Alana Estelle

We’re going to talk about something cheery in literature today; adultery. As I continue to add new books to my TBR and glance at some of the titles on my shelves, I’m increasingly surprised (and fascinated) that so many novels are centered around unfaithful spouses. More specifically, I’m interested in this theme from books written between the mid-1800s to around 1970. 

My interest was initially piqued after I finished reading Anna Karenina, because I noticed similarities between Anna and Emma in Madam Bovary. These narratives were written by men and what happens to these characters because of their adultery is extreme. Would a woman have written this way? How do men and women write about adultery? How are men written about who are also unfaithful?

There is so much that can be analyzed here about how women are punished more harshly for the same deeds of men, morality, ethics, loyalty and faithfulness in marriage, trust in relationships, the fragility of the family structure, the impact of adultery etc. Most people would go on and agree that committing adultery is wrong and I agree. I think one reason it is such a prominent theme in literature is because its not uncommon and unhappy marriages are not an anamoly. 

Another book I’m reminded of is Stoner by, John Williams. The husband steps outside of his marriage and commits adultery and his live unravels; so the emphasis is not just on women. I plan to re-read Stoner next year because it is an excellent book. I will read Someone at a Distance by, Dorothy Whipple this year; another story about a husband who breaks his vows. Honestly, if I listed all the books I’ve added to my TBR dealing with this topic, I would bore you all to tears. Two in particular I have my eyes on are The Weather in the Streets by, Rosamund Lehmann and Heartburn by, Nora Ephron. Heartburn in particular is supposed to be rather comical, as the heavily pregnant wife copes with her husband’s infidelity through cooking; I believe there are even recipes in this novel!

As I continue to read more novels regarding adultery, I’m excited to keep you all posted on what I discover and the analysis I pull together. I have enough reading on the topic to last years. 

What is topic in literature that you are fascinated by, even if it is a bit…challenging? Have you read any of the titles I mention here?

***

Anna Karenina by, Leo Tolstoy: ISBN 978-1-784-87195-6

Madam Bovary by, Gustave Flaubert: ISBN: 0978-0-141-39467-1

*** 

Also pictured here: 

Like my bookish content? Follow me on Instagram for more!

“See, Mary, how a good innocent life makes friends all around.” 

- Cranford by, Elizabeth Gaskell. 

Have you read Cranford or any other work by Elizabeth Gaskell?

***

Cranford by, Elizabeth Gaskell: ISBN 978-0-141-19942-9

***

Also pictured here: 

Like my bookish content? Follow me on Instagram for more!

“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs;

 Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers’ eyes;

Being vexed, a sea nourished with loving tears.”

 - Romeo & Juliet, Act I.i.

I’ve read a fair amount of Shakespeare, but this is my first time having read Romeo & Juliet. I think my interest in this play was less than some of the others, because I was trying to avoid the sap and annoyingly dramatic declarations of love. That’s just… not my thing. Now my girl Jane Austen really knows how to write love declarations without making you want to gag. Shakespeare is the epitome of a hyperbole!

I enjoyed Romeo and Juliet, but it’s not my favorite play of Shakespeare’s; that honor is held by Macbeth. This is a story of two families, the Montagues and the Capulets, who have a long standing family feud (cue Family Feud theme music. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Youtube it and thank me later…).  So of course, it wouldn’t be a proper Shakespeare tragedy if Romeo and Juliet didn’t belong to both of these families and end up falling in love. 

Aw, how sweet, except… remember this is a tragedy and Shakespeare is known for being brutal to his characters. Tensions rise and boil over. There is So. Much. Death in this play! I knew there were a couple of deaths because this story line is so prominent in modern culture, but I didn’t realize there was THAT much death. Whew, Bill, calm down just a bit, will ya? However, I will say that Shakespeare has a way of sprinkling in the subtle wit and humor throughout his tragedies that help to give the reader a break from some of the intensity. 

I like to keep my Shakespeare reviews on the shorter side; for some reason I don’t like to elaborate beyond the basic plot. Perhaps I’m wary of giving something away? Again, I liked this play and I’m glad I finally got around to reading it, but the ending was so over the top that I was just rolling my eyes towards the end. If you’re interested in reading Romeo and Juliet, I say, go for it! It’s always nice to read the original source material when it comes to a story that’s been adapted beyond reason. 

Have you read Romeo and Juliet? What’s your favorite Shakespeare tragedy?

***

Romeo and Juliet by, William Shakespeare: ISBN 9780143128571

***

Also in this picture:

Like my bookish content? Follow me on Instagram for more!

“…My hope is that Black Enough will encourage all Black teens to be their free, uninhibited selves without the constraints of being Black, too Black, or not Black enough. They will simply be enough just as they are.”

 - Black Enough by, Ibi Zoboi.

This review is going to be a challenge, because quite frankly, I really disliked this collection of 17 short stories in Black Enough. The quote above is taken from the Introduction, setting the tone and purpose of these short stories. I actually thought the Introduction was the best part. 

Short stories can be difficult to pull off; the author has to grab the reader’s attention, set the tone, develop the characters, develop the plot and then bring everything around in really, just a few pages. Short stories often have to be more concise and deliberate, where as in a novel, the author has more space to “play.” The majority of these short stories, for me, failed to do that. Many of them dragged and felt too long in places, focusing on details that were actually not that relevant to the over all story. Also, I felt that the endings of many of the short stories felt rushed, and unsatisfying. I felt like I was left hanging, which is especially alarming, given that I felt that time was taken up in other areas that could have been devoted to a more well-rounded conclusion. Each short story is written by a different person, though the majority of them felt that they were written by one person. I grew bored rather quickly. 

I understand that the purpose of Black Enough is to validate Black teens to be comfortable with who they are, regardless of where they come from, what they look like, their socio-economic status, what their interests are, their sexuality, etc. However, the majority of these stories read as typical high school drama. Take out the Black vernacular, a few identifiable cultural indicators, and the fact that the characters are Black, and you have classic high school drama. Insert characters from other races and ethnic backgrounds and not much changes. Perhaps that was the point; that all teens experience similar things, however, isn’t the point to provide today’s Black youth with something  unique that they can really identify with? I live in an urban city and spent quite a few years working with primarily Black youth between the ages of 5 - early 20s. They had some extraordinary stories of over coming, discrimination, successes, hardships, and milestones that made these fictional stories seem a bit lackluster for me. 

I was actually hoping that some of these stories would incorporate more Black American history and how that has shaped the opportunities and issues that we still have as a community today. Being “Black Enough” not only means being proud of who you are, but where you’ve come from. Paying even a slight nod to the prolific black artists, writers, musicians, scientists, politicians, etc. as part of an overall narrative would have been extremely powerful here. 

Back in February, my Father and I took a trip to Washington D.C. and we visited the African-American History Museum. I thought it was fantastic how today’s Black youth get to visit a museum about their history. There were so many schools there and these young faces were so happy to look at their communities and their history showcased to them in the exhibits. When I went on school field trips as a child, my classmates and I didn’t have that. So yes, I was disappointed that this collection of stories didn’t paint a broader picture of Blackness, from a generational standpoint. My father and I stood in that museum and had a wonderful conversation about how he’s able to see his now adult children obtain things that were closed off to him, my mother and their relatives before them. When I got into the University of Virginia in 2009, my father sat on my bed, teared up and said, “You’re doing it! I wish my grandparents could have seen this! We weren’t allowed to go to these schools. And when they did integrate the racism was so bad, why would you want to go?” I’m having a difficult time reconciling these complexities with these short stories about social media naked selfie drama, dating a guy because he’s considered a “thug” and being the black friends who have a rock band. Not that those narratives aren’t relatable to today’s youth, but lets give them more meat instead of milk. 

Overall, Black Enough was not for me. I was actually a little nervous writing this review.  I hope I don’t seem too harsh here, but this is the beauty of reading. We all have our own relationships with stories because of our perspectives. What did not work for me, may work for you. 

Rating: 2/5

***

Black Enough, Stories of Being Young & Black in America by, Ibi Zoboi: ISBN 978-0-06-269873

*** 

Also Pictured Here:

“Troubled as the future was, it was the unknown future, and in its obscurity there was ignorant hope.”

I have been thinking about A Tale of Two Cities since I finished it this past Sunday. I had Great Expectations (you see what I did there...) for this novel because, when I announced I was reading it, the outpouring of affection for this story was overwhelming. Let me tell you, A Tale of Two Cities did not disappoint.

This is a novel about the French Revolution and how the English and French characters in the story are all connected during this violent and volatile period. The majority of the story, I thought, moved rather slowly. Dickens takes his time setting everything up , and I would often say out loud while reading, “Chuck, where are you taking me?” And then I hit a certain point in the book and everything snaps into place and Chuck *clap* took *clap* me *clap* there! The sheer genius and precision in which my boy Chuck sets up this story is astounding. My mouth fell open. And yes, knitting plays a pivotal role in this narrative (all my knitters... this one is a must read).

What is a pleasant surprise are the beautiful relationships/friendships that Dickens creates. The power of friendship, loyalty and obligation are significant and these themes build to a stunning, but heartbreaking, plot twist at the end. It was so intense, that I had to put the book down and walk away to get myself together before finishing the last 20 pages. I’m not a huge crier, but I was on the verge of tears.

Dickens created a masterpiece with A Tale of Two Cities. There is so much symbolism and detail, that just one reading of this story is not enough. When I finished, I immediately wanted to go back and reread in order to pick out the subtle clues I missed. This book takes a little bit of work and more focus to read, but if you persevere and have some patience, you will be greatly rewarded. 

Rating: 5/5

What is your favorite novel by Charles Dickens?

***

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens: ISBN 978-0-141-19690-9

***

Also pictured here:

Vertical Stripes Sweater I knitted for myself, designed by Petite Knit

We Are Knitters massive knitting needles

Drinking: Copper Cow Coffee rose flavored coffee

***

Like my bookish content? Follow me on Instagram for more!

How beautiful are these teal/sea-green/blue books?!

I’ve read half of these titles and the other half will be read soon(ish):

All the Light We Cannot See - I read this in 2017 and it was one of the only books I read that year. I was in a reading slump and it took me months to get through it (no fault of the book). This WW2 story about a French girl, a German boy and how their paths connect is excellent. I plan to reread this next year so I can enjoy it more.

The Odyssey - I’ll be rereading this, this year for leisure this time and not for academic study.

Bleak House - one of my favorite Penguin English Library covers that is also out of print. I was so lucky to get my hands on this edition. I plan to read this over 1000 page novel in 2021 (you know my Boy Chuck is long winded...)

The Nightingale - I’ve had this on my TBR since 2014. Another WW2 novel that is raved about. I’ve been told it’s heartbreaking. Heartbreaking? Sign me up! 

Rebecca - I’ll be reading my second novel by Daphne du Maurier this year. I loved Jamaica Inn and I’m very much looking forward to this one. And this cover is among my favorites.

Miracles - I first read this in 2015. I find C.S Lewis’ theological works very interesting. You really have to focus when you read this one, or you may get confused, which happened to me. One day I’ll reread it...

Have you read any of these titles? Which is cover is your favorite?

***

All the Light We Cannot See  by, Anthony Doerr: ISBN 978-1-4767-4658-6

The Odyssey by, Homer: ISBN 978-0-141-19244-4

Bleak House by, Charles Dickens: ISBN 978-0-1-141-19909-2 (This Penguin English Library edition is now out of print)

The Nightingale by, Kristin Hannah: ISBN 978-1-250-08040-0

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier: ISBN 978-1-84408-879-9

Miracles by, C.S. Lewis: ISBN 978-0-06-065301-9

***

Also pictured here:

***

Like my bookish content? Follow me on Instagram for more!

You know what I rarely read? Non-fiction. It’s not that I don’t like it, I just don’t gravitate towards it for leisure reading. I’d rather be whisked away by a novel.

However, there are so many topics I want to engross myself in (I’m looking at you Jacobite Rebellion of 1745...). I majored in History, studying topics ranging from genocides, WWI & WWII, ancient Greek & Roman history and warfare, the American Civil War, American military history, the American Revolutionary War, and the Civil Rights Era. You know, all the depressing classes where the professor gave a disclaimer about potentially needed therapy afterwards (this is not an exaggeration). My academic advisor called me “Genocide Girl” because I like to get into the stuff that makes you squirm.

That being said, I selected four non-fiction books this year to read with the audiobooks:

The Girl Who Smiled Beads by, Clemantine Wamariya - A memoir about a girl who fled the Rwandan massacre and was granted refugee status in the US.

Jefferson’s Daughters by, Catherine Kerrison - This one is about Thomas Jefferson’s three daughters, one of whom was a black enslaved woman, who eventually did gain her freedom. I had the privilege of going to a lecture given by the author in 2019. The amount of research she conducted on the topic is extensive!

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by, Dee Brown - I’ve read this one before, but it was years ago. This book is so heartbreaking. It chronicles the United States’ systemic annihilation of the Native American tribes across the western frontier between 1860-1890, and how these tribes did the best they could to prevent the destruction of their people and culture.

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse by, Peter Matthiessen - In 1975, there was a shoot-out between FBI agents and Native Americans near Wounded Knee (where hundreds of Lakota Native Americans were massacred by US soldiers in 1890). Four natives were indicted on murder charges and this book highlights the Lakota tribe’s tensions with the US government.

The two books I’m most eager to get to are Wounded Knee and Crazy Horse. What the US did to Native Americans across the entirety of the country is something I personally feel passionate about. 

What nonfiction topic do you want to dive into? Do you read a lot of non-fiction?

***

***

Also pictured here: 

***

Like my bookish content? Follow me on Instagram for more!

There are so many books out there with beautiful cover designs. Last year, when I finally got out of my three year reading slump, I became aware of so many collections. I think that publishers are ramping up cover artwork because people really do value thoughtful designs and for those of us who collect books, we meticulously choose what book is making it on the bookshelf. It has to look right!

Vintage Books really nailed it with this three-piece collection featuring each Brontë sister. The grayscale cover artwork pays homage go the moody gothic tales within each story, set in the wild English moors. The only one of these I haven’t read yet is the Tentant of Wildfell Hall, which I plan to read this year.

Do you have a favorite cover design or collection of books?

***

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte: ISBN 978-1-784-87074-4

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by, Anne Bronte: ISBN 978-1-784-87075-1

Jane Eyre by, Charlotte Bronte: ISBN 978-14-784-87073-7

***

• Drinking: Copper Cow Coffee in Cream
• Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir. A unique fragrance with notes of pomegranate, fruits and cloves. Moody and complex (like the three books above 
• Jane Eyre bookmark by Nabu Bookish Gifts

***

Like my bookish content? Follow me on Instagram for more!

“I believe that to understand love, one must first make a mistake and then correct it.” 

- Anna Karenina by, Leo Tolstoy.

Anna Karenina by, Leo Tolstoy: ISBN: 978-1-784-87195-6

***

Also pictured here: