Lost at sea.

Scribblings of a mad woman.

More than a year later, I’ve managed to summon enough courage to crawl out of my hidey-hole and share a face-reddeningly* embarrassing incident with you all. And yes, it is related to the second book we were meant to read and review: The Count of Monte Cristo. Let’s just say I got lost while trying to navigate this classic.

It may come as a surprise to some that I’ve managed to get through life thus far without coming across the plot of this book at school, uni, work or even in film form. Eager to get started, I went to my nearest bookstore but they didn’t have it in stock. Undeterred, I went to the bookshop near my work but no luck there either. Instead of doing the sensible thing and going to the library, I decided I was going to take advantage of the Google Play store’s generous offer to let me read this book for free on my phone! At that time, my first ever smart phone was still a shiny new toy and I thought it’d be fun and frugal to download the book and read it on a tiny 4” LCD screen.  Not paying much attention to the fine print at the front of the book, I dived into the task at hand with gusto. I didn’t want to read a summary or a teaser or speak to anyone who may inadvertently spoil it for me. For whatever reason, I was compelled by my subconscious to read this book with blind faith and I coerced myself into believing it would be an adventure letting the pages tell their tale. So when my fellow reviewer – Monica – asked if I’d reached the part where the Count had escaped from jail, I hushed her with a: “Please don’t give anything away.”

From the get-go, I found the book difficult to understand. Characters were popping out left, right, centre and it felt as though there were many plot twists which I’d have to uncover. I thought I was reading a mystery. Out came my notebook and pen as I started jotting down character names, relationships, scenarios and motives. It was all a puzzle and I felt quite the detective piecing this jigsaw together. As the harsh light of the phone pierced my retinas and forced me to take the aide of reading glasses, I ignored the hand cramps and neck spasms as I persevered with the story via the uncomfortable medium of this tiny gadget. Colleagues kept asking how I was coming along with this lengthy novel. Totalling at 620 pages I thought it was a pretty standard length and my quizzical looks were met with their equally confused ones.

When I finished the book I didn’t feel a hundred per cent satisfied as there were still a fair few questions my note-taking hadn’t answered and the book had ended. I felt pretty clever, having figured out who the villains were and what relationship they all had with the Count of Monte Cristo but it didn’t quite add up. Trying to ignore the prickle of unease that was threatening my stomach, I decided I should watch the 2002 onscreen adaptation of this classic tale. The beginning did not match that of the book. I stopped watching it, thinking they'd interpreted the word “adaptation” rather loosely. I found a 1998 TV mini-series, starring Gérard Depardieu, and thought the French would’ve done justice to Alexandre Dumas’ literary work. But that too started in the same fashion as the previous film. It was only when I decided to share this wonderful Google app on Facebook so others could read it for free as well that I noticed the little note in the description saying in two volumes. I opened the app on my phone and went through it again. On the front page, in tiny, grainy font, there it was: Volume 2. I had started the book in the middle. I had skipped the first 600 or so pages. That’s why it felt short. That’s why the characters weren’t given backgrounds. That’s why it felt like a mystery. That’s why every time I described it as such to family and friends, I was met with perplexed expressions. In my eagerness to tackle this novel without at least reading a synopsis I had royally stitched myself up for failure.

Oh the shame of it all.

It just goes to show, there is no such thing a free ticket. Terms and conditions always apply and for goodness sake, read the freakin’ fine print. And I should know this, I work in advertising, where dotting the i's and crossing the t's is a daily activity. I'm meant to possess great attention to detail!

I felt rather despondent and depressed and unfairly angry at the book. I was in two minds about sharing this sorry saga and cementing my image as a rash, fumbling clutz. But I feel there needs to be an explanation for my absence. Since then, I have (stubbornly) gone out and purchased a copy of the said book. And I will be posting a review of it shortly.

But before that, there is another exciting book I need to talk about. It’s not a classic yet, but it is bound to become a modern-day classic. It is Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. This is a book I’ve had on my shelf for almost a year, and only have gotten around to reading recently. I’ll be posting my review on it by the weekend. It’s an important book and I think it needs to be shared, read and spoken about by everyone. (That is, if anyone will take anything I have to say seriously after this little debacle.)

*Reddeningly apparently isn’t a word. Whatevs.

One Year Anniversary~!

Yes, we are still alive.

Now that this important detail has been addressed, let's move on to other matters.

This day last year, we three booketeers decided that we would spend 2013 improving ourselves by reading and reviewing a large collection of classic books. Our goal was 100 books. We completed 1 (and a half). Needless to say, we have decided to set a slightly more attainable goal for 2014 so as not to drown in bitter failure again.

Watch this space for more thought-provoking reviews and entertaining tales of our adventures (and misadventures) through fantasy realms, long-forgotten places and down the hallways of history.

Happy 2014~!

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Anne Elliot, our heroine, is the second daughter of Sir Walter Elliot, a pompous, vain and shallow Baron. The book starts with Sir Walter and his favourite daughter, Elizabeth, pondering means of reducing expenses without altering their lavish lifestyle. Elizabeth suggests cutting back on charitable donations. The family’s neighbour and close friend, and Anne’s dearest confidante – Lady Russell – tries helping them budget the household expenses. Sir Walter refuses to compromise and give up the finer things in life that a Baron is accustomed to. Despite Anne’s wishes of relocating into a smaller house in the country, Mr Shepherd – the family lawyer – convinces Sir Walter to move to a smaller house in Bath that still has an air of opulence, albeit on a smaller scale so it won’t hurt their pocket. Mr Shepherd also coaxes Sir Walter into renting out their Kellynch property to Admiral Croft and his wife. Despite the Baron’s dislike of naval officers due to their weather-beaten appearance and the fact they gain recognition and fortune on their merit as sailors, rather than being born to money and a noble family lineage, he decides to let the Crofts rent it, because when questioned by others, saying “I have let my house to Admiral Croft would sound extremely well; very much better than to any Mr –”

Anne’s world is sent into turmoil by this news – Mrs Croft is the sister of Captain Fredrick Wentworth, a naval officer whom Anne had fallen in love with and was courted by 8 years ago. He had wanted to marry her and she had accepted, but because he was poor and from a lower class family, Sir Walter had been against it. His disapproval wasn’t what deterred Anne; it was Lady Russell’s objection to the match. Young Anne had lost her mother and lived in a household where she was treated like a second class citizen whose likes, dislikes and happiness were of no consequence and Lady Russell was the only person who showed genuine parental affection towards Anne. So when Lady Russell advised her to not accept Captain Wentworth’s proposal, Anne grudgingly yet dutifully listened. Now twenty-seven, Anne has matured and lived enough to deeply regret her decision. She is still in love with Captain Wentworth and has refused at least one offer of marriage.

Ever the dutiful daughter and sister, when her father and Elizabeth go to set up residence in Bath, she goes to her younger sister Mary’s house in Uppercross (not too far from Kellynch) to look after her. Mary has hypochondriac tendencies, and Anne with her soothing and sensible ways is always able to bring Mary back to health and good spirits. It seems fortune favours Anne with this turn of events as it allows her to reacquaint herself with Captain Wentworth. Everything that follows is a culmination of 8 years of heartache, hurt, sorrow and unfulfilled love, intertwined with 19th Century  English country life and high society drama.

Austen, at least in this book, portrays the world in either black or white with not much room for grey, so someone is either good or bad. The many characters she brings to life in Persuasion allow her to balance these out, bringing forth human weaknesses: pretension, snobbery, callousness and offsetting them with human strengths: forgiveness, decency and kindness to create a tale that is funny, heart-warming and in many ways still relevant today.

I found myself exasperated by Sir Walter, Elizabeth and Mary. But I have to admit – their conceited views and outlandish behaviour made me laugh out loud. It seems the only sensible Elliot is Anne and at first I was afraid she was going to be portrayed as a victimised martyr but as the book progresses, you get to see her calm and collected character grow. She keeps her cool and takes in stride what life throws her way. I found it a little difficult at times to keep up with the numerous characters but it wasn't overwhelming. I've had this book for a few years now and I've half-heartedly tried reading it twice before. The first page was the biggest hurdle, especially as it starts with the Baron boasting about himself and glowing in self admiration. This time, I resisted the urge to snap the book shut and put it back on the shelf and was rewarded with a story that entertained and excited me into finishing the novel quickly and then watching both the 1995 and 2007 TV films. I preferred the earlier version as it stayed true to the tone of the book whereas the 2007 remake tried making it a more dark and grim account when it wasn't!

I hope you've been persuaded into giving Austen’s last completed work a chance to grow on you too.

If you've already read it, feel free to share your thoughts.

The plot thickens...

We printed out a list of 100 Classic Books - the UK and the US version - courtesy of ever helpful Wikipedia.  We highlighted the ones we've already read. We decided on the 5 titles we’ll attempt first by drawing them out of a box. We created a book club and tried encouraging our co-workers to join. We tried luring them with cross stitched book marks and a chance to cultivate their minds. So far we are the only two members. Some of our friends have told us they’ll like us on FB and follow our blog if we were to set one up, and so here we are. We've finished the first book and hopefully we’ll have more members by the time we’re onto our third book (at least). We’re ever optimistic!

Stay tuned for our upcoming reviews and thoughts on the first book, Jane Austen's Persuasion.

P.S. We have recruited a third member, just in time for the second book: The Count of Monte Cristo.

The lightbulb moment, or have we lost the plot?

In an attempt to broaden our knowledge and open our minds, and ultimately, have the ability to say “yes, we too have read this classic must-read by such-and-such incredible author that you all speak of”, we have taken on the task of reading the classics such as Persuasion by Jane Austen, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott and Vanity Fair by William Thackeray, to name just a few. A year that’s seeing so many epic books hit the big screen: Les Misèrables, The Hobbit, Anna Karenina and The Life of Pi, we got to talking about how some of these widely rejoiced books are easy reads whereas others are a challenge. And although we are avid readers, contemporary fiction is more to our liking, yet somehow or other the conversation led to excitement about these historic novels and we talked ourselves into starting the new year by taking one of Mark Twain’s quotes “Classic - a book which people praise and don’t read” and almost challenging ourselves to do the opposite and read these books that are so often praised.