The last time I read an Atwood book was years ago and it was The Handmaid's Tale. I liked the book but wasn't a critical enough reader at the time to fully understand the story (one day I'll get around to rereading it), but now that I'm older and, dare I say wiser, I can say that I adore this author and can't wait to read more by her. I picked up The Blind Assassin because it's … [Read more...]
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (Book Review)
Last week was gloomy and rainy, so I was in the mood for a good, short ghost story. I'm a big wuss when it comes to this genre, but Rory at Fourth Street Review assured me that, as far as horror goes, this one isn't so bad. She's right, although if I had seen this version of the cover before reading the book, I definitely wouldn't have picked it up.Despite its scant 120 … [Read more...]
Conquering the Classics: A Room With a View
How lucky am I that I have read TWO fantastic books in a row? I am so glad that I joined the Classics Club, or I never would have picked this one up, despite its popularity. A Room with a View by E.M. Forster is definitely going into my top 5 books. This is not just a book, it's an experience. The entire book is a roller coaster of emotions, at times leaving me angry and at … [Read more...]
Conquering the Classics: ‘The Bell Jar’ Blew Me Away
Considering how much I love the movie 10 Things I Hate About You, I'm pretty surprised by how long it has taken me to finally read The Bell Jar. I think it is because I have heard so much about it's depressing nature that I was wary. How could such a depressing book be so wonderful? But since it is on my 2013 TBR Challenge list, Classics Club challenge and 1001 Books to … [Read more...]
Conquering the Classics: Mrs. Dalloway
Reading Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf reminded me of why many of these books I have pledged to read are considered challenges. I was really looking forward to reading this book because I was under the impression that other people liked it. As I found out later, this is not necessarily the case and I can understand why. It's not that Mrs. Dalloway is a bad book and, in fact, … [Read more...]