you.

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Atlas Shrugged – Ayn Rand

This is up there with Ulysses–come hell or high water. I’m going to rank this among my reading accomplishments once grad school is over (hello, summer of 2009!). I started it (and really loved it) before grad school consumed my very existence. Ayn Rand’s writing is incredible. I wish I could write as well as she! Maybe someday, especially if I actually finish the book–I may inherit (or would “absorb” be a better word here?) some of her skill. I look forward to picking this back up soon–grad school cannot last forever! And I’m comforted to know that I still have Sparknotes to help me with all of the crazy symbolism (I still turn to Sparknotes, even when I’m planning lessons for my students–just don’t tell THEM that!).

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Pride and Prejudice and Zombies – Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

YES! It’s about time some genius made the classics fun. This has been such a wonderful read–I’m enjoying every minute! I’m also reading the real Pride and Prejudice with it to keep the real story in mind as I take in his subtle differences, like this little gem in dialogue:

Mr. Darcy approached them soon afterwards. Elizabeth turned to him and said, “Did you not think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at Meryton?”

“With great energy; but balls are always a subject which makes a lady energetic.”

BEAUTIFUL! Brilliant! And completely hilarious. I’m a fan.

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The Curse of the Mistwraith – Janny Wurts

This book has been an interesting read so far due to several reasons. (1) Wurts’s writing is neither boring nor contrived! She really makes her story interesting with developing conflict, looming danger, and great character development. She and I also see eye-to-eye concerning the brother we both love, which, of course, I greatly appreciate. (2) Even if I put this book down and read something else (which I’ve had to do thanks to graduate school), I can pick it up and know where I am, what’s happen, and who’s who. THAT is a big accomplishment because a lot of other books and authors cannot claim the same thing. (3) I love Arithon, Master of Shadows. Seriously. He’s quite the antihero so far! <3

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American Gods – Neil Gaiman

I’m a huge fan of Gaiman thanks to Stardust. That one book sealed the deal, and now I want to read everything he’s ever written, including the kid lit. American Gods has not disappointed so far, keeping fantastic characters, weird plot developments (in the best sense of the word, of course–it’s Neil Gaiman), and relateable characters interesting and readable. I’m also reading Neverwhere, which has the same praise from me. I look forward to Anansi Boys and other works of his in the future.

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Worth Reading More Than Once:

(Note: This list is not in any particular order, although Harry Potter is always my number one. Always.)

1. Harry Potter and the . . . (x7) – J.K. Rowling

2. The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde

3. The Lord of the Rings – J.R.R. Tolkien

4. The Magician’s Nephew – C.S. Lewis

5. Hood – Stephen R. Lawhead

6. Fettered for Life – Lillie Devereux Blake

7. The Hero With A Thousand Faces – Joseph Campbell

8. The Scarlet Letter – Nathaniel Hawthorne

9. The Mortal Instruments Trilogy – Cassandra Clare

10. The Alchemist – Paolo Coelho

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Books I Love to Hate

Why not have a section devoted to books that I seem unable to stand? Mind you, this list might be small currently, but it’s sure to grow, what with terrible writers making their fortunes coughstepheniemeyercough.

1. Gustav Flaubert’s Madame Bovary — GOD, what a waste of time that book was! I detested every page, every scenario, almost as much as I hated Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet (which Baz Luhrmann redeemed in my eyes thanks to his lovely 90s version of the tragic tale). Flaubert’s heroine couldn’t be more disgusting, what with her wonton behaviors and gold digging ways. I pitied her more than disliked her, though, but she deserved every ill turn that befell her. There, I said it. < / rant >

Side Note: I’ve actually warmed up to Shakespeare with Othello because I simply love Iago. What a delicious villain! And, as Dr. Eskin will certainly enjoy, Richard III is an incredible play. What an evil, evil man! (I love villains. Always have, always will. I love them even more if they were once heroes.)

2. Kate Chopin’s The Awakening — This novella has infuriated me since the first moment I read it. Emma Pontillier couldn’t be more of a brat, I swear. To me, this isn’t a story about female liberation and sexual awakening; it’s, instead, about a woman who can’t think of her children before herself. Sure, I understand the societal implications–women were wives and mothers, nothing else. However, when a woman rears children and becomes responsible for their well-being, doesn’t that change the liberal-minded feminist into a caregiver, especially when such delicate and innocent lives rely so heavily upon her? I pitied her sons to the point that I rejoiced in her drowning. That sounds incredibly cold, but what tortures would her sons face in society with a loose mother and an emasculated father? What about their futures, even though it’s within a severely patriarchal society? What about them? And Emma’s efforts were all empty because she couldn’t keep a man. How did she expect to succeed when the man she really loved was just as patriarchal as the man she was already married to? Robert wasn’t going to change or go against the society he knows so well. What did Emma expect? < / rant # 2 >

3. Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga — I know, I know. I’ve read them all several times, giving them enough chances to somehow redeem themselves, but I just can’t do it. They’re terrible books. Bella is too much of an Everygirl to really define herself to me. I don’t want to relate to her. I want to know her. Give her a personality of her own outside of her clumsiness. I want her to be someone completely unique, not just some Plain Jane with indistinguishbile features (brown hair and eyes and pale skin? really? what about a lifelong desire to have it cut short and spikey?) And about her own self-esteem regarding those simple looks–she’s beautiful, but she doesn’t know it. That’s too COMMON! All girls are like that. For once, I’d like a heroine who realizes that being a woman is quite possibly one of the greatest gifts bestowed upon her by God. True, I can’t help but love Edward, but even he’s unlikeable at times–controlling, overprotective, and metrosexually dressed (who lets his sister dress him anyway?) all while driving a Volvo. How manly. (Stephenie Meyer did redeem him somewhat by giving him an Astin Martin Vanquish. Nice touch.) Bella is another heroine that I simply cannot stand. I found myself hoping that James would bleed her dry if Edward wouldn’t do it himself. I can’t tell you how excited I was in New Moon with the thought of Bella dangerously injuring herself to the point where turning her into a vampire would be unavoidable to “save” her life. Oh, and don’t even talk to me about Breaking Dawn. The only enjoyable parts of that book were the Jacob chapters. I love his character, I cannot deny it. < / rant # 3 >

I’ve noticed that, so far, the books I hate are mostly about women who do a terrible job as heroines. Hm. Thankfully I’m writing my own heroine who’s up to snuff–an Ellen Ripley of Alien fame meets Hermione Granger from HP. We’ll see how it turns out.