Looking Back: December 2011 (Sunday Salon)

The Sunday Salon (badge)Happy New Year! My big year-end stats post will go up in the next couple of days, but I can’t let December go by without its own quick review post. Here’s what my December looked like:

Books

Looking Back: December badge

Total books read: 4
Total pages read: 1,733
Favorite book: The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
Least favorite book: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Audiobooks

Total audiobooks listened to: 3
Total hours listened: 35 hours, 13 minutes
Favorite audiobook: The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
Least favorite audiobook: The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon

Erin Reads

Your Turn!

That was my December. How was yours?

Reading Buddies Wrap-Up: “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Reading Buddies Button

Welcome to the wrap-up for Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter! As usual, spoilers are fair game here and in the comments.

(By the way, if you haven’t voted for February’s read, be sure to do so via the poll in the sidebar!)

The good news is that, upon rereading, I didn’t hate this particular classic the way I did when I read it in high school. The bad news is that it won’t be turning up on any of my favorite classics lists. Once I got used to Hawthorne’s style, I felt the book went pretty quickly, and it seemed a lot shorter than it did my first time through!

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel HawthorneFirst I must point out that, as Jillian kindly brought to my attention, “The Custom-House,” which I talked about in my discussion post, is apparently not actually supposed to be true. Between the intro of my edition and the footnotes, I was thoroughly fooled into thinking otherwise. I apologize for misleading you. Personally, I’m rather disappointed to find the backstory of the scarlet letter as an object was made up!

Two related things struck me on this second pass through The Scarlet Letter. First, it’s such an interior novel! There’s not much in the way of action, but there’s plenty of character analysis and the like. I think this leads to a lack of dialogue but plenty of straight narration, which for me inserts a sort of distance between reader and story. At the same time, I can see why this book gets chosen for school reading, even if it may not grab every kid’s attention: the themes and symbols are pretty hard to miss! I felt like I could have written any number of essays upon reading the final page.

I must admit, one line in particular made me giggle out loud. It’s on page 92 in my edition, a couple of pages into Chapter 7, “The Governor’s Hall,” and reads thusly:

“As the two wayfarers [Hester and Pearl] came within the precincts of the town, the children of the Puritans looked up from their play, — or what passed for play with those sombre little urchins, — and spake gravely to one another: —

“‘Behold, verily, there is the woman of the scarlet letter; and, of a truth, moreover, there is the likeness of the scarlet letter running along by her side! Come, therefor, and let us fling mud at them!'”

Try as I might, I just couldn’t picture little kids talking like that!

On a more serious note, my edition includes a reading group guide, and one of its questions struck me as particularly interesting. It asks:

“Critics have sometimes disagreed about whether Hawthorne condones or condemns the adultery of Hester and Dimmesdale in the novel. Can either view be supported? Which do you feel is the case?”

I’m curious: do you have any thoughts either way? I’m still turning the question over in my mind.

What did you think of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne? Also, if you posted about the book on your own blog, please feel free to leave a link in the comments!

Top 10 Books I Listened To in 2011

It’s that time of year when the favorites lists start appearing! Instead of splitting my 2011 reads up by genre, I thought I’d pick favorites in each medium: print and audio. I chose a top ten plus a runner-up for each type. I shared my list of favorite reads yesterday, so today I’ll share my favorite 2011 listens!

Runner-up: One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, read by Frank Muller

Muller’s dry, confidential reading style was a perfect match for this classic about a day in the life of a man in a 1950s Soviet labor camp. A deceptively simple listen with a main character worth rooting for.

Erin Reads: Best 2011 Audiobooks (#6-10)

#10: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, read by Humphrey Bower

This novel wouldn’t have made my list, I suspect, had the narrator been different. Humphrey Bower did a magnificent job narrating this very lengthy tome about an escaped convict starting a new life for himself in India.

#9: The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood, read by Margot Dionne

The Blind Assassin was my first experience with Atwood’s more realistic fiction, and I very much enjoyed it. It’s a story of sisters, of a book, and of truth versus fiction.

#8: A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly, read by Hope Davis

This young adult historical fiction story features a spunky girl caught between following her dreams and helping support her family. It’s read by Hope Davis, one of my favorite narrators.

#7: Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden, read by Rebecca Lowman

Published in 1982, Annie on My Mind tells the story of Annie and Liza, two high school girls who, after meeting by chance in a museum, realize they are falling in love. Narrated by the soft-voiced Rebecca Lowman, it was a treat to listen to.

#6: Gilgamesh translated by Stephen Mitchell, read by George Guidall

Inspired by my positive experience with Homer’s The Odyssey on audio last year, I listened to Gilgamesh earlier this year and fell in love with it. Turns out works originally written for oral recitation work really well as audiobooks!

Erin Reads: Best 2011 Audiobooks (#1-5)

#5: Flight by Sherman Alexie, read by Adam Beach

My love for The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian on audio prompted me to seek out more by Sherman Alexie. Intense, unapologetic, and true, Flight is Alexie at his best.

#4: Dracula by Bram Stoker, read by Robert Whitfield

I did not expect to like Dracula, much less find myself enthusiastically naming it one of my top 5 audiobooks of 2011. This classic vampire horror story comes vividly to life on audio and makes the perfect chilling listen.

#3: The Leviathan trilogy by Scott Westerfeld, read by Alan Cumming

Perhaps I’ve included this trilogy prematurely, seeing as I have not yet listened to the final installment, Goliath. Judging by the first two, though (Leviathan and Behemoth), this phenomenal pairing of book and reader will deserve its spot in my top three.

#2: The Temeraire series by Naomi Novik, read by Simon Vance

Well…the first six books, at least! These are an absolute joy to listen to, and Simon Vance has quickly taken a spot at the top of my preferred narrators list. Historical fiction, with dragons, read by a man with a delicious British accent. How can you go wrong?

#1: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, read by Kristoffer Tabori

I’m rather at a loss for words to describe the masterpiece that is Middlesex as read by Kristoffer Tabori. I thank Reading Buddies for choosing the book and the countless bloggers who steered me toward the audio. Truly phenomenal.

Your Turn!

What were your favorite audiobooks you listened to in 2011? Are there any you’d especially recommend?

Top 10 Books I Read in 2011

It’s that time of year when the favorites lists start appearing! Instead of splitting my 2011 reads up by genre, I thought I’d pick favorites in each medium: print and audio. I chose a top ten plus a runner-up for each type. I’ll share my print list today. Stop back tomorrow to see which audiobooks I picked!

Runner-up: The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

I read this one for a recent book group meeting after hearing about it for years. I started out skeptical of a novel about Jesuits and life on other planets but ended up finding it quite beautiful.

Erin Reads: Best 2011 Books (#6-10)

#10: When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

I’d eagerly awaited Hillary Jordan’s next novel from the moment I finished her first book, Mudbound, a few years ago. This slightly futuristic dystopian did not disappoint and even inspired me to pick up Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, on which the former draws.

#9: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Who knows how I managed to make it this far in life without learning the plot of Jane Eyre? I’m glad I didn’t. I read Bronte’s classic for the first time this year and thoroughly enjoyed it.

#8: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

My first exposure to Kingsolver’s fiction, The Poisonwood Bible blew me away with its distinct narrative voices telling different sides of a story about a missionary family in Africa. It’s the first of several Reading Buddies picks on my top 10 list.

#7: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Another Reading Buddies pick! When reading Cutting for Stone, I kept forgetting I was reading a novel, caught up in the story of twin boys growing up in Ethiopia told within its pages.

#6: The Bee-Loud Glade by Steve Himmer

This quirkily clever debut novel delighted me to no end. But then, what else would you expect from a story about a corporate drone turned decorative hermit?

Erin Reads: Best 2011 Books (#1-5)

#5: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

I had been meaning to read this novel for years and am so glad Reading Buddies got me to finally pick it up. A beautiful and heartbreaking and touching book that skillfully handles the tragedy of 9/11 through the eyes of an extraordinary child.

#4: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

This charming fictional diary of an aspiring young writer captured my heart from its first pages and held me rapt throughout. It was one of the first classics I can say I really loved.

#3: The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

I wouldn’t have tackled this beloved mystery without the push of Reading Buddies, but I’m so glad I did. Another classic I ended up loving, and a new author for me to explore!

#2: The Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness

My introduction to Patrick Ness, The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Ask and the Answer, and Monsters of Men both entertained me and made me think. I love the way Ness creates such complex and multifaceted characters, erasing the lines between good and evil and keeping readers on their toes.

#1: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

I would have to say this book club selection is my current favorite book. I adored its clever construction and wide variety of styles and voices. It’s one I know I’ll read again, and Mitchell is an author I very much look forward to revisiting!

Your Turn!

What were some of your favorite 2011 reads?

Thoughts on “A Monster Calls” by Patrick Ness

I very much enjoyed the Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness when I read it earlier this year, so when I heard Ness had a new book out, I immediately put in my request at the library.

About the Book:

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (cover)Conor O’Malley’s mother is sick. Nothing the doctors try seems to help, though neither Conor nor his mother is willing to accept what seems to be inescapable. Conor has been visited by an awful nightmare ever since they first got the news, and he often awakens screaming in the night.

But then a different monster comes walking, and slowly, painfully, Conor learns why it has come to him.

My Thoughts:

I don’t have a lot to say about A Monster Calls that hasn’t already been said or that won’t ruin the story. It’s labeled for ages 12 and up, but I think it’s a timeless, ageless story that nearly anyone can pick up and be drawn into and touched by. It’s a story about learning to grieve, to face terrible things, to heal. For such a slender little book, it packs unbelievable power.

It’s also gorgeously illustrated. Black and white sketches adorn most pages, and interspersed throughout the book are two-page picture-only spreads. On pages where text and images coexist, the former is artfully formatted to accommodate the latter. It’s both dark and beautiful, the illustrations giving artful form to Ness’s words.

A Monster Calls page

Ness himself, who also wrote the Chaos Walking trilogy I read earlier this year, is a master of taking an impossibly difficult subject and teasing out a thread of truth. He can carve a path through the most formidable, incomprehensible topic and bring the reader safely through where others fall short or dare not attempt such feats. His books make you think and feel even as they enfold you completely in their plots and capture your heart with their characters. He is an author I will continue to read with pleasure and admiration.

Those are my thoughts. Check out A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness on Goodreads or LibraryThing, or read a plethora of other bloggers’ reviews!

Your Turn!

What authors have you read who are particularly adept at tackling challenging topics?