Review: Bleak House by Charles Dickens

Book: Bleak House by Charles Dickens
Genre: Classic
Rating: B+
For: Classics Challenge and Read Along
From: Bought it years ago

On the off chance that there's someone who wants to read my final thoughts on Bleak House, here they are:

I don't know! :)

This reading experience reminded me a little bit of the time I was in 8th grade and for some reason decided that I would read Great Expectations for my 10 minute beginning-of-class-silent-reading book. I still have the little notes that we had to write down every day after reading to report what we read and it amazes me that I came up with something to report because all I remember was being in a huge daze and fog. I remember something about an old lady, a rotten cake, a boy named Pip and girl that was awfully mean to him.

Of course, I've read it again since then and it's now one of my all time favorites!

Bleak House was like this experience in the sense that I felt like I was in a fog for much of the time. There were many chapters that I just didn't get and wondered what they had to do with anything. However, there were many chapters that I loved and thought were very interesting and intriguing. My guess is that upon a re-read, I'd "get" so much more.

To help me understand things, I checked out the BBC series from the library and watched along with my final few pages of reading. There were lots of moments where I thought, "Wait? When did THAT happen?" or "Oh boy, I must have missed that part entirely!" Too funny. And of course I really really enjoyed the movie, and in fact, got much more emotionally involved and found myself quite weepy several times.

Oh wait? Would you like a summary of this book? Let me try.

So there's this case being heard in court that's gone on and on. It's because they don't quite understand who the dead dude wanted to name as beneficiaries of his will, or actually he had too many wills. It was all very confusing. But anyway, two of the main characters, a boy and girl who are cousins, are hoping that the court will rule in their favor. In fact, the boy becomes obsessed with this idea, much to the sadness of his guardian uncle, and many other people involved.

Meanwhile, their friend who shares their uncle as her guardian, learns about her parentage, which is quite a surprising shock to her and to her mother who thought she was dead from birth. Despite this, she is a stalwart girl and ends up being the glue that holds everyone together. Her mother, however, falls apart.

Mixed up in all of this, we have several deaths, several love stories, several bad schemes, and many secrets. And tons and tons of characters. They were overwhelming at first, but in the end, I found them all quite interesting, and it was fun to see how my feelings for them changed drastically over the course of the book...and perhaps also influenced by the movie.

All that makes for quite a good story, if you can understand it! Mostly, I just think I was rusty on my Dickens and seriously shouldn't let such a long time go by again before reading another one!

Bottom line: I enjoyed.... most of it!

Other reviews:

Age 30+... a Lifetime of Books
Bookworm1858
To Read or Not To Read
Books and Chocolate
The Zen Leaf

I may have posted this trailer already, but in case I didn't, or in case you missed it the first time, here it is:

Authors at the Library

This past Saturday one of our local libraries (the "other" one, not the one where I work) held their first annual Teen Book Festival. Headlining the event was Scott Westerfeld.  (As you probably don't remember, he's one of the authors I choose for my dream BEA panel...) So of course I was excited! It was free, but you had to have tickets to go to his presentation, and of course those tickets were gone in the first couple of hours of distribution weeks ago, and of course I didn't get any. But Melissa from One Librarian's Book Reviews came to the rescue and got two extras and said we (me and Jenny) could use them!

So, off we went!

First we heard Scott Westerfeld's presentation. He began by telling how Uglies came about. He said he had a friend who moved to LA and was flustered by going to the dentist and being told he needed to get on a five year "teeth beautification" plan. That gave him the idea of what if what if.... and Uglies was born.

When the book came out in Japan, he was surprised that it had pictures. It made him wonder why we don't have pictures anymore... in big people books. It used to be that we did (like Bleak House that I just read!) but the camera came along and here in the this county anyway, it made illustrations less accepted. Anyway, that morphed into an idea he had .... and Leviathan was born.

He then showed us several pictures from both Leviathan and Behemoth and talked a little about the story itself, without spoilers...mostly!

So after that we stood in his signing line and I got both Leviathan and Behemoth signed. I had no questions for him, and he was sort of an all business non-chatty author signer, so it was a little awkward. But aren't they all? (See my post here!)

Me

Melissa
 (and can you see Scott's wife Justine Larbalestier in the background?)

Then we stood in Brandon Sanderson's line and this time when it was my turn, I chatted with him whether he wanted to chat or not. Here's what went down:

Me: So I'm trying to making my way through the Wheel of Time series, I just got done with #4 and loved it!
Him: Oh, really? That's my favorite one too!
Me: Really? Cool!
Him: Yeah, and then 5 and 6 are similar in feel so I bet you'll really like them too. But the later ones concentrate more on side characters, so I guess then it depends on which characters you like.
Me: Oh, my favorite character is Perrin, no question!
Him: Oh, well then, book 4 is his best book... so..
Me: But I really like Min too, is there much more about Min coming up?
Him: Yes there is.
Me: And Lan, I'm really anxious to learn more about Lan too!
Him: Yes, him too! Both Lan and Min will be prominent in later books. Also, there's some Mat stuff that will blow you away. Stuff you can't even imagine right now!
Me: Awesome! Well, hopefully I'll get them all done one of these days so I can read your stuff there at the end!
Him: Cool.

The Two Brandons!

Then I had J. Scott Savage sign my "real" copy of Far World: Land Keep. He said, "Don't I know you?" So I reminded him from where.

After that we went to a panel already in session about YA Fiction with Sara Zarr, Carol Lynch Williams and Ann Dee Ellis. Much of the same stuff was covered as many of the panels I've gone to in the past. I'm guessing the authors get sick of discussing the same things over and over again!

When that was over, we went back to the author signing area where all the authors had now switched over, and I had Sara Zarr sign all three of her books for me. Then Sydney Salter signed two of hers, and Wendy Toliver signed one, and Carol Lynch Williams signed one. Whew! That was fun!

From right to left: Sara Zarr, Wendy Toliver, Sydney Salter and Dene Low.

While waiting in line for these authors, I kept snapping pictures of Nathan Hale because whoa, he looked especially dashing and I couldn't help it!

Then back to the panel we went, to hear Ally Condie, Lisa Mangum and Bree Despain talk about romance in YA fiction. It morphed, as these things usually to do, to publishing and writing hints and helps. We really wanted to ask this question: "So, what's up with all the love triangles?" But we never got a chance. Oh, well. Next time!

So, in the end, I had twelve books signed by seven different authors. (One of those books, however, was a special request by Ibeeeg of Polishing Mudballs, and will shortly be sent off to her!) Yes, it was loads of fun, and with that, I think my author encounters have come to an end for the time being. It's been a whirlwind of a couple of months, but I think things will calm down now!

Review and Guest Post: Unbroken Connection by Angela Morrison

Book: Unbroken Connection by Angela Morrison
Genre: Romance
Rating: A
For: Fun
From: I bought it from Amazon.

Early last year I came across Angela Morrison's book Taken by Storm and loved it. What an  intense emotional love story! Besides that, I loved the writing. When I found out there would be a sequel, I was quite happy and really looked forward to it. 

However, the author came across a few bumps along the way (I've included her story about that below if you're interested) and I wasn't sure we'd get to read that next book after all. But with lots of perseverance, Angela made it happen and this last week I managed to get a hold of the book, and it was one of those times when I felt the need to to drop everything else and just read.

It did not disappoint, I totally enjoyed this continuation of Michael and Leesie's story. They are in different parts of the world for this book, carrying on their "friendship" through email and chat. Michael's teaching diving in Thailand, and Leesie's at school. They think they are not really together any more, but they don't really know what's going on now, do they? Yeah, things get pretty complicated and it appears there's going to be no real solution in sight. I feel for them. 

In the end, a whole new complication arises, one that I didn't see coming and yes, there were some pretty good weepy moments! So be prepared!

Like Taken By Storm, this book is told in three unique ways. From Michael's point of view by way of his dive logs, which is basically his diary. Then there's Leesie's  raw emotional poems which she shares with no one. And then we have Leesie's chats with her brother, her friend, and of course Michael. I really enjoy this fun set up, and it makes for really quick reading.

Bottom line: I loved it!

Other Reviews:

Once Upon a Bookcase
Windowpane Memoirs

Angela Morrison's official website

As an added bonus, she has started a new blog, Cayman Summer, where she is sharing the whole process of  writing book number three in this series. Be sure to check that out!

Finally, here Angela tells the publication story for Unbroken Connection:

Getting UNBROKEN CONNECTION, the second novel in Michael and Leesie's saga, to readers has been quite a journey. When I first pitched it to my editor at Penguin after TAKEN BY STORM went off to the presses, she told me they loved the story, but they wanted me to write stand-alone titles, like Sarah Dessen or Janette Rallison. Razorbill's publisher asked me to write the same story for different characters. I, gulp, refused. Like any writer, my characters are very real to me. UNBROKEN CONNECTION was Leesie's story and nobody else's. I told them I'd save it for her. I couldn't give it to strangers. 

So to fill the second novel spot in my contract with them--they signed me for two books when they bought TAKEN BY STORM--I had to come up with a whole new novel pronto. That led to my second Penguin release, SING ME TO SLEEP (March 2010). SING ME TO SLEEP was inspired by a dear friend's son, and I wrote it to honor him and the Amabile Choirs of London, Canada--that were a huge part of his life. That was an amazing experience I'll always cherish. I keep hearing from readers who are deeply touched by it. The Amabile guys choir was so enthusiastic about it they recorded, "Beth's Song," for my trailer. I wrote the lyrics for the book, and the extraordinary LDS artist, Harriet Bushman, composed the music. You can download it on iTunes and help support their music. 

By the time SING ME TO SLEEP was done, I'd signed with an agent. We submitted a proposal for UNBROKEN CONNECTION as my option book. My contract stipulated that I must submit my third YA novel to Razorbill. The proposal was met with silence.

Perhaps I should have written another stand alone title, but as an artist, I needed to continue Michael and Leesie's story. They wouldn't leave each other alone. They wouldn't leave me alone. I prayed. And started writing. When I finished the novel, my agent loved it. We sent it to my editor.

More silence.

Three months later while I was packing for my trip up to Canada to celebrate SING ME TO SLEEP's release and Amabile's 25th Anniversary Festival, I got a call from my editor. She was leaving Razorbill--venturing out on her own. UNBROKEN CONNECTION lost its best advocate at the company. 

The following Monday morning--after an amazing weekend in London, Ontario signing books, getting to finally give my friend Joyce a long awaited hug, and hearing Amabile perform "Beth's Song" live--I got an email from Razorbill's publisher rejecting UNBROKEN CONNECTION. 

My agent was at a loss. He faded away into silence and then dropped me when I reminded him of my existence.

But my readers and bloggers rallied around. One of them started a FaceBook group to support UNBROKEN CONNECTION. Another had her graphics designer create an icon to share around the web. Their encouragement gave me the guts to release it independently.

Remember "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost? I memorized it in grade school--not because I had to, but because I loved it. I think it's the only poem I can recite. Do you recall the ending?

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood

And I took the one less traveled by

And that has made all the difference.

Life is full of "no"--whether you're a writer, a three-year old, a teen, or a parent.

Remember, "no" isn't the end of the journey. It's simply a redirection--a new path. Maybe a better path. 

If you are an aspiring writer, don't let rejection stop you. Rewrite your query letter and send it out to more agents and editors. Seek professional critique. Take classes. Revise your novel to fit a market better. Publish an ebook. Blog your novel. Investigate independent publishers, regional presses, and print on demand services like CreateSpace.

I'm not going to lie--publishing with a giant New York publisher is a heady whirlwind, and I'm doing my best to land a new agent and another contract. But it can also be a muddy, frustrating road full of pot holes. It can maim you artistically if you let it. And these days there are many, many roads in the woods. I'm having a lot of fun following a new one.

All my love,

Angela

The Sunday Salon: October Recap and RIP Report

Wow, Yesterday was an absolute author stalker's dream! What a time I had at the first annual Teen Book Festival at the library! I got 12 books signed by 7 different authors, including Scott Westerfeld! I will tell you all about it.... in another post.

But first, a monthly recap! It's been a great month and finally, I feel like I accomplished some reading! (Thanks in part to the readathon a few weeks ago.) Here's my list of books read/finished during October:

The Clockwork Three by Matthew Kirby: The lives of three kids come together as they each work to solve their various problems.

The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan: Rand, Mat and Perrin are each off on their separate adventures as they all come to learn more about their special powers.

Calamity Jack by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, Nathan Hale: Jack and Rapunzel must save Jack's city from the giants.

The Mist by Stephen King: After a terrible storm, a scary mist rolls in hiding something sinister!

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner: Thomas and his friends have to figure out how to get through The Scorch before two weeks are up.

Jane by April Lindner: Jane goes to work as a nanny for a rock legend and falls in love with him.

The Naming by Alison Croggon: Maerad finds out she has special powers and goes off on a journey to outrun the evil ones.

Unbroken Connection by Angela Morrison: Michael and Leesie try to stay apart, but are totally unsuccessful.


Bloomability by Sharon Creech: Dinnie spends a year going to school in Switzerland and learns much more about life than she bargained for.

Bleak House by Charles Dickens: Two young cousins hope to inherit a fortune if the case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce is ever solved. Meanwhile, their orphan friend learns who her mother really is.

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer: A wolf pack has hopes of merging to become one when their alphas mate and then hopefully working together to protect the sacred sites.


My favorites? The Shadow Rising, The Scorch Trials, Unbroken Connection, with The Clockwork Three not far behind. (As you can see, I've got a few reviews to catch up on this week!)

Today also ends the RIP V Challenge. I read more for that then I thought I would and a couple different books then I originally listed. Here's what I ended up finishing over the past two months that falls into this category:


The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
The Mist by Stephen King
The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer


BUT, I still didn't get to An Interview with a Vampire! Some day, I really will read that one! 


How did your reading month go?

A Bit of Me(Me): CANDY!

This week's question at There's a Book:

What's your favorite candy bar?

Sorry guys, too hard to pick just one! Kind like books, or movies, or music, you know? So I have categories.


To eat while watching a movie:

To be tempted to buy while in the check out line:

To snitch from the Halloween stash:

To get in my Easter basket:

To get in my Christmas Stocking:

To provide at book club:

That's a start anyway.

Happy Candy Eating this weekend! 

Character Connection: Harold Skimpole from Bleak House

We have one more week for the Halloween edition of Character Connection as being hosted by Jen over at The Introverted Reader. So today, since I've just finished both reading and watching Bleak House, I bring you a different sort of monster and downright awful character:

Harold Skimpole

Here is a man whose sole purpose in life is to mooch off of others. He cares little for the consequences, even if it's to completely and totally ruin the budding life of a young man just ready to set out and make his fortune in the world. As long as he can sap him, or anyone else, of every scrap of money they have, he's happy. And his excuse for the behavior? Oh, he's just a mere child, he knows nothing, he's blameless in all, he's just a baby, he can't be held responsible for anything.

UGH, he makes me crazy!!!! What a creepy dude! Charles Dickens has a way with creating creepy dudes, and I think this one tops the list. Slithery slimy snake. Ew.

Here's a tiny clip I happened upon on YouTube that will give you just a taste of his ickiness:



Okay, enough of the nasty ones, next week, I'm back to the crushes! :)

Authors Pick Five: Ally Condie

Since I've been on a bit of an Ally Condie kick this week (see my review of Matched here, and a book club recap here,) of course I must do an Authors Pick Five post with her answers to the question:

What five books most are most important or influential to you?

Here are her answers:


The Top Five Books of My Life


Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner
My grandmother handed me this book when I was thirteen and said, "This is what good writing is like." Stegner is everything. He writes beautifully about people who will break your heart and make you laugh and nod your head in recognition. He writes non-fiction and fiction both, and I love what he writes about the land. Later, in college, I took my senior course on Wallace Stegner and read almost everything he has written (and loved it all). But it is this book, the first I encountered, that remains my favorite.


Saint Maybe by Anne Tyler
Another high school discovery. This story of redemption and imperfection and love is told as only Anne Tyler can do it, with beautiful detail and flawed but lovely characters and the gentle passing of years. Ian Bedloe is one of my favorite heroes in literature.


Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
I read this thirty-three times in third grade and have loved it ever since. I wanted to be Anne.


Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
This was the first book that made me sob so hard I couldn't breathe. The story and story-telling are heartbreakingly beautiful.


Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
A recent discovery--and another book that made me weep. I don't know what it was about this lovely little story that touched me to the core--the wonderful writing, the fantastic main character, the themes of storytelling and friendship and hope woven throughout. It is absolutely exquisite. And so intriguing and interesting that my seven-year-old boy picked it up and couldn't stop reading it, devouring the whole thing in a day. A classic for all ages.



Ally Condie is one of my well-loved local authors, actually living just a few blocks away from me! Her much buzzed about book, Matched, will be released on November 30. She's written several other books including Freshman for President, Being Sixteen, Yearbook, First Day and Reunion. Besides writing books, she is also mom to three kids.