Posts about: book flat lay
Saturday, March 14, 2020
“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?
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A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens: ISBN 978-0-141-19690-9
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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
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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?
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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
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Also pictured here:
- Beautiful teal yarns by Dye for Yarn and Expression Fiber Arts
- Drinking: Caramel chai
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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?
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- The Girl Who Smiled Beads by, Clemantine Wamariya: ISBN 978-0-451-49532
- Jefferson’s Daughters by, Catherine Kerrison: ISBN 978-1-101-88626-7
- Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by, Dee Brown: ISBN 978-0-8050-6669-2
- In the Spirit of Crazy Horse by, Peter Matthiessen: ISBN 0-14-014456-0
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Also pictured here:
- Sudio Tolv Wireless Headphones. So much easier to listen to audiobooks when you aren’t hindered by a cord!
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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?
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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
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Also pictured here:
- 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
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“I believe that to understand love, one must first make a mistake and then correct it.”
- Anna Karenina by, Leo Tolstoy.
I finally finished this 963 page novel. This review is going to be a challenge, not only because of this book’s size, but because of its content. There is no way I’ll be able to express everything, without writing a 50-page thesis.
When I first started Anna Karenina, I thought it would mainly focus on Anna and her adulterous relationship with Count Vronsky. That is a significant part of the plot, BUT it’s so much more than that. Anna’s story is actually paralleled with Levin’s, and one could argue that this book could easily be titled “Constantine Dmítrich Levin.” There is a massive cast of characters (I’ll spare you...), who are all intertwined in some way. There is so much commentary about the state of Russia, both politically and socially, religion, the education system, family and relationships.
However, for the sake of space, if I had to sum up this book in one theme it would be, What is the Purpose of Life? Yes, that’s horribly cliché, but, that’s what Tolstoy is expressing here. You have Anna and Levin grapple with this concept the whole book. When they obtain what they’ve been seeking, that satisfaction still does not make the soul content. Both of these characters are unhappy and they are striving after fleeting happiness without understanding how to obtain deeper contentment and peace. Without spoiling anything, one grasps this concept and the other doesn’t.
Tolstoy does an excellent job writing about the human experience. There are characters that I didn’t initially like and then warmed up to, for example Anna’s husband, Karenin. I adored Kitty the whole novel; she has such a sweet and innocent temperament. My favorite is Levin, though he was very frustrating, his heart is in the right place. I didn’t like Anna at all; her desire to be with Vronsky, at the expense of her child, irritated me.
If you have the slightest desire to read Anna Karenina, go for it. It’s a commitment, but well worth the effort. I would consider this novel to be a masterpiece. If you like Madam Bovary, you may like this one as well; there are definitely similarities. I really feel my review hasn’t done Tolstoy’s work any justice, but needless to say, I really, really, really enjoyed Anna Karenina, and I can’t wait to dive into more Russian classics.
Rating: 5/5.
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Also pictured here:
- Tea: Earl Grey
- Handmade knit hats by yours truly.
- Diptyque Eau Duelle, one of my favorite fragrances. Spicy, vanilla and exotic.
- These epic leather gloves that I forgot I had in my drawer.
Like my bookish content? Follow me on Instagram for more!
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