Sunday, February 16, 2020
1800s Pulitizers
It is, of course, ridiculous to try to pick out the best novel of a century. I mean, The Count of Monte Cristo was much more fun to read than The Germinal, but the latter is much more powerful. Pride and Prejudice will always be one of my favorite novels, but can the scope of the novel really stand up against War and Peace?
On the other hand, it is also ridiculous to take on this challenge in the first place, so it's good to keep this energy up. Feel free to add your own nominations/awards/categories in the comments section. If you give me a category, I will add it to the post.
I also want to take this moment to thank all my readers. Reading will always be my first passion and I am always delighted to share that with the willing (and the unwilling, but the willing are more fun).
BEST AUTHOR: Thomas Hardy
Nominees:
Jane Austen
Victor Hugo
Charles Dickens
Honore de Balzac
Stendhal
Edgar Allan Poe
Charlotte Bronte
Thomas Hardy
Anthony Trollope
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Anne Bronte
Gustave Flaubert
Emile Zola
Oscar Wilde
BEST NOVEL: David Copperfield
Nominees:
Pride and Prejudice
Emma
Oliver Twist
Red and the Black
The Count of Monte Cristo
Jude the Obscure
Far from a Madding Crowd
David Copperfield
The Three Musketeers
Return of the Native
Jane Eyre
Madame Bovary
The Germinal
War and Peace
The Idiot
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
WORST NOVEL: Maldoror
Nominees:
The Temptation of Saint Anthony
Hunger
By the Open Sea
The House by the Medlar Tree
Moby Dick
BEST CHARACTER: Emma Woodhouse
Nominees:
Sherlock Holmes
Oblomov
Jude Fawley
Milady
Prince Myshkin
Emma Woodhouse
Phineas Finn
Dorian Gray
216. Some Experiences of an Irish PM
Some Experiences of an Irish PM
Somerville and Ross
1899
Around 200 pages
I know the anticipation of this day has caused a lot of a sleepless nights for my readers, and I apologize. We can all rest easier knowing the time has finally arrived: I have finished the 1800s. Of course, my haterz might point out that I have not read the pre-1900s books across all editions. Also, it's slightly ridiculous that this milestone comes as early as 216. I'm still excited though.
Major Sinclair Yeates is an Englishman who moves to Ireland (while it was still part of the UK) to become the new Resident Magistrate. He is put off by the more relaxed manners of the country, but quickly realizes he shouldn't underestimate the locals. I swear it is less Deliverance-y than it sounds.
This was a fun romp that reminded me of PG Wodehouse. I prefer their other novel, The Real Charlotte, just because I felt the characters were more sharply drawn in RC; no one here was particularly memorable. Still, this was fun, and I like stories that center on English/Irish relations.
It's weird that this is the novel that is closing out the 1800s. I'll give a better tribute to this century in a little bit. Stay tuned...
RATING: ***--
Interesting Facts:
A television adaptation was made in the 80s.
UP NEXT: Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser. Welcome to the 20th Century!
Somerville and Ross
1899
Around 200 pages
I know the anticipation of this day has caused a lot of a sleepless nights for my readers, and I apologize. We can all rest easier knowing the time has finally arrived: I have finished the 1800s. Of course, my haterz might point out that I have not read the pre-1900s books across all editions. Also, it's slightly ridiculous that this milestone comes as early as 216. I'm still excited though.
Major Sinclair Yeates is an Englishman who moves to Ireland (while it was still part of the UK) to become the new Resident Magistrate. He is put off by the more relaxed manners of the country, but quickly realizes he shouldn't underestimate the locals. I swear it is less Deliverance-y than it sounds.
This was a fun romp that reminded me of PG Wodehouse. I prefer their other novel, The Real Charlotte, just because I felt the characters were more sharply drawn in RC; no one here was particularly memorable. Still, this was fun, and I like stories that center on English/Irish relations.
It's weird that this is the novel that is closing out the 1800s. I'll give a better tribute to this century in a little bit. Stay tuned...
RATING: ***--
Interesting Facts:
A television adaptation was made in the 80s.
UP NEXT: Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser. Welcome to the 20th Century!
Saturday, February 8, 2020
215. The Stechlin
The Stechlin
Theodor Fontane
1899
Around 350 pages
Well, that's the lake known as The Stechlin, which is the setting of this fairly insufferable novel. While Fontane's previous novel, Effi Briest, wasn't exactly a joy to get through, at least I was somewhat invested in the story. I didn't care about anybody in The Stechlin, and I certainly didn't want to spend hours reading outdated nationalistic opinions.
Stechlin is a lake, but it is also a castle. The castle is owned by Dubslav von Stechlin, a widower with a son, who is a captain. The son falls in love with Armgard or something. Fontane is one of those writers who places women on pedestals, but also makes it clear they are beneath the male species. It is tough to juggle both offensive opinions, so hats off to you Fontane for managing that feat. Based on the odd way he handles his female character's actions, he clearly believes women's logic works on a different plane than men's and thus isn't even worth tackling. Therefore, he leaves all his female character's inner selves pretty much untapped. As an example, in one instance, a man praises a woman for being "both a woman and a lady." The "woman" refers to the inferior, the "lady" refers to the superior. I don't think equality was a concept even the enlightened were considering. Is it time for Virginia Woolf yet?
Oh, and then there was also the ridiculous anecdote about a woman in Siam having to "restore" her virginity in order to ever be considered "marriage material" again after being repeatedly raped. Apparently, the proper ritual requires bathing in buffalo blood, otherwise you a ho. This pithy little rejoinder was related by a man (obviously) who then expressed astonishment that a country as low as Siam could have kings. Which is the kind of statement that I suppose could be fascinating in its stupidity, but I just wasn't here for it.
Now, I realize I shouldn't start constructing my book bonfire just because these characters express opinions that don't line up exactly with my 2020 ideals. But I also found the story dull and didn't feel like any of the characters were fleshed out, so there's also that.
Very skippable.
RATING: **---
Interesting Facts:
Last novel Theodor Fontane wrote before his death.
UP NEXT: Some Experiences of an Irish P.M. by Somerville and Ross.
Theodor Fontane
1899
Around 350 pages
Well, that's the lake known as The Stechlin, which is the setting of this fairly insufferable novel. While Fontane's previous novel, Effi Briest, wasn't exactly a joy to get through, at least I was somewhat invested in the story. I didn't care about anybody in The Stechlin, and I certainly didn't want to spend hours reading outdated nationalistic opinions.
Stechlin is a lake, but it is also a castle. The castle is owned by Dubslav von Stechlin, a widower with a son, who is a captain. The son falls in love with Armgard or something. Fontane is one of those writers who places women on pedestals, but also makes it clear they are beneath the male species. It is tough to juggle both offensive opinions, so hats off to you Fontane for managing that feat. Based on the odd way he handles his female character's actions, he clearly believes women's logic works on a different plane than men's and thus isn't even worth tackling. Therefore, he leaves all his female character's inner selves pretty much untapped. As an example, in one instance, a man praises a woman for being "both a woman and a lady." The "woman" refers to the inferior, the "lady" refers to the superior. I don't think equality was a concept even the enlightened were considering. Is it time for Virginia Woolf yet?
Oh, and then there was also the ridiculous anecdote about a woman in Siam having to "restore" her virginity in order to ever be considered "marriage material" again after being repeatedly raped. Apparently, the proper ritual requires bathing in buffalo blood, otherwise you a ho. This pithy little rejoinder was related by a man (obviously) who then expressed astonishment that a country as low as Siam could have kings. Which is the kind of statement that I suppose could be fascinating in its stupidity, but I just wasn't here for it.
Now, I realize I shouldn't start constructing my book bonfire just because these characters express opinions that don't line up exactly with my 2020 ideals. But I also found the story dull and didn't feel like any of the characters were fleshed out, so there's also that.
Very skippable.
RATING: **---
Interesting Facts:
Last novel Theodor Fontane wrote before his death.
UP NEXT: Some Experiences of an Irish P.M. by Somerville and Ross.
Saturday, February 1, 2020
214. The Awakening
The Awakening
Kate Chopin
1899
Around 200 pages
It's hard to believe that I am almost finished with the 1800s. Fair warning, I plan on waxing poetic about the 19th century a few books from now, when we finally tie a ribbon on it. For now, let's talk about one of the earliest works of feminist fiction!
Edna Pontellier is married to Leonce, and has two sons, Etienne and Raoul. She becomes attracted to a young man, who behaves as most young men do. Edna must deal with her heartbreak and the societal restrictions on her as a woman. I wonder how much I would have to pay my straight male friends to read something like this.
It's easy to see the heavy influence this had over later authors. I am in a heavy Virginia Woolf phase right now (read into that what you will) and I would be shocked if Woolf hadn't read this multiple times. It would be a bit more interesting if her angst didn't rely so much on heartbreak. Not that heartbreak isn't valid turmoil, but I think it would have been more powerful if the romantic subplot had been less significant.
But I am just being picky. This is a wonderfully written novel. The last scene has always stuck with me, and even some of the most enjoyable novels I have read haven't left such a deep impression. A must read.
RATING: ***--
Interesting Facts:
Heavily censored upon its publication.
Kate Chopin never wrote another novel.
UP NEXT: The Stechlin by Theodor Fontane. Great, more from Buzz Killington.
Kate Chopin
1899
Around 200 pages
It's hard to believe that I am almost finished with the 1800s. Fair warning, I plan on waxing poetic about the 19th century a few books from now, when we finally tie a ribbon on it. For now, let's talk about one of the earliest works of feminist fiction!
Edna Pontellier is married to Leonce, and has two sons, Etienne and Raoul. She becomes attracted to a young man, who behaves as most young men do. Edna must deal with her heartbreak and the societal restrictions on her as a woman. I wonder how much I would have to pay my straight male friends to read something like this.
It's easy to see the heavy influence this had over later authors. I am in a heavy Virginia Woolf phase right now (read into that what you will) and I would be shocked if Woolf hadn't read this multiple times. It would be a bit more interesting if her angst didn't rely so much on heartbreak. Not that heartbreak isn't valid turmoil, but I think it would have been more powerful if the romantic subplot had been less significant.
But I am just being picky. This is a wonderfully written novel. The last scene has always stuck with me, and even some of the most enjoyable novels I have read haven't left such a deep impression. A must read.
RATING: ***--
Interesting Facts:
Heavily censored upon its publication.
Kate Chopin never wrote another novel.
UP NEXT: The Stechlin by Theodor Fontane. Great, more from Buzz Killington.
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